staff@slashgear.com (Cody D. Campbell)
2024-06-15 13:45:02
www.slashgear.com
If you’re looking for an older 4Runner with a big, beefy engine, then it’s hard to beat the absolute pinnacle of the fourth generation: The 2009 4Runner Limited, V8 4×4. This absolute beast of a machine was one of the most powerful 4Runners Toyota had ever built in its time, and it held on to that title for a good while. It had a 4.7L V8 engine that could hit 260 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 306 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm. It also had a 7,000 lb. towing capacity, ABS, Driveline Traction Control, and, as the name implies, came standard with four-wheel drive.
Gear Patrol tested this particular model out just a few years ago and found that it still performs admirably. “Utilitarians will appreciate the 9.1 inches of ground clearance […] optional locking rear differential, optional Bilstein shocks, and hefty towing capabilities,” they said. “In our limited off-road testing […] the 4Runner remained composed, navigating steep obstacles and potholes the size of a Prius without skipping a beat.”
The fourth gen 4Runners are often considered second best when it comes to off-road capabilities among enthusiasts, but the ’09 Limited, V8 4×4 definitely deserves to be ranked near the top just by virtue of its raw power.