Driving Impressions

The Toyota 4Runner handles very well for a truck with a live rear axle truck. We drove various models very quickly down twisting back roads along the Oregon coast and found the 4Runner is easy to drive at a good clip. Suspension damping is excellent. Yes, when the road got bumpy we could tell it had a solid rear axle rather than an independent rear suspension, but the 4Runner handles more confidently than a Chevy TrailBlazer, which also uses a live rear axle. Rack-and-pinion steering gives the 4Runner quick steering response and good steering feel. On unpaved roads, the 4Runner still provides a very smooth ride, thanks in part to well-tuned damping and progressive-rate spring bumpers. However, the 4Runner really comes into its own when the terrain gets gnarly. There's lots of suspension articulation for climbing over boulders and gullies, and a host of technology for handling steep, slippery grades. The standard V6 engine is so good we can't see a reason to get the V8, except for frequent, heavy towing. This 4.0-liter V6 is so responsive that a pair of lead-footed automotive journalists testing it never felt short-changed. It was brand new in 2003, and packed with the latest technology, including fully variable valve timing, a new linkless electronic throttle control system and lightweight all-aluminum construction. The V6 is rated at 245 horsepower and 282 pounds-feet of torque. Fuel economy has been improved and the V6 4x2 model gets better-than-credible 18/21 mpg city/highway, according to the EPA (17/21 for 4x4s). The V6 is paired with an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. It's smooth and delivers excellent response whenever the driver needs some get up and go. The optional 4.7-liter V8 generates 235 horsepower at 4800 rpm and 320 pounds-feet of torque. No, that's not a type: The V8 delivers less peak horsepower than the V6. Yet it's torque, not horsepower, that's most important when pulling trailers from a dead stop, and the 4Runner's V8 was designed to provide better low-rpm pulling power without compromising highway fuel economy. V8 models weigh about 125 pounds more than V6 4Runners, and the V8 delivers 16/20 mpg in 4x2s, and 16/19 in 4x4s. The V8 also delivers slightly better acceleration than the V6, but for most buyers it probably isn't worth the price tag ($1,250) or decrease in fuel economy. The difference will be noticed primarily after hooking up a trailer. Both engines feature a cranking system that keeps the starter engaged until complete combustion is achieved, freeing the driver from holding the key until the engine turns over. This is a feature usually associated with expensive luxury sedans. We found the two-wheel-drive 4Runner impressively capable off road; indeed, it's more capable than some so-called SUVs equipped with all-wheel-drive. Yet ultimate traction comes from the four-wheel-drive models. For starters, 4WD 4Runners are equipped with a two-speed transfer case, giving the driver a low-range set of gears for creeping over rugged terrain. V6 4WD 4Runners are equipped with Toyota's Multi-Mode shift-on-the-fly system with a Torsen-type limited-slip center differential. The driver can shift between 2WD, 4WD High, and 4WD Low. The Torsen center differential is open in 2WD mode. It applies a rear bias in four-wheel-drive mode, splitting torque 40/60 front-to-rear in normal driving conditions, providing the driver with a traditional feel and better stability when accelerating. The 4WD mode may be used in all types of driving conditions on all types of roads, from dry pavement to wet or snow-covered roads. The system gives the 4Runner a sure-footed feel because power is applied to all four wheels, improving traction. When the front wheels slip, up to 70 percent of the power goes to the rear wheels. When the rear wheels slip, up to 53 percent of the power goes to the front wheels. V8 engines are mated to a new five-speed

Final Word

The Toyota 4Runner has grown up. The 2004 model is bigger, smoother, and more comfortable than 4Runners sold just two years ago. It has moved closer to the Toyota Land Cruiser in terms of size and technology. Yet it hasn't diverged from its roots as a highly capable off-road vehicle. This SUV is a truck, and proud of it. If you want serious off-road capability with Toyota quality, and the company's reputation for durability and reliability, then the new 4Runner is an excellent choice. It will get you over the rocks and through the muck, but it won't make you regret its off-road capability when you're cruising the Interstate. Nonetheless, if you rarely venture off-road (and by "off road" we don't mean dirt roads), then you'll find the Toyota Highlander and other unibody, independently suspended SUVs smoother and more comfortable.