2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition test drive review

To many, the 40th birthday is a dreaded event, marking a person’s descent into the “over the hill” phase of life. After all, the average U.S. life expectancy is 76.1 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While some may cringe at the prospect of entering a new decade, others embrace their age and wear it as a badge of honor.

In the car world, the Toyota 4Runner is definitely the latter. This perennial favorite in the midsize SUV category is popular because it’s confident in what it is — and it doesn’t try to mimic anyone else. If you’re looking for a fancy, frilled-up car with all the latest gadgets and gizmos, the 4Runner is … not it. And yet, Toyota has done a decent job equipping it with at least some standard safety features and tech that should keep most drivers happy and fairly comfortable on the road.

To celebrate its 40th birthday, Toyota released a special edition of the 2023 4Runner, which KSL Cars got to test drive for a week. Does it still hold up after all these years? And is it worth buying the 40th Anniversary Special Edition?

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Price and value 

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner comes in eight different trims, with an MSRP range of $40,155 for the base level SR5 to $54,620 for the top-tier TRD Pro. Each 4Runner has a 270-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Four of the trims — SR5, TRD Sport, SR5 Premium and Limited — offer both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive. All other models are four-wheel drive only.

Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below. 

• SR5: $40,155 See listings

Smart key system with push button start

Eight-speaker audio system

Optional third row

• TRD Sport: $43,015 See listings

20-inch, 6-spoke alloy wheels

X-REAS sport enhancement suspension

TRD floor mats and hood scoops

• SR5 Premium: $43,215 See listings

Heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators

Auto dimming rearview mirror

HomeLink

• TRD Off-Road: $44,000 See listings

17-inch, 7-spoke alloy wheels

Crawl control and multi-terrain select

Kinetic dynamic suspension available

• TRD Off-Road Premium: $46,580 See listings

SofTex trimmed seats

Heated front seats

Red TRD lettering on headrests

• 40th Anniversary Special Edition: $47,720 See listings

17-inch, bronze-colored alloy wheels

Moonroof

40th Anniversary badging

• Limited: $49,290 See listings

20-inch, split 6-spoke alloy wheels

Perforated leather trimmed seats and leather trimmed upholstery

15-speaker JBL audio system

• TRD Pro: $54,620 See listings

TRD Fox shocks and TRD-tuned front springs

SofTex upholstery

TRD roof rack

Our tester, the 40th Anniversary Special Edition 4Runner, which is based on the SR5 Premium grade, came with Toyota’s “Keep It Wild Savings,” knocking $750 off the MSRP for a grand total of $47,085. While I’m partial to the TRD Pro, having recently owned one, the 40th Anniversary stylings were a fun touch and will please retro-loving, nostalgic types. Whether or not that’s worth a $4K upgrade from the SR5 Premium base price is up to you.

Performance 

This is definitely an area where the 4Runner has caught some flak from car reviewers who want something faster, soupier and more modernized. But again, as a former 4Runner owner myself, it was easy to feel at home behind the wheel of our 2023 tester. While not the smoothest operator on the road — because it prefers to be off the road — we enjoyed driving it around for a week. We found its quirks endearing rather than bothersome.

Engine and drivetrain

The 270-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 and 5-speed automatic transmission didn’t wow us with its power, but we weren’t yawning either. To really experience the full force of its potential, this thing demands to travel beyond the pavement.

Fuel economy 

To no surprise at all, the 4Runner isn’t going to win any awards in this category, what with it being a hefty off-road oriented vehicle and all. And yet, it could fare far worse. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the 2023 4Runner at 16 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg combined. Not stellar — but not abysmal.

Acceleration and handling 

The 4Runner was built with off-roading in mind, so don’t expect a smooth-as-butter ride around town. As for acceleration, its numbers aren’t terribly impressive either. Car and Driver found that it took 7.7 seconds for the 4Runner from 0-60 mph.

Braking 

The brakes on our 40th Anniversary tester were slightly on the touchy side, but it didn’t bother us. The important thing is that they were effective.

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Interior comfort and convenience 

Once again, 4Runner critics will complain that the interior lacks sufficient updates to contend with other modern cars in its class. And, once again, the 4Runner faithful out there will love it all the more for this very reason. If you want something simple — more analog than digital — this car’s right up your alley.

Seats 

The 4Runner seats up to seven people, depending on the trim. SofTex trimmed seats on our 40th Anniversary tester were comfortable, and we appreciated that the front row was heated. Head and leg room was ample, even in the second row, and our two kids had plenty of room to swing their legs from their boosters.

Climate control 

Though our kids would have definitely preferred heated seats, because they’re spoiled with that feature in our family car, we can’t complain about the dual-zone automatic climate control. The 4Runner reached desired temperatures quickly, keeping all occupants comfortable and tantrum free. And, most importantly, it came with our favorite, must-have winter feature: a heated steering wheel.

Cargo space and cabin storage

Since it’s likely anticipating spending ample time in the mountains with all your camping gear in tow, the 4Runner comes with a generous amount of cargo space. With the seats up, you get 47.2 cubic feet of storage in the back. Put them down and that increases to 89.7 cubic feet. As for cabin storage, you get two cup holders up front, a slot for your phone, a small center console cubby and whatever you can fit in the door pockets. It’s sufficient for minimalists, which is the target demographic.

Infotainment system 

Speaking of minimalism, the infotainment system should make button-pushers happy. All 4Runners have an 8-inch touch screen accompanied by physical buttons for volume and tuning. And for those who complain that it’s too behind the times, you should know that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, with both a built-in navigation system and a Wi-Fi hotspot available as upgrades. Make of it what you want.

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Exterior appearance and functionality 

For a 40-year-old car, the 4Runner has aged well and is still instantly recognizable. But if you want to get the 40th Anniversary Special Edition, the red, yellow and orange stripes might show up better on the Midnight Black Metallic or Ice Cap paints. Our tester came in Barcelona Red Metallic, which made the striping a little less noticeable.

Wheels 

The 17-inch bronze-finished alloy wheels looked pretty snazzy and added to the overall visual appeal of the 40th Anniversary Special Edition grade.

Lights and turn signals

The LED headlights, tail lights, fog lights and high beams will illuminate your path nicely, whether you’re staying on or off the road.

Front and rear windshield 

Thanks to its signature boxy shape and high position off the ground, visibility out the front and rear windshield on the 4Runner was good. At a time when so many midsize SUVs and crossovers are feeling increasingly cave-like and relying too heavily on camera systems to help you see around the car, this is refreshing.

Cameras and side mirrors

The 40th Anniversary Special Edition doesn’t come with the available Technology Package, so you won’t have the panoramic view monitor. But as mentioned above, the visibility is good enough that the backup camera will more than suffice.

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Safety 

Another thing we love about the trusty old 4Runner is that it’s a car we feel confident driving with kids in tow. Toyota didn’t skimp on the traditional safety suite you’d expect on a newer car. Here are a few features included in the Toyota Safety Sense P system, and more.

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection

• Dynamic radar cruise control

• Lane departure alert

• Automatic high beams

• Star safety system

• Blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert

Awards and ratings 

While we certainly felt safe in the 4Runner and didn’t encounter any issues, it’s important to note that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety did give it a “Marginal” rating in both the front driver side crashworthiness category and for LATCH ease of use. However, all other categories were given top marks for safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Toyota 4Runner four out of five stars overall for safety.

Final impression 

If you want an off-road capable, dependable, old-school classic, the Toyota 4Runner is rarely a bad choice. There’s a reason why we keep buying them. It may not be the most sophisticated or refined ride in town, but it offers a lot of great standard features. Besides, worst-case scenario, you can always resell it if you decide it’s not for you, because it continues to hold its value very well. Perhaps that’s the reason it hasn’t changed much after all these years.

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FAQs 

Which 2023 Toyota 4Runner grade is the 40th Anniversary Special Edition built on?

The 40th Anniversary Special Edition is based on the SR5 Premium grade. You’ll know you’re looking at the 40th Anniversary edition when you see the signature tri-color striped color graphics on the side, the bronze-colored accents and 40th Anniversary badging in and around the car. 

How many 40th Anniversary Special Edition 4Runners will Toyota make? 

Toyota loves using meaningful quantities when releasing special products, so it’ll be easy to remember this: The company is making 4,040 units of the 40th Anniversary Special Edition 4Runner. 

How well do 4Runners hold their value?

If you’re looking for something with a high resale value, the 4Runner is a great pick. Kelley Blue Book rated it No. 6 on their list of top 10 cars with the best resale value for 2023. 

Find your 2023 Toyota 4Runner on KSL Cars, where there are hundreds of new and used models. Check one out today!

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.