Modern-day cars are getting more and more advanced. Infotainment systems are getting clearer, more responsive, and more capable, interiors are getting more comfortable, engines are more powerful, refined, and economical, and EVs can even drive on their own. Yet somehow, Toyota is still selling a platform that is pushing 10 years of age and feels prehistoric compared to everything else on the current market. Most impressively, however, is that this platform is still selling like hotcakes. As you might have gathered, we are talking about the 5th Generation 4Runner. A truck that has dominated the roads and trails of America for more than a decade. In this article, we are going over why people are still buying these old trucks and why you may want to buy one as well.
The Toyota 4Runner Is Rugged And Tough
Before we get started, it is a good idea to do a quick overview of the 4Runner as a vehicle. It may be an SUV, but it works quite differently from most SUVs on the current market. You see, the 4Runner can be classified as a truck. This is because it sits on a ladder frame with a solid rear axle. The exact same setup trucks and work vehicles have been using for decades. Yes, this is old technology; however, it is one of the reasons why the 4Runner lasts for such a long time. On top of the ladder frame sits a body that, with a few tweaks over the years, still manages to look modern. Inside, passengers get decent amounts of space, but due to the age of the 4Runner, they don't get as many features as other vehicles. So, the 4Runner is a family SUV but with the bones of a truck. It is a car you buy to keep, not one that will be changed over in a few years as soon as the leasing deal ends. Thanks to its old-school underpinnings, it can also do well off-road. It’s not quite as capable as a Bronco or Wrangler, but it is still impressive.
Why People Are Still Buying Toyota 4Runners And Why You May Want to Buy One As Well
Human psychology is a complicated thing that’s obvious, but what does it have to do with cars? Well, a lot. Some people can’t stand using old technology and always want to use the latest and greatest out there. This can sometimes lead to risks as new products may not perform as well as they were expected to. Take early adopters of Teslas as an example. The first models of the company were certainly flawed. They had huge panel gaps, issues with screens, batteries, and even range. However, some people wanted to buy them. These individuals can be characterized as risk-takers in the car-buying community. Now, on the other end of the spectrum, we have the people who would rather stick to what they know is good. These people, perhaps, make up a large population of 4Runner buyers. They are not in the market for the latest and greatest in-car technology. Instead, they need a truck that can take serve them reliably for years to come. Since the 5th generation 4Runner has now been tried and tested for more than a decade, buyers can be sure that it is a safe buy.
Finally, we have the people who just love the feeling of an old-school truck. There is a certain feeling you get when driving a vehicle that is built the old way. A feeling of ruggedness that can’t be found in most new trucks. Such people usually appreciate the mechanical aspect of a vehicle and love a machine that is built to last. So, to answer the questions posed in the beginning. You should buy a 5th Generation 4Runner because it is one of the last vehicles that can be bought brand new that is able to provide you trouble-free service for decades to come. It is simple, can be fixed or modified easily, and is a fairly safe car purchase. However, there might be a problem up ahead.
The Toyota 4Runner's Old School Engine May Be Deemed Illegal Soon
There isn’t an actual date to back this up. However, buying a brand new 4Runner right now might be a bit risky because, in a few years, keeping it on the road may get expensive. With the current push for electric vehicles or internal combustion vehicles that emit as few emissions as possible, trucks with old engines, like the 4Runner, may fall into a higher tax bracket that will make them uneconomical to keep on the road. Plus, the rise in fuel prices paired with the thirstiness of this vehicle is another potential problem you may need to keep in mind. Again, these are mostly speculations and are perhaps more important in areas like California, where emissions are a big deal. In the rest of the country, such issues may be further away than people tend to think.
The 4Runner Is A Competent Off-Roader
The 5th Generation 4Runner is a vehicle we should be happy that we can still buy. In a world full of technology-filled cars, the 4Runner is a rugged workhorse that can serve as a comfortable commuter, adventure vehicle, or even as a vehicle for you to learn to modify and wrench on. It is an old-school truck that can still be bought with zero miles on it. Sure, there are more cars currently on sale that sit on a ladder frame with solid axles (the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler are just two examples) but they do not offer the mechanical reliability offered by the 4Runner. For extreme off-roading they are better; however, if you want a great all-rounder that will serve you for years to come, the 4Runner is the one to get. It is one of the very few vehicles that can serve you in a way the old-school trucks did.