We used to appreciate trucks for their brutish masculine appearance and off-road talents. Yet somehow, the auto industry has been cross-breeding cars and SUVs to create—you guessed it—crossovers, which aren’t as rugged-looking, and not as capable in the trails.
Looking for a good off-road vehicle for those weekend stints in the bushes? Options are limited. Which is normal, we assume, since the vast majority of truck buyers don’t wheel them off the pavement anyway. Toyota actually has two SUVs for you, the FJ Cruiser and the 4Runner. The latter is the subject of our test.
Redesigned for the 2010 model year, the 4Runner’s lumpy skin is host to numerous truck-ish styling cues, including plastic fender flares, running boards and a high ground clearance.
Definitely macho-looking, we think its styling is far from being timeless. There is one element we like, though, and that’s the power-lowering rear window; we can’t think of any other truck that still offers this feature.
The Trail Edition also adds appearance items such as a bogus hood scoop, specific grille and alloys, smoked headlights as well as black bumpers, door handles, roof rack and mirrors.
Gone is the previous-generation’s available V8 engine; the only powertrain left in the 4Runner is the 4.0-litre V6 that’s also featured in the FJ Cruiser and Tacoma pickup. Producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, this engine definitely feels truck-ish, as revs climb slowly and delivers not-too-appreciable fuel economy; we’re averaging 13.8 L/100 km.
And despite the lazy behaviour of the V6 engine, it still provides the 4,600-lb 4Runner with 0-100 km/h acceleration times of 7.4 seconds. The 5-speed automatic is also a chilled-out labourer, rowing through gears with a “hey, relax dude, I’m on it” pace. At 100 km/h on the highway, the engine spins at 1,750 rpm, assuring a fairly quiet ride.
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| The 4Runner is a very competent off-road performer that also offers a decent highway ride and a spacious interior. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Looking for a good off-road vehicle for those weekend stints in the bushes? Options are limited. Which is normal, we assume, since the vast majority of truck buyers don’t wheel them off the pavement anyway. Toyota actually has two SUVs for you, the FJ Cruiser and the 4Runner. The latter is the subject of our test.
Redesigned for the 2010 model year, the 4Runner’s lumpy skin is host to numerous truck-ish styling cues, including plastic fender flares, running boards and a high ground clearance.
Definitely macho-looking, we think its styling is far from being timeless. There is one element we like, though, and that’s the power-lowering rear window; we can’t think of any other truck that still offers this feature.
The Trail Edition also adds appearance items such as a bogus hood scoop, specific grille and alloys, smoked headlights as well as black bumpers, door handles, roof rack and mirrors.
Gone is the previous-generation’s available V8 engine; the only powertrain left in the 4Runner is the 4.0-litre V6 that’s also featured in the FJ Cruiser and Tacoma pickup. Producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, this engine definitely feels truck-ish, as revs climb slowly and delivers not-too-appreciable fuel economy; we’re averaging 13.8 L/100 km.
And despite the lazy behaviour of the V6 engine, it still provides the 4,600-lb 4Runner with 0-100 km/h acceleration times of 7.4 seconds. The 5-speed automatic is also a chilled-out labourer, rowing through gears with a “hey, relax dude, I’m on it” pace. At 100 km/h on the highway, the engine spins at 1,750 rpm, assuring a fairly quiet ride.
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| The 4.0-litre V6 develops 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |