2023 Toyota 4Runner Review / Why is this old SUV still so popular in 2023?

Jul 29, 2023

2023 Toyota 4Runner Review / Why is this old SUV still so popular in 2023?

The Toyota 4Runner has been around in its current generation since 2010. That’s 13 years. By automotive standards, this is a senior citizen. But despite its age, there are a lot of 4Runners out on the roads. Why is that? Why is this boomer still such a popular SUV?

The 4Runner 2023 has a big V6 at 4.0L of displacement but it only produces 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque (201 kW \u0026 377 Nm). Furthermore, the SUV tips the scales at 2,120 kg (4,675 lbs). This V6 has enough power when the SUV is unloaded but when you throw in cargo in the trunk and ferry 4 passengers around, it can feel underpowered. Particularly when merging onto a highway or climbing a steep hill while it’s loaded.

With such a big engine and big body, the Toyota 4Runner is not fuel efficient either. It is rated for 14.8 L/100km (15.9 MPG) in a city and 12.5 L/100km (18.8 MPG) on a highway. During my time with the SUV, I averaged 13.6 L/100km (17.3 MPG) which consisted of mostly highway driving. Had it been more city driving, it probably would’ve been closer to 15 L/100km (15.6 MPG).

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner starts at $51,890 CAD ($39,555 USD, SR5 4X2). This 40th Anniversary Edition will cost you $55,220 CAD ($47,120 USD).
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0:00 Intro - Don’t Forget to Subscribe :)
1:09 Performance - Is the 4Runner fast?
6:21 Comfort - Is the 4Runner spacious?
10:10 Odds and Ends - Is the 4Runner expensive?
12:22 Conclusion - Why is the 4Runner popular?

Content

0.72 -> did you know that this fifth generation Toyota 4Runner has been with us since 2010 that's

7.92 -> 13 years by Automotive standards it's a senior citizen however if you live in North America like

15 -> how I do then chances are you've probably seen quite a lot of them out on the roads

20.7 -> so why is that why is this Boomer still so popular in 2023 let's go for a drive and find out

65.6 -> [Music]

66.6 -> The 4Runner isn't popular because of its power it does have a big 4 liter V6 that's

86.28 -> naturally aspirated but it only produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque

93.06 -> there are more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engines out there and actually Toyota has a

99.12 -> three-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 300 horsepower although that one isn't really

105.18 -> meant for hauling such a big SUV and towing stuff with it but anyway I am digressing I wouldn't say

112.38 -> that this engine is underpowered but it's a little bit underpowered particularly when you load it

119.16 -> up with cargo and passengers or when you start to tow something you can feel it struggling when you

125.28 -> want to overtake another vehicle on a highway or when you're going up a really Steep Hill

130.98 -> however when it's unloaded like how it is right now it's an adequate amount of power

136.74 -> however the somewhat bad news doesn't really end there the throttle response is quite slow it's not

145.8 -> sharp enough it would be great if it had different Drive modes so that you can put it into sport mode

150.96 -> and have a sharper throttle response but the way that it's set up right now it just feels lazy

158.7 -> I will say this though the throttle response is great for off-roading because you want it to be

164.22 -> a little bit softer and a little bit smoother but for city streets it would be nice if it was

171 -> sharper or at least have a different mode for it to be sharper because when you just want a burst

177.36 -> of acceleration you really really need to push down on that throttle pretty much Full Throttle it

185.94 -> in order to get the engine to respond and also the transmission to downshift because

191.58 -> this transmission really likes to keep the RPMs as low as possible and speaking

197.64 -> of the transmission it's a five-speed automatic when's the last time you saw a five-speed Auto

205.2 -> the last that I can remember a five-speed and a brand new car was sometime in the early and

212.64 -> mid 2000s if you can think of one that came after that let me know in the comments kind of curious

221.16 -> but at least this transmission shifts nice and smoothly so it's not really going to bother you

225.48 -> with rough ships but because it is a five speed and because the engine is so big and because the

232.68 -> Forerunner is such a heavy SUV fuel economy is not that great it is rated at 14.8 liters per

241.44 -> 100 kilometers in a city and 12.5 liters per 100 kilometers on a highway I have been driving mostly

248.7 -> on highways during my time with this 4Runner and because of that I have been able to average 13.6

255 -> liters per 100 kilometers however I suspect that if I were to drive mostly in a city environment I

263.34 -> probably would be closer to that 15 liters per 100 kilometers mark so if the Forerunner isn't

268.86 -> all that popular because of its outright power and its fuel economy what about the driving Dynamics

275.46 -> well the brakes are pretty strong they stop the SUV without much fuss however the brake pedal

283.26 -> feels a little bit mushy when you first apply your foot on it the Forerunner has a hydraulic assisted

290.1 -> brake pedal not a vacuum assisted brake pedal like most other cars on sale today and actually some

296.16 -> newer cars are coming out with Electro assisted brake pedals but that's another can of worms but

302.1 -> my point is again when you first apply your foot on the brake pedal then it just feels a

309.6 -> little bit mushy it's a little bit soft the car does slow down but you're just not getting that

315.72 -> firmness from the brake pedal it's only when you press harder do you actually get that firm feel

321.72 -> and of course this 4Runner does have quite a bit of nose dive so that's something to get used to

327.72 -> for an SUV that is based on a truck the Toyota Tacoma the 2023 4Runner feels pretty stable

333.96 -> around corners there is a little bit of body roll and the steering is on the light side

338.82 -> but it doesn't feel like a heavy duty pickup truck it's when the pavement turns into dirt

344.16 -> that the Forerunner begins to show its strengths this particular demo vehicle only has high and

349.92 -> low four-wheel drive along with a track traction control however if you opt for the TRD Pro version

357.06 -> of the Forerunner it will come equipped with a lot more off-road goodies these include a locking rear

363.3 -> differential Fox shock absorbers crawl control with multi-terrain select off-road programs and

369.72 -> an aluminum skid plate this is an SUV that feels much more at home in the dirt than in the big city

376.56 -> Additionally the Terra Forerunner can tow up to 5 000 pounds [Music]

391.5 -> for a body on frame type of SUV the 2023 Toyota 4Runner is actually quite comfortable

397.02 -> it's not perfect however but for what it is it'll satisfy the needs of most families

403.2 -> it's on rows that have a lot more manhole covers and potholes that are closely packed together

407.94 -> that the ride begins to be a bit more bouncy as the suspension tries to settle the body with its

414.24 -> boxy shape the Toyota 4Runner induces a lot of wind noise on highways this is the most evident

420.48 -> sound that intrudes into the cabin with tire noise following a close second it's not so bad that you

426.48 -> have to yell at your passengers in order to have a conversation but it's definitely noticeable

431.88 -> engine noise is fairly well subdued so long as the RPMs remain below 2000. what about interior space

438.9 -> then well up here in the front seats there is plenty of it even if you're as tall as myself at

444 -> six foot four leg room not a problem and Headroom more than plentiful although this seat is in

449.94 -> its lowest position so that's why I have so much Headroom even so I still have excellent visibility

455.82 -> out the front out the side and even out the back and I'm still sitting pretty high up so it feels

461.16 -> like as though I'm sitting in a mid-sized truck so I can easily see over smaller cars or even

466.86 -> smaller crossover SUVs legroom in the back seats behind my tall six foot four driving position is

473.22 -> adequate my knees are just barely touching the back of the front seats Headroom is a bit less

478.8 -> than in the front and the rear seat cushions make you sit quite a bit higher up than in the front

484.26 -> the rear seats can also recline for a bit more comfort and they recline by quite a lot this

490.44 -> particular Forerunner is a two row but you can get the Forerunner as a three row SUV

496.02 -> with the rear seats up the Toyota 4Runner has 1 337 liters of cargo space the opening is

502.98 -> large and the rear seat can be folded for more space up to 2514 liters to be exact

510.18 -> but the bottom cushion needs to be pulled up first before the backrest can be folded Additionally

515.64 -> the rear window can be lowered for quick access into the trunk or for ventilation for your dog

522 -> back here in the front the Toyota 4Runner is definitely showing its age this fifth generation

527.22 -> has had updates ever since it was introduced back in 2010 but you do notice how old everything looks

534.66 -> however that is not really a complaint because I actually quite like this all of the controls

541.08 -> are well laid out and you know exactly what each button does and what each knob does

545.64 -> all of the climate controls and knobs are Big And Chunky so even if you are wearing

550.8 -> gloves during the winter months you can still easily use them there's none of that BS where

555.6 -> you have to dig through the touchscreen or the infotainment system to change the temperature

560.22 -> everything in this Toyota 4Runner is simple straightforward and it gives you a sense of

565.32 -> familiarity which in a sense kind of makes it feel a little bit more relaxing at least

570.84 -> to me it does because there's no massive touchscreen with controls that you have to

576.78 -> constantly focus on the touchscreen to change like the climate for example in this Forerunner you can

582.6 -> keep your eye straight when you're driving and there's the big knob I've adjusted the

586.86 -> temperature to my liking and I haven't had to look away from the road up ahead whereas with other

593.64 -> cars with touch screen especially with climate controls that are built into the touch screen

598.5 -> they do distract you from the job of actually driving and then this Forerunner it doesn't do

604.5 -> that it's very straightforward very simple and again really relaxing in here [Music]

620.46 -> the 2023 Toyota 4Runner starts at 51 890 Canadian the price can quickly go up as a fully loaded

628.74 -> TRD Pro 4Runner can cost as much as sixty seven thousand dollars Canadian throw in the fees and

635.28 -> taxes and it'll be hovering around the eighty thousand dollar Canadian mark so by now you're

640.74 -> probably wondering what this 40th anniversary package adds on to the standard 4Runner well

646.38 -> essentially it is just an appearance package so you're getting these retro graphics on the outside

652.5 -> you can have it in red white or black paint there's a 40th anniversary badge on the tailgates

659.46 -> you get bronze Toyota lettering on the tailgate as well as on the front grille on the inside there is

665.64 -> satellite navigation another 40th anniversary badge on the dashboard and embossing on the

672 -> headrest and back to the outside you're also getting these sweet looking 17-inch TRD Wheels

680.28 -> they do look pretty cool although I'm not sure that they look 3 330 dollars cool that's how much

687.84 -> this package costs quite a bit for just a bit of garnish but I do like the wheels other features of

696.54 -> this standard 4Runner include heated front seats heated steering wheel Dual Zone automatic climate

702.06 -> control Power sunroof 8-way power adjustable driver seat four-way for the passenger softex

708.9 -> upholstery keyless entry and push button start the infotainment system is displayed on an 8 inch

715.32 -> touchscreen and it's the older Toyota infotainment system it looks really old when compared to the

720.48 -> new Toyota infotainment system but at least it does support Apple carplay and Android auto

726.36 -> the 2023 Toyota 4Runner comes equipped with standard Toyota safety sense which includes

731.34 -> pre-collision system Auto high beams Lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control

736.98 -> there's also blind spot sensors with rear cross traffic alert and a standard backup camera

743.22 -> so why is this ancient Toyota 4Runner still so popular in 2023

748.8 -> it's not for the power it's not for the fuel economy it's not for the technology or the gadgets

755.04 -> it's not for the driving Dynamics I think it's because of its Simplicity and off-road capability

762.3 -> this is an SUV in which you can throw in all of your Outdoor Equipment your kids your pet and

768 -> Tackle light to rough off-roading depending on the trim level of course you can also throw in

773.34 -> all of your groceries take the kids to school and never have to worry about breaking down or

778.26 -> being stressed out by the technology that doesn't always work as it should the 2023

783.48 -> Toyota 4Runner is a simple analog straightforward SUV and an increasingly complex Automotive Market

791.16 -> if you'd like to know more about this 2023 Toyota 4Runner I wrote a more detailed review of it over

796.74 -> on my website you can find the link in the video description or in the pop-up Banner in the top

801.48 -> right corner and as always I will see you in the next car or truck or most likely another

807.96 -> SUV anyway thank you for watching I hope you enjoyed this video and see you next time

827.94 -> [Music]

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFZ7yT-sTsY