Rugged. That’s the word I kept hearing over and over, anytime I mentioned the 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition. The 4Runner’s universal reputation is virtually unmatched, and many people said I’d love it. The 4Runner first launched in 1984, hence this special edition model, and has been extremely popular in many parts of the world ever since. Now in its fifth generation, the 4Runner has stayed true to its roots as an off-road-capable SUV, but dare I say it’s getting a bit long in the tooth?
The 4Runner is not a crossover. If anything, it’s the anti-crossover, built on a proper body-on-frame chassis and with available locking differentials for serious off-road credibility. You don’t really see this anymore in the SUV world, with most being more capable for hopping curbs in mall parking lots than anything resembling nature. There is definitely a unique ruggedness to the 4Runner, especially inside — more on that later.
The 40th Anniversary Special Edition trim is an appearance package based on the SR5 model. It includes some very cool 17-inch bronze wheels with matching bronze Toyota emblems up front and out back. As cool as those wheels and accents are, the showpiece is definitely the nearly body-length “heritage” graphics package included on all 40th Anniversary models. The decal begins at the headlight and wraps around the back window, featuring three lines of red, orange, and yellow — paying homage to Toyota’s past off-road racing liveries. A similar graphic adorns on the body-coloured grille as well. To me, it came across as strange at first, especially with how it pops against our tester’s black paint. But as the week went on, the look really grew on me — most SUVs blend into the crowd, but the 4Runner stands out.
Inside, the 4Runner leans into the heritage theme as well, but not in a good way. It’s old and outdated, looking virtually imperceptible from the refreshed 2014 model — which itself wasn’t a big departure from its predecessor. This is where the 4Runner starts to lose me; the controls all feel fine, but the switchgear is outdated, the gauge cluster uses a small display between analog gauges, and the eight-inch touchscreen is running Toyota’s older infotainment which doesn’t feel far removed from the mid-2000s.
There is also no wireless charging pad; I was surprised to see Apple CarPlay and Android Auto present, although it’s a wired connection. Toyota’s latest infotainment is wonderful, with crisp graphics and featured across many of its other SUVs, but it’s tragic that the 4Runner misses out on this upgrade. I can only hope it’ll be featured on the 4Runner’s next revision.
I also found the front seats mildly uncomfortable on longer drives, although the 4Runner is spacious up front. The high seating position certainly gives you that “I own the road” feeling many SUV buyers seem to want, and the rear seats have a neat party trick in that the seat bottom folds up for additional cargo space, not unlike a pickup truck. If you aren’t using the back seats for people, it’s a great way to carry additional cargo or taller items without ruining the leather upholstery. The 40th Anniversary Edition comes exclusively as a five-seater, but other trims offer seating for seven.
A 4.0-litre normally aspirated V6 powers the entire 4Runner lineup, rated at 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. This artifact of an engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission — yes, five forward gears in 2023. The lack of additional gears, coupled with the V6’s low-ish output and the 4Runner’s weight means acceleration is anemic at best, and the transmission jolts you in your seat when you’re trying to move with purpose. Fuel economy suffers with this old school engine/transmission combo; our tester averaged 13.5 L/100 km, even with much of that being on the highway.
But where the 4Runner truly shines is in its off-road chops, starting with its four-wheel-drive system. It uses a two-speed transfer case with a low range mode, toggled via a rotary knob on the centre console. Although I didn’t take the 4Runner through some serious trails, the “H4” mode felt positively glued to the dirt and gravel roads I explored, no doubt helped by the 265-section Bridgestone Dueller tires. Coupled with solid approach angles front and rear, I’d be wholly confident slinging this thing through mud — or more realistically, a harsh Canadian winter.
Suspension tuning is very truck-like, which some people may enjoy. But in this day and age, where everything from crossovers to even pickup trucks are improving their on-road manners, the 4Runner (at least in this trim) falls short. The 4Runner floats and wallows all over, making any swift movements feel somewhat nauseating. There is no adaptive suspension to reel things in here; what you feel is what you get. Yes, the rugged suspension hardware can confidently take on harsh off-road conditions, but on-road handling certainly suffers. At least the ride is soft, soaking up cavernous bumps and potholes with ease.
All 2023 4Runner models come standard with Toyota’s suite of active driver assists. This includes typical tech like pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. One thing I couldn’t get used to is Toyota’s irritating beeps and warnings for each of these systems, clearly designed to be as annoying as can be. The lane-departure warning sounds like a loud microwave beep; other manufacturers warn you in a much less obtrusive way.
Outside of the looks, I didn’t fall in love with the 4Runner. Maybe I just don’t get it, maybe I’m not the target audience, or maybe Toyota is banking on the 4Runner’s “rugged” reputation to avoid spending money to update much of anything. If you’re into off-roading, I’d say go for a 4Runner, but if the only type of off-roading your SUV will see is driving through your still-under-construction subdivision, you’ll be better served by almost any other crossover out there. Still, topping out at $54,380 as-tested, it’s not like nobody out there wants a 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition — only 400 units are coming to Canada, and every single one is already sold.
