2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD PRO Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide

MotorTrend

Though it's been around a few years

Transcript

00:00 This is a 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro,

00:03 Toyota's midsize SUV that's ready to hit the trails

00:07 straight from the factory.

00:08 But it's more than ready,

00:10 as it is one of the most capable off-roaders in its segment.

00:14 But do these capabilities really make up

00:16 for its lack of performance and refinement on the road?

00:19 Let's find out.

00:21 The 4Runner has been around for a very long time.

00:27 It originally debuted for the 1984 model year,

00:30 but back then it was pretty much a truck with an enclosed bed.

00:34 This is a fifth-generation 4Runner,

00:35 and it's been around since 2009.

00:38 And that's a very long time to go

00:39 without any significant update.

00:41 Who does it compete against?

00:43 On the one hand, we have the Ford Bronco,

00:45 and on the other, we have the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon,

00:48 both of which are body-on-frame SUVs

00:50 and have that off-road appeal built into them,

00:54 just like the 4Runner.

00:55 The 4Runner was built for those

00:57 who want to go off-roading pretty often,

00:59 but especially the TRD Pro model enhances that

01:02 with its long list of trail-ready equipment.

01:05 And that starts with its tough design.

01:07 The 4Runner isn't exactly a pretty SUV.

01:11 It's a rather tough-looking SUV.

01:13 And as part of the TRD Pro package,

01:16 you do get a lot of details

01:18 that are different in other 4Runners.

01:20 For example, that starts here in the grille.

01:22 The Toyota letters are spelled out.

01:24 That's something unique to the TRD Pro model.

01:26 As well as the hood scoop and the skid plate.

01:29 The skid plate, of course,

01:30 helps you when you're going off-roading.

01:33 It helps protect the underbody

01:34 from any rocks that you might hit.

01:36 I love here from the side, I love those wheels.

01:39 They are 17-inch wheels,

01:41 which are tiny for today's standard,

01:42 but my gosh, they just go so well with the whole package.

01:46 Of course, you're not going to see any chrome here.

01:48 Everything is going to be blacked out.

01:50 And that's, again, to enhance that ruggedness

01:53 that designers were looking for in the TRD Pro model.

01:56 And you do get a basket, which, you know,

01:58 why not get a basket like that?

02:00 Here in the back, my favorite feature

02:02 is the ability to roll down the tailgate window,

02:05 which allows you not only to have large items,

02:07 maybe like a surfboard or something like that,

02:09 but also helps the cabin to feel a little bit more airy

02:13 whenever you're off-roading.

02:14 And I have to say, this Lona Rock color,

02:17 it works really well in the 4Runner.

02:18 We've seen it previously in the Tundra also,

02:21 but here in the 4Runner, it really stands out.

02:25 Inside, the 4Runner is starting to show its age.

02:27 But like in any car, there's good things and bad things.

02:30 Let's start with the good things.

02:31 First of all, is the cabin and cargo space.

02:34 You can bring up to five people and their gear

02:37 for any camping trip or road trip,

02:39 and they will fit just fine.

02:41 Also, you get this TRD knob, which is grabby,

02:44 that I like for a truck this big.

02:46 And you also get the terrain management system buttons

02:49 up here.

02:50 What needs some improvement?

02:52 Well, first of all, the eight-inch touchscreen,

02:54 although it has been updated recently,

02:56 the system itself is not as intuitive.

02:58 It does have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,

03:00 but we've seen larger screens and better systems

03:03 in other manufacturers.

03:05 Also, the switch gear, it just feels like it was designed

03:08 maybe 15 years ago.

03:09 So overall, there's a lot of usability

03:12 inside of the 4Runner, but its design feels dated.

03:16 Every 4Runner is powered by a 4.0 liter

03:20 naturally aspirated V6 engine that makes 270 horsepower

03:25 and 278 pound-feet of torque.

03:28 While those numbers are probably a little more closer

03:30 to what you would hear from a turbo four engine,

03:34 it's because the V6 engine has been around

03:36 for as long as the 4Runner has been around,

03:38 which is a pretty long time.

03:40 Same case with the five-speed transmission.

03:42 It's a five-speed automatic transmission

03:44 that's pretty much unheard of these days,

03:46 and it's not as refined.

03:47 It doesn't help its fuel economy either.

03:49 That stands at 16 miles per gallon on the city

03:52 and 19 miles per gallon on the highway.

03:55 However, the TRD Pro model, which is this model right here

03:59 and includes a long list of standard off-road equipment,

04:02 starts with the Fox shocks that not only make the ride

04:04 a little bit more capable, but smoother off the road.

04:08 Also, you get a two-speed transfer case

04:10 thanks to its four-wheel drive system,

04:12 9.4 inches of ground clearance, and a rear locking diff.

04:16 So although the 4Runner is not as good on road,

04:19 off-road, it really stands out.

04:21 Safety is not the strongest point for the 4Runner.

04:25 The NHTSA gave it four stars out of five,

04:28 and the IIHS crash-tested it five different times,

04:31 giving it four good scores and one marginal.

04:34 In terms of safety technologies,

04:36 we just don't see the same kinds of technologies

04:39 that we see in today's new cars,

04:40 but you do get automatic front emergency braking,

04:44 lane keep warning, and adaptive cruise control

04:46 that works at speeds of over 25 miles per hour.

04:49 So safety-wise, the 4Runner does okay.

04:52 How much for a 4Runner?

04:55 The base trim starts at just under $38,000,

04:58 and this TRD Pro right next to me, it's just under 53 grand.

05:02 That's a few thousand bucks below the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon,

05:06 and it's pretty much in line with the Ford Bronco.

05:09 Now, 53 grand for a V6 12-year-old truck

05:14 is a little too much for my taste,

05:17 especially because you're not getting

05:18 the on-road refinement or the new technology

05:21 that we see in today's cars.

05:23 However, the 4Runner is known

05:25 for having a great resale value,

05:27 and that's always something nice to know

05:29 whenever you're making a new vehicle purchase.

05:31 The one thing you should take away is this.

05:34 The 4Runner is a very honest SUV.

05:37 It's not trying to impress you with its design.

05:39 It's not trying to impress you with its technology,

05:42 but it does have the capability

05:43 to conquer some of the most challenging trails.

05:46 If you're looking for an off-road SUV

05:48 and you don't mind the bouncy ride on the road

05:51 or the poor fuel economy,

05:53 the 4Runner should be on your list.

05:55 To see our vehicle rankings and complete buyer's guide,

05:58 visit motortrend.com/cars.

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