2018 Toyota 4Runner Limited Review - Old Isn't Always Bad

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey
Fast Facts

2018 Toyota 4Runner Limited

4.0-liter V6 (270 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm; 278 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm)
Five-speed automatic, full-time four-wheel drive
17 city / 20 highway / 18 combined (EPA Rating, MPG)
14.3 city, 11.9 highway, 13.2 combined. (NRCan Rating, L/100km)
Base Price
$44,760 (U.S) / $51,320 (Canada)
As Tested
$46,874 (U.S.) / $53,262.50 (Canada)
Prices include $995 destination charge in the United States and $1,915 for freight, PDI, and A/C tax in Canada and, because of cross-border equipment differences, can't be directly compared.

Age can be a strength or weakness, and in the case of Toyota’s 4Runner, it’s almost certainly the former.

Indeed, I expect that when it comes time for the company to fully update the model, there will be plenty of hand-wringing among 4Runner fans as they worry that Toyota will screw it up. Considering that Jeep just successfully modernized the Wrangler without diluting what made it great, and considering the current 4Runner is already more civilized than the last Jeep, I think the next 4Runner will be just fine. But I understand the concern.

The current 4Runner is an old-school SUV – big, blocky, and tough-feeling. It even has old-school body-on-frame construction and boxy looks with a big ‘ole mean-looking grille and front end. Furthermore, the current generation stretches back nearly a decade.

Changes for 2018 are, fittingly, minimal. The changes consist of two new available options packages and two new trim levels. That’s it.

The 270-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 remains under hood and the sole transmission remains a five-speed automatic. Drivetrain layouts are as follows: 4×2, part-time 4×4, or full-time 4×4.

Climb in the driver’s seat and you’ll see that all the hallmarks of familiarity are there. The center stack is a mix of blocky design and big control knobs. The quickly-becoming-outdated infotainment system sits housed within.

[Get pricing for new and used Toyota 4Runners here!]

The engine isn’t loud, per se, but it’s noticeable, even at idle, in a way that was once common but has become less so as sound-deadening measures improved over the years. It neither sounds nor feels smooth, which adds to the ruggedness. As for delivering power, it’s a mixed bag. The 4Runner has the guts for around-town driving, but it feels a tad slow to come on boil. You get the sense that the throttle response is tuned for the sensitivity needed when off-roading.

Ride and handling are unsurprisingly truckish. Which is fine – this SUV is built for off-roading. Want something soft with a Toyota badge? Go check out that Highlander across the lot.

Rough around the edges as it may be, the ride isn’t unlivable. It’s just not well-suited to city cruising. At least the steering feels connected to the wheels – there’s only minimal numbness.

Off-road-oriented SUVs tend to command decent money, most likely because in a market flooded with SUVs and crossovers, only a handful are truly capable off-road. That could explain why the high-end Limited trim 4Runner I drove bases at over $42K.

With four-wheel drive, the 4Runner Limited I drove started at $44,760. Standard features included full-time four-wheel drive, 20-inch alloy wheels, skid plates, fog lamps, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, Entune, USB, satellite radio, heated and cooled front seats, moonroof, power sliding rear window, push-button start, and keyless entry. Options were limited to automatic running boards, the “Blizzard Pearl” white paint color, and carpeted floor and cargo mats. Total tag: $46,874 including $995 for D and D.

As always with vehicles built with a singular purpose, the value for money equation comes down to how you plan on using it. A lot of today’s SUV buyers would blanche at paying more than $45K for a body-on-frame vehicle that is probably past overdue for a refresh. But those who want or need off-road capability and want something a bit bigger than a Wrangler and cheaper than a Land Rover will find the price just right.

The 4Runner is built to be tough and to handle the outdoors. It should be able to do that just fine. And that’s the point.

Not every vehicle has to be an automotive multi-tool. The 4Runner is an off-road-oriented SUV that happens to be able to haul people and stuff around town as well as any crossover or more “on road” focused SUV.

It does so with an old-school verve that both charms and annoys (although neither the charm nor the annoyance are as pronounced as they were on the last Wrangler). It’s not the best choice for commuting, but it doesn’t punish. This is the same formula that Toyota has used on the 4Runner for well, forever.

Someday soon-ish there will be a new 4Runner, but expect it to remain just as throwback as this one is. It will be a bit more modernized in some ways – a newer and better-looking dash design, and up-to-date infotainment, I’d wager – but the spirit will likely remain.

That’s a good thing.

[Images © 2018 Tim Healey/TTAC]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 102 comments
  • JGlanton JGlanton on Jun 08, 2018

    I test drove a 2018 Limited 4-Runner recently. I owned an 80's 4-Runner for 13 years and appreciate what they bring to the table. After the drive I found out the one I drove costs $48K and asked to see a cheaper $38K SR5 model. The cloth seats in that one were horrible thin foam seats that looked like they belong on the old, cheap 80's model. That was a no-go. Not to mention the stripper interior with few accessories. The salesman said I could take it to a shop and have leather covers put in for $1600 or something. Seriously, on those pancake chairs? on a $38K car???? I ended up getting a loaded Outback for $33K and it's been great for my camping/fishing/kayaking/biking excursions.

  • DougDolde DougDolde on Jul 06, 2018

    I don't like the "new" styling. My 2008 4Runner is a V8, AWD and you really know it's a V8. Bought it new 10 years ago and have 215,000 fairly trouble free miles. Have upgraded shocks to Bilstein and done the brakes. Thats about it. My next one will be a 2008 or 2006 used model V8 AWD. Anything with 100K miles or less would be the pick

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
Next