Here’s a potentially controversial statement: It’s a great time to be a consumer. Brands the world over are bending over backwards in new and creative ways to snag our attention and our dollars. That’s why the “special edition” designation was created. From cell phones to video games to film releases, the “special edition” promises to go above and beyond where our normal expectations reside. Some brands manage to hit that high marks with their “special editions,” offering innovated products that enrich their core product. Toyota might just be one of these brands. Since 2015, Toyota has been taking a stab at introducing a special edition TRD Pro that takes their popular 4Runner Trail and Limited model and kicks things up a notch. For 2016, Toyota has brought this special edition back and literally slapped a fresh coat of paint of it.
The Color of Adventure
Outdoor enthusiasts dig the 4Runner for its ability to tackle the unbeaten paths, particularly the Trail model that was built to handle off-road adventures. While the 4Runner, now it’s in 5th generation, flaunts some modern stylings and harnesses technological advances in drivability, I was curious what a “special edition” would bring to the table. In 2015, Toyota’s 4Runner TRD Pro featured a new grille, more resistant skid-plates, an enhanced suspension with Bilstein shocks, Black TRD rims surrounded by Nitto Terra Grappler All Terrain Tires and some interior enhances – mainly a cushy leather-like wrap on seating. Oh, and it came in a special edition reddish-orangey color that was certainly unique.
This year, all the same special edition goodies are back with a few adjustments. The most obvious one is hard to miss. Check out this picture.
Yep that’s the 2016 color for the TRD Pro. Toyota calls its Quicksand but it also reminds me of the color of Wendy’s frosty. Parked in my driveway, I could easily spot it from down the street. Coupled with the black TRD rims, this beast looks like it belongs on African Safari or in a South American jungle, rather than a city street. And that’s not a bad thing. An off-road vehicle should inspire its driver to drive it where he or she dreams to take it.
The Quicksand color won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but it turns heads. During my week of reviewing the TRD Pro, I had more people ask me about the vehicle than most of the other cars I test drive. Apparently, the color is a throwback to the 70’s era Toyota FJ40 which also came offered in the same shade. Love it or hate it, I quickly got used to the color and I couldn’t help but dig the color contrast against the all black tires. It certainly is an overall aggressive motif.
Like An Invitation To Take On The World
The additions that the TRD Pro trim brings to the 4Runner build upon what already worked for this SUV in the past and manages to mix in some luxurious touches. On the outside, the 4Runner is still the brash, boxy vehicle its been for the past few years, complete with that pronounced snout of a grill that certainly looks tough. In this TRD Pro trim, Toyota replaces it’s logo at the center of the grill with a name plate that simply read “Toyota”. It’s a nice swap that I didn’t mind, particular given how well it fits in with the wide grille.
Directly beneath the grill is a TRD-Stamped aluminum front skid plate that protects the undercarriage from damage. It’s a cool feature but one that isn’t noticeable unless your specifically looking for it. The narrow headlights and bulky taillights also get a black-bezel in the TRD Pro model. Like mascara for an eye, this bezel assists in making the light fixtures pop.
Of course there’s no way to miss the huge Nitto Terra Grappler all-terrain tires that sit on lightweight 17in. matte-black allow wheels. They’re so snazzy that you’ll hesitate to put mud on them but still give the impression that they can handle asphalt, mud, snow and everything in between. The TRD sits more than an inch higher than all other 4Runner models and while this makes entering and exiting the vehicle a challenge for shorter drivers, it does give the TRD Pro a confident, dominating stance.
The Balance Of Space
There is a balance of space and functionality that Toyota simply gets right inside the 4Runner. The interior isn’t overwhelming but still offers plenty of personal space while keeping all the creature comforts close at hand. The red-stitched SofTex seats are equally comfortable and supportive enough to handle any off-roading rumbles felt in the cabin. If you didn’t know what SofTex was but read along with that last sentence as if you did, don’t worry: I didn’t know what it was either. It’s a synthetic leather material that’s designed for heavy use, easy cleaning and is spill resistant. Sounds like Toyota was anticipating that off-roading adventures could get messy so they made sure that cleaning it up would be hassle-free. Animal lovers will also be glad to know that Softex is made without any animal byproducts.
There are plenty of nooks and crannies to store your personal items and easily accessible places to plug in electronics. The extra thick steering wheel extends the feeling of heftiness that the entire vehicle embodies. The bulky, angular lines of the infotainment center in the dashboard are bold but not obnoxious. I’m particularly a fan of the large knobs that control elements like volume, temperature and fan speed. I tap enough screens and push enough buttons in other areas of my day so it’s comforting to manipulate sturdy knobs.
The TRD Pro model of the 4Runner does away with the third row of seating in favor of extra cargo space. Folding down the second row of seating grants you even more space; 88.8 cubic feet of space versus 46.3 cubic feet with that second row up. It was easy enough to fold down that second row but I was a bit disappointed that when they are upright, they don’t recline. The 4Runner does get points, however, in offering a pull out cargo deck that makes loading and unloading heavy, bulky items a breeze.
The Necessary Power
The Toyota 4Runner would be nothing without power to undertake the adventures it begs to be taken on, but the kind of power it harnesses definitely has its pros and cons.
Pro: The 4.0-liter V6 is the same tried and tested engine Toyota has been inserting into their 4Runners for years now. It produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound feet of torque. You’re not going to be winning any races from 0-60 in this bad-boy but that isn’t the point of the 4Runner. Slow, steady and confident is the name of the game with this engine.
Con: The 4Runner engine is beginning to show its age and the first place you’ll notice that is in gas mileage. I averaged around 17 miles per gallon during my mostly urban trips, so if your wandering into the great unknown, its best to fill up. The five-speed transmission could use an extra gear to help make the 4Runner a bit more nimble.
All that to say, the 4Runner is a pleasant drive. Sure acceleration is slower than other vehicles in this class, but average drivers won’t notice the difference. Once it’s rolling, the V6 engines makes for smooth, effortless driving that feel well suited for any terrain. There is barely a difference when driving from asphalt onto dirt and grass. I didn’t climb any drastically steep inclines during my time with the TRD Pro but the ones I did tackle were no challenge at all. I was particularly impressed at how confidently the TRD Pro traversed mud and gravel; no slippage to be had. That certainly means something here in Texas where mud and gravel can be constant.
Although the soft suspension of the 4Runner allows for a comfortable ride no matter the road conditions, much of the credit I’d wager also goes to from the Nitto tires. They plowed through dirt, mud and sand like a beast. My only wish was is that I don’t lived close to a mountain so that I could have tested out the “snow” drive setting.
Meant for More Than the City
There’s something interesting that happens when you have the 2016 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro sitting in your driveway. Every time you leave the house and jump in, there is a sense that you’re about to embark on a quest – one that will take you off the beat path and land you into an adventure you didn’t plan on going on. This is both a blessing and a curse. Unless you live in an area where you’ll tackling dirt roads, hills or snow, the 4Runner almost feels like the wrong tool for the job. Don’t get me wrong: I had zero problem driving the TRD Pro around the urban city I live in. But when you’re struggling to find a large enough parking spot at your local supermarket to accommodate the 4Runner’s size, instead of scaling a challenging hillside, enjoying the view, it becomes quickly apparent what the 4Runner was truly built for.
