‘YotaTech’ Review: Over the Mountains in the 2020 4Runner Nightshade Edition
… the More They Stay the Same
Under the hood of the 4Runner Nightshade Edition is the same 4.0-liter V6 from 2009, and the same five-speed Aisin automatic, as well. I found the power to be adequate for cruising on the highway and in town, but the powertrain needs more gears to better deliver that power to the pavement.
I recall a few occasions where I needed to push the accelerator down to the floor just get the 4Runner back up to the speed limit when climbing up through the West Virginia Turnpike, and then again while heading home on U.S 460. I believe three more gears (minimum) on the automatic would give the SUV a much-needed boost in performance.
As far as filling the 23-gallon gas tank, Toyota says it averages 17 mpg in the city, 21 on the highway. I managed around 20 mpg on most of my drives, using half a tank to go to and from the National Corvette Museum down in Bowling Green, Kentucky while I was still in Louisville. So Toyota delivered on that front.
Always Room for One More
Inside, the 4Runner Nightshade Edition has room for seven, thanks to the third-row seating packed away in the cargo bay. Alas, I didn’t find an opportunity to use the third row during my time with the SUV (or the second row, for that matter; everyone had their own plans and rides for the holidays). That said, my mom loved the automatic running boards, which allowed her to easily hop in and out of the 4Runner during a couple of outings I took her on.
While the third row remained tucked away, I did make good use of the space behind the second row. There was certainly more than enough room for my bag, plus a piece of mine I was delivering to a new communal art space in the Portland neighborhood of Louisville. I even took advantage of the cargo net behind my seat, using it to keep a bottle of Virginia wine in place until I could give it to my relatives for Christmas.
You Belong to the Night
The 4Runner Nightshade Edition is one of five models Toyota has given the monochrome-and-grayscale treatment to for 2020. The result is an SUV which feels at home on the gritty, neon- and rain-soaked streets of the city, while retaining the ability to take the road less traveled when needed. It’s the perfect rig to make the world yours.
Photos for YotaTech by Cameron Aubernon
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