The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV manufactured by Toyota and sold throughout the world from 1984 to the present. In Japan it was known as the Toyota Hilux Surf.
The original 4Runner was a compact SUV and little more than a Toyota pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, but the model has since undergone significant independent development into a cross between a mid-size and a full-size SUV.
All 4Runners have been built at Toyota’s Tahara plant in Tahara, Aichi, Japan or at Hino Motors’ Hamura, Japan plant, and in Brazil. Its mid-size crossover SUV counterpart is the Kluger/Highlander.
The third generation 4Runner did, however, look very similar to the second generation.
This similarity largely ended with its looks. It carried over the basic design and concept, but executed it differently with an all-new body shell on an all-new chassis. This time, it shared virtually nothing with the pickup it had originally evolved from, and had more in common with the Land Cruiser, as it shared its chassis with that of the Land Cruiser Prado.
The third generation 4Runner also featured new engines that are also installed in the first generation Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks. :
– 2.7L 3RZ-FE I4 replacing the previous 2.4L 22R-E I4; 150 hp (110 kW), max horsepower: 4800 rpm, torque: 177 ft·lbf (240 N·m), max torque: 4000 rpm;
– 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 replacing the previous 3.0L 3VZ-E V6: power: 183 hp (136 kW), max horsepower: 4800 rpm, torque: 217 ft·lbf (294 N·m), max Torque: 3600 rpm.
and now, check the video review with the latest Toyota 4Runner:
As the base model of the lineup, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4×2 will come with the 157-horsepower, 2.7-liter inline-4 shared with the Highlander, and it will start at $27,500 – a price drop of $1,140.
According to Toyota’s product information, this engine will be available with either two- or four-wheel drive, but we’d suspect anyone willing to sacrifice ruggedness for $1,140 isn’t really worried about the 4Runner’s off-roading abilities. Stepping up to the 270-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6, the 4Runner SR5 4×2 V6 will start at $29,175, while the volume seller, according to Toyota, is the four-wheel drive version of this configuration, which will get the same $30,915 starting price as the 2009 model. Even though the price is staying the same, Toyota claims that the 4Runner SR5 will benefit from an additional $1,700 worth of equipment when compared alongside the 2009 model.
Replacing the Sport Edition in the lineup, the all-new 4Runner Trail will be the most capable off-road model with a more rugged design and a single drivetrain configuration that offers only the V-6 paired with four-wheel drive.
With its blacked-out plastic trim and safari-style roof rack, the 2010 4Runner Trail will have a starting MSRP of $35,700.
This price represents an increase of about $5,000 compared to a base 2009 4Runner Sport, but unlike this model the 4Runner Trail is not available in a two-wheel drive layout.
