2019 Toyota 4Runner Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byJames Riswickzzdcar Contributor

　　James Riswick is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

TRD Pro has new Fox shock absorbers, new skid plate and roof rack, and standard sunroof and JBL sound systemNew Limited Nightshade Edition with black-out color schemePart of the fifth 4Runner generation introduced for 2010

　　Rarely does a car get more popular with age, but that's exactly what's happening with the Toyota 4Runner. Despite entering its 10th year since it was completely redesigned — an eternity in car terms — the 4Runner sells exponentially better today than it did when minty fresh.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$202/mo  for 4Runner SR5

　　4Runner SR5

　　SR5 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $35,310 MSRPSR5 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $37,185 MSRPSR5 Premium 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $37,140 MSRPSR5 Premium 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A) (Most Popular) - $39,015 MSRPTRD OFF-ROAD 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $38,485 MSRPTRD OFF-ROAD Premium 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $40,395 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $43,625 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $45,660 MSRPLimited Nightshade Edition 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $45,365 MSRPLimited Nightshade Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $47,400 MSRPTRD PRO 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $46,815 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Perhaps that has to do with today's SUV-hungry buyers, but the 2019 4Runner is also a distinctive model. It is rugged and off-road capable, yet it's spacious and family-friendly. Sure, it's a bit rough around the edges and lacks many of the technology features you'll find in other SUVs, but there's an honesty to the 4Runner and a just-right goodness that keeps it relevant. It won't be for everyone, but it'll be exactly what a great many want.

　　So, if you think you might be in that "great many," here are the 4Runner's good bits. Its rugged trucklike construction, abundant ground clearance and legitimate off-road hardware give it go-anywhere credentials few SUVs (and especially crossovers) can match or surpass. At the same time, it has a large cabin with a big, boxy cargo area that'll make packing for a go-anywhere adventure (or just a trip to Grandma's for the holidays) that much easier. You also get a reputation for near bulletproof reliability and a driving experience that's not as cumbersome or trucklike as you'd expect for an off-road-oriented SUV.

　　However, there are significant drawbacks to consider. The 4Runner's advanced age means it lacks the accident-avoidance tech found on other Toyota vehicles. Its cabin design and materials are more utilitarian than those of similarly priced rivals, and infotainment features route through a tiny 6.1-inch touchscreen. Also, the 4Runner can't match the on-road refinement and fuel economy of more modern crossover SUVs.

　　These distinct highs and lows are part of that honesty we were talking about, though. The 4Runner is what it is. If you can live with the lows, or weigh them favorably against its distinct highs, the 4Runner should prove its popularity is no fad.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 4Runner as one of zzdcar' Best Midsize SUVs for 2018.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.2 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions, although trim levels share many aspects. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Toyota 4Runner Limited (4.0L V6 | 5-speed automatic | 4WD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.2 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.5
Technology	6.0

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The 4Runner accelerates with authority, with no ropey lag inherent in smaller engines with fuel-thrifty transmissions. This V6 is stout, and the five-speed keeps it in the power. The 4Runner is practically the last one standing for midsize 4x4 SUVs with real off-road capability and rugged sensibility.

　　

Acceleration

7.0

　　The 4Runner exhibits surprisingly smooth, linear and powerful acceleration. Tall gearing and five speeds keep it in the powerband longer, unlike many of today's crossovers that shift to highest gears as quickly as possible. There's no insufferable lag, just ample thrust. It's not fast, but the V6 is surprisingly strong.

　　

Braking

6.0

　　The brake pedal has a nebulous feel through two-thirds of the pedal travel, so drivers might need some time to achieve consistently smooth stops. Plenty of stopping power remains in the last third of the pedal travel. There's an abundance of nosedive in emergency stops.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　Similar to the brakes, not a lot of real feel comes through the wheel, but the truck responds quickly and accurately. Steering effort is a bit heavy at higher speeds, but it's not fatiguing. At low speeds, it offers an appropriate amount of assist.

　　

Handling

7.0

　　The 4Runner is surprisingly stable, even in tight, short turns. Body roll isn't excessive. Controlling it requires deliberate easing off of the throttle, braking, settling, then stabbing the throttle midcorner. The Limited-specific suspension system is at work here, trying its best to make the 4Runner feel somewhat luxurious.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　Smooth throttle delivery and seamless shifting make the 4Runner feel less like a truck and more like a crossover, but it's not quite either. The transmission's five available gears enable the driver to wring maximum thrust from the V6, but additional gears would improve fuel economy.

　　

Off-road

9.0

　　The 4Runner excels off-road, but the Limited model is the least capable due to its 20-inch wheels and low-hanging front fascia. SR5 and TRD models have superior chin clearance and better-suited wheels and tires. The TRD Off-Road trim has a lockable rear differential, and it's the only one with available disconnecting stabilizer bars.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　The Toyota 4Runner offers a reasonable mix of comfort that's consistent with its overall mission and truck-based roots. It's not as cushy as today's typical crossovers, but few looking for this kind of rugged capability will take exception to that.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　The broad cushions and seatbacks offer a wide surface area for long-distance comfort, although lumbar support feels overly firm. With the optional third-row seating package, the second-row seats can slide and recline, but the third row is for kids only or short trips with average-size adults.

　　

Ride comfort

6.5

　　The ride is not quite crossover-smooth, but it's not truck-brutish either. It bounces around on crummy pavement. But if you've driven trucks and can tolerate the kind of vibrations and jostling that can creep into a truck's ride, you'll find the 4Runner more than acceptable because it rides better than a pickup.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　The isolation of road noise is good most of the time, but the squarish shape isn't particularly adept at quelling wind noise. It's not unreasonable or out of place in this type of vehicle, though.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　If you can get past controls that look as if they're from a Tonka set, they're large and easy to use. The climate system works swiftly and without delay. That's a big ask since the cabin is quite large, but front passengers get relief in two minutes or less. The Limited's seat-cooling fans are noisy.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The Limited's interior is a mishmash of materials. The dash has a piece of fake dark walnut capped by silver spray-painted plastic trim. The gauges look pulled from a mid-2000s Toyota Matrix. The design appears genuinely confused about whether it's a nice crossover or a rugged truck. But that sort of sums up the Limited.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　The switch gear is big, logical and easy to use, but it looks ancient in 2019. It looked dated in 2009. The infotainment screen is laughably small, too.

　　

Getting in/getting out

6.5

　　This off-road-biased 4x4 naturally comes with a higher step-up height relative to standard crossovers. Access to the front and rear is similar, but grab handles make it easier to gain leverage on entry. Shorter drivers will need to learn to spring up into the seats. The doors open nice and wide.

　　

Driving position

7.0

　　The 4Runner offers an even higher, more commanding view than most crossovers. Drivers of all sizes will be able to find a good position, although adjustable pedals and more wheel telescoping would be appreciated.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　There's plenty of front head- and legroom for tall passengers, although the available sunroof consumes considerable headroom. The back has plenty of headroom but a bit less legroom. But the sliding and reclining rear seats should help even 6-foot-tall passengers find a comfy setting.

　　

Visibility

7.5

　　It's surprisingly easy to see over the hood and toward the front corners, perhaps due to the simple and boxy design. There's good visibility out the back window, further enhanced by a backup camera. The rear quarters have the usual SUV blind spots, but a fairly level sightline out the sides offers good around-view visibility.

　　

Quality

8.5

　　The 4Runner has tight gaps outside and an attractive interior. The premium vinyl upholstery in most trims should be easy to clean, but it won't fool anyone into thinking it's leather. Only the Limited gets the real stuff, which looks good and should hold up over the long haul.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　This is why you buy the 4Runner: loads of room and a clean, squared-off shape to enhance cargo capacity and cabin usefulness, along with off-road build quality and capability. Load up the 4Runner with outdoor gear, pets, clothes, duffel bags and go. That's part of this SUV's primary appeal.

　　

Small-item storage

6.5

　　For such a roomy cabin, there aren't many places to stash personal items. The door pockets can hold a slim water bottle and some smaller flat items. The center console is deep and wide enough for a cluster of wallets, phones, keys, small items and maybe an iPad Mini. You'll be hunting for stash spaces.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　The rear seatbacks fold flat, and it's easy to pack the sizable cargo hold (88.8 cubic feet with seats down; 46.3 cubic feet with seats up) because of its squarish shape. Car campers will love it since it's easy to stretch out a couple of sleeping bags in the back. Available slide-out tray is a unique feature that aids loading.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　A leather flap backed with Velcro covers the LATCH anchors, but it's easy to pull back and access them. Three tethers are located behind each rear seat. The roomy second row can accommodate car seats in any of the three positions, even bulkier rear-facing models. The square door openings make for easy access.

　　

Towing

7.0

　　Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, a useful figure that covers most boats and many small camping trailers. But the 4Runner doesn't offer a factory electric trailer brake controller. You'll have to go aftermarket to add that capability.

　　

Technology

6.0

　　This 4Runner generation is now a decade old and its limited technology offerings show it. There's no safety tech available (other Toyotas come standard with them). And although the infotainment system's functionality is OK, it looks, feels and is dated. That could be a real deal-breaker given its competitors.

　　

Audio & navigation

6.5

　　The navigation system is basic. Most smartphone-based nav apps are more powerful and sophisticated. The 6-inch display is small and there's no upgrade available. The JBL audio system is decent but lacks power and volume.

　　

Smartphone integration

6.0

　　There's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, just Toyota's basic Entune app suite. But the USB and Bluetooth audio/phone connections offer a suitable workaround to the clunky Entune interface.

　　

Driver aids

6.0

　　There's a surprising lack of common driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Many of these come standard on other Toyotas or are offered on competitors.

　　

Voice control

6.0

　　The rudimentary controls require very specific syntax and speech patterns. Most drivers will have better luck using the voice assistants on their phones.

　　

Which 4Runner does zzdcar recommend?

　　Much of the 4Runner's value lies in its go-anywhere capability. As such, we think the TRD Off-Road Premium is the sweet spot in the lineup. It's not as hardcore (or expensive) as the TRD Pro, but its locking rear differential and available KDSS suspension help provide off-road capability that few SUVs can match. At the same time, the Premium part of its name indicates the many features that make this 4Runner trim a more livable vehicle.

　　

2019 Toyota 4Runner models

　　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.

　　The SR5 is the base model, but it's not bare-bones. Standard features include 17-inch wheels, skid plates, foglights, a rearview camera, heated mirrors, roof rails, a windshield wiper de-icer, a power rear window, power front seats (eight-way driver, four-way passenger), 40/20/40-split reclining and folding second-row seats, cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a 120-volt power outlet in the rear cargo area. The standard infotainment system boasts a 6.1-inch touchscreen, one USB port, and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, a media player interface, and HD and satellite radio.

　　Stepping up to TRD Off-Road adds a locking rear differential, slightly wider 17-inch wheels, Multi-Terrain Select off-road settings and a crawl control function. The interior wears additional TRD badging. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) feature is optional.

　　Premium variants of the SR5 and the TRD Off-Road get SofTex simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, navigation, an upgraded 6.1-inch touchscreen and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. A sunroof is optional.

　　Serious off-roaders should consider the TRD Pro, which starts with the TRD Off-Road Premium and adds revised front springs, Fox dampers with internal bypass rear remote reservoirs, matte black 17-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, a special front skid plate, a roof rack and special styling. It also gains automatic headlights, LED foglights, the sunroof and a 15-speaker JBL sound system.

　　The Limited model is more luxury-oriented and sacrifices off-road capability in the process. It gets a Torsen locking center differential (4WD models only), a full-time 4WD system, and a separate suspension system Toyota calls X-REAS that's designed to reduce body roll without hurting ride quality. The Limited also gains the TRD Pro's extra creature comfort features plus 20-inch wheels, special styling, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors, keyless ignition and entry, heated and ventilated front seats, and leather seat upholstery. Power-deploying running boards are optional.

　　The new Limited Nightshade Edition just adds black exterior trim, replacing much of the Limited's standard silver and chrome accents.

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2019 4Runner Highlights

Trim: SR5SR5 PremiumTRD OFF-ROADTRD OFF-ROAD PremiumLimitedLimited Nightshade EditionTRD PROSR5

　　

Base MSRP	$35,310
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	18 MPG
Cost to Drive	$202/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	47.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles