If you’ve kept up with the recent news in the 4Runner community, the resounding feedback from enthusiasts is that of disappointment with the 2023 model year. For many, this marks yet another year of no major body style changes or huge technology improvements. That means after 13 years of production, the 4Runner has only received minor improvements.
Meanwhile, the company has continued to update every other vehicle in its lineup; including the Prius which low-key has me thinking about trading in the 4Runner (just kidding). It’s a huge letdown for the community to see the 4Runner be seemingly neglected.
However, many people also believe that a new body style would diminish the value of the current generation. Whether you agree with that statement or not, basic economics backs this up. The law of supply and demand shows that with the release of a new model, the demand for the previous body style goes down. This ultimately drives the price of the older model down. As I said, basic economics, however, we’re dealing with Toyota here, and they always hold their value. Look at the early model 5th Gen (2010-2013), those are still fetching $25K.
Regardless of what side of the fence you sit on, the company is selling 4Runners left and right. They recently announced that they have sold more than 4 Million 4Runners in the past 40 years! I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I would bet that Toyota will probably sell another 1 Million in the next decade. Even though this platform is considered to be “basic” in many people’s eyes, it still has an incredible reputation for reliability.
Table Of Contents
1. 40th Anniversary Special Edition
2023 marks the 40th year of the 4Runner. And while the community was hoping that the 6th Gen 4Runner would be announced this year, as they were every year for the past five years, Toyota is celebrating by offering an exclusive 40th-Anniversary Edition. Production will be limited to 4,040 units in the US, so go place those orders!
So what is this 40th Anniversary Edition, and what does it come with? At its core, it is based on the 4WD SR5 Premium Trim from years past. You have the option of three colors: White, Midnight Black Metallic, and Barcelona Red Metallic. It also will have bronze-colored 17-inch alloy wheels, a body-color-matched Toyota heritage grille, and a bronze-colored rear tailgate badge.
The fun doesn’t stop there, as this 4Runner comes with what Toyota calls the “Heritage Graphics Package”. Those heritage colors that we all love so much in the Toyota community, give this trim level that retro, yet iconic look.
The 40th Anniversary Edition also gets some unique aesthetics on the inside, complete with badging on the dash, bronze stitching on the shift knob and seats (to match the bronze wheels), 40th Anniversary floor mats, and a 40th Anniversary logo on the seats. A sunroof also comes standard on this trim, which is a $630 option from the factory.
2. New TRD Pro Color!
Aside from the limited 40th Anniversary Edition, the 2023 4Runner TRD Pro gets a new exclusive color: Solar Octane!
Toyota has released TRD Pro-exclusive colors since 2015, starting with Inferno. Whether or not you like these bold colors, it’s still great that Toyota continues to offer them for those who want to stand out. Plus, these exclusive colors also allow the 4Runner to maintain even more of its value!
Solar Octane is also available on the 2023 Sequoia, Tacoma, and Tundra. It replaces last year’s Lime Rush color for the above models.
3. New Standard Safety Equipment
Toyota at least continues to add new safety features to the 4Runner. If a vehicle manufacturer is going to add anything to a vehicle, I am sure we can all agree that safety improvements are always welcome. This year added two main features: Blind-Spot Monitoring and Cross-Traffic Alert. Both will now come as standard equipment on all models.
These new features join Toyota’s Safety Sense-P suite as standard on all models. This already includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with a sway warning system, automatic high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control.
Even the best drivers can make mistakes, so adding these features to this model year helps make the 4Runner that much safer. Whether you adventure solo or you are hauling the kids around, this gives drivers even more peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it, the 2023 4Runner’s newest features! We’re getting a new 40th Anniversary Edition added to the lineup, a new color for the TRD Pro trim, and new standard safety features. While this old-school SUV remains the same at its core, it continues to be a great daily driver for people from all walks of life.
Will Toyota bring us the long-awaited 6th Gen in 2024? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
What’s the base price on the 40th anniversary model?
More than you can afford, pal.