Although I've driven a large variety of four-wheel drive sport utility vehicles over the past few years, in a world dominated by

Toyota has made the 2011 4Runner bolder and more rugged looking. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

light-duty, unibody "softroader" SUVs it has been a long while since I've been in a new vehicle with ladder frame and manually-shifted transfer case. Welcome to the tough, seriously off-road capable world of the Toyota 4Runner.

The 4Runner can trace its roots back to 1984, when it was little more than a Toyota 4WD pickup with a fibreglass top and a back seat. Now in its fifth generation, the 4Runner has long since grown apart from the pickup and is in fact more closely related to the Toyota Land Cruiser from which it has borrowed its rolling stock and some key off-road technologies.

In case the average onlooker is unaware of the 4Runner's body-on-frame construction, solid rear axle and serious off-road running gear, Toyota gave the 5th-generation model — which debuted in 2010 — some bold, attention-getting styling to set the record straight. Adjectives like "aggressive" and "masculine" don't quite do it justice,

Taillights play tribute to Toyota's iconic 4-wheeler, the FJ Cruiser. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

because really it's a sort of comic-book exaggeration of what "aggressive" and "masculine" ought to look like: All square-edged, boxy and bulging, with odd protuberances here and there, capped off in the Trail Edition by a butch-looking hood scoop that is, sadly, entirely decorative.

Under the hood, all 4Runners now come with a single choice of engine — a 4.0-litre, 24-valve, DOHC V6 with dual variable valve timing that churns out 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 278 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. In the real world, this engine feels like a good match for the 2,111-kilogram (4,655-pound) 4Runner. At low speeds it emits a pleasant low growl and moves things along reasonably well, all while delivering decent fuel economy for a truck of the 4Runner's heft. Mash the gas pedal and engine quickly climbs into the upper reaches of the tach,

The 4Runner is a serious 4x4, capable of a great deal more than merely managing graded roads to cottage country. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

where you get an invigorating banshee bellow and enough power to push the 4Runner to 100km/h in under 8 seconds. My only real complaint about the engine is that it would be nice to have a diesel option — Toyota builds an excellent 3L turbo diesel for use in markets such as Australia, which already meets stringent emissions standards and would likely work very well in the 4Runner, delivering the kind of torquey power that off-roaders appreciate while reportedly turning in about 30 percent better fuel economy than the V6, which is rated at 12.6 / 9.2 L/100km (city/hwy).

Underpinning the 4Runner — and getting the engine's power to the ground — is a four-wheel drive powertrain with a host of off-road technologies and suspension features to provide impressive go-anywhere capability. A lot of these features come standard on all 4Runners, including a 5-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with overdrive and lock-up torque converter, vehicle stability control, active traction control,

New interior styling mirrors the exterior with purposeful looking switchgear. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

hill start assist control, downhill assist control, skid plates for the fuel tank and transfer case, and all the key safety items buyers have come to expect: Dual front, knee, side and side curtain airbags, active front headrests, tire pressure monitoring and 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution.

The SR5 and Trail Edition have shift-on-the-fly part-time four-wheel drive, while the Limited package has full-time four-wheel drive. Things get really serious when you order up the Trail Edition package, which adds four-wheel crawl control, rear differential lock, multi-terrain ABS, a kinetic dynamic suspension system (KDSS) that can connect and disconnect the sway bars (to allow full suspension articulation on rough terrain while limiting body lean during on-road cornering), and a multi-terrain

Toyota placed off-roading controls overhead. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

select system that tailors all the drivetrain technology to provide the best possible traction for the current terrain.

Inside, the 4Runner Trail Edition is more practical than luxe, but it is still a very comfortable place to spend time. There's a powerful eight-speaker audio system with CD player, MP3 audio capability, auxiliary input jack and a special "party mode" switch that pumps all the power to the rear for tailgate parties. The seats, which are covered with a water-repellent fabric, are bolstered just about right and are supportive without being constrictive. The rest of the interior materials are good looking in a robust kind of way — lots of polyurethane, hard plastics and big chunky switch dials, but there are pleasing textures where it counts, everything fits together as it should, and there are enough soft-touch materials sprinkled around that the interior by no means feels cheap, just rugged. (And if you want to bump the level

Toyota is renowned for comfortable, supportive seats. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

of luxury up a notch, the 4Runner Limited package offers leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, pushbutton start and 20-inch alloy wheels.)

Other features that come as part of the Trail Edition package include unique 17-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, integrated XM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB input jack, 120V power outlets, rearview mirror with integrated backup camera, a sliding cargo area tray with cargo net, and several unique external trim items. This comprehensive package of drivetrain, suspension and accessory features doesn't come cheap, mind you — the Trail Edition package adds a whopping $7,310 onto the 4Runner's $36,820 suggested retail price (and if a luxury off-roader is what you're after, the Limited package adds $11,195 to the base price).

On the road, the 4Runner Trail Edition is a far

The 4Runner can loaded up to premium levels. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

more civilized machine than it has any right to be. The suspension is surprisingly forgiving and mostly free of the bouncy, oversprung feel that's so common in serious 4x4 machines. Even the grossest imperfections in the pavement are absorbed without fuss, and the steering is fairly precise if perhaps a little numb. Not surprisingly, if you attack the corners with any aggression the tires begin howling in protest quite early on, but otherwise the 4Runner remains reasonably composed and neutral-handling.

Off-road is where the 4Runner really shines, particularly the Trail Edition that I tested. The KDSS technology means that big, uneven dips and holes in the trail can be traversed with a minimum of fuss or jostling, and the crawl control proved its worth on a lumpy, muddy section of trail, allowing me to concentrate on steering around all the trouble in my tracks without worrying about throttle, brakes or wheel spin (though the owner's manual isn't kidding around when it says the crawl control can be noisy during operation — it sounded at times like a robot factory gone berserk under the truck). The locking rear differential proved its worth when I dropped the driver’s side of the 4Runner off into a rut filled with greasy wet clay: with the driver's side tires gunked up and spinning, I was able to lock the differential and get back on track using the traction available on the passenger's side.

Initially, I found the manual transfer case a little finicky to shift — especially getting from high range to low range — but nothing a little practice wouldn't overcome.

Liftgate allows easier access to the sizable cargo area. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

I also found the terrain select pictograms amusingly indecipherable. It turns out that a camel near the little truck pictogram means "Mud and Sand," dotted lines mean "Loose Rock," uneven lines mean "Moguls" and lumpy blobs mean "Rock." To get the most out of the 4Runner's available technology, you'd definitely want to make yourself familiar with the owner's manual before heading off road.

Given its off-road capabilities, the 4Runner is a standout in a thinning crowd of "real" SUVs. These capabilities are most likely overkill for those who'll never really venture further than the occasional dirt side-road, but for them Toyota offers the thoroughly competent Highlander, an SUV that follows the new "softroader" conventions. For buyers who demand a vehicle that can take them anywhere, and who actually use it in the rough stuff, the 4Runner offers solid value with an MSRP starting at $36,820 (plus $1,560 delivery charges) and topping out at $49,665, all backed by a three-year/60,000km limited warranty and five-year/100,000km powertrain warranty. When you're 100 kilometers from the nearest pavement, it's the kind of value you'll appreciate.

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(J004) Standard Black Paint

(0070) Blizzard Pearl Paint

(B) Upgrade Package

(E) Limited Package 7-Passenger

(C) Trail Edition

(D) Limited Package 5-Passenger