Used 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Premium for sale 

The 4Runner is offered between $36K to $48.6K and is available in 5 trims. All the trims are offered in either 4x2 or 4x4 except the “Venture Special Edition” which only comes as 4x4. Each trim shares the same engine but has different styling and is somewhat built differently from one another. The SR5 and the Premium are the “normal” editions of this SUV. The “Venture Special Edition” is overloaded with a rugged external look and major creature comforts. The “Limited” is more equipped for the city rather than off-road and finally, the “Nightshade” edition is .. well .. Black, inside and out.

Which trim to opt for?

Our recommendation is twofold. If you're a person who will be using their 4Runner only in the city, opt for the Limited. Although, if you are going to be tackling the dirt and grime, but are on a tight budget, then the SR5 Premium is the way to go. The SR5 gives you much more offroading capability than the Limited due to its smaller tires and more ground clearance.

The Toyota 4Runner is powered by a 4L V6 engine. This powerful engine is capable of producing enough thrust for as to carry the hefty 4Runner with ease. It produces a total of 270 horsepower and 278-pound feet of torque. The engine has the capability to offer the rugged feeling which is slowly but surely fading from today’s mid-size 4x4s.

The 5 speed shiftable automatic on offer feels like a match made in heaven for the bulky engine. It puts the power to wheels in glorious fashion and never skips a beat when told to accelerate quickly at high gear.

In its class, the Toyota 4Runner offers the least amount of power. While the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango do have better horsepower numbers, the 4Runner holds a podium position in torque numbers.  However, nothing can even come close to challenge the Ford Explorer here. This beast of a machine, with its 2.3L turbocharged Inline 4 makes 30 horsepower more with 310-pound feet of torque. Getting so much power out of such a small engine and that too for 3 grand less than the 4Runner is quite a feat.

2020 Toyota 4Runner “0-60”?

The capable V6 of the 4Runner runs smooth. However, for the smoothness, it does sacrifice on the acceleration front a bit. The 4Runner is equipped with an efficient 5-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with propels it smoothly and with linear thrust. The gear ratios here are tall and stays in the powerband longer thanks to its 5 gears. There is no obvious lag while accelerating and although the acceleration isn't fast, it is quite decent. The 4Runner manages a 0-60 acceleration in 7.3 seconds.

As from the aforementioned data, the 4Runner isn't the fastest, nor the slowest in its segment but then it is almost a second behind the leader, which is the Jeep Grand Cherokee, with a 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds. Taking the class by surprise is the Ford Explorer, with it's small 2.3L inline 4 and a 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds, it is the only SUV in this segment that is able to catch up with the leader, which is quite impressive. Finally, the Dodge Durango, the backseater of this class, with 7.6 seconds is disappointing, especially with what the Dodge name stands for.

How is the 2020 Toyota 4Runner's handling?

An SUV this size is expected to be a little wobbly in tight corners, however, the 4Runner is anything but wobbly. The heavy SUV takes tight, short corners in a stride. The body roll is quite less considering the weight and the height of the vehicle. The credit for this impressive display of control should be given to the suspension system.

The steering is precise and quick to react to the control of the driver. At higher speeds, the effort to steer changes as it becomes slightly heavier but not enough to cause fatigue in long drives.
It runs smooth and relaxed on the road. It feels more like a crossover than an SUV, but that perception fades away when you take this massive vehicle off-road, where the 4Runner exceeds expectations, because of its narrow-body structure and useful ground clearance of 9.6-inches. The way the 4Runner excels off the road, it becomes evidently clear to even the uninitiated that this is no crossover, this is an SUV with a rugged core. It is a completely different scenario when you consider the TRD model, which has the most upgrades for when you consider the beaten path.

Does it stop as well as it accelerates?

Although the braking is fine, the pedal feels leaves the driver flabbergasted. The amount of dead travel to the pedal is significant. It will take a decent amount of time to get used to the braking feel of this SUV. The front and rear disks are ventilated. The massive 4Runner should stop well as it is equipped with the largest brake rotors in the segment, but the greater curb weight might prove out to be a hindrance while braking during an emergency situation.

The heaviest of the bunch, Dodge Durango, travel the most distance in case of a panic stop from 60 miles per hour; 127 feet. Although the Ford Explorer is lighter than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it stops farther, possibly due to its smaller brakes. The Grand Cherokee has the smallest braking distance relative to its weight. A panic brake stop distance of 124 feet is highly impressive for a weight of 4600 pounds.

Also Read

How well does the 4runner perform on the safety front? 

The Toyota 4Runner is quite a big fuel guzzler. The fuel economy of the Toyota 4Runner this year has shown no improvement. It still provides 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. Even though, the powertrain is pretty solid, obviously, why won't it be....it's a Toyota, but the standard rear-wheel drive 4Runner starts to show its age with fuel economy.

Here the 4Runner is not only one of the slowest cars in the class, but it also holds the poorest fuel economy. The other V6-powered rivals like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango fare much better than the 4Runner. The Ford Explorer holds a combined fuel economy of 20 mpg. The position of class leader is a tie between the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango, which both hold a combined average of 21 mpg. Here, we think the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the better candidate as it performs much better while maintaining top-class fuel efficiency.

Also Read

Toyota goes berserk with the 2021 GR Supra

While the 4Runner looks rugged and aggressive from the outside, it looks plush and with a hint of lavishness on the inside. The materials used inside are all top grade. Although there is some plastic here and there, it is used tastefully. The seats are either vinyl or leather and can be heated or cooled or both, depending on the trim. The 4Runner comes standard with 5 seats, which can be expanded to seven

The view from the driver’s seat is very satisfying. You sit higher than your typical crossover and have a very authoritative position. Almost every driver will be able to find a comfortable position thanks to the adjustments offered on the seats and the tilting and telescoping steering wheel. Adjusting pedals would have been a good touch here for some of the shorter passengers. Visibility is spot on as seeing over the corners of the hood is pretty comfortable and the rear view is very gracious.

Out of the class, the Ford Explorer has the most cabin room. The seating space in both the front and rear rows are class-leading. While the front rows of both the Dodge Durango and the Jeep Grand Cherokee are identical, the Jeep pulls ahead in roominess of the second row. The Toyota 4Runner is somewhere in the middle, which provides plenty of legroom for the front and rear passengers alike for long rides. Although the optional third row, quite frankly at best are for kids.

Interior Features

Following are some of the notable interior features of the 4Runner-

• Dual-zone automatic climate control with air filter and second-row vents
• Multi-Information Display (MID) with outside temperature, clock, average fuel economy and
• Fabric-trimmed front seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support
• Fabric-trimmed 40/20/40 split reclining and fold-flat second-row seat
• Cruise control
• Leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• Backup camera with projected path
• One cargo area 120V 100W/400W AC power outlet
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

How good is the Infotainment system in the 2020 Toyota 4Runner?

The Toyota 4Runner is a decade old now, and the age shadows on the infotainment front too. Nevertheless, following the modern-day trend of loading cars with high-tech features, the 2020 Toyota 4Runner, also bundles a lot of them if not all on the infotainment front. The 4Runner now comes standard with the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The 8-inch touchscreen is easy to use and responds well to touch input. Voice recognition is easy to use and is also Amazon Alexa compatible. You get a 3 month trial to satellite radio and in-car wifi, with up to 2 GB within 3 months. The satellite radio and wifi are services that are for a limited time only and will require you to re-subscribe to continue using.

Also Read

How well has the 4Runner performed for the past few years on the sales front?

How big is the Cargo Space in the 2020 Toyota 4Runner?

A crucial part people look for when buying an SUV of this caliber, is how much of cargo space will be provided. The 4Runner has an abundance of cargo space. The 47.2 cubic feet of storage outback is quite well for a car this size. However, if you need more space, the passenger seats fold down flat to make more space for your cargo. The power rear glass makes loading everyday objects easy, while the sliding cargo bay helps with the heavy objects.

The 4Runner and the Dodge Durango have comparable cargo space. Although the Dodge Durango is technically the winner, the difference in their storage space is negligible. The Ford Explorer is the one behind in line here. With a cargo space of 21 cubic feet, the mighty Explorer really underperformed here. However, things change when we talk about the storage room with the seats folded down. The Explorer makes a miraculous recovery from being dead last and caught up to the leaders. Although the Explorer is still in third place, the difference between it and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is now at last place, is quite substantial.

Also Read

Click to see how the Jeep Grand Cherokee edges past the 4Runner

Is the Toyota 4Runner expensive to live?

The intuitive looks of the 4Runner incorporate the right amount of style with off-road prowess. While the 4Runner would look inconspicuous on the road, take it in the dirt and one will realize its true beauty when its in its natural environment. The flat and boxy front helps the driver handle it well in tight corners. While the silhouette of the 4Runner is the same across all the trims, the details are different. The “Limited” is leaning more toward city use. It sits lower than the other trims and has decorated chrome accents all around.

The “Nightshade Edition” is better in handling off-road challenges. It is lathered top to bottom in black, as you might have guessed (“Night” shade .. duh). Black alloys, grille, black chrome bumper accents finished with a beautiful black interior. Finally, the “Venture Special Edition”  goes a little overboard with the whole offroad thing. A Yakima MegaWarrior roof-mounted cargo basket comes standard here. With that, it also has 17-inch wheels, a black rear bumper and door handles.

4400 pounds isn't light, but in this class, it can be considered so. The 4Runner is the lightest in this class. The heaviest is the Dodge Durango. Such a weight is partially responsible for its poor performance metrics. The 4Runner also has the maximum ground clearance of the batch making it the most capable off-roader here. Also, a shorter wheelbase means the 4Runner will have more control in short turns.

Some of the most notable features on the 4Runner include-

• Projector-beam headlights with smoked trim
• LED taillights with smoked sport trim
• Integrated fog lights & LED fog lights
• Heated power outside mirrors
• Chrome door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature
• Black door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature
• Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade
• Aerodynamic variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle
• Color-keyed rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light and integrated concealed rear wiper with mist cycle
• Skid plates — on engine/front suspension, fuel tank, and transfer case 

Also Read

How does the 4Runner TRD fare against its competition in terms of styling

The 4Runner is equipped top to bottom with a lot of safety features. The 2020 4Runner comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense, The 4Runner was designed to be able to withstand the harsh wilderness, and thus to provide such reliability and the fact that it allows you to take it to places where normal cars can't go, it needs a good amount of standard safety features.  Along with that, many other features like Lane Departure Warning, Pre-Collision Systems, Stability and Traction control, ABS, etc keeps the passengers safe. While on the matter of safety prowess, the 2020 4Runner hasn't been crash-tested yet, but the 2019 4Runner does acquire very high reviews by the IIHS.

Other safety features:

• Engine Immobilizer
• Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
• Post Collision Safety System
• Accident Avoidance System
• Emergency Braking Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Pre-Collision System with pedestrian Detection
• Vehicle Stability Control
• Electronic Brake Force Distribution 

2020 Toyota 4Runner vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Grand Cherokee has more power and is quicker in a less expensive package. It also maintains a very good fuel economy compared to the 4Runner. This doesn't mean that the 4Runner doesn't have its own advantages. In terms of reliability and handling, the 4Runner is impeccable. It also has very satisfying cargo storage and class-leading off-roading capabilities. The choice between the 4Runner and the Grand Cherokee depends on the preference of the potential owner.

2020 Toyota 4Runner VS 2020 Dodge Durango

The Durango is the cheapest of the bunch. It is also the slowest. However, it does have good fuel economy and looks on the sporty side. The Cargo space is good, although when compared to the 4Runner, it is less. The 4Runner excels in offroading. Its lighter weight makes it ideal to thrust against some dirt. Style and brand liking can be the only reason to choose the Durango over the 4Runner.

2020 Toyota 4Runner VS 2020 Ford Explorer

The Explorer might not be as light as the 4Runner, but is definitely quicker. The Explorer, with its Inline 4 engine manages to pack a lot of performance when pitted against the 4Runner. It also manages a better fuel economy. However, the 4Runner has the best of the bunch in off-roading capabilities. Its focus has been more towards its ability to make the family picnics epic. Its excellent cargo capacity seconds that.

The Toyota 4Runner is the product of a careful decision between performance and endurance. Being an offroad vehicle, Toyota has done a lot to make sure the 4Runner doesn't break even after years of using it on treacherous paths. Not only is it well equipped to handle the harshness of the wilderness, but it also does so while keeping the occupants completely comfortable. Obviously, Toyota’s reputation makes and keeps some obvious promises. Great handling, sturdily built and a great customer care system put a neat bow on this grand package.