I am a truck guy. I like the way the handle and the usefulness of them. Don't get me wrong, I like cars too, but I consider them more of a third car rather than something that's actually useful.

I was looking for an SUV for my wife. Her 1996 Taurus was getting old and after having to remove the axle to replace the alternator, I decided it was time to be replaced.

Since it was the end of the year, we looked at new vehicles. The 4-Runner was the first one we looked at.

Power: The 4-Runner comes with a 3.4L V6. The rating of this is 183 HP at 4800 rpm and 217lb/ft @ 3600 rpm. It has plenty of power although a good 67 ponies less than the Nissan Pathfinder. I find it to be a little sluggish off the line, but a smooth run for daily driving. This is a truck, not a car.

Interior: I am amazed at how well this SUV is put together. This is my first Toyota and I am thoroughly thrilled by the interior. The seats are comfortable, although a little narrow. I am used to driving a full-size Chevy and the seats take a little getting used to. We have the "sport" seats which give you more side-bolsters. I can't lean as much as I'm used to, but it only takes a little getting used to. Also, who's idea was the ugly, cloth, seat pattern? It's really bad and will have to be recovered in leather, someday.

Cargo: The 4-Runner has a maximum cargo capacity of 80 cu. ft. I don't know if you've read any of my other reviews, but we have a Great Dane (180 lb) and he needs every bit of space he can get. However, we can put the back seat up and he's still comfortable in the left over cargo space. Of course, he's not happy about being way back there, but he gets over it.

Options: The 4-Runner has many options. This car can fluctuate $20K depending on how much you want to flaunt. We got the SR5 4x4 with Upgrade Package #2. This includes cloth sport seats (see above), 4-way adjustable headrests, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16" 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with 265/70R16 tires and 4.10:1 locking rear differential. This vehicle comes standard with a lot of options when you're looking for a 4x4.

Overall: This SUV is expensive. It's about $3K-$5K higher than the more powerful Nissan Pathfinder. However, I have owned two Nissans in my life and had a lot of trouble with them. I also like the fact that the 4-Runner handles more like a truck than the car-like Nissan. The Nissan exhibited very dangerous body-roll when I tried a test emergency maneuver on the freeway. That's nice in town, not so great at 75+ mph. Another argument for the high price-tag of the 4-Runner is the great resale rate. Pick up a Truck Trader or newspaper and check out the price of used ones, they are still expensive when compared to other SUVs. I look at this as a positive.
Amount Paid (US$): 29,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: SR5 4X4 Upgrade Package #2