BY H. THROTTLE
AUTOMOTIVE COLUMNIST
The Toyota 4Runner has been one of the most desired and popular outdoor SUVs in history. The test drive of a 4Runner 4×4 TRD Pro V6 was impressive and riding in comfort on the 17-inch ally “pro-flow” form wheel and “Nitto Terra Grappler” tires.
This 4Runner has a feel of power and road control. Larger in size and stature the driver feels safe, secure, and comfortable in this vehicle. The 4.L /V6 engine is linked to a five-speed auto transmission that works well with practice. The sole Drive mode can be shifted to the five-speed option to provide eager acceleration for hill climbing or lane passing. It might be noted that a good feature would be turbo-charging the engine to provide the Drive mode additional strength and acceleration without having to downshift. The 4Runner is assembled in Tamara, Aichi, Japan at sea level and that can hinder the 270-horsepower vehicle at mile-high elevations in mountain terrain driving.
Toyota has gone sporty in their paint choices for this test model with a blazing “Lime Rush” paint and solo black interior. The bright “chartreuse” color makes a statement that gets “thumbs up” from parking lot passersby. The youthful hotel parking lot attendant praises the colorful paint, bright colors seemingly attract younger adults.
The 4Runner has a simpler dashboard with easy controls and multi-terrain select and crawl features. Sound is loud and clear with 15 JBL speaker system complete with subwoofers and amplifier.
Toyota has added all of the latest safety measures including the Star Safety System and Safety Sense/pre-collision features. The panoramic view monitor is handy in tight parking situations.
Competitive in price with many outdoor features including trailer hitch and roof rails, this versatile vehicle has a suggested manufacturer’s retail price of $54,120. The 4Runner has a 50,000 miles/5-year powertrain warranty.
This is a cool vehicle for all-around Colorado usage and high-country excursions.