As Klipnik reports, apart from some issues with rust, the most reliable 4Runners come from the third generation, which was produced from 1996 to 2002. Ironically, the third generation is when Toyota started to make bigger moves away from the Hilux, opting to develop a wholly unique platform for the 4Runner for the first time. Although the Hilux roots were stripped out of the third-generation 4Runner, the redesign was spearheaded by Toyota’s chief engineer Masaaki Ishiki, who was also responsible for the fifth-generation Hilux.
According to Tuning Pro, the 2.7-liter inline-four 3RZ-FE engine made the 4Runner particularly reliable because the engine produced very little power compared to the robustness of the components — in short, the engine and drivetrain were overbuilt, and Toyota didn’t try to eke out every last drop of power.
Engine design is only one piece of the puzzle, though. A key factor in the reliability of the 4Runner was simplicity and maintenance. Because the vehicle wasn’t particularly complicated, there was less to break, and when it broke, it was easy to fix. According to RepairPal, the average annual cost of repairs and maintenance for 4Runners is $514, and a vehicle that’s cheap to maintain is bound to be on the road and running longer. Despite a long list of competition and a somewhat rocky start in the comfort department, the Toyota 4Runner earned its place in the list of most reliable SUVs.
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