The 2014 Toyota 4Runner continues to define the original meaning of a sport utility vehicle. It’s a long-established favorite among off-road SUV enthusiasts. Unlike crossovers largely best suited for road use, the 4Runner is more versatile.
With a redesign that features a rugged new exterior and increased comfort and convenience interior upgrades, the 4Runner is fine on the road. But it’s equally comfortable on off-road treks.
Versatility, in fact, is the 4Runner’s strongest attribute.
Key Takeaways
- Test car: the Limited 4X4, with a 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6 and a five-speed ECT-i automatic transmission.
- $43,400 MSRP for the Limited 4X4.
- Grades: the SR5, the Limited and the Trail, with an optional third-row seat in the SR5 and Limited that seats as many as seven.
- 17 mpg city, 21 highway and 18 combined.
- Wheels: 17-inch alloys on the SR5 and Trail; the Limited rides on 20-inch alloys painted black prior to machining.
- Driving: The seats are high and I felt in command of the road.
New model year owners have choices: a rear wheel 4×2, part-time 4×4 or a full-time multi-mode 4×4 with a locking center differential. All models are equipped with a 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6 teamed to a five-speed ECT-i automatic transmission.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
Previewed in a mid-August manufacturer’s media presentation in Cle Elum, Wa., the fifth generation 4Runner is available in three grades: a value-driven SR5; top-of-the-line Limited, and a Trail grade for maximum off-road capability. With the optional third-row seat in the SR5 and Limited editions, the 4Runner seats as many as seven occupants.
I drove the Limited 4X4 trim and other models in Washington for a few hours and I then test drove the Limited 4X4 again for a week in Northern California.
Design and Equipment
The refreshed 4Runner exterior gives the SUV more aggressive front fascia with a muscular front grille and edgier smoked headlamps. The SR5 and Limited grades feature a color-keyed grille insert and front bumper surrounded by fog lamps set in sharply cut inlays that extend from the headlamps to the bumper.
The Trail grade features new color-keyed bumpers and overfenders, and is distinguished by a hood scoop and silver painted front and rear bumper accents. All grades are now standard with a roof rack.
The SR5 and Trail grades include 17-inch alloy wheels with a new wheel-design for both. The Limited continues to ride on 20-inch alloy wheels, now painted black prior to machining to add contrast.
The 4Runner SR5 and Trail 4×4 models have a two-speed, part-time four-wheel-drive system with neutral position, maximizing fuel efficiency when a 4×4 configuration isn’t needed. The 4Runner Limited is equipped with a full-time, four-wheel-drive system with a locking center differential and a three-mode, center console-mounted switch.
All models come standard with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), which provides additional control for off-road driving by helping to hold the vehicle stationary before starting on a steep incline or slippery surface.
All 4Runner 4×4 models feature standard Downhill Assist Control (DAC). This feature augments the low-speed ascending ability of low-range by helping to hold the vehicle, allowing time for the driver to a target speed with no driver intervention.
Fold-flat second-row seats provide a level load floor, and it is not necessary to remove headrests to fold the seats flat. The available third-row seat is split 50/50 and folds flat. The seats can be folded from the side or at the rear, using separate one-touch levers. With this arrangement, more cargo space is available without removing seats, and longer items can be conveniently carried. For outdoor enthusiasts and truck owners looking to secure extra gear in their bed space, upgrading with premium accessories from Truck Bed Barn ensures that long items and heavy cargo stay protected on every journey.
2014 Toyota 4Runner Verdict
Driving the 4Runner is an exercise is power. The seats are high and I felt in command of the road. The engine growled. The 20-inch wheels boosted the masculine feel of the SUV. A little bravado doesn’t hurt, right?
Facts & Figures: 2014 Toyota 4Runner
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $43,400 |
| Engine | 4.0-liter V6 |
| Horsepower | 270 hp |
| Transmission | 5-speed ECT-i automatic |
| Drivetrain | Full-time 4-wheel drive with locking center differential (Limited 4X4) |
| Wheels | 20-inch alloy |
| Fuel Economy | 17 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| Seating | 5, or 7 with the optional third-row seat |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
