After four years of ownership, my 2003 4Runner's lease was coming to an end this past December, and I didn't know what to do. I decided to test a few vehicles and see if anything spoke to me. In April I tested the FJ Cruiser, and verified that it'd be too small for my needs. In September I tested the Pathfinder, and came away wanting something more. In December, I took out a 2007 4Runner V6 SR5 Sport, checking out whether it offered anything new and improved that I just had to have.

Being January, that 4-year lease is obviously now over, so what did I end up doing?

Changes Since 2003
By and large, the 4Runner hasn't been changed since the fourth generation was introduced for the 2003 model year. It has received a few refreshers, with 2006 bringing the bulk of them, but I struggle to call those changes. The exterior has seen a few touchups, including the removal of the plastic side cladding in 2004, and more recently changes to the front grill and the lights. Inside the changes are fewer, with the packaging system being the main change, switching around a few of the standard features. As far as performance, there have been minor tweaks, but nothing worth noting. To the average person, the 4Runner hasn't changed.

Interior
Having lived out of my '03 4Runner for a 2-month road-trip, I can say that I don't mind that the interior remains the same. It's well thought-out and comfortable in all conditions, at least for the driver. Passengers won't be as impressed, as the 4Runner remains a truck at heart. If you're looking for a family-oriented, passenger vehicle, I can tell you right now that the 4Runner isn't meant for you.

Seats
The front seats remain comfortable and supportive, and are really quite nice for longer trips. If you're a big person, you'll definitely feel cozy, but for the average person, there's just the right amount of spaciousness in all directions. Many of the models have now implemented power front seats as standard equipment, which I find annoying when you want to move the seat quickly.

The rear seats aren't nearly as comfortable, but even an adult can comfortably sit back there for a few hours at a time. Even though the specs suggest otherwise, I find that the 4Runner's rear feels roomier than the Pathfinder's, and more comfortable if you had to squish three adults back there. In 2004, third row seating was introduced as it was becoming the segment norm - but this is a segment where all third row seats are completely non-functional for a normal body type. I'd rather see the third row eliminated in favour of extra cargo space.

Cargo Space
With the third row up, you can fit a couple of grocery bags back there. With the third row out of the way, there's enough room for your luggage for a short trip or any other regular needs. The second row folds flat, and in doing so provides a ton of room - enough for me to have a comfortable place to sleep while also holding all my camping equipment during a 2-month trip. The Limited model comes with a rear storage deck system, which I would promptly remove and store in some dark corner.

Compartments
The 4Runner makes intelligent use of its space, offering 8 cup/bottle holders and a number of pockets and compartments for various junk. The glove compartment is about average, although it has a somewhat hidden sub-compartment that has room for a few valuables. A handy little felt-lined sunglass compartment sits up by the map lights. The center console provides enough room for a dozen or so CDs and other odds and ends.

Dash & Controls
I've always liked the insightful and driver-oriented setup of the interior. Everything is easily within arms reach and clearly labeled. The gauges are easy to read in all conditions, and their recession in the dashboard helps keep pesky passengers from commenting on your speed. The most confusing part of the interior is learning how the climate controls work, but once you do, you'll find that they work quite well in keeping everybody comfortable. The cruise control also takes a while to figure out, as it is the one thing that isn't easily visible.

The audio controls are easy to use, aided by the well-placed steering wheel controls. Sound quality is pretty good in the basic models, but the upgraded sound package in the more expensive models does offer a noticeable improvement in sound quality. Audiophiles won't be impressed, but as far as stock systems go, Toyota's done a pretty good job here.

Visibility
The 4Runner offers excellent visibility in all directions, with no real blind-spots (a trait the FJ Cruiser most definitely does not share). I've had to park mine in some very tight spots, and it's very easy to get a feel for where the vehicle is sitting and get through those situations with ease.

Noise
Noise levels aren't at the luxury level, but they're not far from it, with conversations being effortless. Compared to the Pathfinder, it's significantly quieter, particularly with regard to engine noise. A few rattles developed on my '03 4Runner - one with the license plate, and the other with the sunroof - but they were easily fixed and aren't a known issue on the newer models.

Quality
My 4Runner has been my worst Toyota in terms of quality, but I still don't hesitate to say it's a high quality vehicle. The interior materials are top-notch, with no cheap plastics or other flimsy materials. Aside from 4 years of dust and dirt, the interior is more or less in perfect shape. After a good cleaning, you wouldn't think it's more than a few months old.

Where the quality isn't quite so great is with the mechanical side of things, where I've probably invested about $1000 in non-standard maintenance that the warranty didn't completely cover. Even the standard maintenance is pretty pricey, and every time I get it back from the shop there's a belt that squeaks for the first 100 kilometers or so. Perhaps that's the price of buying it on the first year of its major redesign. Nevertheless, in its 150 000 kilometers, it's always started without hesitation, never broken down, and made it through some rather rigorous conditions.


Performance
I'm the kind of person that likes sporty little cars, so no SUV is going to sweep me off of my feet. Even so, the 4Runner can put a grin on my face when I get behind the wheel, especially on the forestry roads. It's also good in town and on the highways, but if you're going to be staying on those types of roads, the 4Runner is nothing amazing.

Engine
The 4Runner is available with either a V6 or V8, but in terms of the actual output of these two engines, the V8 doesn't have much in the way of bragging rights. The 4.0L V6 has ample power to push you back into your seat with 236 hp and 266 lb. ft. of torque. Even when you're carrying a big load, the power is there to get you up to speed when merging. The only time in my 4 years of ownership that I've found the power to be lacking is when towing a trailer, which is where you'd expect the 4.7L V8 comes in. Not quite so, as the V8 is comparable to the V6 in the Nissan Pathfinder, pumping out a 260 hp and 306 lb. ft. of torque. Despite those slightly increased numbers, the towing capacity remains at 5000 lbs, and everybody (even the people looking to profit) I talked to said that the V8 offered no substantial advantages over the V6. For a few more horsies, all you're getting is a [much] higher price tag, poorer gas mileage, and a more polluted environment (and for Canada, permanent 4WD). Uhm... No thanks.

Fuel Efficiency
I average about 21-23 mpg with spirited [mostly highway] driving in my V6 4Runner, so Toyota's claim of 21/28 city/highway mpg does seem overly optimistic for the current V6. The V8's 19/25 mpg seems equally unlikely. Even so, anything over 20 mpg in an SUV of this nature is fairly impressive.

Transmission
The 4Runner is unfortunately only available with a 5-speed automatic transmission, but as far as automatic transmissions go, it's a good one. Acceleration and deceleration are both smooth and effortless, and at highway speeds it's never searching for the right gear. My '03 4Runner has a 4-speed automatic transmission, and I didn't notice much of a difference with the 5-speed in regular driving. I suspect the full advantage of the extra gear can be found when towing, as that's the one area where my 4-speed can have trouble.

Ride & Handling
You won't mistake the 4Runner for a luxury sedan, but it does do a good job of soaking up bumps and other road imperfections. Corners can be rounded quickly without rollover fears, and maneuvering in tight spaces is effortless. The steering wheel does take a bit more effort to turn than I'd really like, but it isn't too numb by any means. As far as truck-based vehicles go the 4Runner is in the upper echelon for both ride and handling.

Braking
The biggest weakness award for the 4Runner goes to the brakes. They will stop you, but you get the feeling that you're driving a very heavy vehicle. I felt more confident with the brakes of an F-350 with 2 quads and 500 lbs of equipment on the back. Toyota got the brakes right with the FJ Cruiser, so hopefully they'll make the 4Runner's brakes a little more sensitive one of these days.

Off-Road
Possibly the greatest strength of the 4Runner is its ability to tackle any type of terrain. Although I couldn't take the tester off road, I've taken mine all over the place, and it has never let me down or even come close to getting stuck (far more than I can say about that F-350 I just mentioned...). I don't do the serious rock-crawling off-road type stuff that really tests a vehicle's abilities, but for more normal off-road conditions, the 4Runner is excellent.


Price
The 4Runner's reputation comes at a premium, so it is at least worth checking out some of the competition. My current model and the one I tested is a SR5 V6 Sport, which is what I'd most likely go for again. Do note that packaging and pricing is a little different in the United States.

SR5 V6: C$39 970
+ Sport Package: C$44 800
SR5 V8: C$46 700
Limited V6: C$49 960
Limited V8: C$52 600

A taste of some alternatives:
2007/2006 Nissan Pathfinder: $37 798 to $47 598
2007 Nissan Xterra: $33 848 to $37 848
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser: $29 990 to $37 260
2007 Ford Explorer: $40 900 to $52 400
2007 Ford Expedition: $47 000 to $57 900
2007 Honda Pilot: $36 400 to $47 900
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee: $40 600 to $54 080


Conclusion
In the end, I decided not to move up to a 2007 4Runner. I could care less about the few changes that have been made since 2003, and as I said earlier, a good cleaning is all that it takes to make my 4Runner seem like new. The few quality issues I had were two years ago, and nothing's hinted at going wrong since then. How long I'll stay attached to my 4Runner remains unknown to me, as it could be less than a year, or it could just as easily end up being another 4 or more years. I have the crazy idea of driving to South America some day, so I may hang onto it for then.

If you're seriously considering the 4Runner, I recommend it without hesitation. That said, it isn't the right vehicle for a lot of people. If you're going to be sticking to the pavement, there are other SUVs that fill that role better than the 4Runner does. If you're looking for something that's as confident off-road as it is on-road, and is as good for going to the grocery store as it is for going up some mysterious mountain road, then I'd say you've found what you're looking for.