Sure, Toyota could have redesigned the 4Runner years ago, but the SUV remains in its fifth generation. While some people complain about the 2023 Toyota 4Runner SUV being outdated, it hasn’t lost its charm. On top of that, the 4Runner still came out on top of the most recent J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study. What makes the Toyota 4Runner so reliable? The automaker has figured out the formula for this popular midsize SUV, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Is Toyota changing the 4Runner SUV in 2023?

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special is a limited edition version, but the SUV is mostly unchanged. Nevertheless, the 4Runner still beat the competition during the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study. In the upper midsize SUV category, the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia still couldn’t outrank the Toyota SUV.

While not everyone finds significance in these J.D. Power studies anymore, automakers still put a lot of emphasis on it. The Initial Quality Study looks at how vehicles have performed in the first few months of ownership. Unfortunately, results for 2023 showed that new cars are more problematic than ever. The number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) rose by 30 PP100 in only two years.

J.D. Power says there are a few reasons, mostly with technology and in-car systems. Other issues include “poor sounding horns,” bad cupholders, and problematic stereos. These are minor issues, but those issues tend to snowball as time goes on.

Is the 2023 Toyota 4Runner SUV reliable?

Besides the 2023 IQS, J.D. Power gave the 4Runner a high score for quality and reliability. Owners report that the Toyota SUV is fun to drive and feels safe, like it would protect the occupants in an accident. It also earned high marks for using voice assistance, which could be related to the Initial Quality Study.

Toyota Motor Corporation took home four awards. Along with the upper midsize award that the 2023 Toyota 4Runner SUV took home, the Lexus GX, Lexus IS, and Toyota Camry earned awards in other areas.

Beyond that, the SUV is known to retain its value long after its initial sale. For the Toyota 4Runner price, you can plan to hold onto a lot of what you’ve paid. A limited edition version like the 40th Anniversary will be even harder to find in a few years.

Toyota also took home a dependability award

Even though the 2023 Toyota 4Runner SUV, in particular, did not land on the winner’s list for the 2023 Vehicle Dependability Study, the brand itself did. J.D. Power determined that six vehicles from Toyota and Lexus earned dependability awards. The Vehicle Dependability Study examines how vehicles have performed after the first two years of ownership. That means it is possible the Toyota 4Runner could land on the dependability list next year.

iSeeCars recently named the Toyota 4Runner as one of the longest-lasting vehicles on the market. This SUV has a 41% chance of hitting 200,000 miles without much trouble. While many SUVs are on the market, the 4Runner has remained at the top for many years. Toyota’s newest catchphrase is “Let’s go places,” but it could be “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The outdated 2023 Toyota 4Runner SUV might be old, but it certainly isn’t broken.