![]() This is especially apparent on the highway and with the adaptive cruise control active, where even on the slightest inclines, the transmission kicks down a gear and refuses to upshift, holding the engine above 3,000 RPM even after the road levels off for a moment too long. The second caveat is a two-parter: the six-speed automatic isn’t the smartest transmission out there, what with its tendency to hold onto gears for a very long time. That’s not great, although the fact that the 4Runner happily chugs 87-octane gas eases the sting. That said, after about 1,200-plus kilometres - most of that being on the highway, thanks to a round trip to the cottage and back - we averaged 13.6 L/100 kilometres. The first is fuel economy: Toyota officially rates the 4Runner TRD Pro’s drinking problem at 14.3 L/100 kilometres in the city, and 11.9 on the highway. ![]() Consider that an instant step up over the Jeep Wrangler.Īll that said, there are two massive caveats. The upgraded Fox shocks turn even the gnarliest imperfections into muffled thumps, and perhaps best of all, you’re not constantly sawing at the wheel to keep the 4Runner in a straight line on the highway. The knobby Nitto all-terrain tires let in a bit more road noise than you may be used to, but it’s far from overwhelming, and wind noise is minimal. That’s the beauty of the 4Runner: despite it’s rough-and-tumble attitude, it’s surprisingly well-mannered. You climb in, poke the start button beside the steering wheel, shift into drive, and you go about your business. On the road, nothing about the 4Runner’s driving experience truly stands out - and that’s a good thing. The 4Runner puts the power down via an equally old-fashioned six-speed automatic transmission, and the standard four-wheel-drive system is there to save your bacon in case you get too cocky on that muddy and rutted trail. A normally aspirated 4.0L V6 is your only option, putting out a modest 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque - no turbochargers, no electric wizardry up its sleeve, just a proven engine that simply gets the job done. Pop the hood and the 4Runner is rudimentary as you’d expect. This kind of loyalty is something no Bronco, Defender, or Wrangler can match. It’s a faithful and flawed companion that’ll happily take you deep into the great outdoors and back to civilization in a day - maybe two or three, if you pack enough gear and grub. So, this definitely goes without saying: the 4Runner isn’t exactly the freshest option out there.īut while many car companies are in a rat race to deliver the biggest screens, the most useless tech, and as little driver involvement as possible, there’s an endearing honesty to the 4Runner. This latest 4Runner is only the fifth generation of a species whose lineage can be traced back to the mid-1980s that’s five generations in 30, almost 40 years! Having debuted in 2009 for the 2010 model year, the fifth-gen 4Runner already felt a little old and outdated by the time it was refreshed in 2014. Now, depending on how you look at it, that’s either a good or a bad thing. In the world of cars, that’s not just old - that’s prehistoric. By all accounts, it’s a fossil: strip away the off-road cosplay loved by suburbanites and overlanding enthusiasts alike, and the 4Runner’s bones have been around for more than a decade. ![]() They say you can’t really teach an old dog new tricks, but “they” clearly haven’t met the 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. ![]()
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