2022 Toyota 4Runner Review

Big, boxy and built for off-roading, the Toyota 4Runner is one of the few rock-crawling SUVs left these days. Sure, there are plenty of family haulers with high ride heights and tall roofs, and some crossovers even spice things up with knobby tires or plastic body panels. But few things are as capable as a truly dedicated SUV.

The 4Runner is a body-on-frame SUV that takes tasks such as off-roading very seriously. It offers basic trim levels, but the most desirable variants in the 4Runner lineup offer all kinds of optional extras for getting as far off the beaten path as possible. Items including a locking rear differential and Toyota's sophisticated suspension system called KDSS help set the 4Runner apart from the soft-roading crowd.

For 2022, the 4Runner gets a new TRD Sport trim. Like the TRD Sport version of the Tacoma pickup, the 4Runner TRD Sport includes a hood scoop, color-keyed accents and 20-inch wheels with dark gray accents. It also features the Limited trim's X-REAS suspension, which Toyota says improves the 4Runner's handling.

In the last few years, the 4Runner received significant tech and safety updates, with features including smartphone integration and adaptive cruise control now standard. That said, it hasn't been redesigned in over a decade, and many rivals are more comfortable, more fuel-efficient and easier to drive. There might be a full redesign on the horizon for 2023, but details haven't been released yet.

The 4Runner's truck-based design brings benefits such as impressive towing capability and serious off-road chops. But it's missing the refinement of many of its crossover competitors, even with the updates. The Jeep Wrangler, one of its biggest competitors, was recently redesigned and became much more desirable, and the return of the Ford Bronco is on the horizon too.