It seems like the current Toyota 4Runner will remain in production till 2024. Yes, the same truck with its five-speed automated gearbox and 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 will endure another year of adventures despite being in production for 15 model years.
Even though Toyota has updated its whole vehicle lineup, the wildly popular 4Runner is still waiting for its flowers. You can rest assured that it will receive an update in 2025 from 4Runner6G.com, which will supposedly incorporate the 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an optional hybrid from the 2024 Tacoma. The 2024 4Runner might be your last option for the old school while the new trucks sparkle on dealer lots with cutting-edge technology, large displays, and improved drivetrains.
With the exception of two new colors—a 4Runner TRD Pro exclusive shade dubbed Terra that is also shared with the new Tacoma—Toyota reports no modifications for the 2024 model year. All seven model levels come included with a full advanced driver’s aid suite, including adaptive cruise control, even if it has the 270-horsepower drivetrain stated earlier that makes it feel like 1995 all over again. This may be one of the oldest powertrains ever matched with anything as cutting-edge as adaptive cruise, but this is just a hunch.
Along with the Dodge Durango, the 4Runner is one of the last and best examples of something not needing to be fixed. It doesn’t really suffer as a result either. People who are still interested in purchasing a new 4Runner in 2024 are specifically seeking for something tough and straightforward, and some may even lament that it will become significantly more complicated after receiving a long-awaited update. There is a lot to be said about 15 years of aftermarket development and reliability that has been demonstrated. People who purchase this will even adore the minimalist, plasticky interior with the little touchscreen that transports them back to 2009.
Its age doesn’t diminish its offroad prowess. The same 4×4 vehicle that helped shape most of the last two decades of off-roading is still around, and it still has the agility to keep up with new technology. Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which is effectively active sway bars, is still available, and models designed for off-road use still come with superb off-road traction control systems and a locking rear differential. The best part is that Toyota has had plenty of time to develop and perfect them.
In all seriousness, a 2024 4Runner in either of the two new colours could become a sought-after vehicle in a few years, but the new model is quickly approaching. At this point, you must decide whether to purchase one of the final vintage 4Runners or to let the old dog plunge into Valhalla and purchase a new one the next year.
