Toyota Going Big in Texas with 2010 4Runner

Toyota has become synonymous lately with building fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles ranging from the affordable Prius up to the luxurious, six-figure Lexus LS, but it doesn’t seem to be abandoning the SUV market just yet. Showing the importance of trucks and SUVs in North America, Toyota will introduce the fifth-generation of its rugged 4Runner SUV later next week at the 2009 Texas State Fair. Worthy of a debut at the truck-friendly fair, the all-new 4Runner will keep the body-on-frame layout (shared with the Toyota FJ Cruiser and Tacoma) allowing it to tackle rugged off-road terrain. On a more environmentally conscious note, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner will also get a more fuel-efficient engine option in addition to its updated design and luxurious interior. Toyota will officially take the wraps of the new 4Runner on September 24, but the fair runs from September 25 through October 18.

Late last month, Toyota released a single teaser picture of the new 4Runner successfully scaling a large rock, but since then new pictures have popped up showing the new design in its full glory. Since its introduction back in 1984, the 4Runner has always had a blocky design to match its rugged off-road prowess, and the 2010 model takes this edgy, squared-off look to an all-new level. Instantly recognizable is the trademark Toyota truck grille, which can also be found on the Tundra, Highlander and Tacoma, juts out from the rest of the truck forming a very upright front end. While the horizontal headlamps sit high up on the front of the new 4Runner, the combination fog light and turn signal housings are mounted much lower alongside the fascia air intake. The view from the rear is probably the least impressive on the new model with the triangular, vertical taillights of the current model being replaced the smaller, square-shaped lenses that just don’t seem to fit in very well. The good news is that front and rear overhangs as well as approach and departure angles have been optimized for off-road use.

Inside, the 4Runner also receives a completely redesigned interior that thankfully does not mimic the Tundra’s cabin, but the biggest news is the addition of a third-row seat. The competitive nature of the SUV and crossover market almost necessitated the addition of the third row, and Toyota obliged for 2010. As far as the overall design, from what we’ve been able to tell, Toyota kept the overall layout of the cabin basically the same but gave it a more ergonomic design. HVAC and stereo controls are larger and closer to the driver, while the wider center stack has opened up enough space to cause less clutter for the optional, touch-screen navigation system.

Possibly bigger news than the redesign is the powertrain shake-up for the 2010 4Runner. Replacing the relatively underpowered (and fuel-chugging) V-8, the 2010 4Runner is set to receive Toyota’s more fuel-efficient 2.7-liter inline-4 as used in the Tacoma. The sharing of engine options is possible due to the fact that both vehicles share their underpinnings with each other. In the 2010 Tacoma, this engine produces 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque while getting an EPA estimated 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway (considerably higher than the base 2009 4Runner’s 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway). It is likely that this engine will only be available on value-laden base level, two-wheel drive models to keep as much strain off the engine as possible. The bigger, heavier 4Runner might get slight retuning for better output, but don’t expect much. Hill assist control will continue to be standard equipment across the board, while downhill assist control will be standard on four-wheel drive models.