Nimble Off-Roader: Toyota 4Runner

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For medium-duty towing and off-roading, the Toyota 4Runner has proven to be very popular with outdoorsmen and their families. VehiclesTEST took the new 4Runner Sport edition with the Urban Runner package on a road test, and found out why it’s an SUV best-seller.

The 4Runner we tested is an upgrade to the Sport edition, and standard features include 18-inch alloy aluminum wheels, unique rear spoiler, color keyed grill, Urban Runner badging, and tubular side steps and roof rack with cross bars.

The name Urban Runner refers in part to her Sport Enhancement Suspension called X-REAS. This technology links each of the vehicle’s shocks to its diagonal counterpart using a gas-hydraulic chamber. During cornering or when traveling on rough roads, the chamber moves fluid to the shock that’s encountering the most force. This helps the wheels stay in contact with the road while reducing body sway and pitch.

The 4Runner is available with either a 236 hp V6 or 260-hp V8. With the V6 you can switch back and forth between 2- and 4-wheel drive, while 4-wheel drive is full time with the V8. If you plan on towing, the V8 should be your choice because it raises the towing capacity from 5,000 pounds on the V6 to 7,000 pounds with the V8 4×4, or 7,300 pounds on the 4×2.

In addition, the 4Runner comes with a standard 5-speed transmission that changes gear-shifting patterns according to conditions and driver input. Shift logic hold gears on hills for more power, and on descents for increased engine braking. On 4WD models, the Downhill Assist Control maintains a steady target speed with no input from the driver, and the Hill-start assist helps out by  holding the vehicle steady when beginning a steep climb or up slippery roads. 4WD is required for doing this kind of serious off-roading.

And for better control in wet or slippery conditions, the TORSEN differential distributes 60 percent of available power to the rear wheels under most conditions and in the event of a front wheel spin during steering maneuvers, the vehicle will automatically shift to a 29 to 71 distribution ratio to help the 4Runner stay on track during curves.

EPA estimates for fuel economy are 20 mpg for the V6 4×4 and 17 for the V-8. Our test vehicle had the V6 and turned in an actual highway fuel economy of 25.5 miles per gallon running at a constant speed of 65 mph. That’s 27.5 percent better fuel economy than the estimate.

Out on the track we were able to put a lot of the 4 Runner’s systems to the test, including vehicle stability control, traction control, and the ABS with Electronic brake-force distribution and assist.

Our test vehicle ran the quarter-mile in 15.6 seconds, doing 87.8 miles per hour when she crossed the line. Brake assist can determine if the driver is attempting an emergency stop as we are doing here, and if not enough brake force is applied to engage the ABS, the brake assist kicks in and adds more braking power. This system brought the 4Runner down from 70 mph to a dead stop in just 210 feet and 3.9 seconds.

Turning our attention to some of the 4Runners safety features, the vehicle has advanced front airbags, which means the system first determines if anyone in the passenger seat, and second how much inflation power to provide. There are also front and second-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags, which is real peace of mind during off-road adventures.

The one big characteristic we like about the 4Runner is its flexibility. You can have a V6 or V8, 4×2 or 4×4, and decide if you’d like an extra third row of seats. These seats are available on the SR5 and Sport editions, but in the case of our Urban Runner, that area is strictly reserved for cargo. A double-decker cargo system is standard on the top of the line Limited edition, and an option on all others, and the cargo shelf can either lie flat or be lifted with one hand and locked in place to support big items up to 66 pounds.

And for the driver, the Urban Runner is truly loaded. At that dash you get an audio system with 6 speakers and a detachable GPS, making the 4Runner just as comfortable in the city as she is in the country.