A Rugged, Real World SUV
It's hard to believe that next year marks the 20th anniversary of the Toyota 4Runner. Back then, the SUV marketplace was a very lonely place, with only a handful of so-called sport utility vehicles available in Canada.
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| Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Toyota's venerable 4Runner. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Today, the SUV is almost as dominant as the humble sedan, with Toyota counting no fewer than five in its 2004 stable.
The big 4Runner news for '04 is a third-row seating option and a tire pressure warning system. If that doesn't seem like much of an update over last year's model that's because the 2003 4Runner represented a complete redesign of the SUV. That overhaul, the fourth since the 4Runners debut in 1985, gave it more power, enhanced the vehicle's on- and off-roading ability and provided more interior room for passengers and cargo.
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| The 4Runner is available in four different models: the SR5 V6, the Limited V6, the SR5 V8 and the Limited V8. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
For 2004, the 4Runner is available in four models: the SR5 V6, the Limited V6, the SR5 V8 and the Limited V8. My tester was a loaded Limited V8 model, sporting a big 4.7-liter powerplant that pumps out 235 horses, and more importantly, 320 lb-ft of torque. Oddly enough, the 4.0-litre V6 produces more horsepower than the eight-cylinder at 245, but then again far less torque at 283. Torque comes into play in a big way when towing, and with the factory installed receiver hitch towing capacity for both models is rated at 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs).