5th Gen. Named 2010 4 Wheeler of the Year!

[4Runner8]

5th Gen. Named 2010 4 Wheeler of the Year!

just got my April issue and look whats on the front!!

very interesting... i advise everyone to pick up a copy

"Whats Hot: Potent V-6, flexy suspension, well sorted chassis, trail package solid"
"Whats Not: Kown market interior materials, controversial styling"
"Our Take: The Best IFS 4Runner to date, and our 2010 Four Wheeler of the Year"

 

[zidaro]

thats the April issue
but YES, 5gen. rules for now

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Interesting. Best 4runner yet. What makes it better than the 3rd Gen? KDDS?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Interesting. Best 4runner yet. What makes it better than the 3rd Gen? KDDS?

I don't think they are talking just off road but all around vehicle but of course with technological advancements I expect it to be better than a 3rd gen in power,braking,safety and better overall driving experience.

I love my 3rd gen but I'd take a new TE in a heartbeat as a very capable off roader and great around town or on a cross country trip.

 

[4Runner8]

agreed... i would take one too... on second thought i would take any toyota suv or truck that is 4wd hahaha

 

[zidaro]

4XOTY is usually based on vehicle/manu. that has the most innovative product and capable vehicle for the production year. That win is prolly due to the TE model and its offroad ability compared to last model runner and any other competitors vehicles this year. 4runner has stepped quite a bit closer to the Lexus GX level of refinement and has trail capabilities of the Rubicon.
thats just my opinion though

 

[Hugo]

Can't wait to receive my issue, I'm a subscriber (and, hopefully, future Trail Edition owner).

 

[Hugo]

Here's the vid from when they first tested it. Both 4runners were stock, save for better tires and rock sliders, and both made it through the Rubicon, and then back to Toyota's headquarters 700 miles away.

Great vid, but the music is awful (sounds like some drunk amateur playing with a cheap guitar in a damp basement).

http://www.fourwheeler.com/videos/6223104/2010-toyota-4-runner-to-the-rubicon/index.html

 

[LWN]

Interesting. Best 4runner yet. What makes it better than the 3rd Gen? KDDS?

As a current owner of a both a 3rd gen and a 5th gen TE, I have to agree with the magazine. My 98 T4R was my faithful offroad companion for 12 years, but technology has passed her by. The combination of KDSS, rear locker, and ATRAC makes the 5th gen TE a significant step forward in offroad abilities. My old girl can't handle the offroad challenges that my TE does with ease, and I've put her out to pasture. I just hope my 2010 lasts half as many miles as I have on my 98.

 

[Hugo]

As a current owner of a both a 3rd gen and a 5th gen TE, I have to agree with the magazine. My 98 T4R was my faithful offroad companion for 12 years, but technology has passed her by. The combination of KDSS, rear locker, and ATRAC makes the 5th gen TE a significant step forward in offroad abilities. My old girl can't handle the offroad challenges that my TE does with ease, and I've put her out to pasture. I just hope my 2010 lasts half as many miles as I have on my 98.

That's a great thing to hear, because with each generation that passes, most SUVs become soccer-mom wuss mobiles. I felt like Toyota was headed that direction when the 4th gen came out (never was a fan, maybe I'm wrong, no offense here), but clearly, the 5th gen is the real deal.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

As a current owner of a both a 3rd gen and a 5th gen TE, I have to agree with the magazine. My 98 T4R was my faithful offroad companion for 12 years, but technology has passed her by. The combination of KDSS, rear locker, and ATRAC makes the 5th gen TE a significant step forward in offroad abilities. My old girl can't handle the offroad challenges that my TE does with ease, and I've put her out to pasture. I just hope my 2010 lasts half as many miles as I have on my 98.

Yeah, I understand. I was thinking about purely offroad.

I agree that each generation improves technology wise, if it didn't there would be no reason to buy it.

3rd Gens had a rear locker as well and have a smaller body for narrower trails.

I am glad to see the optional TE edition of the 5th Gen though. Toyota has not forgot about the small segment of the population that goes offroad and that is nice to see.

 

[LWN]

Yeah, I understand. I was thinking about purely offroad.

I agree that each generation improves technology wise, if it didn't there would be no reason to buy it.

3rd Gens had a rear locker as well and have a smaller body for narrower trails.

I am glad to see the optional TE edition of the 5th Gen though. Toyota has not forgot about the small segment of the population that goes offroad and that is nice to see.

That's true, the 98 did come with a locking rear diff as an option. But they were very difficult to find, at least where I live, so I settled on a non-locking SR5 4X4. The locker does make a huge difference though.

 

[4Runner8]

As a current owner of a both a 3rd gen and a 5th gen TE, I have to agree with the magazine. My 98 T4R was my faithful offroad companion for 12 years, but technology has passed her by. The combination of KDSS, rear locker, and ATRAC makes the 5th gen TE a significant step forward in offroad abilities. My old girl can't handle the offroad challenges that my TE does with ease, and I've put her out to pasture. I just hope my 2010 lasts half as many miles as I have on my 98.

that is very true and think of when a legit lift comes out so u can mount up 33's. it will be amazing off road..

and since you got the sr5 you should get the arb dual air locker deal they have where if u buy front and rear u get a free air compressor that can also pump up tires.

 

[Hugo]

I received my issue of FourWheeler.

What a crap test.

They didn't even compare it to other SUVs, like they used to do in previous years.

They just gave the title to the Toy.

WTF?

I didn't learn anything new about its capabilities, the issue where they tested it on the Rubicon covered all that.

That sucked.