2010 Toyota 4Runner Reviews

Longer, taller, wider and a lot more powerful, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner would have been a smashing success in 1999, but now, a decade later, its feels dated and totally underwhelming.

For 26 years, the 4Runner has run the roads of America carrying families to and fro, hauling boats and all of those toys folks must have.

But nowadays, the redesigned 4Runner comes across as bloated and tired. It's the hangover of our own excesses and a symbol of times gone by. Crossovers have replaced SUVs as stylish family haulers in almost each and every imaginable way. And most carmakers intend to reinvent their remaining SUVs as some sort of unibody crossover/SUV hybrid that offers trucky toughness but car-like efficiencies.

While the overall changes have created a very capable vehicle, the 4Runner nevertheless has the hallmarks of an SUV via and via. It's enough for ındividuals to glare at you about the open street as they sit back and smugly accuse you of turning the Earth into Dante's Inferno. "That way a good soul ın no way passes," their judging eyes say ınside the parking lot, as they pull their children tightly against their hips, safely away from evil.

Actually, the 4Runner is far from evil. Its new powertrains provide much more energy and far better gas mileage. The 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine ınside the base model cranks out 157 horsepower and 178 meaty pound-feet of torque. For most daily drivers, that ought to be plenty.

And the 4-liter V-6 comes with plenty of high-tech bells and whistles, such as dual independent variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) to belt out 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. Individuals numbers top the 4Runner's previous generation's V-8 by 10 horses.

But the base 4Runner even now uses a four-speed transmission and hits 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg around the highway. The V-6, with a five-speed automatic, almost matches the four-banger, reaching 17 mpg within the town, 23 mpg about the highway. (The 4x4 product gets 17 mpg town, 22 mpg highway.) With only a minor difference in gas mileage, why would anyone buy the four-cylinder version?

All of ındividuals numbers are on par with other midsize SUVs, but that's like tying for first in a race no 1 wants to watch. When you look at crossovers, which might lack the off-road abilities of a 4x4 SUV, the mileage numbers are just not really great.

Worse yet, crossovers just ride much better for the same cost.

4Runner best off street

The 4Runner ride feels like the FJ Cruiser frame it rode in on.

About the highway, the body floats, and close to town it leans heavily into corners. Perhaps the best place for that 4Runner is off street, ın which the independent suspension will glide over bumps and bruises. But on paved surfaces, the 4Runner can feel punishing. Also, that's exactly where the full time 4x4 with locking center differential would come in one of the most handy.

There's also a new crawl feature about the 4Runner that enables the driver to set one of five speeds. Then the 4Runner keeps that rate across a terrain by maintaining the engine rate and braking to prevent the driver from overworking any component of it.

The Trail grade 4Runner adds a Multi-Terrain feature, which is similar to Land Rover's program that adjusts several functions on the automobile to much better handle the surface the automobile is on. It will enable a lot more wheel slippage if you're in snow or mud and less if you are on pavement.

Both of these features are fantastic additions to the 4Runner and like most 4Runner owners, I hardly used either of them.

The steering, which is power-assisted and variable gear rack and pinion, feels loose at highway speeds and numb around town. You expect heavier feedback but the 4Runner never delivers it.

Interior is disappointing

The interior also falls flat.

It has all from the proper parts, nice gauges and dual climate controls for high-end Limited models. But the plastic dash looks cheaper than other SUVs, such as the Ford Explorer, and also the seats aren't nearly as comfortable as those on just about any huge crossover.

There is plenty of space within the very first row, with 39.3 inches of legroom. But things cramp up from there. The second row only offers 32.9 inches as well as the third row is optional because no one in his or her proper mind would opt for it.

For the most component, the interior feels like Toyota was just ın no way that into this car. It has all the correct parts but there's no life to them. There's no emotion.

The optional JBL audio program, complete with 15 speakers, includes a "Party Mode" that equates to merely turning up the volume. (Technically, Party Mode is for when the car is parked and you want to play music for people outside with the automobile; it uses the speakers within the back from the 4Runner.)

There is also the hands-free cell phone operation by means of Bluetooth and USB port to connect to a personal music device. A cargo deck ınside the back slides out to create it simpler to load and unload huge heavy objects.

But still the sum of all these parts don't seem to equal the total.

Exterior a lot more rugged looking

Even the new appear from the 4Runner seems to push itself out of the mainstream and into a niche group served now by the FJ Cruiser. Toyota made the 4Runner much more rugged searching, squaring off its edges and shoring up its bumpers and making it look much more aggressive in the front and back.

You will find some specific exterior cues for each trim level, for example the hood scoop around the Trail grade model or the turn signal indicators ınside the exterior mirrors about the SR5 and Restricted models.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the 4Runner has ın no way looked bigger or bolder. It makes a statement like ın no way before.

The 4Runner might nevertheless collect its fair share of nostalgic looks at the showroom but couple of are ever going to make it to a driveway. You will find just too numerous other vehicles that provide much far better gas mileage, much more versatility and don't have the social stigma SUVs tow behind them.

It's a good-off road vehicle but nothing unique on pavement. And nobody wants strangers tsk, tsking them around the highway.

sburgess@detnews.com (313) 223-3217

2010 Toyota 4Runner

Type: Five- or eight-passenger SUV

Price: $28,300

Engine:

2.7-liter four-cylinder

4-liter V-6

Transmission: Four- or five-speed automatic transmission Power:

2.7-liter: 157 horsepower;

178 pound-feet torque

4-liter: 270 horsepower;

278 pound-feet torque

EPA gas mileage:

2.7-liter (4x2): 18 mpg city / 23 mpg highway; 4-liter (4x4): 17 mpg city / 22 mpg highway

Report Card

General:

Exterior: Fair. It's huge and rugged-looking and has all of the exterior trappings of an SUV. Hood scoop on Trail grade design is silly.

Interior: Fair. Plenty of space but general cheap feel to the interior. The third row is an option couple of ought to pick.

Performance: Great. Superb off-road abilities but only fair on-road prowess; load ride has lots of body roll.

Pros: If you live ınside the woods and need a spacious hill climber, the 4Runner would serve you well.

Cons: If you live in a city or suburbs, this SUV is too large and feels even bigger on the road.

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