Toyota 4Runner: Choose Your Own Adventure

Toyota loves to give and take when it comes to the trim levels of its 4Runner, Tundra, and Tacoma models. Every year, you can set your watch to a few being added, subtracted, or reintroduced. In this modern consumer market of limited production runs and manufactured exclusivity, Toyota just may be the biggest automotive offender. But when you milk your truck platforms for all they’re worth (as Toyota does), it’s a viable way to stir up interest every year for a generation that may be getting a bit long in the tooth.

As for the 4Runner, it truly doesn’t matter how old the platform is. It’s as popular as ever—and for good reason. The 4Runners is rugged, reliable, and handsome. It is, essentially, the George Clooney of SUVs.

However, it can be hard to keep straight what trims make the final production cut for the 4Runner. So, here’s the scoop on a few you need to know, a few we’re saying farewell to, and what’s in-store for next year.

2021 Trail Edition

If that moniker sounds familiar, it’s because you recognize the TRD Pro’s former name. But while that model comes in at a base asking price north of $50,000, the new Trail Edition sits comfortably around $40,000.

The lifted TRD Pro is certainly a more accomplished off-roader. However, if you’re looking for a foundation to start your next overlanding build, the Trail Edition is a 4Runner trim to consider. Based on the SR5 model, the Trail Edition adds some snazzy 17-in. gray wheels with black badging, seats, and all-weather floor mats.

What makes this a great choice for the overland crowd or weekend adventurer, however, are the aftermarket goodies it packs in. Up top, you’ll find a Yakima LoadWarrior rooftop cargo basket — a great base for those rooftop tents or bike mounts. Out back, you get a sliding trunk tray, outfitted with a custom-branded 40 qt. cooler that looks and performs a lot like the expensive units you see at every campsite and tailgate in America.

As far as colors go, the Trail Edition comes in Cement, Black, White, and Army Green with the onboard cooler color-matched on the latter. The Trail Edition trim can also be had in the Tundra and Tacoma, but the 4Runner will be the rarest, with only 4,000 units produced (5,000 Tundra & 7,000 Tacomas).

2021 TRD Pro

With each year, the burning question surrounding the TRD Pro is what the special new color will be. While some former hues certainly turned heads — like Inferno, Voodoo Blue, and Quicksand — this year’s color, “Lunar Rock” is a rather subdued green/blue/gray. Earthy, modern, and refreshing, it reminds me of the Neo Mint color gaining popularity in fashion and interior design over the past few years.

The body and platform remain mostly the same, but the 2021 4Runner TRD Pro does add a few new goodies and tweaks. First, the sock and shoe upgrade is a welcome refresh. For 2021, the TRD gets 17” black wheels with a bit more edge and angle than the previous iteration. Plus, they’re wrapped in the ever-popular Nitto Terra Grappler tires.

Those tires can’t perform as they should unless the suspension is in check. And for the 2021 TRD Pro, Toyota adds 2.5-in. FOX internal bypass shocks paired with TRD tuned springs—adding a well-appreciated extra inch of lift in the front.

Pricing comes in at around $52,000 for the TRD Pro 4Runner. In the family lineup, this will slot in above the TRD Pro Tacoma ($45K) but below the Tundra ($55K) and Sequoia ($65K) TRD Pro trims.

2021 Final Ride for NightShade and Venture Trims

As mentioned before: If you like a certain 4Runner trim, scoop it up while you can before Toyota inevitably shuffles the deck. For the 2022 model year, it appears the 4Runner will lose two of its mid-tier trim levels.

Outside of the TRD Pro, we think the 2021 4Runner Nightshade Edition was the best looking of the bunch. Mostly consisting of cosmetic upgrades, the Nightshade was a stealthy street-stalker of a 4Runner introduced in 2019. While the gloss-black 20-in. wheels may not have been made for the dirt, they looked clean and offered a smoother highway manner. And, to match, the Nightshade threw that gloss black on anything they could: bumpers, spoiler, handles, mirror, exhaust, even the interior. Grab one while you still can, as prices are climbing — even in the used market.

With an even shorter run, the 4Runner Venture Special Edition leaves us this year as well. The Venture debuted just last year, but will not be returning for the 2022 model year. One nice feature of the Venture was its Yakima MegaWarrior roof basket. Slightly larger than the LoadWarrior found on the Trail Edition, this rack is a great base for carrying extra cargo or mounting additional rooftop rack systems. While the Venture also had some nice styling features, it’s one trim that shouldn’t be missed too much, as Toyota is sure to give us something to replace it…

2022 4Runner: New Sport Trim, New Bright Color, Same Rugged Design

Next year’s 4Runner is set to be a carryover model, with the all-new generation waiting until 2023 or 2024 to get a redesign. In the meantime, however, Toyota serves up yet another new configuration: the 2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport.

Already available on the Tacoma, the TRD Sport is more street-focused. It offers styling more in line with the luxurious Limited model (note the familiar 20-inch wheels), but slots just above the SR5 base model in the lineup. Also like the Limited, buyers can choose between either rear- or four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The TRD Sport treatment adds a TRD hood scoop, front spoiler, body-color trim, black roof rails and TRD Sport badges on the C-pillars. Inside, the new 4Runner trim sports heated, synthetic leather seats instead of cloth — as well as TRD logo-badged headrests, floor mats, and shift knob.

The traditional body-on-frame SUV gets its power from a 270-hp 4.0-liter V-6 engine paired to a five-speed auto. All 4Runners have a coil-spring rear suspension, but the TRD Sport trim adds Toyota’s Cross-linked reactive absorber system (X-REAS). These adaptive dampers hydraulically link opposite corners of the vehicle to control motion, reducing pitch and roll.

For 2022, all 4Runners switch to LED low-beam headlights, high-beam headlights, and fog lights. More interestingly, it appears the year’s exclusive TRD Pro color will be ELECTRIC YELLOW!

Pricing information will be available closer to release later this summer.

At our core, we’re an aftermarket blog here at The Engine Block, so when we highlight a vehicle we always like to highlight a brand or product to go with it. And whether you’ve got your eye on the base model SR5 4Runner, or a fully spec’d TRD Pro, a set of sliders is always a good idea to protect your investment.

N-FAB is the industry leader in tubular steps, rails, and nerf bars and when it comes to durability. There’s just no one better. The company’s new TrailSlider Step System offers superior protection with a modern style that will perfectly complement your 4Runner.

The TrailSlider is a body-mount rock slider constructed of heavy duty 3/16” steel tubing powder coated in a resilient textured black finish.  The fully-welded and gusseted one-piece design bolts on your Toyota with no welding or drilling. And since the mounting system is tight and compact, it vastly reduces the chance of hang-ups on the trail and won’t flex like inferior sliders.

Visit N-FAB’s website for the complete line of 4Runner steps, mounts, and racks.