1996 Toyota 4Runner SR5 | Retro Review 

They can re-release this exact model as-is today and sell hundreds of thousands of them again. 🥺

I bought mine new in 2002 and it's still my daily driver. I love it.

The holy grail of SUV's. Made during Toyota's golden age of over engineering. I love my '98. These things are a quarter century old now and still all over the road (so long as you're not in the rust belt.)

The GOAT! I’m still driving my 2001. Get complements all the time by people who used to have one and how great it was.

One of the most reliable vehicles of all time. 309K on my 1998 3rd gen and runs like new with no major repairs needed. Actually bought it with 256k and traveled the USA for about 5 months and about 10k miles with only a loose battery terminal. Love the 3rd gen body style too. The fender bulges are so we'll executed. The test vehicle here is a unicorn SR5 with 5 speed manual and rear e-locker. DROOL.

You still see these on the road.. my cousin had one with over 380K miles on it.. runs like a champ..

Hands down the best looking 4Runner of all time.

3rd gen was the last of the manual transmission 4Runners. I've owned mine for 18 years and have let many other cars and trucks go, but not this one. Truly one of a kind dependability and still great fun to drive, especially with the factory supercharger.

An SUV icon, simply timeless.

One of the best looking and most reliable SUV’s on the planet. My friend has a green 1996 with 368,000 miles on it. Had to change out the ignition and one solenoid in the transmission and that it.

I purchased mine in 1996 and still have it. It had 85 miles on it off of the ship and now has 240,000. With the five speed manual it gives it a better pep on the road.

I own a 3rd Gen 4Runner, as my first car I been a huge fan of them since my dad owned 3 2nd Gen's. Still regret not getting a Limited one soon that will be my next 4Runner or a 2nd Gen one!

My first car. Awesome reliability, plenty of cargo space, and a really commanding view of the road.

I have a '99 SR5 V6 with the rear e-locker and 188K on the clock. Only issue I've had in 4 years of ownership was a spark plug wire burning out. Replaced the radiator, transmission filter, lower ball joints, and valve cover gaskets. Then gave it the Tundra brake upgrade and set it up on a 2" lift. Taking it to 500K before I begin to consider purchasing a new vehicle, and by then, it'll probably still hold it's value.

Man that truck still looks great today! That style holds up very well!👌😎👍there’s a ton of those here In Tucson!

One of the Best or Maybe The Best Generation of Toyota 4Runners Up to Date. (1996-2002). Extremely Reliable Vehicles, All of Them Made in Japan. Since 2006 I own a 1997 2WD Base Model 4 Cylinder Automatic, Best Car I Have Ever Own.

3rd Gen Best Gen. Greatest SUV ever made behind the 80-series Land Cruiser.

Those were the days, a true V6 4x4 5 speed manual SUV for under $32,000 however that's almost $59,000 in 2022 money. I still see a lot of these on the road a quarter of a century later.

Always love when a classic Toyota Truck or SUV is the focus of a retro review! Hope there are more in the vault to post!

let me guess. it’s still running

26 years later, and still looks great

My parents bought a beautiful Green 1997 Toyota 4Runner Limited with gold emblems, and all leather interior from my grandparents in around 2010. It’s one of the first vehicles I really remember while growing up. Such a cool truck, it’s what really instilled my love for 3rd Gens and just about ever other vehicle Toyota sold in the 90s. My mom drove it for a few years and it ran really well. It didn’t need much. Sadly what killed it was the dreaded “Strawberry Milkshake.” Parents didn’t have it fixed. So it sat in our driveway for years. I was sad to see it sit. Eventually the rear air suspension failed so the back sagged and made it look even more depressing. Eventually my parents called Lizard Lick Towing (yes that’s right, the same one from the show) and they hauled it away on a flatbed. Bummed to see it go. I can still smell that cracked leather haha. Hopefully plan to own one as a first vehicle, I personally prefer the ‘96-‘98 4Runners with the less bulky front bumper. But the ‘99-‘02 trucks are still cool

The 3rd gen 4 Runner review we've all been waiting for!! My neighbors (partially modified) 2000 4 Runner SR5 is still running great after 170k miles!! June 2023 update: The owner sold his 4 Runner after about 260k miles a few months ago, and replaced it with a 2022 4 Runner TRD Off Road Premium

Wow this was expensive even back in ‘96! But this Generation 4Runner is well worth the price!

I have owned every generation of 4runner and the 3rd Gen is still my favorite. Current 4runner is a 2015 TRD Pro and as much as I like it, the 3rd gen had a lot more character and you can't beat the 3.4 V6. I'm always looking for a clean, low mileage 3rd gen, hope to find one some day.

HP of a 4 cylinder, MPG of a V8. But I still love it!

And that classic old '96 model is probably still out there, with 300,000+ miles on the clock, providing rock-solid reliable service for its owner. Love that simple old-school interior too, not filled with the trashy digital 'tech' toys of today.

I'd love to have one of those now.

Toyota, Bring back the MANUAL 4Runner or bring over the manual Prado or Fortuner!!!!!!!

Th 4Runner and the Land Cruiser have always been the best SUV's on the road. They have become very expensive, however, hold their value unbelievably well.

I own a 1998 4Runner Limited... 349k miles, going strong.

Had one of these as the family ride growing up. A ‘97 with 450,000+ miles when we parted with it in the mid 00s. Replaced the alternator and maintenance. Solid!

These are still ON THE ROAD TODAY ! Worth every penny still one of the BEST ever.

Even by today's standards this still looks great and still might be the looking version (I currently drive a '15 TRD Pro). I've driven nothing but 4Runner's for 20 years -- never owned a 3rd gen but at the time wanted one so bad.

A legend. See these everywhere.

It's hard to believe the 2.7L is still alive and going strong in a 2022 tacome

Best looking 4Runner were these 3rd gens. Other than needing timing belts, these 3.4 V6 engines were bulletproof. Probably would pay about what a new one cost then to find a clean example today.

Back then, 12 years spanned 3 generations of 4Runners. Now.. 12 years, and the fifth gen is still on the market..

I purchased one new in 1996. Color was called anthracite, a dark greyish brown. 5 speed manual that I drove for 15 years. I've been pining for another 4R ever since. Hoping to purchase a Limited Hybrid in 2023-24.

Still daily drive my '97.

I just bought an 02 4WD 4Runner with 290k on it and it still runs and drives like a champ after all these years and miles. Hands down the best generation of 4Runners.

Top post/reminder: The 1990-1995 2nd-gen 4Runner was the departure from the pickup truck model -- rear link/coil spring suspension.

Possibly the single most reliable anx versatile vehicle ever manufactured.

Still seen everywhere

Glad to see this review of a legend. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gens in that order are best in my opinion. Been waiting for this review for a long time.

Back when I was a teenager, one of my friends had a 97 4Runner sr5. We all were just getting our licenses and all got “woods trucks” to beat on, cause we lived in NJ pine barrens (I got a ‘95 grand Cherokee.) Anyway, this generation 4Runner is such a tank. My buddy tipped his on its side, and we all just pushed it over back on its tires. The ONLY damage it had was a plastic fender flare popped off.. That thing is probably still out there somewhere running like a top.

One of the best SUVs ever. I had a 1997 Isuzu Trooper, which was one of the best 4WD systems I had.

3RD GEN BEST GEN! Still rockin' an '01!

i still daily drive my 2000 4Runner SR5. Just went over 277k last week!

still have my 2000 gen 3..only 179k on it..the frame started rusting at the rear leaf mounts...1000 in a frame kit and another 1k in labor at a shop..fixed....thats my only issue with the early ones is Toyotas lack of frame warranty

I have a 98' Limited... Will not be selling it, anytime soon... Thx, Moses...

Bought a 1998 4x4 last octorber and fixed it up. Best adventure camping rig ever. 250k, runs like new.

I own an 03 Sequoia. Not gonna sell it!

The same year I had , I loved that truck so much .

The rear window is so useful. I have it on my ‘18 Sequoia and it’s great!!

That 4Runner still roaming around in Virginia til this day!

I think these are the best looking generation, you can tell it apart from other makes. You still see them on the road and doubt they’ll be gone anytime soon.

I currently have a 5th gen 4Runner and I love it! But the 3rd gen is my all time favorite model especially the 2001 version in either the limited or sport edition trim

Some of my earliest memories are in a 4Runner exactly like this. My folks had to dump it after the transmission went, it was pretty tired at that point.

My favorite vehicle of all time

thers still so many of these around where i live. one with less than 50,000kms thing is impeccable

2:57 had the optional rear locking diff since ‘96.

This 5vzfe 3.4 liter engine is one of the most reliable V6 ever made in history. Just unbelievably reliable

My first car was a '99 sr5 in light blue and it was beat to hell when I got it. That trusty piece of garbage got me through snow storms, frigid temperatures, off roading in the Rockies, and probably kept me out of trouble due to how slow it was. I loved that car and I will always regret selling it at the 260k mark. I miss that little truck

I still see these almost every day

19 mpg was actually really good for the time and the truck

These were expensive back then for sure. But you still see a bunch of them on the road today.

My dad had a 97 SR5 in green and then a 17 Limited in blue. I will always associate this car with him because of the amount of my childhood I spent in these cars

I use a 3rd gen as my work truck. Hauls all my tools around. My job requires 4x4 which is perfect. Never lets me down.

I see Harvey Hamfist is back on gear change duty.

Probably the only car MotorWeek tested that year that’s still on the road.

I just one about 2 weeks ago. Limited model. 395k miles and runs like a champ and they hold there value in resale.

The 1990's cars and trucks were amazing.

These things are a beast still see them around they my favorite 3rd generation. They never will die ... nor leave you stranded last ton of miles used to have '00 brochure many years ago can't go wrong with them highly recommend 3rd generation 4Runner.

Love this ad. I have a 1996 since 2018. 4wd w locker auto. Bought this gem before 4runner inflation 😅

This is my first car, and I love it

I love my 98’ I will always have one of these amazing trucks

Most are still driving! Great truck.

BY FAR, best generation of the 4Runner!

Thank you

My 2000 4Runner just went into the shop for battery and alternator issues. It keeps having them It just went in again to finally get a oil burning problem fixed after rears of burning it. It's my 1st and now my 4th car. 213k miles older than me. Sadly it's not a 4wd model but it's still cool. Find it strange that a 4Runner key word on 4 can be had without 4x4. It is a Limited Model and somehow was bought for 60,000 in today's money. Me and my brother have had many memories in this. It does make me nervous. It strains to start on repeat starts when going on errands and also shakes violently at 70 miles per hour.

That color looks delicious

I miss my 3rd Gen! I had a 01 Sport. Great car.

The 3.4 was a serious upgrade over the 3-slow

I’m loving my 2021 4Runner sr5 😎

Had the 3.4 in my T100 Xtracab 4X4. Great engine, only weakness was on-highway acceleration.

My favourite 4RUNNER! Not powerful or “luxurious” or technology built in this one but I’ll take this one over the new one!! I don’t really drive old vehicles but this one will be one of the old vehicles I want to own

Esse carro é um arraso sensacional que clássico amigão 👍👍

I love my 4 runner and am glad the toyota dealer in Wisconsin created it all those years ago, for the money it is the best vehicle on the planet

Amazing vehicle. Bulletproof

Best cars ever made!

These are still on the road dominating 🔥 Respect to Toyota for developing this vehicle

That dude was ripping that thing off road!!

Love my 5th Gen, but the 3rd Gen is my favorite.

Just sold my 3rd gen for a 5th. Amazing trucks.

Would love to have one now, but even +200k millage ones are above $20k around me.

So cool!

My 80 year old neighbor is always asking to buy our 97 white 4Runner Limited with more than 300k miles for his grand kid but I tell him no and that he'll be first in line when we do decide to part with it.

This is the BEST 4Runner ever!

I still want one 🤩