The Toyota 4Runner has been the brand’s top-selling and most-popular SUV for decades. Not just boasting off-road capabilities, the 4Runner is also a family-friendly reliable performer. But the newest 2020 lineup brings a few changes to the Toyota 4Runner, including a special edition that will give even the kings of off-roading a run for their money. Here’s everything you need to know about the most capable Toyota yet, the 2020 4Runner Venture Edition.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner Venture Edition: standard off-roading features and highlights

According to Toyota’s press release, the new 2020 4Runner Venture Edition is based on its popular TRD off-roading variant, but “adds more utility and flair in an awesome package designed for explorers everywhere.” The new Venture Edition is one of eight model choices for the 2020 model year, sitting almost squarely in the middle of the lineup with a base price of around $45,000. 

Designed for tackling any adventure on any road, the Venture Edition comes with a variety of unique standard features, such as a 52-inch-long Yakima Megawarrior rack and roof rack crossbars, all-weather floor mats, a rear-sliding cargo deck, and 17-inch TRD wheels.

Built with Toyota’s quality, body-on-frame construction, the 2020 4Runner Venture Edition features a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine, coil-spring suspension, four-link rear axle, and part-time four-wheel-drive system with two-speed transfer case. For added traction in lower ranges, a selectable rear locker also comes standard. 

But that’s not all the off-roading features buyers will get with the 4Runner Venture Edition. It also comes standard with Crawl Control (almost like low-speed cruise control), Active Traction Control (to help maintain traction by distributing drive force), and Multi-Terrain Select (controls wheel spin based on terrain setting).

The 4Runner Venture Edition isn’t just designed to go off-road, but carry performance and style through to the streets as well. The exterior will come with specially-designed Venture Edition badges, logos, and black accents throughout. Inside, Venture Edition 4Runners come with specially-made, power and heated seats.

Venture Edition owners will also get a new, standard multimedia system that includes an 8-inch touchscreen and 4.2-inch instrumentation panel to control safety function, as well as standard Smart Key with push-button start.

More standard safety and available options

According to AutoBlog, all 2020 4Runner Venture Editions also come with the new Toyota Safety Sense P suite of driver-assistance features. This suite of standard safety features includes lane-departure warning, pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams.

As if the 2020 Toyota 4Runner Venture Edition doesn’t offer enough as standard features, there’s also a variety of options and packages available. Buyers can add on optional features such as running boards, a power moonroof with sunshade, and a Kinetic Dynamic suspension system that automatically adjusts the suspension based on terrain. There are also an endless array of interior accessories for cargo system, seating, floors, and more.

Why the Toyota 4Runner may give Jeep a run for its money

While the 4Runner Venture Edition certainly offers buyers a variety of features, its base price is nearly $10,000 more than the base 4Runner SR5. But this special edition 4Runner is only around $2,000 more than the 4Runner TRD model it’s based on, meaning more off-road capability for only a fraction more at signing. Although there are others in the segment with lower base prices, the 4Runner Venture Edition offers more for the money.

The Jeep Wrangler, for example, has a lower base price of less than $30,000. But to own a Jeep Wrangler with all the bells and whistles included with the 4Runner Venture Edition, the bill could easily reach $60,000 or more.

According to Car and Driver, the Toyota 4Runner Venture Edition is “family-friendly, ruggedly handsome, and highly capable.” While the Jeep Wrangler may do better on tight trails, the 4Runner Venture Edition is more spacious and better-behaved. Its performance is equally impressive on the open road as it is off-road.