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2008 Toyota 4Runner Safety Review

October 30, 2008

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

roll-sensing curtain airbags
Car and Driver

All models come standard with antilock disc brakes with brake assist
Edmunds

Four stars, driver and passenger frontal impact
NHTSA

Good,” frontal offset and side impact
IIHS

Solid crash-test ratings and a host of electronic active safety systems make the 2008 Toyota 4Runner a good choice where safety is concerned.

In crash testing, the 4Runner received perfect five stars for side impacts and four stars for frontal impact, but only thee stars for rollover resistance and rollover crashes by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) graced it with the highest rating, “good,” for frontal offset and side impact collisions.

Car and Driver points out that “roll-sensing curtain airbags that inflate if the vehicle tips over or goes wheels up” are standard for 2008. Edmunds explains that these side curtain airbags serve “the first and second rows of seating” and mentions that the 4Runner comes standard with anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, and front seat side airbags.

The 4Runner’s comprehensive electronic safety gear includes--in addition to the requisite airbags and anti-lock braking systems--Downhill Assist Control, Hill Assist Control, and Vehicle Stability Control. The first is more useful for serious off-roading and comes standard on four-wheel-drive 4Runners, but the last two, HAC and VSC, are standard across the board and useful on any road, where they help the 4Runner remain easy to launch and provide excellent accident avoidance.

Conclusion

Respectable crash-test results and superlative active safety features make the 2008 Toyota 4Runner an easy recommendation.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:roll-sensing curtain airbagsCar and DriverAll models come standard with antilock disc brakes with brake assistEdmundsFour stars, driver and passenger frontal impactNHTSAGood,” frontal offset and side impactIIHS Solid crash-test ratings and a host of electronic active safety systems make the 2008 Toyota 4Runner a good choice where safety is concerned. In crash testing, the 4Runner received perfect five stars for side impacts and four stars for frontal impact, but only thee stars for rollover resistance and rollover crashes by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) graced it with the highest rating, “good,” for frontal offset and side impact collisions. Car and Driver points out that “roll-sensing curtain airbags that inflate if the vehicle tips over or goes wheels up” are standard for 2008. Edmunds explains that these side curtain airbags serve “the first and second rows of seating” and mentions that the 4Runner comes standard with anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, and front seat side airbags. The 4Runner’s comprehensive electronic safety gear includes--in addition to the requisite airbags and anti-lock braking systems--Downhill Assist Control, Hill Assist Control, and Vehicle Stability Control. The first is more useful for serious off-roading and comes standard on four-wheel-drive 4Runners, but the last two, HAC and VSC, are standard across the board and useful on any road, where they help the 4Runner remain easy to launch and provide excellent accident avoidance. ConclusionRespectable crash-test results and superlative active safety features make the 2008 Toyota 4Runner an easy recommendation. 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER STYLING | [7 out of 10] Car and Driver: “rugged looks” MyRide.com: “big and burly” Automobile: “phony hood scoop…give[s] us pause” Kelley Blue Book: “stylish off-road capability” The 2008 Toyota 4Runner has masculine styling that most reviewers find purposeful, ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Compared to the 4Runner, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer (and the nearly identical GMC Envoy) feel sorely outdated, as those models lack the refinement of the 4Runner; the 4Runner also handles much more confidently than these GM vehicles and is safer. The Durango is another potential alternative; it boasts impressive towing ability, but it’s not as off-road-focused as the 4Runner. The Ford Explorer now includes a full range of safety features, handles well, and is quite comfortable inside, but it doesn’t offer the off-road hardiness possible in the 4Runner. The Nissan Pathfinder is the closest match to the 2008 Toyota 4Runner; it has an interior that trumps the Toyota's in appearance, while coming in at a lower price. The Nissan handles well, like the 4Runner, and its base V-6 engine is especially strong, yet efficient. Against any of these vehicles, though, the 4Runner has the advantage of especially strong resale value and a long-established reputation for reliability and durability.

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See the Toyota 4Runner in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Comments (2 total)

  1. By tony #1, Posted: 10/7/2008

    Is the 4runner good for off-road?

    I want to use it for the beach in the summer days. should I buy it?

  2. By Joo #2, Posted: 11/18/2008

    good off road toy

    if you want to drive in the dessert and the sand - good car... also to go for a coffee.

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