Toyota 4Runner
Toyota already has the Land Cruiser for those who need to travel through the actual jungle. The 4Runner has done a great job of allowing people to fight in the iron jungle. The 4Runner was just as adept at heading through some forest trails searching for a camping spot as it was looking for the perfect parking spot. While the 4Runner has been successful in North America, it was even more successful around the world under a different badge. The 4Runner was known as the Hilux or the Hilux Surf depending on time and the region it was being sold in.
The 4Runner was one of Toyota’s most successful offerings to fit with the growing craze of sport utility vehicles that just gained traction throughout the 80’s and 90’s before it truly exploded once the new millennium hit.
Early 4Runner models were two-door sport utility vehicles that were all the rage at that time. Early models actually struggled for power a little bit. However, in 1986, the 4Runner added a turbo charged model that started blowing people away!
Toyota actually had a sneaky way to get around vehicle import duties at the time. From 1984 to 1986 they would ship the 4Runner with only two seats. If there are only two seats, then the vehicle is considered a truck and is in a whole different category for the purpose of customs. Once the 4Runner arrived in the country, it had “aftermarket” seats put into the back and suddenly it wasn’t a truck anymore.
As the 4Runner continued to evolve, it still provided one thing that other sport utility vehicles weren’t providing. It provided strength and toughness. While the competition was getting smaller and more “refined” the 4Runner was able to provide comfort without giving in to the spirit of strength that it came with. That’s what’s allowed the 4Runner to endure for almost 40 years now.
