There’s no shortage of affordable used off-roaders out there to choose from. But if you really, really want a vintage 4×4 that’s dependable, attractive and versatile…there are few better options than an old Toyota 4Runner. Like its big sibling, the Land Cruiser, the 4Runner’s quality and indestructibility are beyond question; take halfway decent care of it, and it should reward you with hundreds of thousands of miles of loyal service.
The example you see here, though? We’d say its owners have taken far better care of it than that. In fact, this 1993 4Runner is about as pristine as a 68,000-mile example of a used car could be.
This 27-year-old car may have hit showrooms the same year Jurassic Park hit theaters, but you’d never know it to look at it —not from the pristine paint (complete with ’90s graphics), not from the all-but-new interior fabrics and materials, and not from the almost-rust-free undercarriage.
Bring A TrailerUnfortunately for those of us who prefer to row their own way through a gearbox, the 3.0-liter V6 in this 4Runner is paired with a four-speed automatic; still, while the engine’s 150 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque are unlikely to impress anyone attuned to modern car outputs, they’re more than enough to help it scramble over rocks and down trails — especially with the help of that dual-range transfer case.
Falken WildPeak A/T AT3W off-road tires on all four wheels further burnish this Toyota’s off-road cred, while a trailer hitch and roof rack serve up extra ways to carry cargo beyond the snug-by-2020-standards interior. Besides, if you’re off-roading and taking it slow, you’ll probably want to let your dog hang out in the back; this 4Runner, after all, has a power-operated rear window.
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