Is the 2023 Toyota 4Runner Worth It?
There’s no way around it; the 2023 Toyota 4Runner is expensive. Starting at $40,390 for the SR5 trim and topping out a $55,355 (before options) for the TRD Pro, the 4Runner is simply an expensive SUV, especially when you consider the fact that the 4Runner is built on a pickup truck chassis that hasn’t changed significantly in over a decade. The 4Runner is not only expensive; it’s also old. 4Runner pricing almost feels like a joke. Almost, but not quite. So, is it still worth buying a Toyota 4Runner?
Is the 2023 Toyota 4Runner worth the price?
Phew. It’s hard to say (type) out loud, even as a fan of both 4Runners and Toyota at large, but even with its silly and maddening price point, the 2023 Toyota 4Runner is still worth the money. Let me explain.
Toyotas have earned the reputation of being extremely reliable vehicles. Over decades of model after model being tough and dependable, the brand has its reputation locked. While the 4Runner is pricey, you can easily spend double the cost on a far less quality SUV these days. Granted, those more expensive vehicles will be far more luxurious.
The 4Runner is built around its old-school body-on-frame chassis and stout 270-hp 4.0-liter V6. That motor bolts up to a 5-speed automatic transmission. The 4Runner comes in rear-wheel-drive, part-time 4wd, and full-time 4wd. Each component, from the engine and transmission to the body and frame, is considered tough equipment ready for heavy off-road travel.
Gas mileage for the 2023 Toyota 4Runner
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner rated poorly at 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. According to Car and Driver, even the V6 Wrangler beats the 4Runner on fuel efficiency, getting up to 19 mpg city and 24 highway.
The 4Runner wasn’t designed to be gentle at the pump. Gas mileage on large body-on-frame SUVs is categorically bad. This is a large part of why SUVs like this aren’t very common anymore. That said, C&D’s testing revealed that the Toyota’s fuel economy outperformed the expected 19 mpg on the highway.
Is the interior of the 2023 Toyota 4Runner nice?
Toyota isn’t known for its upscale interior design. That isn’t to say Toyota interiors are bad, per se, but it’s just very rarely the brand’s focus. The 2023 4Runner follows suit. Car & Driver calls the interior less than “state-of-the-art” and comments on the switchgear looking like it came from the 1990s.
However, the 4Runner still manages to be spacious and relatively comfortable. IT even has an optional third- option, but it doesn’t appear to be a good fit for anyone other than children.
Is the 2023 Toyota 4Runner a good car?
Ultimately, Toyota’s newest 4Runner is still a great truck because the ones from 10 years are still great, and they haven’t changed all that much.
The real question is whether the juice is worth the $40,000 squeeze. That is a tough one to answer. Objectively, you’d be hard-pressed to find another SUV as tough and capable as the 4Runner. The hard part will be convincing yourself to spend the money on what is basically a brand-new ten-year-old truck. You aren’t likely to be sorry that you bought a new 4Runner, as long as you can swing the payments.
