2019 Toyota 4Runner

Not many vehicles popular after they age and the Toyota 4 runner is among them. It is an old-school, body-on-frame SUV, not a crossover like its kin the Highlander. The 2019 Toyota 4Runner is a rugged and off-road capable, yet it's spacious and family-friendly.

Every 4 runner variant is powered by a 4.0-liter V6 generating 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque which is a mate to a five-speed automatic transmission and 5,000-pound tow rating. The suspension is bit rough and it lacks modern technology you will find in other options, but the 4Runner is one of the most capable SUV’s on the market today.

The 2019 Toyota 4Runner is a midsize SUV available in seven trim levels:SR5,SR5 Premium,TRD Off-Road,TRD Off-Road Premium,TRD Pro,Limited and Limited Nightshade. All share the same 4.0-liter V6 (270 horsepower, 278 pound-feet of torque), five-speed automatic transmission and 5,000-pound tow rating. SR5 and Limited trims are available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and a two- or three-row seating configuration. The remaining trim levels are 4WD-only and seat five. A low-range transfer case comes on 4WD versions of the SR5, TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trim levels.

Toyota provides two years of complimentary scheduled maintenances. The coverage in other categories include:

• The limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for 2 years or 25,000 miles

Trim	SR5	SR5 Premium	TRD off Road	TRD off Road Premium	Limited	Limited Nightshade
MSRP(RWD)	$ 35,110	$ 36,940	N/A	N/A	$ 43,195	$ 45,165
MSRP(AWD)	$ 36,985	$ 38,815	$38,285	$ 40,195	$ 45,460	$ 47, 200
Features	4.0L V-6 Engine 5-spd auto w/OD Transmission	Adds or replace :	Adds or replace :	Adds or replace :	Adds or replace :	Adds or replace :
	270 @ 5,600 rpm Horsepower 278 @ 4,400 rpm Torque	Driver and front passenger heated-cushion, heated-seatback Heated front seats	w/painted accents	Driver and front passenger heated-cushion, heated-seatback Heated front seats	Rear-wheel Drive type 1st row regular express open/close sliding and tilting glass Sunroof	20" black aluminum Wheel
	Rear-wheel Drive type ABS and driveline Traction control	-	SofTex leatherette Seat trim Navigation system	20" machined aluminum Wheels	-	-
	17" silver aluminum Wheels	Leather Seat trim Parking assist	-	-	-	-
	Front air conditioning, manual	Front air conditioning, dual zone automatic	-	-	-	-
	SiriusXM AM/FM/HD/Satellite, seek-scan Radio The 1st row LCD monitor	-	-	-	-	-
	Front Fog/driving lights Heated mirrors	-	-	-	-	-

 

"There are many shortcomings to the 4Runner with its veteran drivetrain, less-than-stellar fuel economy, lack of creature comforts and slim technology offerings, but there's something still undeniablycool about it. When driving it, you don't get lost in a sea of features. There's beauty in simplicity. Driving a no-frills car like the 4Runner is refreshing. It's a perfect SUV for people who subscribe to the less-is-more way of thinking. But if it's modern accouterments you seek, the 4Runner isn't for you.” CNET

There is only one engine available with the 4runner, powered by 4.0 liter V6 that pumps out 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. It is potent enough to pass traffic on highway and surge from a standstill with ease. SR5 and Limited trims are available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive while remaining trim levels are 4WD. All of the trim levels has a similar 5,000 – pound tow rating.

The V6 is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, which performs well. Shifts are smooth and precise, and the transmission always finds the right gear for the situation. The all-wheel drive variant has low-range gearing. The 5-speed automatic works fine, but could use another cog for composed highway driving.

Models	Toyota 4 runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT	Chevrolet Traverse
MSRP	$37.045	$32,800	$31,695	$31,450	$32,365	$31,995	$31,330	$29,995	$29,840
Engine	4.0 litre V6	2.5 Liter Inline-4	3.6 Liter V6	3.5-liter V6	3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6	2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer 4-cylinder	2.7-liter 4-cylinder	3.6 Liter V6	3.6L V6
Transmission	5-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	8-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	6 –speed CVT	6-Speed Automatic	Gas engine	9-speed shiftable automatic
Horsepower	270 @5600rpm	193 @ 6300	295 @ 6400	280hp @ 6000	288 @ 6500	260 hp @ 5,600	185 hp @ 5800	8-speed automatic	310 hp @ 6800
Torque	278 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm	188 @ 4400	260 @ 4000	262 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm	254 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm	277 lb-ft. @ 2,000 rpm	184 lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm	293 hp @ 6400 rpm	266 lb. ft. @ 2800 rpm

After just a brief look at the table of comparison, you’d notice that the 4Runner being pricier than most of the vehicle’s delivers the almost same performance and a better transmission.

Acceleration

The 4runner being a 7 seven seated SUV is surprisingly smooth. Aged though the acceleration from groaning 6 cylinders is linear and powerful. The 60 mph mile mark is achieved in 7.5 seconds while taking 15.3 seconds to pass the quarter mile flag. Due to the tall gearing ratio’s, the power is evenly distributed with no ropy lag. It’s not fast but comes with real off-road capability and ruggedness.

Models	Toyota 4runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
0-60 MPH	7.5	6.8 sec*	N/A	6.2 sec	8.2 sec	6.9 sec	-	7.6 sec
Quarter mile	15.3	15 sec*	N/A	14.8 sec	16.3 sec	15.5 sec	-	15.8 sec
Engine	4.0 liter V6	2.5 Liter Inline-4	3.6 Liter V6	3.5 Liter V6	3.5 Liter V6	2.4 Liter Boxer-4	2.7-liter Inline-4	3.6 Liter V6
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	8.4	7.7	8.4	-	-	-	-	-

On paper with rivals, the Ford Explorer is the fastest SUV to 60mph @ 6.4 seconds. The Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Nissan Pathfinder both do the same in 7.4 seconds.

Ride and Handling

The 270 hp and torque-rich V6 is a heavenly motor, with a lot of muscle for passing, towing and getting up to the mountains. Remember, the brake pedal can be uncertain sometimes. On the rough landscape, the 4Runner exceeds expectations, because of narrow body structure and useful 9.6 inches of ground clearance. The 4Runner is one among few SUVs that still uses a body-on-frame setup. It makes the handling more like a truck than a car, with some body roll while cornering hard. On highway speed, it is less stable because of the taller height and you have to work with the steering a lot.

The ride is composed over smooth asphalt but it turns to bouncy and stiff on rough terrain. In any case, the steering is light and precise for easy mobility. TRD models have the most upgrades for going off the beaten path, like a locking rear differential, multi-terrain select, and crawl control. Other features include Fox shocks, TRD-tuned springs, a kinetic dynamic suspension, and special skid plates.

Braking

4runner’s braking effect is vague and one needs to squish the pedal to two third of travel for a sudden stop. Majority of the stopping power remains in the last third of the pedal travel. The car takes 183 feet’s to stop from 70 mph which is below average for this segment. It tends to nosedive during an emergency situation. You can also hear weird squeals from tires while enthusiastic driving on corners.

Model	Toyota 4runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Brake Front (in.)	12.2	12.6	13	12.6	12.8	13.1	12.9	13.0
Brake Rear (in.)	12.6	12.4	13	13	12.8	13	12.2	13.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4767	3956	4513	4036	4458	4430	4134	4680
60-0 MPH (ft.)	183(70-0)	N/A	N/A	117 (est.)	108 (With optional tires)	119	126 (est.)	121

The high curb weight of 4runner than most of the rivals do affect the braking performance and take a considerable amount of time to stop in an emergency situation. The Ford Explorer has the best brakes when it comes to sudden stops.

Towing Capacity

The rugged body on frame construction and torque-rich engine account for a 5,000-pound tow rating. It is good for camping trailers and small boats. The 4runner does not come with a factory electric brake controller and you have to search aftermarket to get the feature.

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Model	Toyota 4runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Towing Capacity	5.000	4,000	N/A	3500	5000	5000	1500	6200

The tow rating is the highest when compared to other rivals, while the Dodge Durango with its powerful engine tops the competition.

The 4Runner’s powertrain is a pretty solid unit from Toyota but it shows the age with fuel economy. With standard rear-wheel drive, the 2019 Toyota 4Runner gets 17 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Those estimates are average for a midsize SUV. A four-wheel-drive 4Runner gets 17 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

Model	Toyota 4runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
MPG (city)	17	21	19	19	17	21	20	18
MPG (highway)	20	26	26	27	24	27	24	25
MPG (combined)	18	23	21	22	20	23	22	20
Fuel Tank (gallons)	N/A	19	24.6	24.6

V6-powered rivals like theJeep Grand Cherokeeand theToyota Highlanderfare better. The Grand Cherokee gets up to 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, while the Highlander earns up to 20/27 mpg city/highway. That places the Toyota at the back of the mid-size SUV class alongside the similarly off-road-focused Jeep Wrangler.

In terms of design and feature content, the 4Runner looks its age. Everything is very blocky and utilitarian, and there's too much hard plastic in comparison to the more luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee (and when you consider the 4Runner's price point) - Autotrader

Seating and Comfort

The Toyota 4Runner comes standard with five seats, however, you can include a third row that expands the ability to seven. The front seats are firm and steady, yet the outward visibility is limited because of thick rooftop columns and a high dashboard. There's plenty of legroom for passengers in the front seats and the second row for long rides, however, the third-row seats are best left to kids... With the third row, the second row slides and offers one-touch folding for easy access to the back. 

With regards to the 4Runner's rough persona, the cabin is without most frills and extravagances. The structure is basic with lots of hard plastic. The base model's fabric upholstery isn't exceptionally alluring, yet the available leather upholstery enhances the quality.

Model	Toyota 4runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Passenger Capacity	7	7	5	8	7	8	8	7
Front Row (cu. ft) Headroom	-	40.3	39.9	40.1	41.4	41.3	40.7	39.9
Shoulder room	-	59.4	58.7	62	61.5	61.1	59.3	57
Legroom	-	41	40.3	40.9	42.9	42.2	44.2	40.3
Second Row (cu. ft) Headroom	-	39.6	39.2	40.2	40.6	40	40	39.8
Shoulder room	-	58.7	58	62	61	60.3	60.3	42.8
Legroom	-	39.7	38.6	38.4	39.5	38.6	38.6	38.6
Third Row (cu. ft) Headroom	37.5	-	38.9	37.8	36.3	36.3	37.8
Shoulder room	-	54.3	-	57.6	50.8	57.2	57.2	42.8
Legroom	-	31.1	-	31.9	32	31.7	31.7	31.5

On paper with rivals, the 4Runner is actually the smallest in terms of passenger space. Both Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer share the same head/shoulder/led room but the Ford manages to find the top spot with its mighty big 151.7 ft.cube. Passenger volume.

Interior Features

• Dual-zone automatic climate control with air filter and second-row vents
• Multi-Information Display (MID) with outside temperature, clock, average fuel economy and
• Fabric-trimmed front seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support
• Fabric-trimmed 40/20/40 split reclining and fold-flat second-row seat
• Fabric-trimmed 50/50 split fold-flat third-row seat and sliding the second row with passenger-side one-touch access to third-row seat
• Cruise control
• Leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• The in-key remote keyless entry system
• Power door locks with programmable auto door lock logic
• Backup camera⁵⁹with projected path
• One cargo area 120V 100W/400W AC power outlet
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

Infotainment System

The Toyota 4Runner is a decade old now and its limited technology offering shows it. The interface feels dated when compared to the modern systems. The Entune touchscreen infotainment system is standard in the 4Runner. It is a simple, intuitive setup that responds quickly with a minimal amount of lag. For 2019 it still lacks Android auto and Apple car play.

• 1-inch screen
• Satellite radio
• 120-volt power outlet
• Navigation
• Bluetooth audio and USB port
• 15-speaker premium JBL stereo (TRD Pro variant)

Cargo volume

A crucial reason to buy the 4 runners along with off-road build and capability is its cargo space. It can hold 46.3 cubic feet of sizable cargo while 88.8 cubic feet are with the rear folding split seat. A squared off shape and available slide-out tray aids loading of different belongings. Campers can easily stretch out a sleeping bag in the rear. The hatch opening is wide which enhances the utility, also the rear liftgate power window allows you to load stuff without opening the tailgate entirely.

Model	Toyota 4runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Cargo Volume in the trunk (ft.3)	-	12.8	36.3	16.5	21	17.8	13.8	17.2
Cargo Volume 3rd Row folded (ft.3)	-	41.7	-	83.9	43.8	47.5	-	47.7
Cargo Volume 2nd row folded (ft.3)	-	79	68.3	46.8	80.7	86.5	83.7	84.5

“Love it or hate it, the 2019 Toyota 4Runner looks like nothing else on the road”- car connection

Design and styling

The 4Runner's essential look has been around for about 10 years, it's an old-school, body-on-frame SUV. The front end has sharp edges and squinty headlights that frown at the street ahead. The high front bumper gives a good approach angle to ascend mountains. Every variant is equipped with a roof rack as standard.

Model	Toyota 4runner	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Curb weight (lbs.)	4230	3956	4513	4036	4458	4430	4134	4680
Length(in)	195.5	193.6	189.8	196.5	198.3	196.8	192.5	201.2
Width(in)	74.2	75.4	63.9	78.6	78.9	76	75.8	75.8
Height(in)	68.2	66	69.3	70.6	70	71.6	68.1	70.9
Ground clearance (in)	8.7	7.2	8.6	7.3	7.8	8.7	8.0	8.1
Wheelbase (in)	112.5	112.5	114.8	111	112.8	113.8	109.8	119.8
Track width (in) F/R	64.8/64.6	64.5/64.5	64.1/63.9	66.3/66.3	67/67	64.4/ 64.2	64.4/64.2	63.9/64.1

When comparing all other dimensions with rivals, you can conclude that most of them are about the same size with minor decrease or increase in dimensions.

Exterior Features

• Projector-beam headlights with smoked trim
• LED taillights with smoked sport trim
• Integrated fog lights & LED fog lights
• Heated power outside mirrors
• Chrome door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature
• Black door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature
• Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade
• Aerodynamic variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle
• Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and rear liftgate windows
• Color-keyed rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light and integrated concealed rear wiper with mist cycle
• Skid plates — on engine/front suspension, fuel tank and transfer case (transfer case on 4x4 models only)

The old platform on which the 4Runner is based on is like a thorn in its flesh. Toyota has been able to accommodate only a few selective active safety aids on the 2018 model as well. The structural efficiency tests, however, rate the 4Runner TRD Pro as ‘Good’ in most of the sections.

• 4-Wheel Traction Control
• ParkSense Rear Park-Assist with Stop
• Electronic Stability Control
•  Enhanced Accident Response System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring Display
• Advanced Multistage Front Airbags
• LATCH Ready Child Seat Anchor System
• Supplemental Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Supplemental Side-Curtain Airbags
• Supplemental Side-Curtain Front and Rear Airbags
• Hill Start Assist
• Parkview Rear Back-Up Camera

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer and the Toyota 4Runner have been foes ever since they were launched. Both the vehicles have historically been good off-roading tools. But, Ford has veered off towards the masses and have made the Explorer a fine tarmac riding machine. Both comfortable and tech-loaded, Explorer is miles ahead of the 4Runner in the segment.

The 4Runner on the other side has stuck with its rugged fascia. People who are not into extensive off-roading are better off then the Ford Explorer.

GMC Acadia

The GMC Acadia is reduced in size two years ago, but still, it offers a great amount of interior space. It offers two engine options, a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque and 3.6-liter V6 engine generates 310 hp.

Like the other rivals, the Acadia offers modern tech and serene interior which is missing in the 4runner. The Toyota, on the other hand, is a more capable off-roader than the Acadia. Deciding factor will be if you want roomy third-row seats which the 4runner does and Acadia doesn’t.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a far more compliant ride than the 4runner. It has more creature comforts, safety aids and tech features than the aging 4 runners. The final nail in the coffin is the fact that it fairly cheap than the 4Runner as well.

So finally, Jeep Grand Cherokee has all the pedigree to become your daily driver. It, however, will fall short the moment you go off-road. This where the 4Runner is ahead by leaps and bounds and not to forget, it has a large list of aftermarket parts available easily.

The Toyota 4Runner has been in the market from around 30 years. Its aging 4.0 –liter V-6, five-speed automatic transmission, and old-school interior may not shine in a highly competitive SUV segment. While most SUVs have transitioned into crossovers with unibody chassis, the 4Runner continues its body-on-frame cradle.

The 4Runner with its highly capable suspension and impressive terrain control systems sells more than enough to justify its existence.