Used 2011 Toyota 4Runner SUV Review & Ratings

Toyota 4Runner SUV is another one of their long running success stories, with the first versions rolling of the production lines way back in 1984. The 4Runner evolved from a popular pickup truck of that time, which had a rear fibre glass cabin welded on, so that rear passengers could enjoy some kind of protection from the elements. The idea caught on and now the Toyota 4Runner SUV is in its fifth series with more than a half a million units sold. Designed and produced to be a no frills working truck/ people carrier the Toyota 4Runner also doubles up in fine style as a sports utility vehicle (SUV),comfortably meeting the challenges of the toughest terrains.

The 2011 Toyota 4Runner is powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine paired with a five speed automatic gearbox, a configuration that is standard across the SR5, Limited, and Trail grade models and comfortably generates 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. Reviews are generally enthusiastic about the 4Runner's steering capabilities, based around Toyota's , power-assisted rack-and-pinion design that provides hydraulic assisted adjustments based on prevailing road conditions and especially on rough terrain.

The 2011 Toyota 4Runner comes in either SR5, Limited, or Trail grade versions with the Trail grade and SR5 utilizing a manually change over four-wheel-drive system. The Limited version comes with permanent configured multi-mode four-wheel-drive system.

As far as looks are concerned, the Toyota 4Runner SUV continues with its rugged theme with very little pretentiousness about it. Solid and square is the message here and it begins with 4Runner's massive wheel-wells housing 17-inch diameter alloy wheels fitted with 265/70R17 tires. The front view of the 4Runner SUV is workmanlike, dominated by a huge bumper and Projection-beam headlights, The rear end carries on the theme, with a set of almost aggressively bulging taillights . To round off the impression that the Toyota 4Runner SUV is more a worker than a theme car is the square and solid set of roof rails, that come as standard with all models.

The Toyota 4Runner SUV can be ordered with either two-row or three-row seating permutations with seating capacity for either (up to) five or seven passengers, with the third row facing forwards. Because of the large amount of internal space that the 4Runner provides, being in the third row is no punishment with plenty of leg and head room, as well as providing easy access through folding down the side seats on the second row. When the time comes to carry some cargo then the Toyota 4Runner SUV will not be found lacking, with a maximum of 90 cubic feet available for the five seater version, with the extra row taking up just more than one cubic foot.

For those really long treks, the 4Runner comes with a standard rear receiver hitch that can tow up to 5000 pounds of dead weight, or haul the next door neighbor's car out of a snow bound driveway. The Toyota 4Runner SUV is designed to be switched to four wheel drive with ease, just by pulling a simple lever. The SR5 and Trail Grade versions come with high and low range 4WD options.

The Toyota 4Runner SUV sits very comfortably in its niche as a hard working on road vehicle/ people carrier that can face and overcome the toughest of off road driving challenges that most of the car-based crossovers would find too hot to handle.

Toyota, who have nourished and nurtured the 4Runner through its long history and series of model changes, know that their vehicle is a "stand alone" in many ways. The many hundreds of thousands of people who have chosen the 4Runner in the past and those who will undoubtedly choose it in the future are well aware of what they will be getting into and, according to all reviews, are very happy about the prospect.