Toyota 4Runner Sticking Around For Another Year

Oct. 04, 2023 10:16 AM ET by一个nthony Capretto Reveal /10 Comments

Surely, 2024 will be its final year.

It appears Toyota thinks there's still life left in the fifth-gen4Runneras it announced that the beloved SUV will soldier on for the 2024 model year.

That makes it the 15th model year the vehicle has been on sale, so we aren't surprised there isn't anything new besides the paint. The 4Runner TRD Pro receives the same reddish/brown Terra color as therecently unveiled 2024 Tacoma. The rest of the range is available in a new color called Underground.

Other than that, the fifth-gen 4Runner remains the same, and that's either a good or a bad thing, depending on who you ask. Seven trims are again offered: SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited and TRD Pro.

The off-road-focused models come standard with four-wheel-drive, but it is available on lesser models.

Toyota's excellent Safety Sense suite of driver assistance systems is standard on all grades, along with blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

We had a chance to drive the40th Anniversary Edition of the 2023 4Runnernot too long ago and found it to be a vehicle ideally suited for those wanting something old-school in 2023. The exterior, especially in off-road-oriented trims, still looks good despite its age, especially when paired with an eye-catching color or some bronze wheels in the case of the 40th.

The same can't be said of the interior, where an eight-inch touchscreen does little to help the dated interior, which is covered in hard plastics. The layout is utilitarian, which is a double-edged sword. While we'd like something a bit more interesting, it is refreshing in a world where manufacturers paste a screen to every available surface.

Still, it's capable and reliable, and if you can get past the age, it will serve you well until the end of time. The 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6 offers appropriate naturally aspirated grunt even if it's rather thirsty. Though, we must say, given how close to the unveiling of the next-generation 4Runner we are,we think it will be worth waitingto see what the future holds.

The next 4Runner will be based on the TNGA-F platform and will most likely receive the 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces up to 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. An optional i-Force MAX hybrid powertrain will probably also be available, producing 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. There's also a good chancea six-speed manual may be offeredon lower trims, too.

Pricing for the 2024 Toyota 4Runner has yet to be announced.