I wanted to find out, because despite reviewing cars for more than 13 years, I have never driven a 4Runner. As it turned out, it is far less compromised than I was expecting. Yes it's rougher than a Highlander, yes it's slower and less efficient, yes the steering is slow and the handling worse. And given its advanced age, there's a lot of grey at its temples — there is no safety tech available, the touchscreen is rinky-dink and you actually have to hold down the turn signal stalk to make it blink three times.
And yet, the 4Runner is also substantially more interesting and characterful to drive than virtually every similarly sized crossover without being hopelessly truckish. It also is of a just-right size, especially in terms of its cargo area, which is usefully large and boxy at a time when most crossovers are losing practicality in favor of stylishly raked D pillars. That makes it better for hauling around bulky items, it's just about perfect for big dogs (they'll love the huge rear quarter windows) and that flat, upright tailgate allows for perhaps the 4Runner's coolest element — the roll-down rear window. Correct me if I'm wrong, but only the 4Runner and its Sequoia sibling feature one.
Oh, and of course it can go off-road — especially with the as-tested TRD Off-Road Premium's Multi-terrain Select, Crawl Control, electronically controlled locking rear diff and optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (a decoupling stabilizer bar that increases wheel articulation off-road and actually improves handling on-road as well).
Watch the video above for my full take on the 2018 Toyota 4Runner. Not only was it much better than I was expecting, it was one of those rare cars I didn't want to give back at the end of the weeklong loan.
