2012 Toyota 4Runner Overview Change Vehicle

2012 Toyota 4Runner overview with specifications, fuel economy data, safety information, reliability ratings, a photo gallery, and The Vehix View

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner is one of the last mainstream, midsize, body-on-frame SUVs on the market. Unlike many of the new crossovers and redesigned models such as the Ford Explorer, the 4Runner is capable of hard-core off-roading. Three trims are offered and the interior accommodates up to seven passengers.

Changes to the 2012 Toyota 4Runner focus almost exclusively on interior convenience features. Those include Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port offered as standard equipment on every model, and Toyota’s Entune audio system on the top-of-the-line Limited model. This year’s 4Runner roster also boasts optional powered running boards.

If you’re familiar with the Toyota brand, the name SR5 surely rings a bell in your mind. In the case of the 2012 4Runner, it refers to the base trim level, which is available as a rear-drive model or an off-road ready machine with part-time four-wheel drive, each equipped with hill start assist technology. All SR5s are equipped with fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors with integrated turn signals, chrome exterior trim, and a tow package that includes a hitch receiver. Bluetooth hands-free connectivity is standard, along with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with Bluetooth controls, a trip computer, and an audio system with Sirius satellite radio service and an iPod-compatible USB port. The rear-drive 4Runner SR5 adds a limited-slip differential, while four-wheeling examples spice up the mix with skid plates under the engine, fuel tank and transfer case; downhill assist control; and active traction control, or what Toyota refers to as A-TRAC.

Direct your attention to the SR5’s list of options and you just might be overwhelmed by all that’s offered. Among the highlights are power-adjustable front seats, a back up camera built into an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a split-folding third-row bench seat, electronic running boards, and a power moonroof. The 4Runner SR5 is also one of many 2012 Toyotas that plays host to a touch-screen navigation system, which includes Entune audio and mobile apps technology. Finishing things off are Premium Packages – with and without the optional third-row seat – that feature leather upholstery and trim, the Entune system, and more.

For a decidedly more rugged look and feel, the 2012 4Runner Trail is the model to consider. Available only as a four-wheel-drive vehicle, the Trail starts with the SR5’s foundation and adds a unique set of 17-inch alloy wheels and tires, a locking rear differential, and what Toyota refers to as CRAWL, which is essentially a low-range gear with multiple speed settings. A separate multi-terrain select feature works to maximize traction under a variety of paved-road and off-road conditions. Look beyond those hardware upgrades and you’ll notice that the Trail also sports exterior trim that’s black instead of chrome, smoked headlight lenses, water-resistant upholstery, a sliding trunk tray that carries up to 440 pounds, and the auto-dimming rearview mirror with a back up camera. Options are limited to the navigation and Entune package, as well as a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) that allows for enhanced wheel articulation by disconnecting the front and rear stabilizer bars when traveling off-road at slow speeds.

That brings us to the cream of the 4Runner crop, the Limited. Like the SR5, this variant is offered with rear- or four-wheel drive, but the two take different paths from there. For the 4Runner Limited, that translates to 20-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, a push-button ignition system, and the navigation/Entune feature included as standard equipment. Buyers also get a couple of 120-volt AC outlets (like those in your house), and a sport-tuned suspension. Unlike its siblings, the Limited is offered with a full-time four-wheel-drive system that includes A-TRAC, not to mention a limited-slip and locking center differential. The only option not found on lesser trims is a 15-speaker JBL sound system with navigation.

Peek under the hood of a 2012 Toyota 4Runner and what you’ll find is a 4.0-liter V6 that puts out 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, all of which is handled by a five-speed automatic transmission. Those specs don’t elevate this ‘Yota to stump-pulling full-size SUV territory, but there’s enough muscle to deliver a 5,000-pound tow capacity.

Unfortunately, tugging that kind of weight is sure to hit fuel economy like a closed fist to the gut. Skip hooking up a boat to the 4Runner and you’ll stand a better chance of meeting EPA estimates of 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway (rear-wheel-drive models; four-wheel-drive models cut the highway rating by one mpg).

Regardless of whether a vehicle is headed for suburban family use or frequent excursions off the beaten path, the need for safety remains paramount. In the case of the 2012 4Runner, that’s addressed by standard stability and traction control systems; eight airbags, including two front knee airbags; four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, with multi-terrain tuning on the Trail model; and a complimentary one-year subscription to Toyota’s Safety Connect telematics system, offering services such as emergency assistance and stolen vehicle tracking, on the 4Runner Limited.

When subjected to crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2012 4Runner earned top marks for front- and side-impact protection, though roof strength was labeled only Acceptable. Results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) were incomplete at the time of this writing, but NHTSA had awarded 3 out of 5 Stars for the 4Runner’s rollover protection.

In terms of reliability, this SUV’s star shines a bit brighter. Consumer Reports suggests buyers will experience excellent dependability from the 4Runner, and while J.D. Power and Associates hadn’t announced its findings for 2012 by press time, it’s worth noting that last year’s model was ranked well above average. If an owner does run into trouble with this new rig, Toyota has things covered with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a two-year/25,000-mile free scheduled maintenance plan that also includes roadside assistance.

Put the words fun and 4Runner together and our minds drift off into images of clawing through mud and catching some air at the sand dunes.

Of course, such antics are not what some consider entertainment, and they’re unlikely to often be part of buyers’ purchasing decisions. Instead, it’s perhaps more helpful to know that the 4Runner features 10 cupholders on five-passenger versions and 12 on models fitted with the optional third-row seat; with up to 89.7 cubic feet of cargo space, the 4Runner beats the Nissan Pathfinder by 10 cubic feet and the Jeep Grand Cherokee by 21 cubic feet; and its 9.6 inches of maximum ground clearance rises above the Jeep’s 8.6 inches and the Nissan’s nine inches.

Due to more efficient operation and use of interior space, as well as what’s usually a more comfortable ride and more stable handling, crossover vehicles are hammering away at a segment built on the backbone of rugged, body-on-frame SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner. Indeed, for buyers who don’t want or need true off-roading capability, a Chevrolet Traverse or redesigned Ford Explorer might be the perfect fit. But for the driver who doesn’t see a stop sign where the pavement ends, the adventure-ready and relatively efficient 2012 4Runner remains a recommended steed.

By Thom Blackett