Used 2018 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium for sale 

The 4Runner comes with a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine teamed up with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The transmission seems to have withstood the test of time due to its dependability but has slowly passed to the realms of old and obsolete. 4Runner offers 6 trims which range from $ 34,410 to $ 44,760 and offers 3 different drivetrains - RWD, Part-time 4WD, and full-time 4WD.

Toyota offers 6 trim levels for the 2018 Toyota 4Runner, which have 3 drivetrain choices: RWD in the SR5, SR5 Premium, and Limited, part-time 4WD in SR5 and TRD (Off-Road, Off-Road Premium, and Pro), and full-time 4WD for the Limited trim. 

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Being a capable off-roader, the 4Runner isn't known for a comfortable ride, but rather for the rough terrains. Keeping that in mind, the TRD Off-Road Premium feels like a viable choice. The 'Off-Road' part is justified by features like locking rear differential and KDSS, and the 'Premium' part is justified by features like heated and synthetic leather-trimmed front seats, easy-clean vinyl upholstery, heated power outside mirrors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The 2018 Toyota 4Runner is a rugged off-road vehicle, which is apparent from its 4-liter V6 engine being paired with an outdated but trustworthy 5-speed automatic transmission. This adds to its reliability. Although 4Runner doesn't have the most powerful engine or transmission in the segment, it surely has the most reliable and rigid one. 

The 4Runner pairs its V6 with 3 drivetrain choices. The entry-level SR5 is available in RWD with Automatic Limited Slip Differential (Auto LSD) and a part-time 4WD with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), TRD is available only with a part-time 4WD with A-TRAC, and Limited is available in RWD with Auto LSD as well as full time 4WD with A-TRAC and Torsen limited-slip center differential with locking feature.

The 2018 Toyota 4Runner's unparalleled off-road capabilities are challenged by few, with the Grand Cherokee and the Honda Pilot coming as close as they come. But the 4Runner's V6 scrapes the bottom of the power barrel for its class with 270hp. This makes 4Runner lag behind its competitors in the city. Although 4Runner's V6 generates more torque than most competitors, the engine lacks power. The 4Runner is the king of off-roading, but the mighty fall in a civilized road scenario.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Acceleration

It comes with no surprise that the motor generating 270hp won't be the quickest on the road. The 4Runner generates just enough acceleration to provide a decent merging and overtaking performance.

This Toyota SUV is easily thwarted by its competitors in engine power and acceleration, but the 4Runner does well to hold its own and provides a respectable climbing power. This is a car that may not outshine rivals on paved roads but manages to provide a performance that's decent enough for most people.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Handling and Steering

Okay, before we go into analyzing the 4Runner's handling capabilities, it is important to remember what the idea behind designing this rugged beast was. It is, after all, designed to provide a dependable and strong off-road experience. Therefore, it is no surprise that it drives like a pickup truck. The classic body-on-frame design that gives it ruggedness and clearance also adds to its weight, which restricts its cornering, braking, and accelerating capabilities.

The handling is stiff, the ride is jittery. 4Runner's off-road features, like slow-ratio steering and tough suspension, make it quite a handful on a paved road. This doesn't put 4Runner out of the race but proves that the king of the jungle gets somewhat tamed in the civilized world.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Braking Performance

The meaty tires hum on the highway and serve up notably poor grip; we were even able to chirp them during not particularly hard braking in traffic. And the solid rear axle mixes awkwardly with the independent front suspension, the setups delivering roly-poly handling and significant body dive under braking

The braking power of the 2018 Toyota 4Runner is quite impressive. It is quicker to come to a stop than many of its main competition, but this braking power comes at a cost. There is a notable amount of nosedive, which is quite a problem. The panic stops also require a few extra feet than most modern crossovers.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Towing Capacity

The 2018 Toyota 4Runner is compared to a pickup truck so much that it won't be shocking to know that it has a strong towing capacity. It has an SAE J2807*-compliant rating of 5,000 pounds. SUVs like the Dodge Durango and the top end Grand Cherokee do have the capability to tow more, but 5,000 pounds seems enough for most drivers.

Handling and fuel economy are not the strong traits of this pickup truck-style SUV. Give it a mountain to climb, no problem! Need to power through an uneven terrain? Sure! But do all this and be easy on the pocket? Maybe in a utopia. 4Runner is a thirsty beast, with an economy of just 17/21 MPG in the city/highway. Lucky for us, Toyota's V6 runs on regular unleaded.

Another midsize SUV in Toyota's armory is the Highlander, which sets quite a standard for mid-size SUVs in terms of mileage. The 2018 Toyota 4Runner's combined economy of 18.8 is almost embarrassing when compared to its cousin's combined economy of 23.15. Almost every rival surpasses the 4Runner in mileage since it didn't set the bar too high, to begin with!

The interiors of the 2018 Toyota 4Runner are minimalistic and logical. The dashboard and instrument panel is nicely laid out, the seats are roomy, and the knobs are huge to remind that it is, after all, an off-roader. Climbing in and out of 4Runner is easy if you can deal with a high step-up height.

The 2018 Toyota 4Runner comes standard with cloth seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, a 40/20/40-split-folding second-row bench seat, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Synthetic leather, genuine leather, and heated and ventilated front seats are also available.

The seats are roomy with decent shape and a wide range of adjustments. The padding falls a bit short, though, when we consider its strength in rough terrains. A high seating position makes for excellent visibility but may make getting in and out a bit difficult for some passengers.

The 4Runner accommodates 5 people but has an option of a third-row seat which expands the capacity to 7. The last row doesn't give much legroom, so it is best suited for small children. There are two sets of lower anchors and three tether anchors. Although these anchors are tricky and hard to use.

Interior Features

The simple and minimalistic interiors of the 2018 Toyota 4Runner accommodates several tech features. The instrument panel is tailor-shaped to play home to a standard 6.1-inch high-resolution touch screen. Another standard feature is Optitron instrumentation that enhances the visibility of gauges in any light.

The standard seats come with cloth upholstery. SR5 Premium and TRD Off-Road Premium trims come with premium materials like SofTex. The Limited trim offers perforated leather, which balances comfort and rigidity perfectly.

For those who like to drive under the sky, the Limited trim comes with a standard power tilt/slide moonroof to further enhance your off-road ventures. This moonroof is also available in the SR5 Premium and TRD Off-Road Premium. Another impressive feature comes in the form of active front headrests. These headrests move slightly up and forward in case of a rear-end collision to reduce neck injuries.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Cargo Capacity:

Apparently, practicality is the soft spot of most SUVs. You have to make a difficult choice between populating the car with either people or cargo. The 4Runner, in this respect, is a very decent choice as it provides significant space in the trunk despite carrying passengers. In other words, the 4Runner can hold a lot of luggage even with all seats in place. This speaks a lot about Toyota’s promise on practicality.

As expected, the 4Runner comes with a standard cargo capacity of 46.2 cu-ft., which can be increased to 88.9 cu-ft once the rear row is down. So, the SUV can carry a whole lot of stuff for your intricate off-road adventures. The Honda Pilot, on the other hand, is more inclined towards offering convenience to the passengers and hence gets the lowest boot space. It is followed by the American muscle Dodge Durango, in that respect. 

Infotainment System

The standard infotainment system consists of an Entune Audio Plus interface, a 6.1-inch touch-screen infotainment display, navigation, eight speakers, a USB port, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, satellite radio, HD Radio, a 120-volt power outlet, and a rearview camera. Available upgrades include smartphone integration via the Entune App Suite, and a 15-speaker JBL GreenEdge sound system. Just like the simple design of the 2018 Toyota 4Runner's interiors, the infotainment system is easy to use. The large knobs and buttons add to the ease of using the infotainment system.

The 6.1-inch screen, however, feels too small for an off-roader and makes it hard to follow the map sometimes. To summarize:

• Entune Audio+ Interface
• A 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Siri Eyes Free
• 8-Speaker Stereo
• HD Radio
• 15-Speaker JBL Greenedge Sound System (O)
• Satellite Radio

The 2018 Toyota 4Runner has mostly stayed unchanged except for a few exterior revisions. The car gets new paint options like cavalry blue (TRD Pro exclusive), Midnight Black Metallic, and Super White, which were previously only available in TRD. The main focus of the 2018 Toyota 4Runner is on functionality, which it makes clear with its boxy and slab-sided exterior. You won't see too many angles and creases. 

The closest things to a slanted design are the headlights, which when paired with the black grille give 4Runner an aggressive form from the front. Go to the back and you will notice a roll down the rear window to enhance its cargo utility, and also provides for a convertible-like feel on a hot day.

There are two new packages introduced: The Wilderness package which adds crossbars to the roof rack in addition to some minor interior enhancements, and the TRD Enhancement package which adds 17-inch matte-gray wheels and a stamped aluminum front skid plate. The TRD package is available for, as the name suggests, TRD Off-Road and TRD Off-Road Premium models only.

When it comes to safety features, there are surely more impressive cars out there. Even Toyota's own Highlander provides standard features like forwarding collision warning, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control, which somehow didn't manage to make a cut when it came to the 4Runner. The crash test results were somewhat mixed for the 4Runner. The overall score was 4, but a breakdown shows a perfect score in the side crash test, but a mediocre score of 3 in the rollover test. Some of the safety features that the new Toyota 4Runner does provide are:

• Driver Air Bag
• Passenger Air Bag
• Front Head Air Bag
• Rear Head Airbag
• Front Side Air Bag
• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Front and Rear parking sensors
• Front Tow Hooks
• Traction Control
• Child Safety Locks

Toyota 4Runner vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

As before, judging these large vehicles in an uneven terrain would tip the scales in 4Runner's favor. But the Jeep Grand Cherokee has much more up its proverbial sleeve in terms of power and economy. Its combined economy of 22.5 makes 4Runner look like a thirsty old-timer. Grand Cherokee also boasts a tremendous towing capability of 3,500 to 7,500 pounds, which is right there on the top of the table for this class.

Grand Cherokee also offers a V8 engine in its upper trims, while the V6 engine is standard for all 4Runners. This results in much more power generation which puts 4Runner to shame on roads. But being an off-roader, 4Runner has other features, like the trailer hitch, which is standard so you can just hook up your load and drive off. Unfortunately, a trailer hitch is an add-on in Cherokee.

Toyota 4Runner vs Dodge Durango:

The Dodge Durango is a relatively new addition to the group of multi-purpose SUVs. Although a bit less of an off-roader than the 4Runner, one can still take it out for a ride on the unpaved roads, thanks to its sturdy and robust structure and a quality promise that ensues with the Dodge monogram. Comparing the performance, however, the Durango falls behind in the run marginally, despite greater output.

This can be attributed to the more refined nature of Durango's powertrain. In terms of ride quality, however, the Durango scores better than its Japanese counterpart with better dynamics and a comparatively lower center of gravity. 

Toyota 4Runner vs Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is the perfect car for suburban families. It has a strong V6 engine that generates 280bhp. It also earns great safety ratings due to its massive safety features and driver assistance features.

The 4Runner and the Pilot may lie in the same class, but they are poles apart when it comes to the goals behind their features. The pilot focuses on safety and comfort for a suburban family, while 4Runner feels at home in Mother Nature's bosom. Comparing these two in off-roading would, you guessed it, clearly put 4Runner in the front. But to judge a car on its overall ability on the road would bring Pilot right back into competition.

With all things considered, the answer to the question, 'Is the 2018 Toyota 4Runner a good car?' really boils down to how you intend to use this car. If you are a thrill seeker and are looking for a tough companion on rough terrain, then 4Runner is the car for you. It has a solid build, a reliable engine, and enough cargo space to fill all that you would require for an adventurous trip. If, however, you tend to keep your endeavors on the solid paved road, there are certainly better options out there. Toyota's Highlander is a viable choice as it mixes style with excellent economy. It provides more modern features like Driver Easy Speak and a pre-collision system. City drives and paved roads seem to be the kryptonite for the jungle-dwelling 4Runner In terms of mileage, power, comfort, and safety.