2010 Toyota 4Runner Review

While shopping around for new vehicle with my wife, she told me that she has always wanted a Toyota 4Runner. Since the new 2010 Toyota 4Runner has been completely redesigned, she could not resist being one of the first people in this area to buy one. We've had it for several months and really love this SUV, plus we get many compliments on it.

New Design

Everything about the Toyota 4Runner changed for this new 2010 model. The body style looks more like the older model Toyota Sequoia than any of the previous 4Runner designs because it is taller, wider, and longer. It's weird to think in this day and age of fuel economy that Toyota would make something bigger, but it still gets good gas mileage. The outer lines of this vehicle are very smooth and it has a modern look while maintaining the rugged 4Runner style that has kept it popular all these years. This new 4Runner starts around $30k for the base SR5 model, which is still packed full of features, and the upscale Limited model runs into the $40k range.

Handling

One thing we noticed the first time we test drove this vehicle was how well it handles. I drive a Toyota Tacoma truck and it has a somewhat wide turning radius, but this new 4Runner will turn on a dime. We wheeled around the parking lot of the dealership just like we were in the car. I find the steering to be quite responsive and even though this is a large SUV, it still drives like a car. It can take curves quite easily and on/off ramps for the Interstate are no problem at all.

Power

The 2010 4Runner has the same V6 motor that Toyota puts in the Tacoma. It provides a decent amount of pick-up, but I have to admit it feels a slight bit underpowered. A V8 option is not currently available. Given the weight of the 4Runner, your towing options will be somewhat limited. One major benefit of having the V6 is that we get an average of 19 miles per gallon, which is pretty amazing given the size of this vehicle. In-dash controls help track your fuel economy.

Comfort

I am over six feet tall and often feel cramped inside some vehicles, especially in the back, but it's not a problem with the 2010 4Runner. It features plenty of leg room in both the front and back, plus there are air vents for the back seats. The seats are very comfortable and fully adjustable and we got the 6-way motorized controls that let you bend the seats in many different ways. My wife prefers to keep it lifted up high while I like to lean back a little. The ride is incredibly smooth.

Overall

We are very happy with the 2010 Toyota 4Runner. It looks great, handles like a car, is very comfortable, and even gets gas mileage like a car half its size. Of all the many Toyota recalls that have been going on, so far none of them have been for the 4Runner, so that's another thing to consider in case you are wary of the Toyota brand.