Review: 2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail – Kickin’ It Old School

2014 toyota 4runner face nose lift nostrils
2014 Toyota 4Runner

The 2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail is the best of what SUVs used to be with its sturdy body on frame construction, but with all of the creature comforts we’ve come to expect over the years.

STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP / Lb-Ft
2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail $35,725 $37,170 270 / 278
EPA Rating MPG As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT! 17 / 21 Combined 18 14.8 Combined

There are three different front ends for the 2014 Toyota 4Runner depending on the trim level you choose, but all three are chunky, truck-like and unmistakably SUV. The headlights are the most noticeable change from the prior model year, adding a dose of style to its tough demeanor.

The inside of the 2014 Toyota 4Runner has seen some changes, too. Where the exterior screams of the vehicle’s utility, inside it wants you to be comfortable and enjoy the ride no matter the terrain. The front seats are cushy, wide, and supportive and won’t leave you stiff after a long drive.

2014 toyota 4runner profile side red
2014 Toyota 4Runner

The rear bench seat is easily wide enough for three adults, and more importantly, actually comfortable for all three. Whoever ends up in that middle seat still gets a nice, supportive seat for their behind rather than the cinder block padded in leather feel that’s usually the case.

A third row is an option in the base SR5 or top Limited model, but not in the middle of the pack Trail I tested. Instead, it had a huge amount of cargo space. You’ll be able to pack a lot into your 2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail, but only if you’ve got the muscle to heft it up to the high floor.

2014 Toyota 4Runner
2014 Toyota 4Runner

That high egress may prove a challenge for kids and less mobile adults. I haven’t seen my kids crawl up into a car in a few years, but my 8-year-old found it a little rough. Worse so for my very short Mom with stiff knees who needed extra help to make the leap. It’s something to consider if you’ll often have very young or much older passengers and warrants taking a look at the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer as an alternative.

The interior design is nicely updated with big, chunky knobs that you can easily grab with gloves on your hands. It’s also very well organized with the things you use most in easy reach on the center stack and buttons for off-road selections located in an overhead console.

2012 toyota 4runner interior

As for performance, it’s the same 4.0-liter V6 5-speed automatic as last year with 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration was strong whether taking off from a dead stop or passing on the highway, but remember, this is a full-on SUV so you’re not going to get the same kind of power you’d get out of a smaller, lighter crossover.

It’s a comfortable, capable, well-mannered ride on the street, though you will have a sense of its heaviness when you corner on the highway. Steering was lighter than you’d expect and visibility for such a large vehicle was excellent making it easy to maneuver despite its size.

2014 toyota 4runner front grill red

The 2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail has old-school body on frame construction which is part of why it feels so big and solid, and all of why you’re going to want to take this off-road and get it dirty. It’s equipped with Crawl Control to maintain your speed in low-range and Multi-Terrain Select options for sand, snow, or rock.

The one sacrifice for its rugged utility is in its MPG ratings. You’re looking at just 17 city/21 highway for a combined 18 MPG. Ouch. If you’ve got long commutes, the 2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail may prove a bit thirsty for your wallet. It’s a trade off that you’re just going to have to get comfortable with if you want a true, traditional SUV in your driveway.

On the TFLcar scale of:

  • Buy it!
  • Lease it!
  • Rent it!
  • … or Forget it!

I give the 2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail a Buy It!

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.