Very cool and unique body-on-frame SUV to drive. Immediately the first thing you notice is the tall ride height and commanding view of the road. The 4Runner feels just as tall as any full-size pickup truck. Looking out of the windshield you also have this massive landing strip of a hood, which I personally think adds character to the overall driving experience of the 4Runner. However some people may prefer an SUV with a less obstructive front hood. Overall the 4Runner makes you feel like king of the road, which was probably my favorite thing about driving it.
The 4Runner is powered by a 4.0 liter V6. The V6 makes a somewhat respectable 270 horsepower, but a fairly impressive 278 lb. ft. of torque at 4,400 RPM. Some people may prefer a larger V8 engine in their SUV, however the V6 in the 4Runner has plenty of power and low end torque. It also feels and sounds more like a rugged V8 engine compared the smooth and refined V6 engines you get in other Toyota products. The V6 is pretty quick in light-footed maneuvers and you rarely have to exceed 3,000 rpm to beat everyone to the next red light. The engine often feels like its at a much higher RPM than it really is. There were times when I felt like I was at 4,000 rpm, and then I look down at the tachometer to see that I’m only at 2500. It’s a very interesting and unique engine, it almost feels like a diesel in that both the power and acceleration feel substantial between 2,000-2,500 RPM. You don’t need to put the engine through the wringer to feel plentiful amounts of torque and acceleration.
The throttle response feels tuned to the engine’s low end torque. The accelerator has a pretty immediate response off the line, however if you want to hit those higher RPMs you’ll need to bury your foot into it a little harder. The brakes feel truck-like as well. The brake pedal is very stiff, however the brakes don’t really start biting down until about half way into the pedal travel. Then, once you’re at that halfway point, the brakes kick in quite sharply. I recently drove a Tacoma TRD with a very similar braking feel. The 4-Runner also rolls pretty fast upon letting off the brakes, so you need to hold the brake pedal in firmly when you’re at a stop to prevent from rolling into the intersection. Once I got used to the brake feel, I was able to modulate my stops much more evenly and brakes felt nice and powerful.
The steering also feels very truck-like. It feels quite hefty and burly, and provides a nice level of communication with what the body-on-frame chassis is doing. Typical of a truck, the initial turn-in doesn’t have much response and the steering requires more effort and revolutions around turns. It’s certainly not going to give you that refined, smoothed-out feel that you would find in a Highlander or a Rav4. The 4-Runner is most definitely a true body-on-frame SUV and it does not make any apologies for that.
Surprisingly, the 4Runner still uses a 5-speed automatic, even though nearly every other Toyota product has moved up to 6-speed or 8-speed automatics. The 5-speed, however, feels very typical of Toyota. Shifts are nice and smooth, and the transmission listens to your foot under acceleration and keeps the engine where you want it to be for the most part. You’ll need to bury your foot into the throttle to get downshifts, but requesting a downshift isn’t always necessary as the engine provides a satisfying amount of torque in any gear.
Sporty handling is obviously something you’ll have to sacrifice when going for a vehicle like the 4-Runner. This is a tall SUV, and it feels like a tall SUV. It can be somewhat rushed through turns on your normal, everyday errand runs, however it definitely will not like being rushed through winding backroads. As you would expect, the steering starts to disconnect from the road and sharper corners will feel dicy if you’re going too fast. Ride quality can also get a bit rough and bouncy over bumps, but on smooth pavement the ride feels composed and manageable. Being that the 4Runner is essentially shaped like a brick, the wind does buffet the vehicle around on the highway at times, and you do get some wind noise at higher speeds.
I’m happy to say that the 4-Runner has excellent visibility. The massive front hood might be an issue for some, however the rearward visibility is excellent. Unlike most other modern SUVs with high belt lines, the 2017 4-Runner has the visibility of a 1997 4-Runner. Looking out the rearview mirror, the styling doesn’t intrude at all. All you see is glass and the road directly behind you. The side mirrors are huge and show you everything you need to see. The front windshield is somewhat narrow, however it is positioned close enough to the driver that its not much of an issue.
Overall, the 4-Runner is a unique, burly SUV to drive. It would definitely be my first choice if I was in the market for a body-on-frame SUV. It feels more sprightly than a Tahoe or a Yukon and it feels more focused on having fun and being taken off the beating path rather than just taking your kids to soccer practice. If you want a practical, honest SUV that doesn’t require you having 4 kids and a career in furniture moving in order to serve its purpose, the 4Runner is perfect for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuBLytsDFp0