Toyota endows the 2024 4Runner with plentiful ground clearance, big tires, and skid plates. It’s ready to go off-road. We applaud its ability, but we dial back a point for its plodding feel. It’s a 5 for performance.
It should be, even though SR5, Limited, and TRD Sport versions can be had with rear-wheel drive. Most versions with four-wheel drive use a simple part-time setup, though the Limited adds an automatic mode suitable for use on any kind of terrain.
If you want maximum four-wheeling capability, look to either the TRD Off Road or the TRD Pro. The former’s locking rear differential, crawl control, and off-road drive modes are enough for most drivers. Step up to the Pro and you’ll find beefy Fox shocks ready to swallow big bumps, plus an even higher ride height and more skid plates.
How fast is the Toyota 4Runner?
Fast it is not. The 270-hp 4.0-liter V-6 was a modest choice a decade ago and it’s no peppier today. It’s tasked with lugging around a heavy, boxy SUV, and it’s saddled with one of the last 5-speed automatic gearboxes you’ll find. It’s reasonably quick to downshift in order to access more power, but it’s never rapid.
It’s also never nimble or remotely sporty, even though the 4Runner has good steering heft. It leans into corners and bounces over the road. One option worth adding is the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System available on TRD Off-Road models, which reduces body lean yet improves wheel articulation off-road. It’s not a game changer, but it does make enough difference to justify its price tag.
At highway speeds, the 4Runner tends to wander more than car-like crossovers such as the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. If you’re a road warrior and pavement pounder, the 4Runner should be at the bottom of your list.
The 4Runner’s 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity is a byproduct of its limited power output.
