Like a cockroach in a nuclear wasteland, the Toyota 4Runner simply refuses to die. No surprise, then, that the 4Runner enters the 2021 model year as fundamentally the same SUV it was more than a decade ago. Despite this, Toyota continues to improve upon its aging mid-size model, and all 2021 4Runners benefit from the addition of LED low-beam headlights and fog lights. Step up to the more luxurious Limited, dark-hued Nightshade, or off-road-ready TRD Pro trims and the Japanese automaker tosses in LED high-beam headlights, too.
Exterior lighting is far from the only change to the body-on-frame 4Runner, and the boxy Toyota looks to capitalize on its off-tarmac capabilities by way of a new (and previously unveiled) Trail special edition model that adds TRD wheels, a Yakima rooftop cargo basket, and a custom cooler in the cargo hold. (The Trail kit is also available on the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks. ) Still, those serious about tackling the toughest off-road conditions will want to move up to the 4Runner’s most capable trim: The TRD Pro.
Off-Road Ready: The 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
Although plenty competent already, the TRD Pro benefits from additional off-road proficiency for 2021. Stronger, black-painted TRD wheels work with the previously available Nitto Terra Grappler tires to make the most of the Pro’s reworked Fox-brand shocks that promise improved low- and high-speed off-tarmac performance. Until we get behind the wheel of the 2021 4Runner TRD Pro, though, we’ll just have to take Toyota’s word that these revisions help it better take on the rough stuff.
Regardless, the 2021 4Runner TRD Pro will certainly look better bouncing about trails thanks to the addition of a new color: Lunar Rock. The blue-ish hue replaces last year’s Army Green and is available on all other 2021 TRD Pro models, such as the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia.
The Price You Pay for the 2021 Toyota 4Runner
The 2021 Toyota 4Runner starts at $37,515 for the entry-level two-wheel-drive SR5 trim—a slight $275 price bump over the base price of the 2020 4Runner. Plan to spend $51,645 for the high-end and off-road-ready 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, or $660 more than the 2020 model.
This article was originally published on July 8, 2020, and has since been updated to include pricing information for the 2021 Toyota 4Runner.
