The 2009 Toyota 4Runner again stays close to its roots as an excellent off-road SUV. At the same time, it also offers variations of luxury and utility to maintain its broad appeal as a comfortable family vehicle as well.
This is a vehicle very much at home when faced with "rough and tumble" driving challenges, but it's also engineered to be an easy drive in the city and on the highway.
The 2009 4Runner is available in three trim levels: SR5, Sport Edition and Limited.
The base model SR5 is already equiiped with a long list of standard features, including full power accessories, remote keyless entry, cruise control, 16 inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control with rear ventilation, power rear window, tilt steering wheel, power driver seat (on V8 models) and a CD/MP3 player with an auxiliary audio jack.
The 4Runner Sport Edition adds 17 inch wheels, Toyota's X-REAS suspension that reduces body roll and pitch, power front seats ( on V6 models) and a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with cruise and audio controls.
The top-of-the-line Limited model adds illuminated running boards, 18 inch wheels, heated front seats, driver seat memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, household-appliance power outlet, leather-trimmed interior, and a six-CD changer.
Most of the Limited and Sport Edition features are available as options on the SR5.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower 4Runner Prices:
Toyota's sales have been weak for months now, evidence of a continuing poor economy and an especially weak car buying trend. And the current combination of a soft market with fierce dealer competition has created an ideal opportunity for nailing down great deals.
See the link towards the bottom of this article for exactly how to get the lowest price on a new 4Runner.
Additional options include a sunroof, rear spoiler, voice-activated navigation system, detachable personal navigation, rear-seat entertainment system, upgraded 10-speaker sound system, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth hands-free, satellite radio, third-row seats and a two-tier cargo system.
A height-adjustable rear suspension and the X-REAS system are available as options on the Limited. Available along with the sport package is the urban runner package that includes some unique interior and exterior accents as well as many of the above features and options.
A new package for 2009 is the trail edition package for the four-wheel drive V6 SR5, which adds a locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, traction control, water-resistant seats, and some interior and exterior trim features.
The 2009 Toyota 4Runner comes with either a standard 4.0 liter V6 engine or an optional 4.7 liter V8. Both are offered with a choice of either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.
The V6 engine delivers 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, while the V8 produces 260 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. Both are coupled with a five-speed automatic transmission.
Towing capacity for properly equipped V6 models is 5,000 pounds. The rear-wheel-drive V8 can tow 7,300 pounds when properly equipped while the four-wheel-drive V8 has a tow capacity of 7,000 pounds.
EPA gas mileage estimates give the rear-wheel-drive 4Runner V6 16 mpg city and 21 mpg on the highway. The V8 version gets 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Gas mileage for the four-wheel-drive models are only slightly less.
Standard safety features for all 2009 4Runners include antilock disc brakes (ABS), brake assist, traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags, and roll-sensing side curtain airbags for the front and second-row seats.
In government crash testing, the 4Runner received four out of five stars for driver and passenger protection in frontal impacts and a perfect five stars for both front and rear side-impact passenger protection.
How To Buy A New 4Runner At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for a new Toyota 4Runner, here's the best way to get the lowest price, especially given the current slow car market.