Wait, Why Is the 2022 Toyota 4Runner in Last Place?
Hold the phone. Stop the presses! The incredibly popular Toyota 4Runner may have been shafted. The 2022 Toyota 4Runner ranks in last place on the list of best three-row mid-size SUVs. It’s time to see the 4Runner deserves to be there.
Is the 2022 Toyota 4Runner worth buying?
Of course, the 2022 Toyota 4Runner, is worth buying. It’s known for having an exceptional resale value, high-reliability ranking, and stout off-roading abilities. However, some critics, like Car and Driver, think it should be put out to pasture.
On the list of the best mid-size three-row SUVs for 2022, the 4Runner ranks in last place. It’s the 15th option on the list and falls behind the GMC Acadia, Volkswagen Atlas, Ford Explorer, and more.
Of course, the Kia Telluride is in first place, no surprise there. But let’s focus on the 4Runner, one of the most popular SUVs from before the Telluride’s time. Does it really deserve last place?
Potential Toyota 4Runner problems?
According to Car and Driver, the Toyota 4Runner is too old to keep up with the competition. It hasn’t received a significant update and 12 years, meaning it’s starting to show its age.
The 4Runner struggles to keep up with the fresh, new whippersnappers. While the Kia Telluride keeps winning awards, the 4Runner is yelling at kids to get off its lawn!
It has a body-on-frame chassis, which is pretty old school, but respectable. Body-on-frame builds allow for more suspension travel for off-roading but impact the vehicle’s ride and handling.
Competitors like the Ford Explorer have a unibody design, allowing them to provide a smoother ride with sportier handling.
It comes with a 4.0-liter V6 engine that cranks out 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. Car and Driver does acknowledge that it’s a reliable option. However, it’s thirsty compared to rivals. It only gets an EPA-estimated 16 mpg in the city and up to 19 mpg on the highway.
Also, the Toyota 4Runner has a pretty high starting price of $38,105. That feels incredibly expensive for a dated SUV. The Kia Telluride starts at $33,090, and the Ford Explorer begins at around $33,745.
When is the new 4Runner coming?
If the 2022 Toyota 4Runner isn’t doing it for critics, maybe the updated model will. The 2023 Toyota 4Runner is expected to be totally redesigned with a new exterior style, interior design, and updated powertrain options.
However, we’re getting close to the summertime, when new models debut. It seems like we should have received a few closes or new teasers by now.
We do know that it will ride on the new TNGA-F truck platform like the new Toyota Tundra and Tacoma, though. Plus, it could gain the 2.4-liter turbocharged in-line four engine with 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque from the Lexus NX 350.
Until the new Toyota 4Runner arrives, we don’t see the current model escaping from the bottom of the barrel. It’s just too outdated, unrefined, and thirsty compared to the competition. We will keep you updated as soon as clues about the sixth-generation 4Runner emerge.
