The Toyota 4Runner SUV continues to honor its image as a no-nonsense work horse with its interior layout, described in reviews as a mixture of "utilitarian practicability." Despite that frightening description, the 4Runner's cabin is, in the flesh, actually quite modern and with an instrument panel that is totally high-tech.
The 2011 Toyota 4Runner SUV comes in a choice of three models, each with its own identity and accessory packages, designed to tailor to a potential owner's taste, budget or requirements.
The standard version of the Toyota 4Runner SUV goes under the title of the SR5. The SR5 comes with cloth upholstery, a four spoke leather bound steering wheel, six way manually adjustable seating, active headrests, cruise control, an eight speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system, second-row seats that split 40/20/40, automatic air conditioning, and 17-inch wheels and tires as standard.
The next one up the rung of 4Runner variations is the Limited Edition which has leather upholstery as standard, eight way manually adjustable seating , heated seating, white-numeral Optitron instrument gauges, dual-zone climate control, satellite radio and antenna, Bluetooth connectivity and heavy duty 20-inch wheels and P245/60R20 tires. Designed for maximum performance on the toughest off-road conditions, the Trail Grade version comes with all of these features barring water-resistant fabric seats in place of leather, heavy duty suspension to provide higher ground clearance, a Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select System.
All three versions of the Toyota 4Runner SUV share such handy driving aids as an accessory meter that displays such handy statistics as outside temperature, average fuel consumption, and compass direction.
Safety features on all 4Runner models include a full complement of airbags: dual-stage front airbags, a driver's-knee airbag, upper body-protecting side-impact airbags for front passengers, and head-protecting side air curtains for the front and rear seats. All models come with anti-lock brakes (ABS), which are designed to enhance steering control during an emergency stop situation. The ABS features Brake Assist, which applies the brakes more forcefully and consistently when it senses the onset of a panic stop, and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), which balances brake application front and rear for optimal stopping distance. A tire-pressure monitor is standard, as well as a Vehicle Stability Control feature.
Fuel consumption for the Toyota 4Runner SUV, according to the US EPA averages at 19.5 miles per gallon in four wheels drives, with 17 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the open road being reported in most reviews.