Mud. Boulders. Steep hills and challenging trails. If you were to judge the drivers of some sport-utility vehicles by the advertising, you would think that SUV owners never spend any time indoors. Truth is, the toughest terrain many SUV owners ever encounter is unpaved, overflow parking at the nearest youth soccer game. Most SUVs function as family and cargo haulers, and that’s why car-based crossover SUVs have become so popular.

Nevertheless, there remains a slice of the SUV–buying public who are as comfortable off the road as on the highway. Whether they like to fish, hunt, rock-climb, kayak, camp or hike, these outdoor enthusiasts prefer the rugged versatility of body-on-frame SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner.

“Body-on-frame platforms like the 4Runner let you go places you otherwise couldn’t,” explains Russ Koble, product education manager at the University of Toyota. “These rugged SUVs are designed to go where there are no roads or bad roads. They can handle the twisting motion of crawling over rocks and up hills.”

For example, 4Runner’s high-mount double-wishbone front suspension provides excellent handling and suspension travel, while the four-link rear suspension offers substantial articulation to keep the tires on the ground even when the ground gets uneven.

Throughout its 25-year history in the United States, the 4Runner has earned the loyalty of the active-lifestyle set. The fully redesigned, fifth-generation 2010 4Runner puts an exclamation point on that relationship with models that are more capable and more versatile than ever.

“Toyota study teams made up of engineers and designers met with current 4Runner owners around the country to find out what they liked and what they wanted improved,” says Koble. “What you see in the new 4Runner is a result of listening to our customers.”

One change that owners requested was more rugged styling to mirror their lifestyles, and that’s reflected in the new 4Runner’s commanding exterior design. A higher seating position and a revised “A”-pillar design offer improved field of vision and make entry and exit easier.

Toyota engineers also decided to make the three trim levels more distinct. “The SR5 is the core model and comes well-equipped for most users,” explains Koble. Available seating for seven; part-time four-wheel drive; 17-inch alloy wheels; AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio with eight speakers; split/reclining/folding second-row seats; and rear clearance sonar are all standard.

The Sport model has been discontinued, Koble says, but there’s a new Trail grade that offers water-repellent seat fabric as well as advanced technology and go-anywhere suspension for off-roading enthusiasts.

As before, the top-of-the-line 4Runner Limited offers full-time four-wheel drive and optional luxury features such as leather trim; 20-inch wheels; dual-zone climate control; Smart Key System with Push Button Start; and backup camera. Also included on the Limited is the X-REAS sport-enhanced suspension, which uses a special shock-absorber system to enhance cornering and minimize body roll.

Newly available on all 2010 models is a more powerful—yet more efficient—4.0-liter dual VVT-i V6 engine offering 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, and 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm. With the V6, the 4Runner can tow up to 5,000 pounds (see Owner’s Manual for details1). Although both horsepower and torque have been increased over the previous model, the already fuel-efficient class standout achieves even greater fuel economy, with the average EPA estimated MPG increasing to 17 city/23 highway on the 4×2 model V6 and 17 city/22 highway on the 4×4 model V6.2

Also new for 2010 is an optional split fold-flat, third-row seat that leaves more room for cargo,
as well as an optional moveable cargo deck—essentially a sliding tray that can hold 440 pounds and makes hauling that camping gear (and those grocery bags, for that matter) easier. There’s even a new enhanced music mode for the sound system designed to accommodate tailgate parties; when pressed, the “Party Mode” switch adjusts the equalizer output toward the hatch speakers to optimize listening at the rear of the vehicle.

No matter how adventurous the driver, the 4Runner is designed with safety in mind (after
all, this is a Toyota). Its eight standard air bags—including driver and passenger side air bags and knee air bags as well as roll-sensing side curtain air bags for all rows of seating—lead the pack for mid-sized SUVs. Toyota’s standard STAR Safety System™ gives confidence on and off the road, with an Anti-Lock Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control as well as Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution.

The 2010 4Runner traces its legacy to the days when SUVs spent as much time off the road as they did on. But engineering and technology have come a long way in 25 years, and today’s Toyota 4Runner models—like the people who drive them—are comfortable in any setting.

“This is an active-lifestyle vehicle that is not designed for any particular age group,” says Koble. “The 2010 4Runner is made for the young at heart.”

1 Before towing, confirm your vehicle and trailer are compatible, hooked up and loaded properly and that you have any necessary additional equipment. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and follow all instructions in your Owner’s Manual. The maximum you can tow depends on the total weight of any cargo, occupants and available equipment. 2 2010 Toyota 4Runner, 4×2 SR5 V6 with automatic transmission: EPA est. 17 MPG city/23 MPG hwy. 2010 Toyota 4Runner, 4×4 SR5 V6 with automatic transmission: EPA est. 17 MPG city/22 MPG hwy. EPA–estimated mileage rating for the actual per-gallon numbers represents vehicle highway/city usage found in the 2010 model year fuel economy guide found on www.fueleconomy.gov. Actual mileage will vary.