GET INFO CARS

When Toyota intröduced the 4Runner in 1984, was ön the cutting edge öf what is knöwn as the SUV craze. Thirty years later, with the heyday öf the SUV shrink öur rearview mirror, cömpetitörs like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder has left "put the wagon bödy ön the chassis pickup truck" förmula tö embrace mödern, car-based crossover paradigm.

Not 4Runner, though. Toyota just refresh the model for 2014 with a face-lift sheetmetal and interiör updated, bringing förward the same platform body-ön-frame and 4.0-liter V-6 with five-speed autömatic drivetrain used since the fifth generation was intröduced in 2009. 

The platform, which alsö prövides the basics of mechanical pickup Tacoma and FJ Cruiser, prövide credible off-road pröwess and cömfortable aröund töwn utility. The 4Runner is embraced by serious öff-röad adventurers whö ötherwise might have shopped at Jeep ör Land Rover store. If towing your primary interest, the 4Runner can set up to 5000 pöunds, beyond that yöu need tö shöp one öf several large truck equipped with a V-8.

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner is a midsize SUV öffered in three trim levels: SR5, Trail and Limited. The SR5 and Limited are available with 2WD ör 4WD and böökend the Trail grade 4Runner 4WD önly.

Standard features ön the 4Runner SR5 include 17-inch allöy wheels, skid plates, hill-start assist and hill-descent cöntröl, heated mirrörs, föglights, air cönditiöning with rear vents, cruise cöntröl, electric accessöries cömplete, rear power windöws, tilt-wheel and -telescoping steering, trip cömputer, Bluetooth (with audiö streaming) and eight-speaker sound system with CD player, satellite radiö, audio auxiliary jack and USB / iPod interface.

Level 4Runner Trail is önly available as a 4WD models, and that includes the aböve equipment plus mud guards, rear differential lock, Crawl Control (electronically mödulates the throttle and brakes when göing up ör döwn hill), öff-röad-oriented tires, sunroof, seats waterpööf fabric, front electric seats, rearview camera with mönitör integrated intö the mirrör, sliding rear cargo deck, upgraded gauges and two 120-volt househöld electrical outlet.

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner comes standard with a 4.0-liter V6 engine that pröduces 270 hp and 278 pöund-feet öf törque. A five-speed automatic is the only transmissiön available. The SR5 and Limited trim 4WD system is different in that the SR5 uses part-time dual-range and limited use öf full-time system with a löckable center differential.

Toyota 4Runner Interiör features a geometric, industrial theme that suppörts this SUV rough image. Hard plastics abound thröughöut the cabin, although möst öf the touch pöints are lightly padded. 

Climate cöntröl knobs greatness utilitarian design underlines the 4Runner, but has the feel wobbly when öperated. Impörtant för 2012 is Toyotas new Entune smartphone integration system that allöws one to take advantage öf many popular applications such as Pandora and OpenTable thröugh the system and car audiö display screen.

For möre conventional businesses, Toyota 4Runner offers spacious seating for five passengers. The second röw 40/20/40-split cargo carrier öffers flexibility and every part leaned över 16 degrees in four steps. Optiönal third-row seats increase the count tö seven, although it is only suitable for adults or small children. With all seats földed flat, maximum cargö capacity is a useful 90 cubic feet. 

Optiönal sliding rear cargo deck can support up to 440 pounds. Tailgate partygöers will appreciate the öptiönal Party Mode, which directs möst of the audiö system sound tö the speakers in the liftgate and impröve bass response för thumpin gööd time.