- suv 219,462
- 5,990 below average
- 3,995 great
- Des Plaines, IL
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- autoshopper.com
- 5,990 below average suv 219,462 silver
2005 toyota 4runner review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Revised v8 brings more power. introductionthe toyota 4runner is a thoroughly modern but traditional sport utility. It excels at off-road capability. The v8 benefits from a more sophisticated variable-valve setup with drive-by-wire, boosting its output to 270 horsepower, substantially more than last year's 235. Last year, the only good reason to opt for the v8 was to pull a trailer, but this year's v8 is a much more compelling upgrade, delivering strong, responsive acceleration performance out on the highway. This is no car-based crossover station wagon deal. It's built on a rugged ladder frame with a solid rear axle. Still, it doesn't ride like a buckboard wagon. Toyota engineers went to great pains to prove that this durable, adventurous configuration need not compromise everyday comfort and convenience. The 4runner is quite comfortable around town and on the highway with a nice ride quality. But hit the dirt, and it's loaded with the latest off-road electronic technology, including hill start assist and downhill assist control. An optional linked shock-absorber system improves handling on the highway. Completely redesigned for 2003, the 4runner represents toyota's best effort at delivering outstanding off-road capability with high levels of comfort and convenience for everyday use. inside it's roomy and comfortable. An optional third-row seat expands the passenger capacity to seven, but the seat can be folded over or removed for cargo space. The 4runner comes standard with running boards and more upscale body-colored bumpers and lower body cladding. Yet it won't punish its owner in everyday use. lineupthe 2005 toyota 4runner comes in three trim levels: sr5, sport edition, and limited. The sr5 v8 4x4 31,220) replaces selectable 2wd/4wd with full-time all-wheel-drive. A class iii receiver hitch with seven-pin electric connection is standard on all models and mounted to the rear frame crossmember. the sport edition comes with x-reas shock damping, a clever yet simple hydraulic system that improves stability and handling in sweeping turns. The 4runner sport edition v6 4x2 28,765) and 4x4 31,040) are distinguished by a hood scoop, fog lamps, a color-keyed grille, black running boards and silver-painted roof rails and crossbars, color-keyed outside mirrors, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Sport models get slightly larger brake rotors, and weigh slightly more than the sr5. They come with a special cloth interior. the limited v6 4x2 33,770) and 4x4 36,045) are upgraded with leather trim and heated power front seats. For 2005, the limited grade is differentiated with color-keyed front and rear bumpers, black illuminated running boards and black roof rails and crossbars. It comes with a premium jbl stereo with 10 speakers, rear seat audio controls, remote control and headphones. The top of the line is the limited v8 4x4 37,495). options include the third-row seat 735), a power moonroof 900). A slick gps navigation system, packaged with the new rear-view video camera 2,695), is available only on the 4runner limited. safety features include abs and vehicle skid control (vsc) to help the driver maintain control in adverse conditions. 2wd models come with traction control, which reduces tire slippage for enhanced stability under acceleration. 4wd models are equipped with active traction control (a-trac), which uses sensors and software to deliver smoother power application in all conditions. passive safety features include dual-stage front airbags, which have been upgraded for 2005, and three-point seat belts at all positions, with pretensioners and force limiters to reduce the chance of belt-related injuries. Front side-impact airbags and curtain-style head protection airbags for front and rear passengers are optional and are equipped with a rollover-sensing system and a cutoff switch. All models come with a tire pressure monitor. walkaroundthe toyota 4runner is not a small vehicle. It's substantially larger than pre-2003 models. The 4runner is easily recognized by its familiar low roof and high floor. The look is muscular, if not distinguished, and conveys ruggedness. A wide, rounded front end features an aggressive horizontal grille and wide headlamps. Chunky overfenders and cladding on the rocker panels suggest the 4runner is ready to hit the dusty trail. Backing up that contention are skid plates for the engine, transfer case and fuel tank, all of which come standard. We think it has the opposite effect. 4runner's windshield, side windows, and side mirrors are made of hydrophilic glass and repel water like a waxed car or a window that has been treated with rain-x. The glass causes water to form large drops, which are quickly shed by gravity or wind. The side mirrors are angled out to increase the driver's field of view. The available moonroof includes a two-stage wind deflector designed to reduce wind noise when traveling above 55 mph. interiorthe 4runner cabin looks like traditional suv, in spite of some high-zoot features. More important, it's roomy and comfortable. And the quality of materials and they way they fit together is good. the standard cloth interior is nice, and the cloth seats in the sr5 and sport models are comfortable, with side bolsters to keep the driver in place when cornering or driving off road. All seats offer adjustable headrests and three-point seatbelts, and the driver's seat adjusts eight ways. The driver's legs stretch out, rather than down, toward the pedals. a two-tone dashboard houses the instruments. Gauges illuminate orange, set in three deep binnacles that prevent the front-seat passenger from reading them. The fuel gauge uses an inclinometer for accurate readouts when the 4runner is tilted on an incline. Automatic climate control is standard on all models, while the limited comes with his-and-hers dual-zone temperature controls. The stereo buttons, and particularly the fan, airflow and temperature controls, are big and easy to locate. A display located just above the climate controls reveals time, ambient temperature, and trip data. The mirrors work on the same principal as those big convex mirrors mounted at a corner in an underground parking garage. They may prove helpful when backing up in a busy parking lot because they help the driver pick up on movement. Using them effectively takes some practice, however, and it's hard to distinguish details. Better than the convex mirrors is the optional navigation system. the navigation system includes a rearview video camera hidden in the rear bumper that projects images on the seven-inch navigation screen when the 4runner is in reverse. The pictures are sharp, even in complete darkness, and cover the area directly behind and a couple of feet on either side of the car. The extreme fish-eye view of the lens makes distances difficult to judge, at least initially. Like the lower tech convex mirrors, the electronic system takes some getting used. We don't recommend using it for maneuvering, but it adds safety by giving the driver a good view of what's immediately behind the vehicle. Climate Control✔ Cloth Interior✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Navigation System✔ Alloy Wheels
3,995 Des Plaines, ILDes Plaines, IL at autoshopper.com