Vehicle Type: A midsize four-door, five-passenger SUV. Optional third-row seating for up to seven.
Price Range: $38,020 - $53,335
Powertrain: 270-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive in standard configuration.
Full-time or part-time four-wheel-drive are available depending on trim level.
What’s New for 2022?
An additional trim level has been added for 2022, the TRD Sport. TRD Sport trim includes a comfortable suspension with active dampers, making it a more road-oriented trim, compared to a discount version of the TRD Pro Off-Road or TRD Pro models. Additional changes include LED headlights on all trims and more standard safety tech.
What’s Good?
- Excellent off-road capability.
- Practical, functional interior.
- Great expected reliability plus a high resale value.
- Superior standard safety features.
What’s Bad?
- Terrible fuel mileage.
- Basic, aging interior materials.
- Expensive starting MSRP.
- Not right for most needs.
Would we buy one? It depends.
More Photos:
See more 2022 Toyota 4Runner Photos.
Overview:
The 2022 Toyota 4runner is an old-school, body-on-frame SUV, which has seen mostly minor updates since the introduction of its fifth generation for the 2010 model year. Though it competes in the crowded midsize segment with Crossover SUVs like the Nissan Murano, Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Subaru Ascent, and Kia Telluride, the true competition for the 4Runner comes from off-road-oriented entries like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.
The 4Runner is a body-on-frame SUV, which means it is based on the same platform as the Toyota Tacoma truck. The 4Runner is aimed at buyers who want an off-road-capable midsize SUV with the reliability they would expect from a Corolla or Camry. That comes at the cost of on-road comfort, fuel efficiency, and luxury features.
Despite its shortcomings on paper, we'll admit we're still smitten by the 4Runner's capabilities, rock-solid feel on and off the road, and its rugged, do-anything persona.
The 4Runner rides on a platform largely unchanged for more than a decade. That construction lends itself well to truck-like activities but also delivers a truck-like ride and interior experience.
The only available engine is a 4.0-liter V6, which is capable but delivers mediocre gas mileage. An equally aged five-speed transmission handles shifting, and though smooth, the lack of gears may contribute to a feeling of being unrefined compared to others in the category with more cogs. The 4Runner has a towing capacity of up to 5000 pounds and two available four-wheel-drive systems. These and other features like crawl-control, make the 4Runner a compelling option for outdoorsy types, or those who like to seem outdoorsy.
Interior and exterior design are showing their age, making the 4Runner less exciting for family transportation than most Crossover entries in the Midsize category. Off-road competitors are also more recently designed meaning the 4Runner feels long-in-the-tooth regardless of what competitor you compare.
Overall Score: 2.9/5 stars
Safety Features: 3.5/5 stars
All 4Runners include a slew of standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beam headlights, and adaptive cruise control.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did not award the 4Runner a Top Safety Pick.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the 2022 4Runner a four-star crash test score out of five possible stars. The 4Runner was specifically dinged in the rollover and front passenger protection categories.
The 4Runner also includes Rear Seat Reminder, a system designed to prevent children from being forgotten in the back seat, which can alert the driver visually and with chimes, which adds to the peace of mind of busy parents.
Value: 2.5/5 stars
For normal family transportation needs, the starting MSRP of just over $38,000 would get you a more comfortable and luxurious vehicle with a crossover-based competitor. The Kia Telluride's second-highest trim includes leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, sunroof, wireless charging pad, and comes in at nearly the same price as the bottom tier 4Runner
If off-roading is important, the base 4Runner is still slightly overpriced compared to the four-door base models of both the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, where $38k gets you into mid-level trims.
There are fewer expensive options for the 4Runner, where Jeep and Ford both expect buyers to dig deep in their pockets and buy accessories. Both the Bronco and Wrangler can cost well over $60,000 when fully optioned.
Long term cost of ownership should be very low (aside from fuel). The tried and tested drivetrain is likely to be trouble-free for well over 100,000 miles, and the resale value for Toyota trucks and SUVs remains very high.
Tech Features: 3/5 stars
Base and premium-tier models alike get an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and Apple CarPlay are all included, as well as a subscription-based WiFi hotspot.
Those looking for more tech can get a premium JBL sound system, and built-in navigation as options, or standard on higher trims levels.
Toyota's infotainment software is not the smoothest or fastest but is easy to operate and intuitive. The 4Runner also retains physical buttons for the HVAC and certain radio controls.
Practicality: 4/5 stars
The 4Runner bridges the practicality gap between crossover and body-on-frame competitors. The fixed roof and larger cargo area make it more practical than a Wrangler or Bronco, and the capacious cargo room is competitive with crossovers.
A roll-down rear window provides easy access to the rear space, seats fold flat for ample storage or occasional camping, and an available sliding cargo tray means even heavy cargo is easy to load and unload. The cargo tray is a must-have add-on no matter which trim you are considering.
The 4Runner can tow up to 5,000 pounds, which beats the Bronco and Wrangler but falls short of top-of-class. The 89 cubic feet of total cargo space also bests the off-roaders from Ford and Jeep as well as the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The 4Runner can get four or five passengers and their stuff to almost anywhere you want to go. It can tow a small camper or trailer loaded with a raft and all the gear for a weekend trip down the river. Toyota knows what 4Runner buyers are looking for and delivers in those key areas.
Styling & Design: 3.5/5 stars
The interior of 4Runner does not keep pace with more modern competitors, with cheap-feeling materials and plastics throughout the cabin. Even the most luxurious trims suffer from the dated design.
The controls are easy to use and understand, as Toyota resisted the urge to bury simple controls in the infotainment menu. Basic functions are readily at hand, just where they would be expected.
Seating for five is comfortable with good leg and headroom. Rear seats easily fold away, when more cargo space is desired. Equipping the moonroof may cause issues for taller drivers above six feet. The optional third-row adds seating for two more passengers but should be considered for children only, as legroom is very limited.
Exterior styling is largely similar to the model's debut in 2010 and may feel dated compared to some competitors. The upright design language conveys the vehicle's ruggedness.
The 4Runner does what it is designed to do, and it does it well. It fills a niche for those wanting a utilitarian vehicle with top-tier reliability, particularly with the vaunted Toyota LandCruiser discontinued in the USA. Buyers wanting a Toyota SUV with better mileage or a nicer, quieter interior should consider a Toyota Highlander.
Driving Experience: 3.5/5 stars
For most driving, the 4Runner delivers acceptable comfort and ride quality, but the ride is truck-like and does not compare favorably to unibody crossovers in the segment. Independent front suspension does mean the ride is better than a Jeep Wrangler.
Handling is similarly truck-like, but not unsettled. The 4Runner has a larger turning radius than some competition but can navigate the mall parking lot without issue.
Steering is composed, acceleration is adequate, and disc brakes at all four wheels slow the 4Runner down at an acceptable rate.
The 4Runner is comfortable, but never luxurious even in higher trim levels.
Outward visibility is average for the segment with large C-pillars blocking the view, but driver assists like blind-spot monitoring improve driver confidence.
The 4Runner compares well to the off-road-oriented competitors, both on and off the road. It is nearly as capable as the much more recently designed Wrangler or Bronco in every category and likely will achieve greater longevity.
Fuel Efficiency: 1/5 stars
The EPA estimates the 2022 Toyota 4Runner will get 19 MPG on the highway and 16 in the city regardless of whether it is equipped with rear-wheel-drive, part-time four-wheel-drive, or full-time four-wheel-drive.
The Jeep Wrangler receives better fuel economy in nearly every configuration, though the 4Runner is closer in fuel mileage to the Ford Bronco.
In 2022, sub-20 MPG is unacceptable from any vehicle, particularly from the company that brought us the fuel-sipping Prius. Toyota may be choosing to prioritize simplicity and reliability over mileage here, but it is time to step it up.
What’s it Going to Cost Me?
The base 4Runner SR5 starts at $38,020 which includes cloth seating surfaces, a powerful but inefficient V6 engine, excellent standard safety tech, push-button start, fog lights, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The Trail Special Edition starts at $39,990 and adds special 17-inch wheels, a Yakima roof rack, a sliding cargo tray, and a custom cooler. The Trail edition is a limited production trim, also available on the Tacoma and Tundra, so you may not see it at your local dealership.
Stepping up to the new TRD Sport trim costs a minimum of $40,865 and adds 20-inch wheels, a hood scoop, SofTex seating surfaces, and X-RAES adaptive suspension. 4Runner TRD Sport trim models are largely aimed at buyers less concerned with offroad capability than other TRD trims.
SR5 Premium trim brings the cost up to $41,430 and adds SofTex seat, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, and HomeLink garage door opener, but does not include the TRD Sport's suspension.
TRD Off-Road models begin at $41,850 and include several off-road-oriented features like standard four-wheel-drive, multi-terrain select (MTS) driving modes, CRAWL low-speed cruise control, and a locking rear differential. TRD Off-Road Premium adds nicer seating material and some TRD accessories for a starting price of $44,795.
4Runner Limited Trim starts at $47,605 and is the most luxurious trim, with perforated leather seating, 20-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, and a standard moonroof. Tech features are also upgraded with a standard JBL sound system, parking sonar, and panoramic view monitor.
The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro has the most impressive off-road specs, and the highest price tag, starting at $52,835. Appearance upgrades include matte 17-inch TRD wheels, a special Toyota grille, black hood scoop surround, TRD roof rack, and special Lime Rush green exterior color. Off-road features include Multi-Terrain Monitoring (MTM) camera system, CRAWL and MTS, TRD skid plate, all-terrain tires, and FOX high-performance shocks.
For most buyers concerned with off-road performance, we recommend the TRD Off-Road trim, which delivers the extra features that improve on the already excellent performance of the 4Runner but without the astronomical pricing of the TRD Pro.
