2011 Toyota 4Runner Reviews

There's no mistaking that the Toyota 4Runner is truck-based. In front, the new Toyota 4Runner inherits some of the imposing appearance of the latest Sequoia and Tundra, with a mesh recessed grille, large chrome bar, and swept-back headlamps; in back it gets a more conservative, traditional SUV look, with a wide, downward-sloping C-pillar looking to past generations of the 4Runner.

For the 2011 4Runner, Toyota has dropped the underpowered four-cylinder engine from the lineup. Otherwise, the 4Runner remains unchanged.

This leaves the plenty powerful V6 as the sole engine choice for the 2011 Toyota 4Runner. The midsize 2011 Toyota 4Runner SUV is offered in three trim levels: SR5, Trail and Limited.

Standard features on the 4Runner SR5 include 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, skid plates, heated outside mirrors with turn indicators and puddle lights, foglights, air-conditioning with rear ventilation, cruise control, full power accessories, a power rear window, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a trip computer and an eight-speaker CD/MP3 audio system with an auxiliary audio jack. The SR5 is available in either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

The KDSS off-road suspension is available only on Trail models.
The SR5 and Limited can be had in either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive (part-time dual-range system on SR5; full-time system on the Limited), while the Trail comes only with part-time dual-range 4WD. When properly equipped, the 4Runner's towing capacity tops out at 5,000 pounds.

In Edmunds instrumented testing, a rear-wheel-drive 4Runner SR5 accelerated from a standstill to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is about average among competing SUVs. The EPA estimates 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined for a rear-wheel-drive 4Runner, which is also average in this segment. A four-wheel-drive 4Runner gets 1 mpg less on the highway.

Standard 4Runner safety features include antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front knee airbags, front-seat side airbags and full-length, roll-sensing side curtain airbags.

The 2011 Toyota 4Runner's interior features a geometric, industrial theme that supports this SUV's rugged image. The Toyota 4Runner offers spacious seating for five passengers.
Cruising around town, the 2011 Toyota 4Runner is surprisingly smooth and comfortable. Off-road, the 4Runner performs very well, particularly if it's a Trail model fitted with KDSS.

The Toyota 4Runner has long been a favorite for people who want a truck but also want an SUV. Still rugged and sporty, the 4Runner offers people the opposite of a crossover: This is a truck, drives like a truck and is for people who like trucks.

While only one engine is available - a 4.0-liter V6 - the 4Runner does offer rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Unlike today's crossovers, the 4Runner has a decidedly truck-like feel.
Engine: Six-cylinder, 4.0-liter engine that gets 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque.

Transmission: Four-speed automatic.
As with previous models, the 2011 Toyota 4Runner boasts seating for five or seven people. The 2011 Toyota 4Runner has only one engine available, a 4.0-liter V6 that gets 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque.

The biggest plus-sides of the 2011 Toyota 4Runner only apply if you're actually planning on taking it off-roads. If you're looking for an SUV or crossover to use mostly in the city, the 2011 Toyota 4Runner just isn't right for you.

The 4Runner is a SUV for people who like trucks, and thus is a pretty limited member of its segment.
For the nearly $30,000 price tag for its base model, the Toyota 4Runner offers plenty of features and performance.