Toyota 4Runner Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision
Source: Pixabay
The Toyota 4Runner is an adventurous car, manufactured since 1984 and still going strong today. Although it’s had some hiccups over the years, it’s also made some solid additions to its lineup. Before investing in any vehicle, it’s critical to examine the history. You might wonder - what are the Toyota 4Runner pros and cons?
If you’re interested in learning more about the pros and cons of the Toyota 4Runner, you’ve come to the right place. The more you know about the best and worst of this vehicle, the easier it will be to determine if it’s for you. Read on to learn more about what we love about the 4Runner and the things we wish were different in the system.
What We Love About the Toyota 4Runner
It’s always thrilling to look at the best parts of a car before buying. Let’s discuss the top features associated with the Toyota 4Runner pros and cons.
Excellent Off-Roading Abilities
The best part of the Toyota 4Runner, and one of the main reasons people purchase it, is for the sake of its off-roading abilities. It’s an off-road icon and has held that position for years and years. Even the base level of the Toyota 4Runner offers excellent off-roading features to trek across muddy rivers and over rocky terrain.
Features like a part-time four-wheel-drive powertrain and a locking rear differential appear standard in the Toyota 4Runner system, making it capable of driving over anything that isn’t flat asphalt. On higher models, you get standard features like full-time four-wheel-drive, Active Cruise Control, and a Torsen limited-slip locking center differential.
NOT JUST FOR CAR SHOPPING
The CoPilot app isn’t just for buying a car - our new CoPilot for Owning tool will help you keep track of recalls and gives you advice on which scheduled maintenance tasks are most important.
Substantial Standard Features
Unlike cars that make you pay more to get the most valuable features, the Toyota 4Runner offers them as standard in its system. According to toyota.com, some features of the 4Runner include LED headlights, a smart key system with a remote start, a backup camera with a projected path, and more.
Substantial safety features mean you get more value out of your investment. Although the 4Runner is far from the most affordable selection on the market, it’s an excellent choice if you want to strive for the most features per dollar spent.
Massive Cargo Area
If you want to go on an adventure and have plenty of luggage to bring along the way, you’ll find all the room to store it in the cargo hold of the Toyota 4Runner. According to cars.usnews.com, the 2023 Toyota 4Runner has a cargo area that measures 47.2 cubic feet with the seats up and 89.7 cubic feet when folded down.
With all that room, it’s easy to pack up and adventure out of the blue. If you don’t mind sacrificing a little room for passengers, you get close to 100 cubic feet to hold everything.
Solid Value
One of the most critical things to look for in a vehicle is value, and the Toyota 4Runner doesn’t fail in this category. It offers many features and off-roading capabilities, making it worth the money. Plus, the 4Runner brings excellent reliability, which means it will cost much less to maintain.
According to repairpal.com, the Toyota 4Runner ranks ⅘ in reliability, placing it 9th out of 26 midsize vehicle selections. It’s at the top of its category.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER
It’s a quality SUV, made to withstand driving on pavement and dirt for those who want the best of both worlds. If you’re interested in a used version, you might wonder - what is the most reliable Toyota 4Runner year?
Serious Curb Appeal
Finally, you’ll find serious curb appeal in the Toyota 4Runner. It just looks like a machine ready to hit the road, which increases its value and your overall satisfaction with the car.
There is nothing better than having a car parked in front of your home that you are excited to climb inside. The 4Runner brings this to the table and more.
What We Don’t Like About the Toyota 4Runner
Of course, you can’t dive into the best aspects of the 4Runner without talking about the worst. Let’s dive into the worst of the Toyota 4Runner pros and cons.
Outdated Interior Design
Unfortunately, the design of the Toyota 4Runner is far older than the vehicle. It seems antiquated and outdated, making even the newest year of the 4Runner feel much older than it is. The blocky design touches and unfortunately antique layout are a better fit for decades ago.
Along with the old interior design comes an elderly infotainment system and storage areas in the front too small for modern items like a smartphone. While the drivability of the 4Runner has gone up, there has been very little improvement to the Toyota 4Runner’s interior.
AI-ASSISTED CAR SHOPPING
Never miss out on the best car, never overpay, and never get taken advantage of. Download the CoPilot app to see the magic of AI-assisted car shopping.
Terrible Fuel Economy
Another downside to the Toyota 4Runner is its fuel economy. While some midsize selections can power forward with excellent MPG, the 4Runner doesn’t fall into this category. According to toyota.com, the Toyota 4Runner gets 16 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway. These numbers are some of the worst available.
Fuel economy matters, especially if you want to use the 4Runner as a commuter vehicle or for adventures. Unfortunately, more gas stops are required than most people can handle with the 4Runner.
Troubling Driving Experience on Pavement
The Toyota 4Runner is made for off-roading, which can be an incredible experience. Unfortunately, it doesn’t perform as well when placed on the flat pavement of the highway. It is pretty awkward and can take a little longer than expected to kick into a high rate of speed on the go.
There is a ton of lean and pitch with the 4Runner. It brings a large turning radius, which can make it tricky to control and navigate. Ultimately, it’s up to you and your comfort level.
Should You Buy a Toyota 4Runner?
We’ve gone over the Toyota 4Runner pros and cons, so now it’s time to ask the ultimate question - should you invest in the Toyota 4Runner? Is your money better spent here or on another machine.
Although there are some issues with the Toyota 4Runner, it’s overall a solid contender. With excellent off-roading abilities and a list of standard features, it’s hard to go wrong with the Toyota 4Runner’s design.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
