DRIVEN + VIDEO: Does THIS Review Prove The Toyota 4Runner Is ONE Of The BEST Off-Roaders That Won't Cost You A Small Fortune?

These days it's really hard to find a proper off-roading machine that allows you to properly control the diffs and will actually let you do some serious off-roading. The reality is that most buyers aren't looking to go trailblazing, they just want to stay on tarmac.

If you want to be the next Lewis & Clark though, you have some options. The problem is they're stupid expensive. If you're working within a budget, your options are very narrow.

Essentially, from what I can think of off the top of my domepiece, the only three vehicles that give the operator control of the diff are the Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Xterra and Toyota 4Runner.

The last time I drove a 4Runner there's no question it feels more like a truck and less like a car. It drives like you'd expect an off-roader to drive. Some people like the ruggedness, others hate it.

Straight from a refresh, the boys and girls at Kelley Blue Book decided to put it through its paces. In a rather hairy moment though, a bad decision is made and it costs the team over three hours to work themselves out of a hell of a pickle.

For a bone stock press vehicle on normal rubber, it seems impressive mostly because we're pretty confident anything else not equipped with the 4Runner's utility would have been stranded. BUT, we wanted to run it by YOU to see what YOU thought.

Is the Toyota 4Runner ONE of the BEST off-roaders for the $$$?


At Kelley Blue Book, we review a lot of cars. So when it came time to review the latest Toyota 4Runner, we figured, why not turn our video shoot into an adventure? In typical KBB fashion, things didn’t go quite as planned…

MDarringer - 12/29/2014 9:24:14 AM

+3 Boost

The 4 Runner is robust, yes, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee is as capable, looks so much more tasteful, drives better, and costs the same. Go with the Jeep.

xjug1987a - 12/29/2014 10:41:42 AM

+1 Boost

Agree Matt, the Jeep is a great looking vehicle and probably much more luxurious in Overland or Summit Trim. The Toyota maybe more reliable, but its fragging hideous, like most Japanese vehicles.... its insanely ugly. They need to buy Bertone out of bankruptcy like VW did with Ital Design... of course VW doesn't seem to be using ID very much for that matter...

cidflekken - 12/31/2014 1:42:33 AM

+1 Boost

Yup, couldn't agree more. The Jeep GC is just on another level in almost every area. The 4Runner is outright hideous to look at inside and outside, sorry to say.

And I'm not sure about this video, to be honest. I remember my 1999 Pathfinder getting through some incredibly tough snow situations with aplomb and my 2004 4Runner had issues with some of the least treacherous snow situations (i.e., parking lots and slight inclines/declines). Would be interesting to see how an Xterra, Wrangler, or GC would have done on that same hill, with or without the shoveling.

gkearns56 - 12/29/2014 10:24:07 AM

0 Boost

Yes - And you better buy 2 Jeeps, since one of them will ALWAYS be in the repair shop.

MDarringer - 12/29/2014 1:17:23 PM

+3 Boost

Not reflected in actual data unfortunately. The opposite actually.