The rear hatch comes standard with a power rear window that can be operated from the key fob. If it senses a small hand in the way, the window reverses directions and opens. (Don't try this at home.) The hatch itself also has a power opener, which is great when running up with an armload in nasty weather. An electric power-close function sucks the hatch shut and ensures secure sealing without slamming.

An overriding impression when we climbed out of the 4Runner was its quietude. Rugged it may be, but the lack of road, driveline or ambient noise in the cabin is impressive, given its off-road capability. Wind noise is all you'll hear if you turn the stereo off.

Driving Impressions

The Toyota 4Runner's standard 4.0-liter V6 engine is responsive, and never left us feeling short changed. This engine is packed with the latest technology, including fully variable valve timing, a linkless electronic throttle, and lightweight all-aluminum construction. It's rated at 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet. (Those figures are down slightly over last year because of revised SAE testing procedures; the engine performs the same as it did in 2005.) The 4WD model attains a credible 17/21 mpg City/Highway EPA rating, while the 2WD V6 is rated 18/21 mpg. Premium fuel is recommended for optimum performance. We heartily recommend this engine for anyone who doesn't plan to do much towing. The optional 4.7-liter V8, introduced for 2005, represents a huge improvement over the V8 it replaced. We found it delivered strong performance for our 2006 4Runner. It's smooth and tractable and never struggles when thrust is needed. The V8 features variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and electronic throttle control with intelligence (ETCS-i), turning it into a real performer. It's rated 260 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque, and adds about 190 pounds to the weight of the vehicle. EPA fuel-use estimates are 16/20 mpg for the 2WD V8 and 15/19 with 4WD. Toyota recommends premium fuel. Both engines feature a cranking system that keeps the starter engaged until complete combustion is achieved, freeing the driver from holding the key until the engine turns over. This is a feature usually associated with expensive luxury sedans.

Both engines are paired with a sophisticated five-speed automatic transmission. More gears means better response for any given situation along with better efficiency. The transmission is equipped with Artificial Intelligence Shift control, which changes gear-shifting patterns according to driving conditions and driver intent. It works well and seems to understand when you want to cruise and when you want to get with the program, and it shifts smoothly around town.

The 4Runner handles very well for a truck with a live rear axle. We drove all the models over twisting back roads along the Oregon coast and found them easy to drive at a quick clip. We also spent a lot of time in a 2006 Limited 4WD V8 around Los Angeles. The suspension damping is excellent. When the road got bumpy, we could tell our truck had a solid rear axle rather than an independent rear suspension, but the 4Runner still handles more confidently than other live-axle SUVs, such as the Chevy TrailBlazer. Rack-and-pinion steering gives the 4Runner quick response and good steering feel.

The ride on unpaved roads is smooth, which is important on long gravel treks over washboard surfaces. The 4Runner's well-tuned damping and progressive-rate spring bumpers are to thank here. Where the 4Runner really comes into its own, however, is when the terrain gets truly gnarly. There's lots of suspension articulation for climbing over boulders and gullies, and a host of technology for handling steep, slippery grades.

Still, the 4Runner is a truck, not a car. Rather than using unit-body construction like the Toyota Highlander and RAV4, the 4Runner is built on a separate ladder frame that features full-length box-section frame rails. Toyota also steered away from using an independent rear suspension like the one on the ladder-frame Ford Explorer. An independent rear suspension would have offered better ride quality and allowed for a roomier interior, but Toyota said off-road capability was a high priority for the 4Runner and that its live rear axle provides more suspension travel.

A limited-slip differential, optional on many SUVs, is standard on even 2WD 4Runners. We found the two-wheel-drive models impressively capable on rugged terrain; indeed, a 2WD 4Runner is more capable off road than many all-wheel-drive SUVs. For ultimate traction, however, you do need a four-wheel-drive model; and it seems to us that if you don't need four-wheel drive, then perhaps you should not be looking at 4Runners though it is a good highway vehicle.

V6 4WD 4Runners are equipped with Toyota's Multi-Mode shift-on-the-fly system, which incorporates both a two-speed transfer case and a Torsen-type limited-slip center differential. The driver can shift between 2WD, 4WD High, and 4WD Low. The Torsen center differential allows the use of 4WD High in all types of driving conditions, and on all types of roads, from dry to wet to snow-covered. The system gives the 4Runner a sure-footed feel because power is applied to all four wheels. But the center diff can also be locked out for military-truck-grade traction in extreme slop.