So we’re all pretty familiar with the 4Runner by now, but this Venture Special Edition trim I have here is relatively new

It’s somewhat of a concession from Toyota to get people to keep interest in a very old product

But does Toyota even need to do this? The 4Runner has a cult following from offroaders, adventurers and overlanders.

All those people are most familiar with the most rugged 4runner from factory, the TRDPRO

However, that TRD PRo is over 50k if you can get one at MSRP

So at under 45k, and the lack of dealer makeup make the venture special edition a good alternative

We’re starting behind the wheel and I want to address one of the most compelling things this venture trim brings the TRD PRo doesn't as much.

A mild road presence

You get the TRD specific wheels here, but you swap out the bigger all-terrain tires that come on the TRD PRO for a more road-ready all season tire

What that does is reduce road noise and tire roar, but it also means you can feel things through the steering wheel.

If you’ve ever driven a trd pro or even a jeep wrangler Rubicon it feels like driving a boat - the steering is so numb that you’re like “well i need to go left so I’ll turn left and hope the truck goes where I need it to”

Throttle response is relatively decent. It’s a big 4.0 V6 that makes 270hp and 278 lbft so as far as power goes you wont be winning drag races, but it’s enough for offroading

Here’s the issue I take with the 4Runner. It still uses a 5 speed automatic which is the reason fuel economy is less than stellar - 16 city 19 highway WHAT HAVE I BEEN GETTING

Ultimately, the ride is shockingly good on the road which is where this will spend the vast majority of its life. There is still some road noise that seeps in, but the driving manners are excellent for something like a body on frame offroad SUV

Now I won’t go into every design element here, but what I will say is overall I think the design fits the personality of the truck. It’s boxy and classic looking and gives you the sense it can go places, though I would like auto led headlights

Now starting up front there are 2 major things this doesn't have that you’ll miss from the TRD PRO

Painted skidplate - STILL HAS ONE over engine and transfer case and front suspension
Then you have the grille - compare TRD grille to raptor grille

However, the venture trim has all your blacked out badge needs covered

Around the side you also get blacked out wing mirrors and door handles
And the black TRD Pro wheels i like so much
Again we talk tires - same size as the TRD PRo but not all terrains
The Yakima roof basket is specific to the Venture as well while the TRD PRO gets a different rack system
Annoying to some is the lack of badging on the C pillar that we see with all the TRDs

Around back its pretty standard fare except

Black spoiler
Black badge
Black mustache

Now before we go inside I want to address the elephant in the room. From a utility perspective, the only thing the Venture trim doesn’t have that the TRD PRO does is the all-terrain tires and Fox shocks

Both have a 9.6 inch clearance
Both have 33 degree approach and 26 degree departure
Both have the same tech features, crawl control, terrain select, hill start

So in complete honesty, since you have more road going tires and less crazy dampers what you end up with 90% of the capability of the TRD PRO with 4x the comfort

We’re going to start with the trunk and there are several goodies back here.

My favorite is the rear window that goes down - handy for small things and easy to film from
This one is optioned with the trunk tray with more storage underneath - it’s nice
You also get cargo netting and all that

You actually have a reasonably sized trunk here

47 cuft with seats up, they go 40/20/40 and then 89 cuft
PLus the roof basket included - lots of storage

The rear seats are roomy enough, but even with the roof cutout my headroom is tight
You sit up really high cuz of the frame
Rear climate vents

Then up front it reminds you that it’s old and it’s trucky

Big buttons
Super tactile inputs
The touchscreen infotainment is optioned up in size
ACP AA

Steering wheel is the same as taco and tundra
It’s a little snug, but comfy
Fake leather has TRD logo on headrests

Visibility is great, vertical glass, but more aerodynamic that a wrangler

Overall conveys the sense of capability and ruggedness throughout the design

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