Some Background - I've been been waiting to upgrade my 2012 Limited for some time but have been hesitant due to the lack real changes. The 2020 models fall short of major changes on paper, but there are a few nice upgrades and I did want to take a look and see what's new.

First, the obvious, is that the major mechanical components are completely unchanged. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Looks the same, drives the same, smells the same.

The Changes:

Infotainment: The new infotainment screen is great. Very readable size. Shortcut buttons are still physical, not touch screen based. Unit is quick and responsive, especially the nav compared to my non-Entune JBL unit. No Click and wait while it thinks. Swiping the screen to pan the map is nice a fast.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Finally. So much better.

The center gauge screen is nice and it does not look like a mono-chrome 1990s flashback. My '12 didn't have a screen at all but I do remember particularly disliking at 8-Bit screen in the 2017 I looked at not too long ago. This is far better. There is a nice "4Runner" animation when you power the car up, not a generic "Toyota". I didn't pay a lot of attention to it otherwise.

Safety Features:
Adaptive Cruise: Works well. There is a button right on the steering wheel for changing follow distance but it is directly next to to the Lane Keep button. I found myself accidentally turning Lane Keep on/off a few times when I was trying to change the follow distance. Set Speeds are done in 1 MPH increments. No 5 MPH shortcuts, so meh. Also, the adaptive cruise shuts down at 25 MPH. I really did find this a bit jarring, especially since my Daily Driver will bring the car to a stop with its adaptive cruise, so I can see this particular setup being annoying in stop and go.

Lane Keep Assist: Seriously annoying to me personally. This is a big truck and I found it beeping constantly when the right of the truck got near, but not over, a lane line. Fortunately a single click, not a click and hold, tuns it off and the truck remembers your choices when you turn if off, so you don't have to keep turning it off every time you startup. As mentioned above, this button is right next to the Adaptive Cruise follow distance button, so there were a few accidental clicks.

Blind Spot Monitoring: Just Kidding, this does not exist on the 4R. I don't know why they'd add TSS and leave off the Blind Spot Monitor. Bean counters win again.

Auto High Beams: Did not test but I assume they work the same way they do on every car that has them: If the camera sees a tail light, street light, garden light, or flash light anywhere within 2 miles it turns the high beams off. This feature did have a hard switch on the left side of the dash, so I assume you can toggle it on or off if you want, which is nice.

Auto Breaking/Collision Warning: Definitely did not test. Sorry, not sorry.

A quick note, but there is a chunky little camera unit on the right hand side of the rear view mirror for the Lane Keep and High Beam assist. I didn't find it blocked the view out of the windshield, but it is hard to miss.


Not OK in a $45-50K truck / First World Problems:
The same poor headlights. Is this this the last vehicle in the Toyota lineup where you have no HID or LED options? The frickin Yaris gets LEDs @ $18K. The Tacoma gets LEDs this year but not the 4R? This really annoys me because I live in an area where night time Elk and Moose collisions are not uncommon.

Auto High Beams but no Auto Headlights on the TRD Offroad Premium. Seriously what?

Would I upgrade? Logically, no. I probably should just wait for the 6th Gen and hope they don't screw it up. Emotionally, I've already started negotiating prices.

Toyota has had LEDs for years now on their bottom-barrel car (corolla).

They've had auto headlights for years now on every car

their base models cars all have keyless start


They had minor changes to make to bring the 4runner into an actual "creature comforts" competitive market and all they did was change the head unit. why they would not standardize auto headlights and keyless start across all models i have no idea.

Do those LED base cars headlights,i.e. corolla, actually have good light output?

The 4runner projector with HID bulbs are ok with me. I admit the brights are not that good.

If you are serious enough about your light output get these for brights (you will not regret it):


DDM Tuning: HID and LED Lighting

Coming from an OEM LEDed PROJECTED ON BOTH LO AND HIGH corolla to a 2020 halogen 4 runner yes that sucks on a 43k stickered 4 runner. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!

CANNOT HAVE EVERYTHING!!!

IN MY 2020 SR5 PREMIUM 4WD... WISH LIST:

OEM off the assembly line LEDs with projectors on everything.
Cloth regular SR5 seats.
No safety sense BS.
FRONT AUTO DISPLAY CAMERA FOR PARKING SITUATIONS.


CANNOT HAVE IT ALL !!!! STILL STICKERED A LOT LESS THAN A 2WD $57K CHEVY TAHOE.

ONE DAY I WILL HID EVERYTHING with lower wattahe ballasts on fogs.

LEDS not that good on rain or off road situations. Unless some good very good LED CHIPS ARE USED.

HALOGEN ALRIGHT I GUESS.

LEDS LOOK COOL A LITTLE BETTER THAN HALOGENS I GUESS.

GOOD 6500K HIDS BEST OF EVERYTHING. BRIGHT REALLY BRIGHT.

better than very good 6500k hids.?

Coming from a 3rd gen that I retrofitted projectors in, I was blown away how terrible the stock headlights are. My girlfriend drove the truck for the first time this week and she didn't believe me the headlights were on haha.

I need to do more research as far as options. I'm not sure the HID drop-in kit will give me the results that I want but I'm sure it's far better than what's in there. I really can't believe how ineffective they are.

a a chevy tahoe is not comparable to a 4runner.. that's sequioa territory

I can't understand why they still use those atrocious bulbs in a car that costs $40k+.

Wow I didn’t realize they don’t have auto headlights... does the limited or TRD pro have this option?

Limited does, not sure about the Pro.

Obviously it's human nature for us to focus only on the negative reviews for products since most people go on the internet to complain rather than praise, but if you're willing to dish out the $$$$, the Morimoto XB headlights are seriously a game changer for the 4Runner.

Aesthetics and light-output wise relative to OEM headlights they are easily worth the price of admission. I am super happy I took the risk in purchasing from the first run stock.

Are you talking about the $1300 full headlight assembly replacements?

Correct.