There are a few automotive reviewers whose work I read religiously. Alright, I read ALL of the reviewers, but there are some who stand out because of the quality and fairness of their assessments. One such writer is Chris Shunk of AOL Autos. I had the pleasure of meeting Chris at an industry function and I find him to be intelligent and devoted to the industry. It’s true that his opinions are often biased toward Ford – after all, in his previous life, he was a project manager for the Blue Oval. But when he is favorably impressed by one of our vehicles, the fact of his predisposition makes his endorsement all the more authentic.
Recently, Chris reviewed the 2010 Toyota 4Runner which, in his parlance, “[F]aithfully sticks to the formula it helped create . . . as it helped define America’s sport-utility genre along with the original Jeep Cherokee way back in 1984.” Chris goes on to say that the new Toyota 4Runner model is at once “Bigger, more capable and more luxurious . . . and boasting a big and bold theme inside the cabin, with oversized seats, a wonderful Delmonico-inspired steering wheel and a shift lever that could double as the barrel of a Louisville Slugger. Even the knobs are over an inch in diameter. The wide, squared-off center stack very efficiently packs in all the 4Runner’s supersized buttons and switchgear, and ergonomics are surprisingly good. The 4Runner’s overall length, at 189 inches, is three inches shorter than the Nissan Pathfinder, but the 4Runner is a far more useful 2.4 inches wider. That means more shoulder and hip room for passengers, more presence in traffic, and perhaps most importantly, more stability.” Furthermore, Chris enthuses how much he, “[L]iked the 4Runner’s comfortable leather seats, commanding view of the road and roomy dimensions.” Most importantly, however, Chris found “[C]onsiderable surprises once [he] got behind the wheel. The first area of delight came courtesy of Toyota’s 4.0-liter V6 engine . . . which makes the 4Runner feel surprisingly fleet-footed. Perhaps more surprising than the 4Runner’s perkiness is the impressive 19.5 miles per gallon [he] managed during a week of mixed driving (EPA figures: 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway). Not bad for a two-ton SUV with a five-speed transmission and large-displacement V6.” Chris’ tester also proved to be very comfortable on the highway and around town, with the V6 providing reliable power and the chassis remaining well-controlled. Let’s not forget, however, that the 2010 Toyota 4Runner might be the most sure footed SUV in the world when the highways are left in the rear view mirror. I agree with Chris’ assessment that, “[O]ff the beaten path . . . the 4Runner revealed itself to be a very capable partner. Substantial P265/70SR17 tires and above average wheel travel made most pits feel like small potholes, and the 4WD system proved to be very difficult to overwhelm.” Chris concludes that, “The Toyota 4Runner may be every bit as safe and reliable as Toyota models of the past, but it also has a bit of attitude in its design and capability, and that’s a good thing. And with the Chevrolet Trailblazer gone and the Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango about to reinvent themselves as crossovers, the 4Runner has very little competition in a segment that just a decade ago surpassed well over one million units per year.”
The 2010 Toyota 4Runner is the hottest looking and stoutest performing SUV on the road. It is a worthy inheritor of the brand’s august pedigree which includes 1.5 million 4Runners sold over the course of 4 generations spread out over a quarter century of continuous production.
Of course, the best deals on Toyota 4Runners are available at Milton Ruben Toyota on Washington Road in Augusta. Don’t forget that if you still love your old one, bring it to Milton Ruben where our factory trained technicians will give it the TLC it deserves. While you are here, you might find out that a new 4Runner is more within your reach than you might have dreamed. Milton Ruben is your Whatever it Takes dealer. Shop us online at www.drivebaby.com.
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