Toyota 4Runner charms endure in the electric auto age

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- In this time of nearly five-bucks-a-gallon gasoline and increasing numbers of hybrid and electric vehicles, is it possible to have a fondness for a sizable sport-utility vehicle that gets a combined 17 miles per gallon?

Well, sure.  Of course.

For those who like the Toyota 4Runner, there's a new player for the 2022 model year -- the TRD Sport, which was mine to test for a week in 4X4 trim.

What's to like?

Well, it scoots rather well for a big-shouldered sport-ute.  I found the 4-liter V-6 a responsive power plant.  With 270 horsepower, it rolled down the freeway entrance ramp with authority, slotted into dicey traffic with effortless ease and even tackled some steep climbs in the Sierra Nevada with just a slightly noisy note.

On curves taken at high speed, the tester hugged the line with admirable agility.

Interior comfort was good, with plenty of room to spread out.  The dash controls were easy to master and spot, something I've come to appreciate more and more in recent years.

It looks like an old-school SUV parked in the driveway, but it has just enough sculpting here and there to keep the neighbors interested.

Standard perks I didn't expect to be part of the package were a particular treat. Those included LED lighting all around, a power sliding rear window, hill-start assist control and automatic high beams.

Mine had an impressive list of optional extras, bringing the bottom line to $45,904.

OK, this is a vehicle that requires frequent stops at the gas pumps, and if you have aggressive save-the-planet friends and relatives, there's a chance that you will be the recipient of relentless scorn for as long as you own your 4Runner.

Then again, there is a reason that Toyota has been producing the 4Runner for nearly 40 years.  And Toyota tends to stick with vehicles that sell well.  Just saying.

Here's how Toyota puts it: "The Toyota 4Runner has carved out its place as the ready-for-anything SUV that’s at home whether on pavement or the trail."

That sums up the 4Runner's long-standing appeal better than any words I can come up with; as for me, I enjoyed my week with the old-is-new-again 4Runner.