The TRD Off-Road trim is offered in two variants, the standard TRD Off-Road and the more premium TRD Off-Road Premium trim that adds a little more features inside the cabin for a higher price. There are no major packages available with either of the trims but both variants could be equipped with a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) and sliding rear cargo deck with an under-floor storage compartment both of which are optional features. The TRD Off-Road Premium could also be equipped with a power tilt/slide moonroof. The following are the main features of the different sub-trims if the TRD Off-Road-

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The base trim of the TRD Off-Road would be the best choice as the higher TRD Off-Road Premium doesn’t offer much more for the added price. The TRD Off-Road base trim itself is very much capable and the higher trim mainly only adds SofTex trimmed upholstery and some minor perks. But that is not worth the extra $2,500 paid for it. 

The engine powering the 4Runner is a 4.0-Liter DOHC 24-Valve V6 outputting 270 hp and 278 lb.-ft. of maximum power and torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a part-time 4WD system with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC). The 4Runner also comes with a set of features that boosts its ruggedness including a locking rear differential Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), and Crawl Control (CRAWL) making it extremely capable off the tarmac. 

The 4Runner is not as capable on the road as it is on rough terrain. The SUV takes 7.1 seconds to attain a speed of 60mph and crosses the quarter-mile mark in 16.3 seconds. The engine and transmission however are smooth and refined even though the powertrain setup is pretty outdated compared to the competitors. The 4Runner;s powerplant is outdated and lacks refinement as it has become old and sounds grunty. Overall the 4Runner has a capable powertrain, but it is not as advanced or refined as its competitors.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler is the most powerful among the competition, but it lacks torque compared to the others. The Bronco and the 4Runner are equally powerful, producing an identical 270 hp while the Bronco produces the most amount of torque. The Bronco is also the fastest, reaching 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds, followed by the Wrangler while both of them boast similar quarter-mile run times. The 4Runner is a bit slower than the competitors, but it is as capable as others off the road. Overall, these are great SUVs, however, the 4Runner does show its age and is badly in need of a redesign.

How well does the 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Drive and Handle?

Superb handling is not always associated with rugged SUVs but the 4Runner has an average level of driving dynamics and it could change directions pretty quickly considering its size and height. But overall, the 4Runner is not an engaging machine to drive on the road while the offroad performance is superior. The ride quality however is impressive and passengers inside would be comfortable on and off the tarmac except for the nosedives that feel quite extreme during hard braking. 

The traditional ladder-frame chassis and the larger tires lift the 4Runner up, boosting offroad performance while limiting on-road grip and stability. The standard suspension setup could be upgraded to a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) for an extra cost. This setup electronically disconnects the anti-roll bars to free up more wheel articulation while on rocky terrain. Overall the Ford Bronco is the best-handling and most engaging machine here while the 4Runner and Wrangler handle similarly. 

How efficient is the braking performance of the 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road? 

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner is equipped with 13.3-inch brake rotors in the front and 12.3-inch ones in the rear. Even with the higher weight of the 4Runner, these brakes still manage to bring it to a stop from 60mph in 144 ft which is a good distance. The brakes are responsive with a good initial bite and deliver a progressive stopping power. The braking performance off-the-road is also satisfactory. 

The best-performing Ford Bronco is also the best in the braking department. It comes to a stop from 60mph at just 134 ft, which is an impressive distance considering the offroad capabilities and segment of the Bronco. The Toyota 4Runner comes in second place after the Bronco, whereas the Wrangler has the worst braking setup and performance. But the Jeep does perform better than the Toyota off the beaten path. Overall the 4Runner comes with a capable set of brakes.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner is the oldest vehicle in the segment and hence the engine puts out a disappointing fuel economy. The 4Runner TRD Off-Road delivers efficiency of 16mpg in the city, 19mpg on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 17mpg. However, Toyota does try to keep up with the competition with a large 23.0-gallon fuel capacity but still has a combined range below 400 miles which is not satisfactory. Overall, the 4Runner TRD Off-Road is a gas guzzler and doesn’t excel in the fuel economy department. 

The latest entry to the segment, the Ford Bronco is the most efficient SUV here, delivering a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg. Along with a 20.8-gallon fuel capacity, it also provides the highest combined range of 437 miles. The Toyota 4Runner being the heaviest and having the most outdated powertrain is the least efficient machine here. The Wrangler, although not as efficient as the Bronco, still performs much better than the 4Runner.

The interior of the 4Runner is a nice place to be in as everything has a simple design and the controls are laid out ergonomically. However, the tall ride height does make ingress and egress a little hard. Visibility outside from the cabin is pretty good as the windows are large. The interior doesn’t come with a lot of luxury onboard but the materials and elements are of good quality. The seats are basic, fabric-covered in the TRD Off-Road trim while the Premium trim gets SofTex-trimmed seats.

The cabin is spacious and there is an ample amount of space in the front row while the second row lacks legroom. However, the lack of legroom in the rear row has been compensated with an extra spacious cargo area measuring 47.2 cu-ft that is definitely the best in the segment. The 4Runner has a practical and spacious interior but it is not as updated or advanced as the rivals. The fact that the 4Runner TRD Off-Road is not offered with leather upholstery is actually a bummer and otherwise, it has a pleasant and comfortable interior. 

The 4Runner has a very spacious and high-quality interior whereas the Bronco has the best-looking, highly advanced interior. However, the second row is cramped in the 4Runner while the Wrangler has the most spacious second row. The cargo area is also the most inside the 4Runner, while the Wrangler has the least. Overall the Bronco stands out with the best interior. The following are some of the most important interior features inside the 2021 Jeep Wrangler:

• Air conditioning with air filter and second-row vents 
• SofTex-trimmed, heated front seats
• 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support
• 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat 
• SofTex-trimmed 40/20/40 split reclining and fold-flat second-row seat
• “TRD” red lettering on driver and front passenger headrests

How intuitive is the 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road’s infotainment unit?

The 4Runner comes with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that is easy to use and comes with crisp graphics and looks great. An audio system is an 8-speaker unit that is not upgradeable to a more premium unit which is a bummer. The infotainment system is Android Auto & Apple CarPlay & Amazon Alexa compatible while navigation is limited to the Premium trim. The following are the main infotainment features in the 2021 Toyota 4Runner. 

• Premium Audio 8-in. Touchscreen infotainment unit
• Eight speakers
• AM/FM radio and HD Radio
• Four USB charge ports,
• Dynamic Navigation with up to 3-year trial 
• Dynamic POI Search and Dynamic Voice Recognition
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• SiriusXM with 3-month All Access trial subscription 
• Wi-Fi Connect18 with up to 2 GB within a 3-month trial

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner is one rugged-looking machine with distinct styling and around the exterior but overall the 4Runner looks like a huge brick. The TRD Offroad model features color-keyed front and rear bumpers with silver accents and hood scoop along with “TRD Off-Road” external hard badges that separate itself from the rest of the lineup. The 4Runner is longer and heavier than the competition while having a smaller wheelbase. Overall the 4Runner has a beauty to its design with a distinct exterior and interior. 

The 4Runner is offered in ten color choices and features 17-in. 7-spoke alloy wheels with black accents as standard while there are no available options for upgrading. The TRD Off-Road offers a ground clearance of 9.6-inches and it is capable and practical enough to tackle any rough terrain. The TRD Off-Road doesn’t have a lot of chrome-plated elements on the outside which actually makes it look better and more rugged compared to the other trims in the 4runner lineup. 

All three of these SUVs come with distinct styling and traditional design language keeping their years of offroad legacy uplifted. But still, the 4Runner looks the dullest among these three while the Bronco looks the best. The Wrangler has the most ground clearance of 10.8 inches which is superb for those offroad adventures and trails. The following are some of the main exterior features of the 2021 Toyota 4Runner:

• 17-in. 7-spoke alloy wheels with black accents
• TRD Off-Road external hard badges
• Skid plate covering transfer case
• LED headlights
• Heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators
• Aerodynamic variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle
• Windshield wiper de-icer 
• Front and rear mudguards 
• Power windows with auto up/down and jam protection in all positions 
• Power rear liftgate window with auto up/down and jam protection 
• Rear liftgate window defogger with timer and UV protection

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road is equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite of safety and driver assistance tech as standard consisting of Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). The 4Runner has been crash-tested by both NHTSA as well as IIHS and it gets an overall 4-star rating from NHTSA and all 5-star ratings for side safety while IIHS has awarded it with ‘Good’ under various parameters. The following are the standout safety features in the 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road-

• Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) 
• Crawl Control (CRAWL)
• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
• Traction Control
• Brake Assist (BA) 
• Smart Stop Technology (SST)

2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road vs 2021 Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is more powerful and offers more offroad capabilities compared to the hefty 4Runner. The Wrangler is also faster and has a more advanced interior. The Wrangler is also the more fuel-efficient one and it also looks better than the 4Runner. The 4Runner has a larger cargo area compared to the Jeep, but the Wrangler is the overall better choice. 

2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road vs 2021 Ford Bronco

The 2021 Ford Bronco is the newest addition to the segment and offers a much powerful engine and better performance compared to the 4Runner TRD Off-Road. The Bronco also has a more luxurious and premium interior along with a better infotainment unit. The fuel economy figures of the Bronco are also better than 4Runner making it the better option. 

The new Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-road is a capable machine offered at a good price point. It is highly capable offroad and the V6 engine has enough grunt. However, it has become outdated over the years and the time for a full redesign has surpassed. The fuel economy figures are not up to the mark and the newer, more updated models in the segment offer more refined engines with better performance and efficiency. The interior is good-looking but not as luxurious as what some of the competition offers while the 4Runner is filled with a lot of standard safety features. Overall, it is a great machine, but both the Wrangler and Bronco are better choices compared to it.