4Runner Caught in Camoflauge
A photo from car review site leftlanenews.com shows the 2011 4Runner out for a drive under a thick blanket of mystery. The photo doesn’t give us tons of info, except that the body looks like it could remain very similar to the current 4Runner and the basic body-on-frame engineering will remain. None of that is too surprising, as current model of the 4Runner is a well-liked exterior design. Where everyone is expecting the major changes is on the interior.
Don’t think I’m knocking the current 4Runner. Anyone out there shopping at a Toyota Gurnee dealership for an SUV should give consideration to the 4Runner. No matter what you are looking for in an SUV, chances are this ride will give you what you need.
The fourth-generation, 2009 4Runner is rugged in looks and ability. A trail-craving, tow-capable SUV that can fit seven, the 4Runner is a vehicle that can take on many personalities. Don’t expect the 2011 update to lose any of that brawny capability.
I am actually an owner of a 2008 4Runner that I purchased from Toyota Libertyville dealer. It was an easy decision for me a couple of years ago. Other SUVs did not have what I was looking for when it came to combining errands around town with my love of rugged terrain.
I’m not someone with the means for a Land Rover, and having driven plenty of Rovers, I don’t think I would have chosen one over my 4Runner even if I had the extra $40,000 lying around. The 4Runner is a simple man’s vehicle. I don’t need all the fanciful extras. The Land Rover is like a $40 haircut at a salon. I’m pretty sure I’m getting scissors that are just as sharp for $13 at my barber.
I’ve used this my 4Runner to tear up trails from North Carolina to Oregon, and I’ve hauled my ATV and snowmobile frequently. Since owning my 4Runner, I’ve never wished for a different vehicle in any situation. That’s something I can’t say about other SUVs I’ve owned. All the others were off-road capable or comfortable on city streets, but not both. The 4Runner manages to adapt to all situations.
Customization is a major feature of the 4Runner. Each trim level adds more options and each comes with a nice variety of features from which to select. I opted for the power sunroof, which was just a $900 option and a real nice feature when I’m out trail driving. I also went for the navigation because I’m prone to exploration, which is the way I usually describe my propensity for becoming lost to my trip partners. Those were my choices, but you might want the an anti-theft alarm, power front seats, and rear spoiler instead. Or maybe a combination of those and the something like 25 other options. Toyota has done a great job making this vehicle appealing to many consumers. The 4Runner is an SUV that you can put your personal touch on and use for everyday and not-so-everyday driving with ease.
No matter what level of 4Runner a driver opts for — the SR5, the Sport Edition or the Limited — the vehicle is able to wear the many hats of people mover, trail raider, cargo hauler, and more. It’s this quality that Toyota will no doubt continue to offer in its 2011 model. And the interior upgrades will be the icing on an already tasty cake.
We may get to see the 2011 4Runner’s debut up close and personal at the local Chicago Auto Show before it heads to Toyota Gurnee or Toyota Libertyville dealers around the middle of 2010.