When looking for the right car, you have a lot of factors to consider. There is the manufacturer's reputation, the car's price, the vehicle's history, and how easy it is to repair it. Read on to learn how the Toyota 4Runner has evolved over the years and why it is one of the best cars on the market.
Japanese Origins
Before the 4Runner ever made its way to America, it had to be designed and manufactured in Toyota's home county of Japan. The 4Runner was an expansion of the previous Toyota Trekker they made in the early 1980s. Unfortunately, the Trekker was only around for a few years, basically serving as a test model for what the 4Runner would become.
In Japan, rather than being known as the 4Runner, the vehicle is known as the Toyota Hilux Surf. Its first production was a compact SUV, a slight improvement over the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. As time progressed, however, it would become something much more. The name 4Runner was created by copywriter Robert Nathan, playing on the term "forerunner," as Toyota greatly emphasized the vehicle's 4x4 capability.
1983-1989: The First Generation
Beginning production in 1983, the 4Runner began when Toyota took their current Hilux with the short-bed pickup body and transformed it completely. Toyota would add read seats and a removable fiberglass canopy on the vehicle's bed. Toyota took inspiration from other cars on the market then, such as the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and the second generation of the Ford Bronco. Both vehicles had removable fiberglass shells and bench seats in the back, the same as the 4Runner.
Since these were the first generation of Toyota 4Runners, they also had some issues that Toyota would work to solve. For example, many of the vehicle's upgrades were on the rear end, leading to some suspension issues. In addition, while there were upgrades here, there were no upgrades to the rear springs, causing the vehicles to have rear suspension issues.
The first line of vehicles came with a carbureted 2.4 L 22R engine, but later, in 1985, Toyota would upgrade to the electronically fuel-injected 2.4 L 22R-E I4 engine, increasing the horsepower. Then in 1986, 4Runners would incorporate a Hi-Trac independent front suspension rather than the solid front axle. Doing this made the vehicle more comfortable, stable, and easier to handle.
1989-1995: The Second Generation
In 1989, Toyota came out with the second generation of their 4Runner for the 1990 model year. Ditching the fiberglass shell, this generation came out with a full steel integrated body. In addition to evolving the cover, Toyota also included a new coil spring rear suspension system to deal with the sagging issues from the previous generation. Unfortunately, this new system still had trouble working with the vehicle's weight and still sags.
The second generation was also mostly four-door models, but some two-door models were released. The new 4Runner continued to use the independent front suspension, and instead of using the old gear transfer case, it now used a V6 model with a chain-driven case. Later in 1991, Toyota would give the vehicle some cosmetic upgrades, such as modular headlamps, one-piece front bumpers, and extended wheel arch flares for some wide-body versions. The 4Runner was also notoriously unsafe, but Toyota added side-impact beams in the doors in 1994, as well as airbags in 1995.
1995-2002: The Third Generation
In 1995, the 4Runner underwent a significant redesign, and it would soon sport a new body shell on a new chassis. The new chassis was much larger and on a longer wheelbase. Vehicle owners found themselves with a lot more interior space, cargo space, rack and pinion steering, and an anti-lock braking system (ABS).
The upgrades that happened during this generation were largely cosmetic and electrical. In 1998, for example, Toyota included more ergonomic switch control panels and redesigned the airbag system to work with their new four-spoke steering wheel. Later in 2001, they changed the wheels to a five-spoke design, and also began equipping their cars with a Vehicle Stability Control standard.
2002-2009: The Fourth Generation
Again in 2002, Toyota severely changed the chassis and body of the car. They based this new 4Runner on the Land Cruiser Prado 120 series, marketing it as a mid-size semi-luxury SUV capable of going off-road. This vehicle came equipped with the 4.0 L 1GR-FE V6 engine capable of 245 horsepower, but there was also a V8 engine available.
As the 4Runner changed from generation to generation, many more customization options were also available. For example, this generation offered three trims: the SR5, the Sport Edition, and Limited. Toyota also included a double wishbone suspension and a solid rear axle type suspension. The 4Runner also came with Toyota's Star Safety System, including anti-lock brakes, traction control, and optional side torso and curtain airbags.
2009-Now: The Fifth Generation
Toyota unveiled the current generation of 4Runner in 2009 at the Texas State Fair. Like the last generation, there are a few different trim models for people to choose from, one of them being the new Trail Edition. All models of 4Runner now come with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), and you can also get a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) with the Trail Edition. Toyota still produces this model in Japan, but they stopped building the vehicle for the country, only creating left-hand drive models.
With this new model, the standard engine is the 4.0 L V6 with Dual VVT-I, improving horsepower, torque, and fuel economy. Later, Toyota would release a Trail Premium model, but in 2016, it renamed the models to TRD Off-Road and TRD Off-Road Premium. There were only some aesthetic differences between the new ones and the Trail models.
The Toyota 4Runner has evolved a lot over the years, but it is still one of the most revolutionary vehicles on the market. However, if you have an older model, it can be challenging to get the right parts you need to keep it competing with the newer models. Thankfully, here at Northwest Team Yota, we have all the Toyota 4Runner OEM parts you'll need to keep your SUV in top shape. Peruse our selection today!
