2012 Toyota 4Runner consumer reviews

OK, I agree I am not an expert. I always wanted an SUV and finally I was fortunate enough to own a brand new SUV. My search started like everybody elses...Internet reviews, lots of research and finally the test drives. Being a taller person, this time I really wanted a vehicle that is comfortable for me, has good reliability and also looks great! Toyota 4runner is The vehicle for me. Honda pilot was a distant possible second choice. I also seriously thought of buying a True American Brand for feed good factor (Tahoe or Expedition) but figured didn't need a vehicle that big and also was not going to take a chance on quality issues. Like many I MUST drive my vehicle everyday for work purpose. Had a very bad experience with ford Probe...Remember 'Check Engine' light ;) Anyway, the Sr5 4x4 is really not bad to shift. I had various concerns but once I did it the first time, shifting is not an issue anymore. If you are considering buying this go ahead. Trust me, it is super comfortable for me ...and in general for taller people, quiet and very solidly built. As far as power, I think it is very good but this is coming from a guy who always had 4 cylinder cars in the past...gas mileage is good for a heavy vehicle. Enjoy!

everything is perfect...except the V-6, would like a little more power like 50hp or so going up a hill highway speed very slow... where's the V-8 option?

I really wanted to check out the 4Runner back in 2010 when they came out with the redesign but they were pretty sparse at the time and none of the dealerships in our area were carrying them. I finally got a chance to test drive one recently and immediately fell in love! Cars.com says that the trucklike ride is something that they don't like, but after driving several vehicles where you could feel all of the road imperfections I really enjoy being in something that can take anything that comes my way. I compared this with the Tacoma and that was more of a bouncy trucklike ride. The 4Runner is smooth, but rugged and for me it's the perfect feel. I'm glad that they haven't switched to a car platform like so many other vehicles. Interior quality is excellent especially when compared with other Toyotas like the Rav4 and even the new Camry. Some of the pieces aren't nearly as nice as others, like the interior door handles, but overall it's a nice environment to be in. The exterior is very beefy and boxy and it reminds me of the model version that preceded the previous one. Some people don't like the new style but I think it looks great and I've gotten a lot of compliments on it. Mine came with navigation and Entune. Personally, I don't care for Entune because in order to get the content (like fuel prices, Bing search) I have to plug my iPhone 4s into the USB port (it won't connect to the internet via bluetooth). The USB port is located inside the glovebox. So it's kind of a pain considering that I could just look up the info on my phone a lot quicker. The phone WILL connect to the bluetooth for other features like playing music, making calls, etc. but it just won't connect to the internet and that's a known issue. Having said that, the touchscreen is nice and large, the GPS works fairly well, and I like that you can speak to the system and tell it where you want to navigate to. There are a couple of things that I think would make this vehicle even better. First, I wish that 4Runner had standard 3rd row seating. I couldn't find one anywhere nearby that had one. Also, it would be nice if there was a small storage compartment under the cargo floor. I like that it has an Eco light that tells you when you're maximizing your fuel economy. So far the transmission seems really smooth and the brakes aren't "mushy" like the previous 4Runner. The engine is adequate for my driving style...but some might miss the more powerful V8. Overall this is the best vehicle that I've ever owned and I hope that I get to enjoy it for years to come.

The 4Runner is a great vehicle for those in the world that know what they are getting. If you are trying to get a SUV that is luxurious and is nice little vehicle to drive around town with, this is NOT the vehicle. But if you are looking for a sturdy, beefy, and solid as a rock truck based SUV, then this is the one and only. It takes some time to get used to driving the 4runner. Does not stop on a dime and handle more like a truck than a car. But man is it solid as a rock and so reliable. This is the vehicle to have fun with. You have 10 inches of clearance to go and do anything you want. This thing is so great. Again, do your research and if this is what you need then the 4runner is what you need.

I really enjoy the interior and the drive of the 4runner. My only complaint is the 20" wheels that come stock on the limited. I knew this ahead of time and planned on replacing them with 17" wheels. For such a capable off road vehicle it does not make sense to have 20" wheels. Looks of seating space and the third row is very useful.

I've had my 4 runner for about 6 weeks now, overall I am extremely happy with it, it suits my purpose very well, having two large dogs and how much room they have with the rear seats down makes their journey just as pleasant as mine. Power is so so and if your'e planning on towing anything large I would not go for this vehicle, I don't know why they got rid of the V8, interior is fantastic, bluetooth, streaming music is great, handsfree phone wonderful and the JBL Stereo is great too. The car is a little thin on the sheet metal side, you can poke the doors in the sheet metal is so thin, I guess they wanted the vehicle to go on a diet, and the paint seems thin also, 6 weeks in the car and I already have 3 chips on different parts of the vehicle. Over all though I am happy with my purchase and I know it'll last a long time.