Toyota 4Runner Used Buying Guide

• Some of the best years for the 4Runner are 2020 and 2022. These brought extra off-road capability, as well as better off-road safety.
• While the newest generation comes with a hybrid option, it isn’t too much better than the base gas setup.
• The 4Runner comes standard as a 5-seat vehicle, but you will be able to find some that come with an optional third row, making this a great option for those who need a flexible model.
• If you’re a handyman looking for fun, then this is the option for you as it comes with a 5,000-6,000-pound tow rating depending on year model.

Being the newest generation, this one will be the most desirable, but also the hardest to find at this time. This generation came in 9 trims, with 6 of the trims being carryovers. The carryovers are the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, and TRD Pro. The new ones are the TRD Sport Premium, Trailhunter, and Platinum trims.

This generation offers two powertrain options for the lineup. One, a regular gas engine and the other a hybrid option.The regular gas engine is a 2.4L I4, and it produces 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid option uses the same engine, but when paired with the electric motor, it gains some more power at 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. This model also comes with a max tow rating of 6,000 pounds.

While there are hybrid options, they don’t differ too much when it comes to MPG compared to the base engines. The most the 4Runner can get from this generation is 23 MPG combined, with the lowest being 21 MPG, making it easy to find what you want based on features and not range.

Some features that you can find in this generation are a standard 8-inch screen, some trims coming with a 14-inch screen. While all models come with wireless phone connectivity, some models will also come with a wireless charging pad. While most models will come as 5-seat variants, there’s an optional third row, giving you even more room for extra passengers.

If you want something a bit more unique, then you can look for the Trailhunter that we mentioned. This trim comes with 33-inch off-road tires, 2.5-inch forged shocks with rear external remote reservoirs, and more than 1.5-inches of higher clearance for both the front, and rear of the vehicle.

Going to a generation that you’ll find more easily, there’s the fifth generation, which has been around for more than a decade. Thanks to this, it came with a ton of options and trims. While the model saw changes all across the generation, the one thing that remained a constant was the 4.0L V6, and this came with 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, coming with a 5,000-pound towing capacity. While this engine does its best, it comes with 17 MPG combined, which is slightly less than optimal.

Since this generation has been around for so long, we’ll break down the highlights so you know which models are the best from this gen. For 2015 models, this is when the 6.1-inch display and a rear backup camera were added to the lineup.

In model year 2020, the Toyota Safety Sense-P was added to all vehicles in the line. This brought a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection function, lane departure alert with steering assist function, automatic high beams and dynamic radar cruise control.

This year also brought the new Entune 3.0 infotainment system with a larger, higher-resolution touchscreen display that is 8-inches, and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and Amazon Alexa integration.

If you want the most capable model, then the updated TRD Pro in 2022 is what you’re looking for. This is because it comes with a multi-terrain monitor that uses multiple camera angles to show you what is around you and gives you a more informed view of the trail.