2013 Toyota 4Runner

The 2013 Toyota 4Runner is available in three trim options, which are the base SR5, the more off-road-oriented Trail, and the top-of-the-line Limited trim. The SR5 and Limited trims come with 2WD as standard and 4WD is optional whereas the Trail model comes in a 4WD configuration as standard. All models come with the same 4.0 L V6 engine under the hood mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. The detailed list of features and prices of the 2013 4Runner’s trims are listed in the table below- 

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The 4Runner is the Trail trim would be the best choice. It comes with 4WD as standard and a lot more off-road-oriented features over the base trim. It also gets a more stealthy and rugged treatment on the exterior making it look better than the base SR5 trim. However, for a more luxurious interior, a more road-focused configuration, and more features, the Limited trim in a 2WD configuration would be ideal. 

The Toyota 4Runner comes with a 4.0 L V6 engine under the hood mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. This is the only powertrain combination available with the 4Runner. The base SR5 and the top-end Limited trims come in a 2WD configuration as standard and 4WD is optional for an extra cost for these models while the Trail trim comes exclusively with 4WD. The engine puts out a strong 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of maximum power and torque. 

The 4Runner comes with the most torque in the segment and is also the most off-road-oriented one. This results in the 4Runner performing just above average on the road. It takes 7.8 seconds to gain a speed of 60mph and crosses the quarter-mile mark in 15.9 seconds. The ride is extremely comfortable and the engine is super refined and delivers power smoothly.

The Jeep Cherokee is the most powerful one while the 4Runner is the most torquey. Despite all of this, the Grand Cherokee is the fastest followed by the Ford. The 4Runner however, stands out with its extreme offroad abilities and very good ride comfort. The Trail model that comes with the upgraded offroad suspension is one of the best off-roaders in the segment. 

The 4Runner has the largest displacement engine among all of these machines. It also weighs on the higher side. And all of this means that fuel efficiency is not the best in the segment. The 4Runner performs pretty well and delivers an efficiency of 17 mpg in the city, 21 on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 18 mpg. The 4Runner has a large 23.0-gallon fuel capacity and provides a combined range of around 414 miles. 

The most powerful Ford Edge also happens to be the most fuel-efficient. However, the Grand Cherokee with the largest fuel capacity delivers the most range. The 4Runner is the least efficient among the ones compared here. The Grand Cherokee and the Nissan Murano stay in the middle grounds in terms of fuel efficiency. 

The interior of the 2013 Toyota 4Runner is straightforward and simple. It is designed not to be shown off, but to be the most practical and usable cabin. The interior is spacious and comes with plenty of space in the front row. But the 4Runner significantly lacks space in the second row. It is a 5-seater as standard while a 7-seater model is available to opt for and comes with a super-cramped third row. 

The interior features dual-zone automatic climate control to keep the occupants comfortable. The seats are fabric wrapped in the base level trim which gets upgraded to water-resistant ones in the Trail model and leather-wrapped seats with heating functionality in the highest trims. The cargo capacity in the 4Runner is huge and measures a whopping 46.3 cu-ft. Overall the 4Runner comes with an interior that matches its practicality.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has the most beautiful interior and has the most elite and premium look inside the cabin. The 4Runner looks the most barebones while the Nissan’s interior looks outdated and the Edge has an average-looking one. The Grand Cherokee is the overall most spacious one while the 4Runner offers the most cargo space. The following are some of the most important interior features-

• Dual-zone automatic climate control with air filter and second-row vents 
• Leather-trimmed and multi-stage heated front seats 
• 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support
• 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Second-row-seat center armrest with cup holders
• Tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Bluetooth hands-free phone, and voice-command controls

How intuitive is the 2013 Toyota 4Runner’s infotainment unit?

The 2013 Toyota 4Runner gets a 6.4-inch touchscreen infotainment unit along with 8 speakers as standard in the highest trim. The touchscreen unit is good and responsive. There is also an available JBL sound system that comes with 15 speakers including a subwoofer. The Entune infotainment system comes with various apps including Bing, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, and Pandora. The following are the rest of the important infotainment features-

• 6.4-inch Touch-Screen DVD Navigation
• Display Audio With Navigation and Entune
• Available JBL Audio System
• SiriusXM Radio with NavTraffic with a 90-day complimentary trial
• AM/FM 4-disc CD changer with MP3/WMA playback capability
• Multi-Information Display with outside temperature, clock, average fuel economy, distance to empty, and compass

There are no bells and whistles or a super sleek, aerodynamic design language to describe the 4Runner. It comes with a simple and straightforward design and that pretty much means that it looks like a brick. However, this traditional design language looks impressive on the 4Runner. It is old-school looking and old-school SUVs are the real deal. The 4Runner’s design clearly shows that it is superbly capable off the road. 

The 4Runner is the most serious looking among the ones in the segment and those, more urbanized SUVs seem puny in front of the 4Runner. There are more beautiful ones, but there just couldn’t be any more practical ones. The 4Runner features 17-inch alloys of different styles in the lower and mid-level trims while the top-end model comes with 20-inch ones. Overall it is a traditionally, beautiful-looking machine that might not impress everyone.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most stylish among these vehicles and it just also seems the fastest, in fact, it also actually is. The Nissan on the other hand looks unimpressive and ugly and is a disappointment to look at. The 4Runner as mentioned earlier is the most old-school, rugged, and practical one and also is my personal favorite. The following are some of its important exterior features-

• Multi-reflector halogen headlights with auto on/off feature 
• Integrated fog lights 
• Chrome door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature
• Color-keyed front and rear bumpers with chrome inserts, 
• 20-in. split 6-spoke alloy wheels
• Color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators 
• Chrome-accented front grille insert 

The 2013 Toyota 4Runner is a very safe vehicle. The crash test score it had received from NHTSA, as well as IIHS, proves it. It gets an overall safety rating of 4-stars from NHTSA and the low rating it got is for rollover safety which is understandable for an SUV of its size. The 4Runner was also selected as the Top Safety Pick of the segment which further ensures the safety of this SUV. The following are some of its most important safety features-

• Crawl Control (CRAWL) and Multi-terrain Select
• Hill Start Assist Control
• Downhill Assist Control
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
• Traction Control (TRAC)
• Brake Assist (BA)
• Smart Stop Technology (SST)

The Toyota 4Runner is not a mainstream option in the segment that focuses on interior luxury and on-road performance. The 4Runner is not a crossover like many in this segment, it is a proper SUV and it looks as well as performs like one. The 4Runner has a powerful engine and it performs impressively off the road. In fact, it is one of the best off-roaders in this segment. However, it does with some cons including second-row lacking legroom and lowers fuel efficiency. So go for it if you need a rugged SUV and not a road-focused crossover.