2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport 4x4 - Off Road Elder Soldier Re- Driven Review

ELDER SOLDIERS ENDURE: Daylight Savings Time, whence clocks Fall Back in Fall only to Spring Ahead in Spring, was codified in parts of the United States to lend farmers extra afternoon daylight to harvest their crops. Along came illuminating progress in the form of the combine tractor, fitted with solar bright floodlights. Old habits dying hard, another recent bill by the United States Senate to end the seasonal manipulations of time pieces failed to pass.

Toyota's 4Runner, too, stubbornly resists the automotive trends towards change. The tried and true rugged off-road thriving, yet on-road civilized sport utility has endured four decades with glacial outward or mechanical change. That eighty per cent of 4Runners ever built still run tells a tremendous testament to 4Runner's enduring allure. Ten year old 4Runners with 120,000 miles on the clock can command nearly their original purchase price. Times might be marching on in the automotive world. It has been five years since the last Roadblazing.com examination of its ilk. Other than the addition of a new trim, the hour and minute hands have barely moved for the 2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport 4x4 which has arrived for a Re-Driven Review.

2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport 4x4 Driving Hits:

• 4.0L 24V DOHC gasoline V-6 = 270 horsepower, 278 pound-feet torque @ 4400 rpm

• 5-speed automatic torque converter planetary gear transmission; ♦ Hydraulic struts x 2 supported hood
• Sufficiently brisk once the accelerator is really laid into, momentarily hesitant to downshift during highway overtaking
• 2-speed chain driven, electronic helical gear transfer case four wheel drive
  • F:R 40:60% high ratio torque split
  • Shift on the fly High Ratio 4WD, 2.56:1 low ratio, center console rotary knob control
  • Transfer case lock in 4WD low; Descent control
  • Active-TRAC off-road traction control on the fly, overhead console switch control

• 16 combined miles per gallon, 460 miles highway range, 23 gallons fuel tank
• TRD Suspension:
  • Front double wishbone, rear 4-link connected live axle

• X-REAS cross wheel damping fluid control reduces pitch and sway off-road lift
• TRD red progressive rate coil springs, front coil-over mount
• Soft sprung, stiffer bushing chassis for comfortable ride
• Firmed up, electric assist power steering, but with inert road feel; Numb but linear disc brake input reaction
• Large front and rear vented rotor disc brakes
• Off Road creds:
  • 9.6" ground clearance, 33° approach / 26° departure / 19.8° breakover angles
  • 245/60 Yokohoma Geolandar G96B H-speed rated all-season M+S tires; 20" inch machined aluminum wheels
• On Road Kudos
  • Little wind highway wind buffeting, cabin immune to wind or road noise
  • Much quieter than any Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco
  • 5000 pounds tow rating

2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport 4x4 Driving Misses:

• Loud engine emissions controls air purge whooshing, while pulling away when engine is cold
• Clunky "5-speed transmission" $H!&
• 15% poorer fuel economy than a gasoline powered Toyota Highlander 3-Row crossover SUV
• ADAS lane keep assist constantly de- and re- activates
• Soft brake pedal
• Noticeable body roll during lane changing;
• Lacks the road poise and athleticism of a Jeep Grand Cherokee

What the 2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport 4x4 Has Got:

• Pricing: from $39,320 (incl. destination) for a 5-speed automatic 2022 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4x2 wheel drive.
  • As tested Lunar Rock 2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport 4x4 5-speed automatic, four-wheel drive = $48,297

• World's most enduring off road capable mid size Sport Utility Vehicle
  • En route from Barstow to L.A., taking a side trip to Tahara, Japan, the traditional long wheel base blocky, wedgy, high beltline lifted off-road SUV design, widening tetradhedral grille, modernized by new "Cats Eyes" hooked, tweezed wrap-around headlamps, prominent roof body matching roof spoiler and tall liftgate with chrome sill.

• America's last surviving volume mid size family station wagon, as always, lifted and geared for the great outdoors
• TRD Sport trim specific: Body color matched bisecting grille bar, mid dark lattice grille; body color matched bumper covers and cladding; darkened window frames; 20" inch polished aluminum wheels; TRD non-functional hood intake scoop, darkened roof rack, TRD smoke finished exhaust tip
• 5 generously sized adult, 2-Row seating

• 46.0 to 90 cubic feet cargo capacity via 40/20/40% split reclining & folding 2nd Row seatbacks includes center pass through
• Power retracting liftgate backlight window
  • Available cargo bay slide-out loading tray, w/ sub-cargo floor storage (TRD Sport, Off-Road, Pro, Limited)

• Dual analog dials flanking 4.2" color TFT multi-function display gauge cluster; Satin silver plastic mid dash and center stack, console accents; Lower center stack storage slots & connectivity; Smooth finished switches & buttons; Oversized rotary control knobs; Tight, even panel gaps
• Comprehensive standard feature set
  • √ Remote keyless entry; √ Push button ignition; √ Full express power windows x 4; √ Power retracting liftgate backlight
  • √ 1-zone (optional 2-zone automatic) air-conditioned climate control; √ Heated power side mirrors
  • √ LED headlights & taillights; √ Rain sensing windshield wipers; √ Dual illuminated vanity sunvisors w/ extensions
  • √ Ballistic fabric 6-way driver & 4-way passenger manual adjust seats; √ Tilt & telescoping leatherette steering wheel
  • √ Upper mid dash, embedded, dual knob controlled 8.0" landscape split pane touch touch LCD audio & media display w/ wireless voice control / alert navigation; √ Bluetooth phone connectivity and smart phone SMS
  • Standard 6-speaker, 240 W streaming audio with HD-radio
  • √ Android Auto, Apple CarPlay phone projection; √ Sirius XM satellite radio (90 days trial); √ Apple Music (by subscription)

• √ USB-C x 3 (Row 2 x 2); 12V x 1 (cargo bay); 110V AC x 1 (cargo bay)
• √ Cup holders x 6, Bottle holders x 4;  √ Overhead console sunglasses bin; √ Front seatbacks x 2 aft net pockets
• Full Size spare tire (under body mount)
• Passable safety features & ratings
  • +1 Mostly Good but one Marginal IIHS collision occupant protection marks ; √ 8 airbags
• Driver assist tech (Safety Sense P standard)
  • √ Rear camera + predictive grid; √ Pedestrian & vehicle collision avoidance braking; √ Blind Spot View monitor; √ Full adaptive cruise control; √ Lane departure warning, trace assist; √ Post collision brake lock; √ Row 2 occupant reminder; √ Auto high beam LED headlamps; √ Safety Connect (1 year trial)
• 3 years / 36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty, includes 2 years maintenance
  • 80% of all Toyota 4Runners ever sold are reportedly still registered and running

What the 2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport 4x4 Has Not (or Not Preferred):

• Rinky Dink blue LED upper center dash clock
• Nary a soft touch surface yet a mish mash of different panel shapes and finish textures
• 2nd Row seat back fold requires manual seat split seat cushion upright stow
• No cargo bay remote 2nd Row seat back fold
• Manual lift liftgate
• Lacks heated steering wheel
• Center stack smart phone pocket too shallow
• Long ago passed up in cabin luxury by Jeep Grand Cherokee, now modern John Deere tiered inside

Standout Feature(s) on 2022 TOYOTA 4RUNNER TRD SPORT:

• Automatic power deployed running boards x 2
• ♦ Surround view camera monitor; ♦ Blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert (Technology Package); ♦ Front + rear park assist warning

• ♦ Auto dimming rear view mirror
• ♦ Softex leatherette seats, front "TRD" stitched emblem headrests, heated, 8-way power driver adjust, 4-way manual passenger adjust; ♦ "TRD" shifter knob
• ♦ HDD cloud GPS voice command, voice guidance navigation; ♦ Dynamic navigation POI search ( 3 years trial)

• ♦ 8-speaker premium audio; ♦ Voice to text reply SMS; ♦ USB-C x 5
• 2 GB / 3 months WiFi trial subscription by AT&T
• Toyota Service Connect (10 yr. trial), Remote Connect (1 yr. trial), Destination assist (1 yr. trial)

2022 TOYOTA 4RUNNER TRD SPORT Competitors:  Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee

Roadblazing.com Says: Archetypal elder soldier off-road SUV soldiers on with new trim for '22.

Contributing Editors: T. Paluch, G. Straton

2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro - Bottom Line Review

MOVIE SPOILER ALERT (if you were born before 1972): Remember the 1980 second chronological installment of George Lucas’ first chronological space science fiction Star Wars trilogy: The Empire Strikes Back (now referred to as Installment V)? Before Luke Skywalker was a young kid in the Second Trilogy or dies to

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton