Truck Trend Long Term Test: 04 4Runner

[Mark86]

I picked up the latest issue of Truck Trend and they had an article about their long term road test of the 2004 4Runner Limited V8. They loved it and didn't want to give it back. They said the interior was "better than most hotel rooms they stayed in" and the materials were the best, ride was quiet, and it was very capable when they took it offroad. Their only two complaints were only one 12-volt outlet up front and the front seats are too low to the floor. "It makes one feel as they are sitting in a futon." During their time with the 4Runner, they only had to bring it in for routing service and two cracked windshields repaired. The best comment they wrote was "When did the 4Runner become a luxury SUV?" At the end of the article, they wrote that the "Toyota has managed to move into the luxury-SUV market without compromises. The tradition of off-road prowess continue to thrive with the welcome addition of an ulotra-plush interior and seamlessly smooth ride." Another thing I found interesting was the competitors that Truck Trend listed for the 4Runner: Volvo XC90, Volkswagon Toureg, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

 

[Kanab]

Enlightening article. I did not realize that 2004 was the start of the 4th generation 4runner, also I did not know that Toyota started using 5 speed transmissions in the 4runner in 2005 or that the upgrade to the VVTi V8 happened mid year 2005. But they did think that the best feature was the rear window rolling up and down. My wife knows more about 4runners then the guy that wrote that article. If I was the editor of Truck Trend I would have to shoot myself.

 

[Mark86]

Enlightening article. I did not realize that 2004 was the start of the 4th generation 4runner, also I did not know that Toyota started using 5 speed transmissions in the 4runner in 2005 or that the upgrade to the VVTi V8 happened mid year 2005. But they did think that the best feature was the rear window rolling up and down. My wife knows more about 4runners then the guy that wrote that article. If I was the editor of Truck Trend I would have to shoot myself.

I agree with you. There was a lot of wrong information in that article. I don't agree with them that the rear window and 115 volt outlet were the best features of the truck. They still gave a very positive review of the 4Runner so I will look away!