2012 Toyota 4Runner Review
The Toyota 4Runner belongs to that species of SUVs which are getting rarer as each year passes by. It is among the last sports utility vehicles which have a body on frame chassis and are intended to spend most of their lives in the tough outdoors.
If you are looking for a vehicle with honest off-road abilities, which has all the kit to make it possible, then don’t look further, because the 2012 Toyota 4Runner is the SUV you are seeking.
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Being on the endangered list doesn’t mean that it is a relic. Far from it. The engine under the hood is a brawny 270hp V6 and this makes the 4Runner keep up with girly crossover SUVs while still delivering decent mileage. The interior of the vehicle is very roomy and it can be configured to carry cargo or fitted with a third row seat so it can carry seven passengers in total. It is also fitted with the Entune smartphone integration system, which makes its debut on the 4Runner in 2012.
The 4Runner has lot of gear to make off-roading sweat free. The kit includes: Hill hold and descent control, traction control and a full size spare tire. There are two types of 4-wheel drive system on the 4Runner depending on the trim and two options for the suspension and special tires.
When compared to crossover SUVs like Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse and the in house Toyota Highlander, the 4runner lags behind in comfort, utility and convenience offered by these vehicles. The closest competitor for the 4Runner is the Jeep Grand Cherokeel, which offers a V8 and has better interior, but the 4Runner is a tough vehicle and we highly recommend it.
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The 4Runner is available in three trims: SR5, Trail and Limited. The Trail is only available in four-wheel drive format, while the other two can be had in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions.
2012 Toyota 4Runner Features
Engine, Gearbox & Performance
The 2012 Toyota 4runner comes equipped with a 4000cc V6 engine producing 270hp and 278lb/ft of torque, while the only transmission on offer is a 5-speed automatic. The towing capacity of the Toyota 4Runner is 5000lbs.
The 4Runner accelerated from 0-60mph in a time of 7.2seconds, which was 8.2seconds for the 4×4 4Runner in the Trail trim. The mileage delivered was 17mpg in the city and 23mpg on the highway and combined figure of 19mpg for the two-wheel-drive 4Runner. The 4×4 4Runner goes 22 miles per gallon on the highway.
Safety
The 4Runner has lot of safety kit on board and this includes: Traction and stability control, anti-lock braking system, knee airbags for the front seats, active head restraints, side curtain airbags, and for the first a emergency assistance system which automatically sends notification when there is a collision and also locates the vehicle if it is stolen and offers road side assistance in case of a breakdown.
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In testing, the rear wheel drive 4Runner stopped from 60mph-0mph in 122feet while the 4×4 Trail took 140feet to stop nd this was because of the off road tires it was fitted with.
Interior
The interior has an industrial theme which blends well with the tough image of the 4Runner. There are lot of hard plastics in the vehicle but areas which are accessed the most are well padded.
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There is ample space for five people and when needed, you can get the third row fitted which will take the passenger count to seven but the last row is only suitable for kids or small-statured adults. Fold all the seats and you get a very useful cargo area of 90cu/ft.
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Ride & Handling
In city, the 4Runner drives very well and is comfortable and smooth. Despite having truck underpinnings, the 4Runner doesn’t bounce too much, which is good because a tightly sprung suspension, which is essential for off road excursions, is quite bouncy on normal roads. The V6 engine gives the 4Runner lot of grunt and is suitable for every condition the driver finds himself in. We never felt the need of a bigger V8 powerplant because the V6 can handle whatever you throw at it.
The steering wheel is devoid of feel and doesn’t feel connected when driven over paved roads and the handling, which is more tuned for off roads, isn’t that great on tarmac.
However, the Toyota 4Runner performs very well off road, as good as good as any other vehicle out there. The price of the base model of the Toyota 4Runner SR5 is $31,090 while the Trail retails for $36,755 and the top of the range Limited model costs $38,595.
