Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures owner satisfaction with vehicle quality after the first 90 days of ownership, the Toyota 4Runner received 4.5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures owner satisfaction with performance and design attributes of a vehicle, the Toyota 4Runner received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Vehicle Dependability – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures owner satisfaction with vehicle dependability after three years of ownership, the Toyota 4Runner received 5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Fuel Economy – The 2009 Toyota 4Runner is equipped with a V-6 or V-8 engine driving the rear or all four wheels through an automatic transmission. The V-6 engine is rated by the EPA to deliver 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway for 2WD models, and 16 mpg city and 20 mpg for 4WD models. The V-8 engine is rated by the EPA to deliver 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway for 2WD models, and 14 mpg city and 17 mpg highway for 4WD models.

Our review vehicle, a well-equipped 4Runner Limited V-8 with 4WD, averaged 15.4 mpg in mixed driving with an emphasis on highway travel. Combined with the 4Runner’s standard 23-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 350-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

Safety – According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2009 Toyota 4Runner receives 4-star crash test ratings for front seat occupants in a frontal impact, 5-star ratings for front and rear occupants in a side impact, and 3-star rollover ratings for both rear- and four-wheel-drive models. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says the 2009 Toyota 4Runner receives a “Good” rating in the offset frontal impact test, a “Good” rating in the side impact test, and a “Poor” rating in the rear impact test.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Toyota 4Runner consumes between 19 and 22.8 barrels of petroleum annually, with a resulting carbon footprint rating ranging between 10.2 and 12.2 tons of air pollution per year. The V-6 models receive national and California/New England air pollution scores of 6 out of 10. The V-8 models receive a national air pollution score of 6 out of 10, and a California/New England air pollution score of 7 out of 10.