The 2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail grade differs visually from the other models in the lineup first by a unique front fascia which has a silver lower chin, looking a lot like a skid plate. It’s purely cosmetic but sets apart from the rest well.
It also gets a uniquely designed set of 17” seven-spoke wheels and a special hood with a scoop. It’s more a decoration than anything but goes with the territory here. The look is otherwise understated and not cartoonishly off-roadified.
The 4Runner received a styling update in the 2014 model year and the look while fresh still shows the bones of the same truck that has been with us since the 2010 model year. As ours is a Trail Premium grade, it also has a power sunroof to light up the interior.
Here, we have the best simulated leather I have seen, what Toyota calls SofTex. The Trail receives red accent stitching throughout which gives a sportier feel. The seats are heated, but not ventilated. They are comfortable for long drives as we found, and the SofTex material doesn’t make you sweat.
Rear seats fold down in a variety of splits giving you full access to the rear cargo area space. They’re easy enough to fold down and when up have good placement for leg room and comfort. Headroom is not an issue for most.
Ours was optioned with the slide out load floor for the rear cargo area. This is an option that allows you to pull the floor rearward like a drawer for easier access to your things. The downside is that it takes about 3” of vertical space from the cargo area, though there is some thin stowage underneath.
The Entune touch screen infotainment system keeps it simple with well laid out menus and a NAV system which performs well. It’s sound is middle of the road, but offers a variety of connectivity options via Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary input.
Power comes from Toyota’s venerable 4.0 liter V6 engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. It has a reasonable 270 horsepower but it struggles to move the 4,750 lb 4Runner on the highway. Pushing it in the mountains brings on the noise too.
With EPA ratings of 17 mpg city, 21 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined, I observed a combined mpg of 20. This was slightly better than promised given the balance of both highway and off-road driving.
I do think an updated engine and transmission could improve its performance both in power delivery as well as in fuel efficiency.
The Trail of course is really about its off-road capability. Ours was optioned with the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension which allows the anti-roll bars to ease up at slow speeds like when on the trail. This allows for easier wheel articulation in moguls and rough terrain.
It also has a locking rear-differential and a manually shiftable transfer case for complete control of the drive wheels. An exceptional Multi-Terrain controller and Crawl system allow for you to set the system up to take all the work out of it for you in challenging spots.
We took the 4Runner through a good deal of snow and ice during our week and never once found a challenge. That was followed up with a good deal of back trail exploring which was made all too easy with the 4Runner.
The chassis and body remain solid and stiff, stout in ways that no crossover SUV has yet to match. For a body-on-frame old school SUV, the 4Runner still stands alone here. And hopefully Toyota can find a way to keep it on the market in years to come.
The IIHS Crash Safety for the Toyota 4Runner comes in with Good ratings across the board with exception of the new small-offset test where it only achieved a Marginal rating. To be a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must achieve at least Acceptable in this test.
