Best mid-size suv: Toyota 4Runner
How any Toyota can be among the most underrated SUVs on the road is a mystery. The 4Runner matches the refinement and comfort of many car-based SUVs. Yet it has the cojones of a genuine truck, including towing ability. There's not another SUV that can play both hands this well, for this price.
What else? A choice of potent V-6 or V-8 engines. Sophisticated four-wheel drive and indomitable off-road skills. Features typically found only on the priciest luxury SUVs, such as downhill assist control, a top navigation system and a rear backup camera. Handsome, masculine styling and a typical Toyota interior, which is to say excellent.
The beef with the 4Runner seems to be how expensive it is, but I don't buy that, especially in light of praise for its Lexus GX 470 sibling. Even the top-shelf 4Runner Limited V-8 costs a good $8,000 less than the Lexus, and it's essentially the same SUV minus the country-club interior trim. The 4Runner V-6 starts at just over $27,000, and a fine Sport V-8 4x4 can be had for under $35,000.
My hunch is that the 4Runner is taken for granted because it's slightly out of fashion. Car-based SUVs like Toyota's own Highlander are the darlings.
Now, I love many of those citified sport utes. Thank goodness there's room for both. The 4Runner rules.
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http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/bestcars/
How any Toyota can be among the most underrated SUVs on the road is a mystery. The 4Runner matches the refinement and comfort of many car-based SUVs. Yet it has the cojones of a genuine truck, including towing ability. There's not another SUV that can play both hands this well, for this price.
What else? A choice of potent V-6 or V-8 engines. Sophisticated four-wheel drive and indomitable off-road skills. Features typically found only on the priciest luxury SUVs, such as downhill assist control, a top navigation system and a rear backup camera. Handsome, masculine styling and a typical Toyota interior, which is to say excellent.
The beef with the 4Runner seems to be how expensive it is, but I don't buy that, especially in light of praise for its Lexus GX 470 sibling. Even the top-shelf 4Runner Limited V-8 costs a good $8,000 less than the Lexus, and it's essentially the same SUV minus the country-club interior trim. The 4Runner V-6 starts at just over $27,000, and a fine Sport V-8 4x4 can be had for under $35,000.
My hunch is that the 4Runner is taken for granted because it's slightly out of fashion. Car-based SUVs like Toyota's own Highlander are the darlings.
Now, I love many of those citified sport utes. Thank goodness there's room for both. The 4Runner rules.
.
.
http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/bestcars/
