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There simply has never been any denying the legendary capabilities of the Toyota 4Runner. One of the most popular off-roading SUVs ever made, the 4Runner has been running for 40 years now, and the latest model is undoubtedly the very best when it comes to sheer capability. SUVs are more popular than ever before, with every manufacturer preferring bigger vehicles to smaller offerings in their lineups. At the same time, gearheads still love older generations of the 4Runner, thanks to the lower prices of these older classic models which still remain rugged and reliable.
Many gearheads would argue that the third-generation Toyota 4Runner was one of the best phases for the Japanese SUV, if not the very best. However, that doesn’t take away any credibility from the second generation of the SUV, which ran from 1989 to 1995. Based on the famed Hilux truck, the 1990 Toyota 4Runner in particular remains a fantastic deal even today, offering capability and road presence for a fraction of the price of a new 2023 4Runner. Here are 8 Things We Love About The 1990 Toyota 4Runner.
8/8 Toyota Offered The 1990 4Runner In Both 2-Door And 4-Door Options
Between 1989 and May 1993, Toyota did sell two-door models of the 4Runner, even though it was the four-door variant that was the more prevalent one. Just like the four-door 4Runner, the two-door model also had a body that was formed as a single unit, unlike the first-generation 4Runner.
In fact, two-door 4Runner models are extremely rare to come by in the U.S. today. Toyota decided to stop selling the two-door 4Runner in 1992, while it was available in the Canadian market in 1993.
7/8 The 1990 Toyota 4Runner Was Based On The Revered 1989 Hilux Pickup
The Toyota 4Runner boasted the revered Hilux pickup truck as its base. The famed truck laid the foundation for this SUV from the very first generation, and in its second generation, the 4Runner SUV continued to be based on the 1989 Hilux.
The 1990 Toyota 4Runner featured a freshly-designed, full-steel integrated body that was mounted on the existing frame. From the B-pillar forward, however, both the ’89 Hilux and the ’90 4Runner were virtually identical.
6/8 The ’90 4Runner Also Came With Shift-On-The-Fly 4-Wheel-Drive
In the ’90s, shift-on-the-fly 4WD was still a very new technological feature. Up until then, 4×4 vehicles did support four-wheel-drive, but one had to stop the vehicle, get out and then configure it.
The 1990 Toyota 4Runner featured shift-on-the-fly, allowing drivers to shift between the rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive from the driver’s cockpit itself.
5/8 The Second-Generation 4Runner Evolved Into A Proper SUV With Its Own Identity
The first generation 4Runner was an SUV that Toyota made simply by enhancing their Hilux truck. While technically an SUV, the 1983-1988 4Runner was essentially a Hilux with a fiberglass cap.
The second-generation model, however, was a departure from the first, carving a fresh identity for itself. The 1990 4Runner, thus, was a freshly-designed SUV, with a full-steel integrated body-on-frame chassis.
4/8 V6 Models Of The 1990 Toyota 4Runner Featured A New Chain-Driven Case
The 1990 4Runner from Toyota featured both 4-cylinder engine options and a V6 power unit. This new V6 engine made 150 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. While the four-cylinder models continued to feature a gear-driven case, Toyota gave a new chain-driven case for the V6 models of the 1990 4Runner.
Along with a new case, the 1990 4Runner also featured an all-new coil spring rear suspension system. This was brought in to counter the sagging of the leaf-spring suspension of the first-generation models. It also served to enhance the ride quality of the SUV, making for a more comfortable experience for all occupants.
3/8 The Second-Gen Toyota 4Runner Featured An Independent Front Suspension For Enhanced Off-Roading Ability
Along with a new chain-driven case for the 1990 Toyota 4Runner, there was also the independent front suspension which the previous generation had also featured.
This helped increase the 4Runner’s off-roading capability, even though it hadn’t yet reached the legendary off-roading capability that the third-generation Toyota 4Runner boasted of.
2/8 The Retractable Glass Trunk Of The 1990 Toyota 4Runner Is Still A Nifty And Unique Feature
Most full-body SUVs at the time like the Ford Explorer and the Nissan Pathfinder featured regular tailgates which simply opened upwards. The glass remained closed on these SUVs, very much unlike what the Toyota 4Runner from 1990 offered.
The Toyota 4Runner, right from its first generation, featured a retractable-glass tailgate. This was reminiscent of the pickup truck experience, seeing how the 4Runner was based on the Hilux truck, after all. Opening the tailgate of the 1990 Toyota 4Runner required you to first retract the rear window into the tailgate, and then lower the whole tailgate, not unlike what one would do on a pickup.
1/8 Toyota’s 1990 4Runner Was One Of The Most Spacious And Versatile Vehicles On The Market
There is no denying that the Toyota 4Runner became a beastly off-roader from the factory in its third generation. The 1990 4Runner, however, and the entire second generation of the SUV, was more focused on providing a versatile experience for buyers.
Thanks to its comfortable seating and spacious interiors, the 1990 4Runner set itself above competitors, especially in terms of cabin room and cargo space. Most of the 4Runners were brought home by families, who used it as a step above a station wagon, using the 4Runner as a family vehicle that easily housed five or more occupants for school runs and the occasional; interstate trip.
Sources: Toyota, Edmunds
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