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The 2011 Toyota 4Runner drops its four-cylinder engine and gains a brake-override system designed to prevent unintended acceleration. Good riddance to the four-cylinder, which furnished slow acceleration and even slower sales

The Toyota 4Runner has long been a favorite for people who want a truck but also want an SUV. Still rugged and sporty, the 4Runner offers people the opposite of a crossover: This is a truck, drives like a truck and is for people who like trucks.

The biggest plus-sides of the 2011 Toyota 4Runner only apply if you're actually planning on taking it off-roads. If you're looking for an SUV or crossover to use mostly in the city, the 2011 Toyota 4Runner just isn't right for you.

This leaves the plenty powerful V6 as the sole engine choice for the 2011 Toyota 4Runner.--The midsize 2011 Toyota 4Runner SUV is offered in three trim levels: SR5, Trail and Limited.

Standard features on the 4Runner SR5 include 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, skid plates, heated outside mirrors with turn indicators and puddle lights, foglights, air-conditioning with rear ventilation, cruise control, full power accessories, a power rear window, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a trip computer and an eight-speaker CD/MP3 audio system with an auxiliary audio jack. The SR5 is available in either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

The Limited is available only with full-time all-wheel drive and includes 20-inch cast-aluminum wheels, Toyota's X-REAS adaptive suspension dampers, keyless entry and ignition, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 15-speaker JBL audio system with a six-disc CD changer, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated front seats and power lumbar support for the driver seat.

The KDSS off-road suspension is available only on Trail models.
The 2011 Toyota 4Runner comes standard with a 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. The SR5 and Limited can be had in either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive (part-time dual-range system on SR5; full-time system on the Limited), while the Trail comes only with part-time dual-range 4WD. When properly equipped, the 4Runner's towing capacity tops out at 5,000 pounds.

In Edmunds instrumented testing, a rear-wheel-drive 4Runner SR5 accelerated from a standstill to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is about average among competing SUVs. The EPA estimates 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined for a rear-wheel-drive 4Runner, which is also average in this segment. A four-wheel-drive 4Runner gets 1 mpg less on the highway.

Standard 4Runner safety features include antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front knee airbags, front-seat side airbags and full-length, roll-sensing side curtain airbags.

The 2011 Toyota 4Runner's interior features a geometric, industrial theme that supports this SUV's rugged image. The Toyota 4Runner offers spacious seating for five passengers.
Cruising around town, the 2011 Toyota 4Runner is surprisingly smooth and comfortable. On the downside, the 4Runner's on-road handling limits are notably low, even for this class of vehicle. Off-road, the 4Runner performs very well, particularly if it's a Trail model fitted with KDSS.