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The Toyota 4Runner is a legend for many reasons. It’s one of the few body-on-frame SUVs left standing. In certain trims and builds, it is outstanding off-road. And, finally, it has one of the best resale values of any vehicle you can buy. This week, we had a chance to drive an odd configuration of this great vehicle. Here’s what we found.
Before you dive in, why not watch a quick TikTok walk-around video of this vehicle?
2026 Toyota 4Runner Limited 2.4 Turbo 4WD - What Is It?
The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV in the mid-sized or full-sized category, depending on where you draw the line. It comes standard with five seats, but can be configured, as ours was, with seven.
2026 Toyota 4Runner Limited 2.4 Turbo 4WD - What’s It Cost?
Our media tester had a total cost, including Destination and Delivery of $62,430. Our 4Runner had optional full-time four-wheel drive, a tow package, and the third row. Add the dealer's Doc Fee to get the consumer out-the-door cost.
2026 Toyota 4Runner Limited 2.4 Turbo 4WD - What Powers It?
The 4Runner we tested did not have the Hybrid Max powertrain (which we love). Instead, it had the base 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It develops 317 lb-ft of torque and 278 hp. The EPA says the 4Runner has an annual fuel cost of roughly $2K, and it can use regular gasoline.
2026 Toyota 4Runner Limited 2.4 Turbo 4WD - Infotainment and Interior
The infotainment system has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a large center screen. The Limited’s JBL audio was excellent.
2026 Toyota 4Runner Limited 2.4 Turbo 4WD - The Drive
We enjoyed driving the 4Runner. The engine is adequate for daily use and never feels stressed. It also never feels that special. Consider that you can get a subcompact Mazda3 with more torque than this big SUV. For us, if we are spending over $60K for an SUV, the powertrain needs to knock our socks off, and the Hybrid Max is that choice.
Handling is good, but a Highlander feels a bit more stable in normal everyday driving. But will anyone take this vehicle off-road on its stock Dunlop all-season touring tires?
2026 Toyota 4Runner Limited 2.4 Turbo 4WD - Conclusion
We love Toyota SUVs, and the 4Runner is a great traditional body-on-frame SUV. We were left confused by the build of this particular media tester. The TRD Pro versions make sense to us. They offer the illusion or the reality of exceptional off-road capability. This one, not so much. That made us wonder why folks opt for a 4Runner, given the Highlander is better in so many ways - except off-road. And less expensive. If you are in love with the 4Runner’s looks, and want an around-town SUV, this one is great. It’s just that the Highlander Hybrid Limited is sitting there next to it at the dealership, just begging to show you why it’s a better option for $10K less with a 30% lower annual fuel cost.
What do you think? Highlander or 4Runner? Tell us in the comments below.
John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. John employs grammar and punctuation software when proofreading, and he sometimes uses image generation tools.
Images by John Goreham
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