WOW...Everytime I look at it I liket it even more. It looks like the cargo area is a little smaller than the 4th genr...but they compensated it with that tray underneath.
My kia soul has a tray like that and you won't believe all the things that I have under there and u wouldn't imagine that so many stuff can fit .

I want power folding mirrors!!

Haha I'm sure there can't be to much of a difference..


But I have a question, why no LED tails or projector headlights?

Wow - these pics look a lot better. But I'm still not 100% sold on:

- lack of projector headlights
- lack of LED tail lights
- mast antennae
- lack of ground clearance
- protruding tail lights and front turn signals
- 20" rims seems odd and expensive to replace tires

But it's growing on me

wow! thanks for hooking everyone up with the quality pics, Thai!!

Obviously a cost-cutting measure. They are probably trying to keep the cost close to the '09 4Runner, so they cut back on some of the nice features like LEDs and projectors.

Well, I guess these latest pictures answer the question about the roof rack. Definitely not a carry-over from the 4th gen.

Is that the cell phone button I see on the dash? Are they kidding? Why would that not be on the steering wheel?

That's a bit odd isn't it? I thought the shark fin served as an antenna for AM/FM and satellite reception. Looks like the roof pics are for the limited which displays the fin at the rear. The side angle shot doesn't show the mast, but there's a rubber stopper where the antenna would be fitted. I sure hope that the actual Limited won't have that cheesy stopper to cover the hole.

Nice looking rig, but looks less nimble than the 4th or 3rd generation IMHO... although properly fitted rims and tires might do the trick. Sure hope so...

Maybe Toyota is waiting for mid-life cycle refresh to add these LEDs and projectors...like what they did with the 4th gen.

I think that button(s) is to control the bluetooth VOLUME or the BT ringer volume. The pickup and hangup buttons are on the steering wheel i am sure.

Maybe so, but that still seems like taking a step backwards to me. I'd like to think once a manufacturer equips a vehicle with things like LED tails and projector headlights, they would continue to offer them. It seems kinda lame to do away with those things for a new generation, only to offer them again at a mid-cycle refresh, don't you think?

You may be right, but that button looks a lot like Toyota's Blu-Logic system, which uses a very similar button to control all phone functions. But I hope you're right and that there is a steering wheel mounted button for the phone.

Yeah, but does that surprise you? As new cars come out, they will have new technology...to compensate for that and to keep prices status quo, manufacturers are cutting cost. For example, from the pictures i posted on page 2, you can see that the dash is probably now all hard plastic (aka hard and easily scratcheable). This was the same back in 2003...the 4th gen dash was noticeably cheaper than the 3rd gen dash in quality of materials used. It would not surprise me that the 5th gen base price will be the same or slightly cheaper than 4th gen. Maybe this is what Toyota was referring to about getting back to its roots???

No, it doesn't surprise me. I just don't like it. Given the economy, the crazy swing in gas prices, and poor 4Runner sales in general, I can see why Toyota would want to keep prices as low as possible for this new generation of 4Runners. At the same time, they must realize that loyal 4Runner fans will be turned off by "upgrading" to a newer model that has fewer of the nice features that their old 4Runner had for the last few model years. Things like LED tails and projector headlights are pretty basic features these days, even on some lower cost vehicles. They are also high visibility items, meaning that it is easy to notice them (or the lack of them) just by looking at the exterior of the vehicle. In my opinion, this is a poor place to cut back on a new generation vehicle. I think they could have done a better job of cutting back in less visible areas. Again, just my opinion.

I'm still trying to absorb it all but I like it!

In my eyes I see grill is 4th gen, headlights are mostly Highlander with some FJ (bumps on the lights), side windows are 4th gen, back window still is Runner but Seqiuoa-ish too (I can't spell), tailight is Tundra.

I forget who said it earlier but it does remind me of a scaled down sequoia (think I got it this time), which I am a fan of. Now as long as it's still off-road capable as it was before I'm a happy camper.

And the projector headlights and LED tails are a chance for Toyota to upgrade at mid-life cycle. Sucks that they have to take a step back but they'll be cool when they come back in a few years.