2014 Toyota 4Runner: Keeping The Past Alive And Well

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  The redesigned 2014 Toyota 4Runner, which I was given a chance to drive this past week in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the few mid-size SUVs that has remained true to its roots, maintaining a body-on-frame design, a standard four-wheel drive system with a two-speed transfer case, and the kind of trail manners that keep it in the conversation with more dedicated off-road vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler.

That’s not to say that the Toyota 4Runner hasn’t been improved for the current model year.  Far from it – this is one traditional sport-utility vehicle that has evolved a tried-and-true formula to perhaps its ultimate expression, allowing it to keep pace with contemporaries not just when the going gets rough, but also when the going gets suburban.

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Striking New Styling

Although never a shrinking violet, past versions of the Toyota 4Runner have tended towards the stoic end of the design spectrum, vehicles that didn’t attract much attention in the mall parking lot but which were handsome enough to park next to the boss’ Land Cruiser at work without worry.  For 2014 that all changes, as the 4Runner adopts the same type of ‘look at me’ front fascia that has become standard over at corporate parent Lexus.  The big-mouthed 4Runner features dramatic faux-inlets on either side of its wide-mouth grille, and it also gains LED lamps front and rear to go with projector headlights and a generally upright profile.  I think it’s one of the best-looking 4Runner’s we’ve been given in years, and it strikes a balance between the retro-square shape of the FJ Cruiser and the more aero-influenced crossovers that have come to define the mid-size segment.

The 2014 Toyota 4Runner has also upgraded its interior trappings across all three trim levels.  The entry-level SR5 edition gains a Display Audio touchscreen, which also serves as a portal into several other vehicle functions, and it additionally comes with a revised gauge display and an Eco coach that attempts to improve your driving habits with an eye towards maximizing fuel economy.  The off-road-oriented Trail introduces a number of task-specific features on the overhead console, including a compass, while the Limited adds genuine leather seats and niceties such as automatic climate control.

Skip The 7 Passenger Seating

From the front two positions the 2014 Toyota 4Runner offers a comfortable place to spend some time, providing supportive seats and, in the Limited model that I drove, premium-look trim that only occasionally veered too far in a plastic direction.  The second row is tighter than one would expect but suitable for adults as long as you’re not setting out on an eight-hour road trip.  The 4Runner can also be equipped with an optional third row of accommodations, a feature that I would skip unless you exclusively intend to transport small children out back.  It’s a better idea to benefit from unfettered access to the Toyota’s additional cargo space

Good On-Road Manners

Body-on-frame sport-utility vehicles have largely given way to unibody crossovers and SUVs due to the former's less-than-stellar driving dynamics when not tooling around a mud pit.  The 2014 Toyota 4Runner manages to avoid many of the pitfalls associated with this type of chassis design, as I found the vehicle to be remarkably composed even when taking speed bumps at a brisk rate – a litmus test that old-school SUVs typically fail.  The 4Runner Limited’s X-REAS suspensions, which adds a centre control shock absorber that cross-links the vehicle’s coil-on-spring axles at the rear, does an excellent job of controlling skittishness in corners or on harsher surfaces.

I had limited opportunities to test the 4Runner’s trail capabilities, but a mild hill climb and a rutted, sandy trail were dispatched with ease.  Given the Toyota SUV’s history of providing credible off-road performance, and the fact that it comes with either a selectable four-wheel drive (SR5 and Trail editions) or full-time four-wheel drive system (Limited), it’s safe to say that the 4Runner will please all but the most dedicated wilderness explorers.  The Trail trim level also gains a crawl control feature, the ability to remotely disconnect the front swaybar for additional wheel articulation (via the KDSS suspension system), and the Multi-Terrain Select system that dials in different throttle and traction control settings to better deal with the driving environment at hand.

Competent V6 Power

Under the hood of the 2014 Toyota 4Runner is essentially the same unit that was on offer the year before, a 4.0-liter V6 capable of generating 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque.  It's not an overwhelming amount of forward thrust, but it’s certainly sufficient for the mid-size SUV.  Also tagging along from last year is the vehicles five-speed automatic transmission, which is perhaps the only weak link in the 4Runner's drivetrain.  The gearbox isn't all that willing to kick down and provide heartier acceleration when the gas pedal is depressed at cruising speeds, preferring instead to serve up higher revs in the currently-selected ratio.  It takes a bit of getting used to.

One Of The Last Of Its Breed

The 2014 Toyota 4Runner keeps the body-on-frame flame alive, alongside the less-posh Nissan Xterra and the more task-focused Toyota FJ Cruiser.  It's a solid choice for families who need extra interior room but also want to be able to tow up to 5,000 lbs, climb the occasional rock face, or deal with sloppy, spring-thaw roads on the way to the cottage.  The 4Runner might be based on older technology, but it in no way feels or looks like an anachronism - Toyota has done a good job of keeping the SUV in touch with what buyers in its class are looking for without sacrificing any of its traditional strengths.