Longer, taller, wider and a lot more powerful, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner would have been a smashing success in 1999, but now, a decade later, its feels dated and completely underwhelming.

For 26 years, the 4Runner has run the roads of America carrying families to and fro, hauling boats and all of those people toys ındividuals should have.

But these days, the redesigned 4Runner comes across as bloated and tired. It’s the hangover of our own excesses and a symbol of times gone by. Crossovers have replaced SUVs as stylish family haulers in nearly each imaginable way. And most carmakers intend to reinvent their remaining SUVs as some sort of unibody crossover/SUV hybrid that provides trucky toughness but car-like efficiencies.

While the overall changes have created a really capable vehicle, the 4Runner nevertheless has the hallmarks of an SUV via and via. It’s enough for ındividuals to glare at you around the open street as they sit back and smugly accuse you of turning the Earth into Dante’s Inferno. “That way a good soul ın no way passes,” their judging eyes say in the parking lot, as they pull their kids tightly against their hips, safely away from evil.

Truly, the 4Runner is far from evil. Its new powertrains supply more energy and much better gas mileage. The 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine ınside the base model cranks out 157 horsepower and 178 meaty pound-feet of torque. For most daily drivers, that ought to be plenty.

As well as the 4-liter V-6 comes with a lot of high-tech bells and whistles, for example dual independent variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) to belt out 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. Those people numbers top the 4Runner’s previous generation’s V-8 by 10 horses.

But the base 4Runner still uses a four-speed transmission and hits 18 miles per gallon in the metropolis and 23 mpg about the highway. The V-6, with a five-speed automatic, almost matches the four-banger, reaching 17 mpg within the town, 23 mpg on the highway. (The 4×4 design gets 17 mpg metropolis, 22 mpg highway.) With only a minor difference in gas mileage, why would anyone purchase the four-cylinder version?

All of those people numbers are on par with other midsize SUVs, but that’s like tying for ınitial in a race no 1 wants to watch. When you appear at crossovers, which might lack the off-road abilities of a 4×4 SUV, the mileage numbers are just not very good.

Worse yet, crossovers just ride much better for that same price tag.

4Runner greatest off road

The 4Runner ride feels like the FJ Cruiser frame it rode in on.

On the highway, the body floats, and close to town it leans heavily into corners. Perhaps the greatest place for the 4Runner is off road, ın which the independent suspension will glide over bumps and bruises. But on paved surfaces, the 4Runner can feel punishing. Also, that’s exactly where the full time 4×4 with locking center differential would come in probably the most handy.

There’s also a new crawl feature around the 4Runner that allows the driver to set one of five speeds. Then the 4Runner keeps that speed across a terrain by maintaining the engine rate and braking to prevent the driver from overworking any component of it.

The Trail grade 4Runner adds a Multi-Terrain feature, which is similar to Land Rover’s method that adjusts several functions about the automobile to far better handle the surface the vehicle is on. It will allow a lot more wheel slippage if you’re in snow or mud and less if you are on pavement.

Both of these features are fantastic additions towards the 4Runner and like most 4Runner owners, I hardly utilized either of them.

The steering, which is power-assisted and variable gear rack and pinion, feels loose at highway speeds and numb close to town. You expect heavier feedback but the 4Runner by no means delivers it.

Interior is disappointing

The interior also falls flat.

It has all from the proper parts, nice gauges and dual climate controls for high-end Restricted models. But the plastic dash looks cheaper than other SUVs, such as the Ford Explorer, as well as the seats are not almost as comfortable as ındividuals on just about any big crossover.

There’s plenty of space within the first row, with 39.3 inches of legroom. But things cramp up from there. The second row only offers 32.9 inches and the third row is optional simply because no a single in his or her correct mind would opt for it.

For your most part, the interior feels like Toyota was just by no means that into this automobile. It has all the proper parts but there’s no life to them. There’s no emotion.

The optional JBL audio program, complete with 15 speakers, includes a “Party Mode” that equates to simply turning up the volume. (Technically, Party Mode is for when the automobile is parked and you wish to play music for ındividuals outside from the car; it uses the speakers in the back from the 4Runner.)

There’s also the hands-free cell phone operation via Bluetooth and USB port to connect to a personal music device. A cargo deck in the back slides out to produce it easier to load and unload large heavy objects.

But still the sum of all these parts don’t seem to equal the total.

Exterior much more rugged seeking

Even the new appear of the 4Runner seems to push itself out of the mainstream and into a niche group served now by the FJ Cruiser. Toyota made the 4Runner more rugged looking, squaring off its edges and shoring up its bumpers and making it look a lot more aggressive in the front and back.

There are some unique exterior cues for each trim level, for instance the hood scoop around the Trail grade design or the turn signal indicators in the exterior mirrors on the SR5 and Restricted models.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the 4Runner has ın no way looked bigger or bolder. It makes a statement like ın no way prior to.

The 4Runner may still collect its fair share of nostalgic looks at the showroom but few are ever going to make it to a driveway. There are just too numerous other vehicles that offer much better gas mileage, a lot more versatility and do not have the social stigma SUVs tow behind them.

It’s a good-off road automobile but nothing specific on pavement. And nobody wants strangers tsk, tsking them about the highway.

sburgess@detnews.com (313) 223-3217

2010 Toyota 4Runner

Kind: Five- or eight-passenger SUV

Price tag: $28,300

Engine:

2.7-liter four-cylinder

4-liter V-6

Transmission: Four- or five-speed automatic transmission Power:

2.7-liter: 157 horsepower;

178 pound-feet torque

4-liter: 270 horsepower;

278 pound-feet torque

EPA gas mileage:

2.7-liter (4×2): 18 mpg town / 23 mpg highway; 4-liter (4×4): 17 mpg city / 22 mpg highway

Report Card

Overall:

Exterior: Fair. It’s big and rugged-looking and has all from the exterior trappings of an SUV. Hood scoop on Trail grade design is silly.

Interior: Fair. A lot of space but overall cheap really feel for the interior. The third row is an choice couple of should choose.

Performance: Great. Superb off-road abilities but only fair on-road prowess; load ride has plenty of body roll.

Pros: If you live within the woods and require a spacious hill climber, the 4Runner would serve you well.

Cons: If you live in a town or suburbs, this SUV is as well large and feels even larger around the road.

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