Kickin' Tires: 2010 Toyota 4Runner

In a world full of wimpy SUVs and Crossovers, it's good to see that some are still true to the Sport factor of Sport-Utility-Vehicle. The Toyota 4Runner has always been an admirable performer, especially in the off-road department. According to Toyota, of the 1.8 million 4Runners sold since 1984, over 1.3 million are still maintained and running strong.

The new 4Runner gets an all new V6 good for horsepower and torque in the high 200s, and horsepower and fuel economy being better than the previous gen's V8. The wheelbase and outward dimensions remain nearly the same, but inside cargo space is improved quite well. Add a tailgate for the 5-passenger variant, along with speakers that go into "Party Mode," and you've got the coolest tailgating machine in town.

The new 2010 4Runner will hit the ground running, due to the increase in performance, luxury, and interior space. All of that comes from Toyota without a price increase over the previous 2009 model. However, with a plethora of SUVs and Crossovers provided by Toyota, including the Highlander, RAV4, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, and FJ Cruiser, it's hard for this middle child 4Runner to really stand out above the crowd. Toyota is hopeful, and chose to go big instead of going home. We'll see how that works out when the new 4Runner launches at the end of the year.

Thanks for reading.
-Biggs