The Toyota 4Runner is one of the most reliable SUV models in the Japanese automaker’s lineup. The 4Runner is beloved among the off-road community and has built a strong following for its reliability. So why do automotive experts and publications rank the reliable midsize SUV so low? Let’s explore the pros and cons of getting a new 2023 Toyota 4Runner.
The Toyota 4Runner is the last of a dying breed
It’s clear that the Toyota 4Runner is very different from most vehicles in its segment. It doesn’t have much in common with popular midsize SUVs like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Chevrolet Traverse, for better or worse.
Whether you’re a die-hard 4Runner fan or a consumer who trusts the opinions of automotive experts and publications, it’s easy to see what separates the 4Runner from the most popular midsize SUVs in its segment. It’s the last of a dying breed, and that’s either a selling point for you or a reason to run from the 4Runner. The 2023 Toyota 4Runner is one of the few pickup-style midsize SUVs left on the market.
The midsize SUV shares many characteristics with Toyota trucks, including decent power, low maintenance costs, and longevity that’s hard to beat. There’s no denying that the 4Runner can keep going longer than most of its rivals. The average Toyota 4Runner can easily last 250,000 miles when well maintained. That equates to more than 17 years of ownership in a new 4Runner based on the average annual driving range.
The 4Runner is uniquely designed to tackle rough terrain, and standard models can conquer light off-road challenges. Toyota also offers off-road versions, and consumers can even add off-road tires and a lift kit to make the base version of the midsize SUV more capable. There are many reasons to buy a Toyota 4Runner, but there are also reasons why the midsize SUV is becoming increasingly unpopular.
Cons of the 2023 Toyota 4Runner
No vehicle is perfect, and the 4Runner has its drawbacks that will deter many consumers from choosing it over its rivals. First, the 2023 Toyota 4Runner seems expensive compared to more popular midsize SUVs. It can provide more value over time, but thousands of consumers weigh the initial price of a vehicle over how much money it will cost or save in the future.
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner starts at $39,555. This price is still well below the average price of a new vehicle for 2022, but there are several more affordable rivals. The popular Kia Telluride starts at $35,690. The Chevrolet Traverse starts at $34,520.
Aside from a high starting price, the 4Runner’s fuel economy is also noticeably worse than its competition. It gets 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. That may be a fair trade-off for off-road enthusiast capability, but what about the thousands of midsize SUV buyers looking for family SUVs? Decent fuel efficiency is a crucial factor on many consumers’ minds when choosing a new SUV, and the 4Runner’s fuel economy isn’t enough for many Americans.
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner is divisive
The Toyota 4Runner is a polarizing midsize SUV because it provides great value for a specific type of owner and little value for consumers at the opposite end of the spectrum. So if you want a truck-like midsize SUV that’s tough, robust, and can stand the test of time, the 4Runner makes sense.
At the same time, automotive publications such as car and driver can justify ranking the 4Runner last on a list of the best midsize SUVs. Several Toyota nameplates, such as the Tundra and Sequoia, have been reinvigorated through redesigns. If Toyota really wants the 4Runner to exist in the middle ground between hardcore fans and the average consumer, it has to improve its fuel economy, interior quality and make its value proposition bolder to attract more drivers.