Getting dirty in the 2014 Toyota 4Runner 4×4 Trail

Meet the 2014 Toyota 4Runner 4×4 Trail Premium: a simple, old dog that’s learned a few new tricks in this latest generation. On paper, it’s rocking a 12-year-old power-train that’s as dumb as a bag of hammers, but atop those hammers is a bit of high-tech intelligence with an Advanced Traction Control system. At a glance, the chunky dashboard looks like a child’s toy, but powering the infotainment is Toyota’s Web-connected, app-based Entune system. No doubt you’ve already seen the middling star rating above, but I actually enjoyed my week spent with Big Red.

I wasn’t sure what to think of the 4Runner upon accepting delivery, but I soon learned that while it’s not necessarily the most CNET style vehicle to pass through our garage, it’s worth a second (or third) look.

Keeping it simple in the engine roomBeneath the bulging hood and the fake hood scoop, you’ll find Toyota’s 4.0-liter V-6 engine. It’s got no direct injection and no forced induction, but Toyota’s variable valve timing technology does help this 12-year-old engine to output 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. That’s decent, but not mind-boggling power.

Behind this grill, you'll find no surprises. The 2014 4Runner features basically the same engine and transmission as the previous generation.

(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

Power now flows through the only option, a 5-speed automatic transmission, on i… [Read more]