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Used 2015 Toyota 4Runner Consumer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
43 reviews

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

Sometimes you get what you need.

David, 12/28/2015
2015 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
51 of 53 people found this review helpful

If you dont live or drive in a rural or wild area, the alot of the virtues of this vehicle may be meaningless to you. I think thats why alot of the magazine reviews call it "old school" body on frame, needs more power, more gears, etc. IMHO, the 4Runner is the real deal if you need to transport moderate quantities of horse (2) dog(2) and human supplies, have to go "off road" regularly ...to pass oncoming vehicles on our country roads and pull a 3000 gvw utility trailer when needed. Cheap to own and operate. Great VALUE for the dollar. Clean it up and it looks and drives good enough to go anywhere including 1200 mile trips from PA to FL twice a year with 2 Labs in the back. Understand, I am in a bit of a downsize mode. The suburbans, 4-door duallys and gooseneck trailers are gone, but we are just a 2 horse operation now and the kids are gone. Had an interlude of X-5 BMWs' and M and GL Mercedes too. Great in many ways but overpriced and over-complicated for what I really need a vehicle to do. If you like good value and understand and appreciate good engineering and design, 4runner will work for you. If you need to keep up with the Jones's there are a ton of other choices out there.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Toyota Quality - Not Just A Catchphrase

bobindenver, 03/01/2015
2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
38 of 40 people found this review helpful

First the obvious - it's a Toyota. If you take care of Toyota's they will run forever. My beloved 2002 4Runner Sport had 115K miles on it when I traded it in. The factory battery lasted 11 years. Original exhaust. Burned less than a cup of oil in 3k miles. No rust. You can't ask for much more than that. I decided it was time for that new car smell and traded it in on a 2015 4Runner Trail in Attitude Black Metallic. I got the KDSS suspension and the Entune Upgrade sound/media system. I have not had a chance to test out the KDSS offroad in the mountains yet, but the truck has done very well in snow (as expected) thus far.

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5 out of 5 stars

2015 Trail, Purchased new in March 2015

The Annoyed Man, 08/16/2017
2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful

ABOUT 4WD: I spend 99.99% of my time on paved roads, so I seldom have need to access this vehicle's 4WD features. That said, I have used it for off-road/dirt-road driving while hunting, and for driving on snow/ice. I haven't really had to fiddle with any of the various traction controlling features while in 4WD. The Edmunds review above is dead wrong in one respect: it says that both the Trail and Trail Premium models have full-time 4WD. That just not true. My trail spends most of its time in normal 2WD at the rear wheels. It has a 4WD shifter with high and low ranges, located next to the automatic transmission shift lever. It has to be manually switched into 4WD mode by use of the 4WD shifter. You can shift on the fly into the 4WD High range so long as your rolling at a reduced speed. Switching into the Low range requires coming to a full stop before pushing the lever into position. The differential and hubs lock automatically. ABOUT FUEL ECONOMY: Actual mileage for me has varied from as high as 24 mpg (rarely) while on extended road trips on the interstate, to 10 mpg while pulling a travel trailer with a GVRW of 3,850 lbs. I average between 15 and 17 mpg of mostly suburban street driving around town. ABOUT TOWING CAPACITY: The 4Runner may have a towing rating of 4,700 lbs, but I can tell you that towing 3,850 lbs at high speeds makes the engine feel a bit anemic, the transmission spends a lot of time shifting around, and highway speeds are seldom ever spent above 4th gear, let alone overdrive. This was on a trip from the DFW area to Los Angeles and back, so it covered everything from hills and mountains to long straight desert stretches. ABOUT HANDLING: My previous vehicle was a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD. The 4Runner Trail is a slightly bigger vehicle, and it drives like one. It's a little more ponderous in slower corners, and not quite as confidence inspiring in faster corners. In highway driving, I am not aware of the "business" that Edmunds noted in their review. At straight line highway speeds, the 4Runner seems stable and planted. If you mash the gas pedal, the 4Runner is capable of brisk acceleration, which will reward you with poor mileage if practiced too often. I use and monitor the in-dash fuel economy features to help me improve my mileage figures. A HANDLING CAUTION: Braking is good for an SUV of this size and weight, but I'll throw in a cautionary note..... several times I have been surprised by the anti-lock system engaging while braking, for no apparent reason, over clean pavement, without intending to execute a panic stop. I am not a habitual "late-braker", but this bug has led me to modify my driving accordingly by getting out of the gas sooner than I otherwise would, letting the vehicle coast down, and applying my brakes sooner and more gently than I am used to having to do. This is the only vehicle I've ever had that problem with. My wife currently drives a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Edition, also purchased new in 2015, and her vehicle does not exhibit this trait, despite having many of the same features as my 4Runner. When my anti-lock system has kicked in like that, the 4Runner has hauled itself down PDQ, while tracking straight, but it worries me that if someone is tailgating me when this happens, that I might get rear-ended. ABOUT COMFORT AND INTERIOR: The front seats are comfortable and have enough adjustment range to fit all sizes. The driver's seat has adjustable lower lumbar support. The dash layout is easy to understand and is traditionally laid out. Everything is a little more spartan than in my wife's Cherokee - more "truck-like" compared to the Cherokee's "car-like". I test drove the Grand Cherokee before buying the 4Runner and Edmunds is correct that the Grand Cherokee, for all of its creature comforts, has nowhere near the interior room of the 4Runner. I prefer the Jeep's "UConnect" compared to which the Toyota's "Entune" interface seems a bit clunky. The Jeep's screen is larger and has better color management than the Toyota's. That said, Entune is a fully functioning suite of apps, and they all seem to work as advertised. My one complaint is that the navigation app's latency between screens is too long, so that entering an address into the app can take longer than it should. But once the information is entered, the app works just fine. OTHER: Almost 2-1/2 years later, the AC still blows nice and cold (a BIG deal here in Texas). The paint is holding up just fine. The tires are still in good shape (but in all fairness, I am retired now and I don't drive nearly as much as I used to). Nothing has broken. Maintenance has been at regular intervals, and thanks to warrantee, I haven't had to pay for an oil change yet. The SUV still looks sharp, and I get a lot of compliments from others about it. Overall, this 4Runner is a keeper, and as little as I drive now and at my current age (65), it is likely the last vehicle I'll ever buy. I love it.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

The 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is the best 4x4 of the year

nothing_better, 04/14/2015
2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD PRO 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
28 of 30 people found this review helpful

I was first attracted to the 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro because I loved it's appearance; especially in the Inferno Orange color. After driving it, I fell in love with it. Ignore the other reviews that claim it is less than enjoyable to drive on the road; that just isn't true. This truck is just awesome. It's comfortable, handles well on road AND off, and the stereo system is the best sounding stereo I have ever heard in any vehicle. The TRD suspension, shocks, wheels, tires and 1/4 inch thick skid plates underneath it make it a street legal urban tank. You will see heads turning and get lots of thumbs up from total strangers. I wanted a FUN vehicle for once in my life, and I got it!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Love my 4Runner

todd_d, 01/25/2015
2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
42 of 46 people found this review helpful

Living in Colorado, I needed a vehicle that would get me to work in extreme snow storms, take me to the mountains for recreation, and still be refined enough to use as a daily driver. The Toyota 4runner does this better than any other SUV out there. Ride quality with the KDSS system is outstanding, off road and on road. Dash is layed out well and very intuitive. Cabin is extremely quiet. Upgrade to NAV was comparatively cheap, and the stereo rocks! Very comfortable cloth seats, this is the first car seat I've had that has more lumbar support than I need. Price is very reasonable.

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4 out of 5 stars

Tough Decision - So Glad I Bought It!

mpace, 05/28/2015
updated 11/30/2017
2015 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
37 of 41 people found this review helpful

I agonized over buying a mid-sized SUV. I looked at all the usual suspects, including the Explorer, Tuareg and Grand Cherokee. In the end, I chose the 4-Runner because of its off-road capability. I also find that it handles very well, and is very smooth, on the freeway. Don't listen to many reviews of this vehicle, as it's great. I opted for the Limited for the interior upgrades. I love the stereo system - great sounding radio and CD. The one compromise, in my opinion, was the 20-inch wheels. They are more highway-ready than off-road capable, given that they are more narrow than their 17-inch counterparts on the SR5 and Trail. So far, it's performed great, even off-road. Second review. Now with over 10,000 miles on the vehicle and considering it's now 'broken in', I had hoped to realize more MPG. I still get 18.9 to 19.00 for all-around driving. Even interstate driving doesn't positively affect the MPG. So be it. I knew this when I purchased it. It handles well, and the engine is powerful and I like the growl. Third review. After owning this vehicle for two years now, it's proved to be a great investment. Only had one repair/maintenance issue, which was the window motor on the passenger-rear window malfunctioned. Toyota fixed it gratis - probably covered under warranty. I'd complained about gas mileage previously, and it's getting better MPG now that it's fully broken in. Done some non-challenging off-road excursions with the 4Runner, and it's been up to the task. On the highway, the ride continues to be solid and smooth. And, as mentioned before, I love the sound system. For people who do not like the Entune system, I find it intuitive and easy to operate. I look forward to many years of future reliable service from this vehicle. Fourth review. With over 22,000 miles now, the 4Runner operates smoothly and efficiently. Haven't hit 20mpg yet, though. Still the number one complaint - the gas mileage. Glad that gasoline is still cheap. I've experienced no problems, and Toyota maintenance is great, with oil changes, tire rotations, etc. Still glad I bought it. Fifth review. Now, with over 36,000 miles the 4Runner continues to be a great and reliable vehicle. No problems except for a rear window with a faulty motor, but Toyota replaced it free of charge. I have no regrets and highly recommend a 4Runner to people.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Know What You Are Buying.

MattyB, 12/06/2015
2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
37 of 41 people found this review helpful

I've spent the last 14 years trapped in company cars: a 2000 and 2003 Dodge Caravan, and a 2007, 2009, and 2012 Ford Explorers. The Caravans were transmission eating monsters. The 2007 Explorer was fairly problematic, the 2009 was surprisingly reliable, and the 2012 was plagued with engine, transmission and brake problems - and it was the worst vehicle I've ever driven in the snow. When my company told me in late 2014 that they were eliminating company vehicles and switching to an allowance, I jumped at the chance to buy a 4Runner. I just hit 12 months and 22,000 miles in my fairly basic SR5 4Runner. The only upgrades it has are the Entune system, running boards, and the 3rd row seat. Voice recognition with Entune is worthless... I say "take me to the nearest Dunkin Donuts, "and it tries to take me to the Holiday Inn in Deluth, MN. The running boards are a necessity with younger children. The 3rd row seat is cramped but works for extra kids in a pinch. The Edmund's editors like to slam this vehicle for it's unsettled ride, a result of old-school body-on-frame construction. Some people like that type of ride. The 2012 Explorer I used to drive couldn't handle any weight in the back, sagged miserably, and as a result I was constantly high-beamed by oncoming drivers at night. The 2015 4Runner is solid, with very little sagging under a heavy load. They complain about the hyperactive, old school, five speed transmission, and suggest that adding an extra gear or two would improve fuel economy. The engine is not the fastest out there, but you don't buy a 4750 lb vehicle and expect it to take off like a race car. The current 4Runner powertrain has been around for over 10 years and has proven that it is almost bulletproof. I have a couple of friends who have 4Runners with 200,000+ miles on them, and one friend at last check had 326,000 miles and has only changed oil, brakes, and tires. The 4Runner is a tank in the snow. Last winter I got caught in a Syracuse lake effect snow storm and barreled right through a foot of standing snow in the road, blowing past Subarus and Dodge pickups buried in ditches. If you want an overgrown station wagon, go buy an Explorer. If you want a tank that can drive through a house during a blizzard in the middle of the zombie apocalypse and not skip a beat, the 4Runner is the vehicle for you. By the way, the resale value on the 4Runner is one of the highest of any vehicle on the road.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4.88 out of 5 stars

Very impressive vehicle!

Christopher E. McClure, 04/16/2015
2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
27 of 30 people found this review helpful

I have driven 4wd vehicles (SUV and trucks) for 47 years, and this is as capable as any of them. I got it because I had been driving a 4wd F-150 for ten years and it was time for something other than a pickup. I have driven the 4Runner in all types of conditions, from highway to snow and rugged off-road, and it has done an excellent job in all. When one drives an SUV, especially one designed for off-road use, one has to understand that it will not be a car. I rarely tow a trailer, but when I do, this one has more than enough capacity to do what I need.

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5 out of 5 stars

Great Vehicle !!!!!

Brian, 02/06/2016
2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Ok I have read a ton of reviews on the new 2016 4Runner. I had a Jeep wrangler unlimited and was looking for something comparable for the on and off road capabilities. Test drive after test drive I came to the 2016 4Runner and loved it. The off road technology and system the ride the comfort and safety features. There is a ton of storage and all kinds of nooks to store stuff as we as the back. As far as the reviews that say it is the same 4runner in a different look this is because why fix something that is not broken? Some manufactures change things every other year and they have problems after problems. The ride quality is what it is its a truck it is not a luxury car but it is not horrible IMO it rides smooth and very nice but I am coming from a Jeep but I love the ride quality. The GPS is spot on and takes a little getting use to but if it is new to you of course it will take time. Fuel economy I have been getting roughly 20MPG combined city /hwy. The resale value of the vehicle is what had doubly sold as I have seen base models that were 2-3 years older selling for just as much as new ones with 40-50k mikes on them. I have friends that have this truck that is 20 years old has over 200k miles on it and it runs just as good as when they bought it. Reviews are only opinions if you are considering this vehicle Id recommend test driving then try to talk to some people who own them as ask for the good, bad or ugly and do your homework. I personally finally founded a keeper and when its time my wife will be buying one as well.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Reliability Dream Machine!

NC, 06/06/2017
updated 12/07/2020
2015 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful

I had a 1996 4runner that I sold when it reached 180k. A person I know bought it and it now has over 300k and going strong! That says enough!! I now have a 2015 4runner limited which I purchased after several years of trying other products. I'll never go back to anything else. I hated the other cars because of lack of reliability and dependability. The Edmunds review falls short because it doesn't give a section dedicated to reliability/dependability and resale value, which is what Toyota is all about. Instead it compares the performance and other features to other brands, of which have been known to be a nightmare on reliability at times and resale is nowhere near as good. And who cares if another brand can tow more if that brand is in the shop! (I know I had a vehicle with 10k towing capacity and it was terrible). So for me the 4runner is a great vehicle which is still on a good solid chassis/frame and everything seems built for the long haul. No it is not the most comfortable and easy riding vehicle, but I was looking something more rugged looking than a Highlander, even if it meant less gas mileage and feel. I prefer the “truck” like feel actually. I highly recommend this vehicle and resale value it great compared to other vehicles out there on the market. I love mine! Updated several years later: Still going strong and no issues. Great car and highly recommend. Update Dec 7, 2020: 4Runner was a great vehicle with zero issues and had really good towing capacity. I sold the vehicle for premium amount and only took one day to sell. I replaced it with a new Toyota Sequoia Platinum. I just wanted more room and towing capacity as the 4Runner was a bit small inside.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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