2014 Toyota 4Runner Limited

SPECIFICATIONS

1.The 2014 4Runner starts at $33,680 and our Limited-trim tester costs about $44,260. 2. A 4.0-liter V6 offers 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. 3. 4x4 models are rated for 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway. 4. The 4Runner is one of the few SUVs to retain body-on-frame construction.

PREVIEW

Many storied names in off-roading have changed course in recent years, and now serve better as family haulers because, frankly, that is where the money is.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder, and even the Range Rover now use unibody construction, a move that Toyota refuses to make with the 4Runner, for better and worse.

Not to say that unibody vehicles can’t hack it when the pavement ends, but the simple truth is unibody vehicles will never offer the reliability and dependability of a body-on-frame off-roader. That’s something Toyota is banking on.

INTERIOR

So, the driving dynamics aren't exactly soccer mom-friendly, but how does the interior do at kid hauling? First off, Toyota will sell you a 4Runner with seven seats, though our test unit didn't have them. Everything else about this interior is good. Materials are nice, and the dashboard has a clear, concise layout. Even the plastic that is used doesn't come off as gaudy and the small bits of wood trim in our Limited model add a premium. Based on its own merits, the innards of this off-roader are comfortable and pleasing, but it doesn't feel quite as premium as some of its contemporaries, namely the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Nissan Pathfinder. However, the 4Runner does have an aura of ruggedness surrounding it, and the overall feeling of the interior follows suit.

The 4Runner is equipped with Toyota's latest Entune infotainment system, which works well…. for most things. Oddly, the navigation is the only system that doesn't run seamlessly. It can be slow and the wording on the buttons can be misleading. For example, almost all systems have a “cancel navigation button,” but in the 4Runner, it is marked “delete destination.” On top of that, the touch-screen buttons are small and can be hard to read.

UNDER THE HOOD

So what are the differences? Well the most obvious trait of a body-on-frame vehicle, and the one sure to be noticed first by families cross-shopping these vehicles with their unibody competitors, is body roll, and the 4Runner is no exception. On SR5 and Trail models – the two lower trims – the 4Runner tips like its riding on marshmallows, not offering a smooth ride.

However our tester was outfitted in Limited trim, and Toyota knows that to keep its top-tier buyers happy, the ride has to be smooth, which is why the 4Runner Limited gets special treatment. This model forgoes the proper two-speed transfer case in favor of a center limited slip differential and most importantly, it gets a system Toyota calls X-REAS that automatically adjusts damping force and uses a central control absorber that cross-links the shocks to keep the ride as smooth as possible. It does a fairly good job of keeping the 4Runner Limited flat in the corners, but the body-on-frame dynamics still seep through.

Powering the 4Runner exclusively is a 4.0-liter V6 that makes 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque, which feels like just enough for this vehicle. Helping when the going gets tough, the motor has a low and flat torque curve, which keeps the grunt under your right foot in all situations. Engine noise can be a little intrusive at high rpms, and the note isn't all that pleasing.

Fuel economy for the four-wheel drive 4Runner is pegged at 17 mpg and 22 mpg on the highway, though our week with the vehicle returned an average of 16 mpg.