2024 Toyota 4Runner Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Whether you call it classic or outdated, there's no getting around the fact that the 2024 Toyota 4Runner is a throwback. It was last redesigned for the 2010 model year, and although it's undergone a few refreshes over the years, this midsize SUV is in need of a serious makeover. Thankfully, all-terrain vehicles don't need to be as fashionable as other SUVs, and in many ways, the 4Runner's boxy shape remains appropriate.

The flared fenders give it a brawny and wide stance, giving the impression of stability, which is critical when exploring off the pavement. That rugged personality is further enhanced by the chunky and beveled shapes in the grille and liftgate, while our range-topping TRD Pro's underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires add a more serious attitude. With the beefy tubular roof rack, this ultimate 4Runner seems poised to tackle the toughest of terrain.

The 4Runner really shows its age on the inside, with its old-school styling and last-generation technology features. The analog instrument panel is one of the more obvious anchors to the past, as many modern vehicles have gone with configurable digital displays. The comparably tiny eight-inch infotainment touchscreen has a similarly outdated look, as do the traditional gear selector and transfer case levers, and the LED clock and temperature display. For drivers of a certain age, it may stir up some nostalgia, but others may just assume it's just a very well-maintained used vehicle.

The interior has quite a bit of hard plastic, which is common for off-road-specific vehicles. Thankfully, the 4Runner covers commonly touched surfaces with cushioned panels for your elbows. Those panels, along with the seat upholstery are grained to approximate leather, but the thin material looks more like vinyl than the genuine article. Again, this is not all that uncommon among other SUVs in the class, as they're easier to maintain.

It's certainly worth noting that the revived Ford Bronco leans heavy into nostalgia and there's no mistaking the Jeep Wrangler's familiar shape and styling flourishes. They do, however, integrate more modern touches within their framework.

Under the hood of all 2024 Toyota 4Runners is a 4.0-litre V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Those powertrain specs aren't drastically lower than the Bronco or Wrangler, but the 4Runner is held back by its five-speed automatic transmission. The Bronco benefits from a ten-speed and the Wrangler gets an eight-speed, allowing for more responsive acceleration as well as improved fuel economy. The TRD Pro model we're reviewing comes standard with four-wheel drive (4WD), which is standard in Canada, and a two-speed transfer case.

The 4Runner's lack of perceived power is much less of an issue when off-roading and rock-crawling, but most shoppers will likely be using their rigs as daily drivers, too, and they will still need highways to access their all-terrain playgrounds.

On pavement, the 4Runner feels rather slow and there's a good chance you'll need to floor the pedal when merging onto a flowing highway. The soft suspension tuning is great for wheel articulation over boulders, but when accelerating, the rear-end squat gives the impression of a horse rearing up as the nose of the SUV noticeably climbs. The engine also sounds as though it's being taxed fairly hard as you hear the intake gasping for more air. The TRD Pro's sportier exhaust doesn't do the 4Runner any favours either, as it's so noisy, we thought for a moment that a thief had stolen its catalytic converter. To put it mildly, it's loud.

Under hard braking, that soft suspension results in an unsettling amount of nosedive, but the 4Runner remains composed and controllable. It should also come as no surprise that on-road handling suffers. There's a lot of body roll when cornering, so you'll want to take your time on a winding mountain pass. You'll also feel some residual bounces after driving over ruts and bumps, as well as some floatiness over highway undulations, especially when the 4Runner is unloaded. With a cargo space filled with heavy adventure gear, those bounces calm down quite a bit.

With tall tire sidewalls and the soft suspension, larger road imperfections are easily ignored, but passengers prone to motion sickness may want to take preventative measures if winding or bumpy roads are on the route.

The 4Runner's interior design may have been ruggedly fashionable back in 2010, but for the most part, it just looks old now. At least its layout is easy to decipher and the large climate-control dials and protruding driveline levers are easy to use, even if you're wearing winter gloves. Sturdy handles ensure passengers won't be tossed about when you're exploring the limits of the SUV's off-road potential. To its credit, outward visibility is excellent in the 4Runner. The front roof pillars are pushed forward to give an expansive view from the driver’s seat, which is critical when scaling technical obstacles.

There's plenty of space for larger passengers up front, though the steering wheel doesn't quite telescope far enough for taller drivers. The second-row accommodations provide an abundance of legroom and space for your feet under the front seats, but headroom may be limited for six-footers. That's due to the elevated rear bench height that gives passengers a stadium-like seating experience, allowing for a better view of their surroundings. A third row of seats is available on select trim levels.

More likely than not, owners will enjoy long road trips to far-flung locales in their 4Runners, and there are plenty of places for snacks and drinks to keep everyone satisfied. There are a few small pockets in the centre section of the dashboard, two medium-sized cupholders in the console, and a slot that fits larger smartphones. Behind them is a large armrest bin and you also have deep door pockets that can easily hold some larger drink bottles.

Behind the rear seats, the 4Runner can hold as much as 1,337 litres of cargo. If you opt for the optional sliding deck, you'll lose some capacity, but depending on your usage, that deck could be a handy addition. At its maximum, the 4Runner can hold 2,540 litres of cargo, but you'll have to stow the rear seats.

Unfortunately, there aren't any remote seat releases in the cargo area, so you'll have to access them from the rear doors, tumble the seat cushion forward, flip the headrest down, and then drop the seatbacks.

Once stowed, you have an almost flat load floor, which is much easier to live with than the Bronco’s stepped floor. That means you might be able to sleep in the cargo area if the weather gets too wild. There's no option for a powered or hands-free liftgate, but you do get party speakers inside the hatch that come in handy when tailgating at a game. Unlike most other SUVs, the 4Runner features a sliding glass rear window, which is convenient if you don't want to fully open the liftgate to access your gear. Also included is a hitch receiver with a seven-pin harness. Properly equipped, the 4Runner has a 2,268-kilogram (5,000-pound) towing capacity, which should be enough for a small camper.

The infotainment system gets the basics done with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small eight-inch touchscreen can be challenging to use when driving. The system also lacks some of the off-road specific apps and gauges that you can get in the Bronco or Wrangler, but in all honesty, they rarely prove useful when you're on an adventure.

The TRD Pro model comes standard with a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system that delivers clear tones and strong bass, but unless you're stationary, it's difficult to fully appreciate it. The loud engine and exhaust, combined with a noticeable amount of road noise tend to obscure the best parts of the music.

There are additional terrain controls in the headliner console, but they're labeled with pictograms rather than descriptions. For this reason, you'd do well to read the owner's manual to realize the 4Runner's full potential. One dial controls the Crawl Control, which is essentially a low-speed cruise control for off-roading. The other dial controls the Multi-Terrain Select system, allowing the driver to choose what kind of surface they'd like to conquer. Two buttons activate either a braking differential or a locking rear differential to maximize traction on uneven surfaces.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2024 Toyota 4Runner four out of five stars for overall and frontal crash protection, five stars for side impacts, and three stars in rollover evaluations. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave similarly mixed results, with its highest score of "Good" for the original moderate frontal overlap crash test and side protection tests. In the newer small overlap frontal test, the Institute lists an incomplete rating with some worrying "Marginal" and "Poor" results.

The Ford Bronco scores higher across the board from both NHTSA and IIHS. The Jeep Wrangler has similar, but incomplete, scores compared to the 4Runner.

As with most Toyotas, you get a selection of driver assistance and safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The TRD Pro and 4Runner Limited trims also come with a surround-view camera system.

Also like some Toyotas, the 4Runner tends to be a little oversensitive with its alerts. Getting near a painted lane marker will get the lane-departure warning beeping at you and the forward collision warning isn't tuned for the defensive following distance needed in heavy traffic. Some of these system sensitivities can be adjusted, though.

In Canada, the base 2024 Toyota 4Runner model starts at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $56,455 (including $1,930 in destination charges and other fees) while the top TRD Pro stickers at $71,705. The four-door Ford Bronco has a similar starting base price but the more extensive lineup extends beyond $90,000, not including the over-the-top Raptor that costs more than $115,000. Likewise, the Jeep Wrangler starts around $50,000 with four doors and rises to nearly $75,000, with the brawny 392 cresting above $120,000.

While these prices seem comparable, keep in mind how out-of-date the 4Runner is by comparison. There is a new alternative from Toyota, with the new and smaller Land Cruiser making its return to Canada for 2024 starting from $72,355.

In terms of fuel economy, the 4Runner is thirsty. It's rated by Natural Resources Canada at a rather disappointing 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 12.5 highway, and 13.8 in combined driving. (Models with optional full-time 4WD come with slightly higher figures.) The more powerful Bronco performs better with its four-cylinder and about the same with the six-cylinder. The Wrangler four-door is estimated between 11.7 and 12.6 L/100 km combined until you get to the higher-performance models. The Jeep gets a special nod for its plug-in hybrid option, though.

With everything taken into consideration, it may make more sense to wait for the redesigned all-new 4Runner in a year or two, rather than opting for this current 4Runner generation. If time is of the essence for buying a new car, the Ford Bronco is a top pick, as it has better on-road comfort and composure than the Wrangler.

Note: Images show a US model.