2023 Toyota 4Runner: Why I Bought the Oldest New SUV On the Market
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner is filled with old technology, gets lousy gas mileage, and uses a dated powertrain… It’s perfect.
A couple of weeks ago I bought myself a new 2023 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium. The word new I should have probably put in quotes. While my 4Runner was in fact a new, never titled vehicle with less than 30 miles on it, there is really nothing new about it. This is the fifth generation 4Runner and it has been on the market without a major refresh since 2010. Toy Story 3 was the number one movie. The original iPad was just released. TikTok wasn’t invented yet. But the 4Runner I just drove off the dealer lot is basically the same you could have gotten back when Barack Obama was still in his first term as president. Why would I pay nearly 50 grand for an SUV that is so much older than its rivals?
Because it is perfect, that’s why.
I will get to the specifics around why I think my 2023 Toyota 4Runner is perfect in a bit. But first, let’s get the shortcomings out of the way. Fuel economy is dismal. Acceleration is considered brisk only if you are comparing it to a city bus. The touchscreen and rear-view camera graphics are about what you would expect from a Nintendo 64. And it drives like a truck. If any of these things bother you, then a 4Runner is not for you. None of these things bother me, and I even prefer some of them. On top of that the 4Runner has many advantages over other SUVs in the market. After shopping for a while, and comparing it to all sorts of other vehicles, it became obvious that the 4Runner was the only logical choice.
My Criteria
I am fortunate enough to own several vehicles and have access to drive many others. I own a 25-year-old Porsche and a 16-year-old V12 Ferrari. So, I didn’t need anything sporty, but keeping those old sports cars running can be pricey. My VW Jetta wagon is ten years old and pressing 130K miles. So, I wanted my new vehicle to be reliable and inexpensive to maintain. Nothing is more reliable than a 4Runner. The technology is old but proven. That is what I wanted. I don’t need a 20-inch 8K touchscreen in my vehicle. Just the basics are fine with me. I like rugged vehicles for some moderate off-roading and exploring. I want my SUV to feel like an SUV. Being built on a truck frame the 4Runner ticks that box as well.
I have a dog that weighs 90+ pounds and has two bad knees. So, I needed a vehicle that he can easily get in and out of and have room to spread out. I don’t want to care about dog hair, scuffs, and scrapes, or getting the vehicle muddy. Road trips are my thing and I want something with the space to fit all my stuff, and the peace of mind in knowing I can depend on the SUV getting me anywhere I want to go. The most expensive aspect of buying a new vehicle is the depreciation. So, I wanted something that would retain value. The 4Runner does that better than almost anything else. You can see how the choices dwindled down to just one.
Early Impressions
I have not put many miles on my 4Runner yet, but I have done enough to get a few initial impressions. Overall, I love the rig. Rugged, good looks, reliability, and exceptional value retention are all important. But they don’t mean much if you hate spending time in the thing. The 4Runner feels solid on the road. Quiet and comfortable but gives a sense of being able to tackle anything. I love the simple buttons and big knobs to control everything. You can keep the haptic feedback buttons used on many other vehicles these days. Give me a big button to push or a rubberized knob to turn.
On the road, I think the 4Runner handles great. Mine is equipped with KDSS and I have found that the SUV is much flatter through the corners than I expected. It isn’t a sports car but for a beefy SUV pushing almost 5,000 pounds, it is impressive. I am still in the honeymoon phase with the 4Runner, so I will post updates as I get more miles in it. But, to me the oldest new SUV on the market today is the perfect choice.
Images: Joe Kucinski
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