Base Price: $50,470

Specs: 4.0 Liter V6

270 hp / 278 tq

14.6 mpg as observed

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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi

This is the the Toyota 4Runner and this is a vehicle that like it’s Tundra brethren…has aged like fine uhhh kimchi? I don’t drink so the ‘fine wine’ metaphor is moot. Aged like fine uhhh cheese? Like a really nice sharp cheddar cheese? I think that works…whatever. Let’s move on.

Like it’s stablemate, the 4Runner is old. But unlike the Tundra…it’s actually OLDER. This 5th generation debuted in 2009, but it’s based on the discontinued Toyota FJ…which came out in 2005…BUT the FJ is based on the Japanese Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 series…which came out in 2002!

BUT, as with the Tundra, it’s different from what you may think. You may look at the specs and go ‘WTF’. in 2020 a 4.0 Liter V6 making only 270 horsepower bolted to only 5 speed automatic with only part time 4wd and a live axle bolted to the rear??

Oh trust me…i’m with you. But slip behind the wheel of the TRD Pro trim then it all makes sense. Just don’t slip behind the wheel of a Limited because that makes no damn sense…just get a Grand Cherokee (with a warranty).

The 4Runner in TRD Pro guise has transcended the mere ‘high riding child hauler’ of lesser crossovers…into something the old FJ failed to accomplish…a rival to the hallowed Jeep Wrangler.

Yes, the Wrangler is now newer and with it comes modern drivetrains, tech and interiors…but it is still first and foremost….a Jeep. There is still a rugged, dependable, go anywhere and over anything simplicity that people cherish.

The same goes for the 4Runner TRD Pro. The TRD Pro is chock full of off-road goodness. Remote reservoir shocks, TRD Springs, TRD Exhaust, bespoke interior, and beefy skid plates along with exterior updates. Add that along with a still large, functional, simple and frankly comfortable interior, huge cargo room and lastly the most aggressive looks in the segment…it’s no wonder the 4Runner still sells.

It’s not all show and no-go. For generations, the 4Runner has scurried up, over and through everything Earth has thrown at it. It has always come through the other side asking for more…just like a Wrangler. But unlike the Wrangler, it rides better on when the pavement gets smooth. The Wrangler has always suffered from wayward steering, slightly scary highway tracking and it’s driver’s tend to operate at a top speed of 32 mph.

The 4Runner has none of those problems on the road. The steering is refreshingly old school in it’s feel, it rides beautifully down the road and on the highway it glides. Yes, the passing power could be better, gas mileage is atrocious and if you want your SUV to handle like a car…look elsewhere but the 4Runner is still special, soulful and just damn good.

So how do I sum up the 2021 Toyota 4Runner? It’s old-school, rugged, dependable, aggressive, soulful and again just a damn good SUV.