Hi, new owner here, my 2 cents.
I've driven new V6 4Runners a couple of times in the last year, sampling them and various Jeeps and other SUVs to see what I liked best to replace my X1 for better rough off-road performance and durability. I then specifically started targeting the 4th gen V8 4Runner, with the idea that the V8 might avoid the chronic down-shifts the V6 has to execute on the freeway with the cruise control activated in order to maintain speed while going up significant grades. I recently bought an '05 V8 with 150,000 on it, meticulously maintained from an original owner, bone stock. While it too has to downshift to maintain cruise settings on the freeway going up grades (though not as frequently), I do think it has more usable power than the new 5th gen V6 4Runner, especially off the line, where it seems to have better torque. Mine gets up to freeway speeds quite well and has decent passing power. Mind you, I'm used to my 300 hp X1, which is quite fast, so if anything I have slightly unreasonable expectations from the heavier, full time AWD, much lower hp Toyota, but I am actually quite pleased with its performance.
Plus, I love the sound and smoothness of that little V8!
Steve