Should You Take the 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Off Road?
The 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road is a great off-road option, offering strength and capability in equal measure.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2017 Toyota 4Runner is a terrific off-roading choice, with its tough-as-nails body-on-frame build, and a plethora of off-roading options built into the vehicle. While the 4Runner isn’t the most refined ride, it will definitely get you where you want to go if you’re heading onto off-road trails.
Once you’ve dropped the kids off and are ready to conquer the roads less traveled, the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road is a compelling choice. It takes on off-roading with gusto, sporting a hulking demeanor to go along with its four-wheel-drive mode, not to mention its low-range setting.
Is the 2017 4Runner the right choice for your off-roading antics? We're going to tell you everything you need to know about the 4Runner’s capabilities, as well as offer a few alternatives if Toyota’s signature off-roading beast isn’t quite for you.
Can the 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road go off road?
Yes, it can! The 4Runner TRD Off-Road is a fine off-road rumbler, and with a starting price of $34,210 (and it will be cheaper used), it was one of the more affordable off-roading SUVs on the market. However, the 4Runner is decidedly lacking in terms of creature comforts, as its plasticky interior and drab design don’t quite match up to its off-roading skills.
Still, there are a few telltale signs that signal a vehicle's off-roading prowess or lack thereof. Here they are for the 4Runner.
Ground clearance
Ground clearance is a key off-roading attribute, and the 2017 4Runner TRD Off Road offers plenty of it—9.6 inches, to be precise.
If you’re an off-roading enthusiast, you’re going to want your automotive steed to have between 8.8 and 10.8 inches of ground clearance in order to rumble over anything in your path without damaging its undercarriage.
In comparison, the 2015
Nissan Xterra
, a comparable off-roading SUV, has but 9.5 inches of ground clearance. We don’t mean to quibble, but we’re going to quibble—the 4Runner wins by a nose!Torque
When you’re going off-roading, you want an SUV with plenty of low-end torque, meaning a high level of torque at a lower RPM, to get you through the stickiest of off-road situations. A higher torque at a lower RPM boosts your turning power, which is more important than speed when grinding through challenging off-road terrain.
The Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road sports 278 lb-ft of torque at 4400 RPM. This is more than enough low-end torque to ensure you get through your off-roading expeditions with a minimum of trouble and a maximum of fun.
Tires
The 2017 4Runner TRD Off Road boasts P265/70SR17 tires, which are more than capable of tackling the trails. These tires are an ideal mix for both off-roading and in-city driving, even if they’ll wear out quicker than all-season tires.
Drivetrain
The 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road comes standard with four-wheel drive,so it is ready to crush any and all unsuspecting off-road terrains the minute you drive it off the lot.
Angles
For off-road carousing, angles are key, and thankfully the 4Runner aces this category as well. Why are approach and descent angles so important for off-roading? Keep reading.
- Approach: The maximum limit to which a vehicle can climb without encountering any interference
- Descent: The maximum limit to which a vehicle can descend without any interference
The 2017 4Runner sports a 33-degree approach angle and a 29-degree descent angle, meaning you’ll be able to kick it over almost everything Mother Nature throws at it on approach and/or descent.
Off-road rating: Trail Boss
Being the vehicle nerds that we are, we have devised a robustly scientific (by that we mean, not at all scientific) rating system to grade off-roading SUVs and trucks. Here’s how we break it down, and where the 4Runner lands:
Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
I | In a Pinch | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
R | Rough and Ready | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
T | Trail Boss | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
The 4Runner gets a T, for Trail Boss. Even if it lacks creature comforts (it has a roof though, right?) and on-road composure (it gets you from A to B, right?) the 4Runner TRD Off-Road is an off-roading animal, capable of slaying most anything that nature can toss in its way.
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The best off-road alternatives to the 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road
Perhaps you’re a bit too refined to be caught driving (or caught dead) in a 2017 Toyota 4Runner, or are looking for a more even mix of ruggedness and comfort. That’s ok, so here are some comparable alternatives to the 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road:
Model | Used price range | Description |
|---|---|---|
$33,000 to $42,000 | Another SUV with a monster of an off-roading personality, the Lexus GX 460 makes up where the 4Runner lacks—luxury, especially, with second-row captain’s chairs, heated and cooled front seats, and a built-in navigation system. | |
$14,000 to $26,000 | An austere off-roader, the Xterra offers a robust 4.0 L V6 engine with 281 lb-ft of torque, as well as the option of a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. | |
$25,000 to $49,000 | A formidable midsize pickup with plenty of off-roading capability along with a comfortable cabin and generous driver-assist technology. |
MORE: Cheap off-road trucks
How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
Both buying and insuring off-road vehicles can be expensive, especially given drivers’ tendencies to engage in riskier, off-roading behavior with these vehicles. However, that does not mean high insurance rates for off-road vehicles are set in stone.
With the
car insurance
broker and comparison shopping app Jerry
, you can absolutely find a fantastic insurance policy at a bargain-basement price! Sign-up takes just 45 seconds, and then Jerry gets to work comparing top quotes from more than 50 insurance providers to ensure you get the best policy for you, at a price you can afford.Once you pick your policy, Jerry signs you up and helps cancel your old one. Best of all, the average Jerry user saves more than $800 per year on car insurance!
“I thought I was already paying the lowest rate possible for my age group, butJerryfound me a better deal for the same coverage with Travelers! Everything went so smoothly that I couldn’t help but make a change right away.”—Athit S.
4.7
