The interior in the Toyota 4Runner Limited features heated and cooled front seats.There's something unmistakably retro about the 2017 Toyota 4Runner SUV which harkens back to the days when cars were cars, and SUVs were, well, trucks.
The 4Runner, which shares a platform with the Toyota Tacoma pickup, is one of the few body-on-frame SUVs left in a universe of unibody crossovers.
That truck DNA makes it a brawny, off-road behemoth that can climb bolders and ford creeks while towing payloads of up to 5,000 pounds. That's why it continues to find a market for Toyota, which also counts the Highlander midsize SUV among its most successful products.
While Highlanders are plush, fuel-efficient vehicles, 4Runners appeal to buyers who prioritize off-road chops and indestructibility. There's just something about the 4Runner's solid build quality that makes it feel like a vehicle with a 20-year lifespan. Just notice sometime how many 1990s-era 4Runners are still on the road.
Our top-of-the line 4Runner Limited is a Blizzard Pearl factory tester with an MSRP of $48,094. At the other end of the price spectrum, the base SR5 4Runner starts at $34,210. There are several trim levels in between, including the TDR Pro model which is designed for serious off-road enthusiasts.
- Just the basics. In its most simple form, the 4Runner is an ultra-durable, truck-based SUV designed for five passengers. A third row of seats, which expands passenger capacity to seven, is optional.
All 4Runners feature a workhorse 4.0-liter V-6 engine that makes 270 horsepower and can transport the SUV from zero to 60 miles per hour in about 7.5 seconds. A five-speed automatic transmission is the standard gear box.
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Fuel economy is modest. The government estimates the 4Runner will return 20 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg in city driving. A full-time all-wheel-drive system is optional, but optimal, especially in Chattanooga, where off-roading options are many and snow-covered roads can be a problem at altitudes.
- Worthwhile options: The Limited package adds a layer of refinement to the 4Runner, which has a menacing front fascia that makes it looks as if it has anger-management issues. Limited 4Runners feature memory seats, perforated leather upholstery, heated and cooled front buckets, dual zone climate controls and second row climate vents.
- It's good for Chattanooga because: Off-roading options here are so abundant.
- Cool stuff: The window in the rear hatch raises and lowers, a 4Runner quirk that we find both functional and endearing. Just don't blindly throw anything into the "way-back" - like a small purse or a backpack - lest you accidentally chuck it completely out of the vehicle.
- New for 2017: Not much. The current 4Runner is largely unchanged since a 2014 redesign.
- Something we could do without: The automatic running boards, a $1,500 option, add some functionality, especially for older drivers like me who can use the help stepping into the cabin. But when the runners automatically retract, they sound like wing flaps on a 747.
- We wish for: The 20-inch wheels look nice, but smaller wheels and tires with wider sidewalls would help with handling and off-roading.
- While you are looking: Check out Jeep's Wrangler Unlimited and Grand Cherokee.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645.