• 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  • Front end
  • Blocky headlights
  • Rear end
  • 4-liter V-6
  • Five-speed automatic transmission
  • 4Runner SR5
  • Basic stereo rig
  • Rearview camera
  • Party mode
  • SR5 instrumentation
  • Third-row seating
  • Fold flat seats
  • Fold flat seats
  • Limited trim
  • Standard features
  • X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension
  • Limited cabin tech
  • EL gauges
  • GPS navigation
  • 4WD model
  • Back up camera redux
  • Push-button start
  • Trail trim level
  • Looking the part
  • Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System
  • Multi-information display
  • Roof console
  • Full-time 4WD
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2010 Toyota 4Runner preview

2010 Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner is back and this time Toyota is taking a three-pronged approach with a basic SR5 model, a road capable Limited model, and a rugged Trail model.
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Photo by: Toyota

Front end

While the new 4Runner is a beefier-looking vehicle overall, it's most obvious when looking a the front end: larger headlamps and an industrial-looking grill.
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Photo by: Toyota

Blocky headlights

Helping to fill out the new front end are these blocky headlamps that feature turn indicators that bulge out from the vehicle's body.
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Photo by: Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Rear end

The 4Runner is a beefy machine. Even the nameplate looks like it's machined from a block of metal.
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Photo by: Toyota

4-liter V-6

The Toyota 4Runner is powered by a single option 270-horsepower V-6 engine that puts 278 pound-feet of torque to either the rear pair or all four wheels.

We're told that a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine will be available on the 2WD SR5, but it's hard to get excited about less power.
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Photo by: Toyota

Five-speed automatic transmission

The only transmission option is a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. Users can exercise a small degree of control using the sequential shift mode.
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Photo by: Toyota

4Runner SR5

The SR5 is the most basic of the 4Runner trim levels.
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Photo by: Toyota

Basic stereo rig

In SR5 trim, the best stereo that you can get is this single-disc MP3 CD player with eight speakers. The system features integrated XM Satellite Radio, a USB port with iPod connectivity, and Bluetooth hands-free calling and music streaming.
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Photo by: Toyota

Rearview camera

Although there is no in-dash LCD screen, the 4Runner SR5 can still be equipped with a backup camera. A tiny LCD is hidden in the rearview mirror.
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Photo by: Toyota

Party mode

We've already confessed our love for the gimmicky feature known as party mode. This oddly named feature automatically adjusts the balance to the rear and boosts the bass levels for optimal listening with the rear hatch open.
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Photo by: Toyota

SR5 instrumentation

The SR5 trim level features a simple three-gauge instrument cluster with orange illumination and an odd faux-carbon-fiber texture.
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Photo by: Toyota

Third-row seating

The 4Runner is once again available with optional third-row seating.
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Photo by: Toyota

Fold flat seats

The optional third-row seats and the permanent second row all fold flat to create a huge rear storage space.
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Photo by: Toyota

Fold flat seats

Here's a closer look at how the second-row seats fold flat.
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Photo by: Toyota

Limited trim

The Limited trim level ups the luxury considerably over the SR5.
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Photo by: Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Standard features

Many of the features that are optional on the SR5 are standard on the Limited model. Other features such as standard 20-inch wheels or optional navigation aren't even available until this trim level.
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Photo by: Toyota

X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension

Standard and available only on the Limited trim level is the X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension, which acts as a pneumatic sway bar of sorts linking each front wheel with the the rear wheel on the opposite side of the body for a more stable and car-like on-road handling.
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Photo by: Toyota

Limited cabin tech

Inside of the Limited model, we find that the cabin tech has been improved dramatically over the SR5 trim.
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Photo by: Toyota

EL gauges

Starting with the instrument cluster, the SR5's chintzy gauges have been replaced with these more grown-up electroluminescent models.
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Photo by: Antuan Goodwin/CNET

GPS navigation

The 4Runner's navigation system features voice activation, XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic, and iPod and Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, the system is still DVD-based. It's 2010, Toyota. Where's the hard drive?
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Photo by: Toyota

4WD model

The Limited 4WD model is the only 4Runner that features full-time all-wheel drive and a locking center differential. All models feature Active Traction Control. While SR5 model and Trail trims switch modes with a lever, the Limited trim gets this classy mode select dial.
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Photo by: Toyota

Back up camera redux

When equipped with the DVD Navigation system, the rearview camera's video feed is piped through the larger LCD touch screen.
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Photo by: Toyota

Push-button start

At the Limited trim level, push-button start is available.
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Photo by: Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Trail trim level

Taking the 4Runner in a different direction is the Trail trim level. Rather than add more luxury, the Trail model strips back and adds ruggedness.
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Photo by: Toyota

Looking the part

The Trail model features black trim where the SR5 and Limited feature color-matched parts. Toyota has also decided to omit the rocker panels on the Trail model, which should increase ground clearance.
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Photo by: Toyota

Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System

Optional only on the Trail model is the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which allows the front and rear sway bars to be pneumatically decoupled to allow more wheel articulation for off-roading and rock-crawling.
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Photo by: Toyota

Multi-information display

This single line monochromatic multi-information display alternates between displaying time, compass, temperature, and terrain data.
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Photo by: Toyota

Roof console

The roof console features dials for the crawl control--which is a low-speed (below 3 mph) off-road cruise control)--and the terrain select dial.
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Photo by: Toyota

Full-time 4WD

Trail and SR5 4WD trim 4Runners feature part-time 4WD systems that change modes with a lever instead of a button or a dial. How beefy is that?
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Photo by: Toyota
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