The 4Runner makes its debut late in the model year.
What does 4Runner mean? Combine "4-wheel drive" and "off-road Runner", and you have 4Runner,
Toyota's fun-to-drive off-road vehicle.
All 4Runners are built at the Tahara Plant in Tahara, Japan.
Toyota brought to market a revolutionary new vehicle - the 4Runner.
Based on the mechanicals of its rugged (and strong-selling) 4-wheel drive pickup truck,
the 4Runner combined the versatility and go-anywhere ability of 4WD with the comfort and utility
found in passenger cars.
The first-generation 4Runner had two doors and a removable hard top in the form of a fiberglass shell over the rear cargo area.
It was available in two models. The first was little more than a pickup truck with a covered rear cargo area.
Its emphasis was on utility. With seats in the front only, the rear of the vehicle was intended to
be used for cargo (or camping equipment, bicycles, etc.) The second was designed to carry up to five passengers.
It included a rear seat (with seatbelts for three occupants) which could be folded flat for additional storage space.
The passenger model was available in the SR5 grade, and included a larger fuel tank and more luxurious interior appointments.
Both models were powered by the carbureted 2.4L 22R inline 4-cylinder engine coupled to a five-speed manual transmission with two-speed transfer case,
and all had manual locking front hubs, solid axles front and rear with leaf springs.
It had a tailgate style rear door. It came only 4WD form. It's grille was a 3-segment style.
Toyota upgrades the 4Runner's ride and responsiveness by replacing the solid front axle with an independent front suspension (IFS).
The rear springs remained leaves. From mid-'86 to the end of 1987, there was an SR5 Turbo model.
This included, a turbocharged, EFI 22R. Some of these SR5s came with a digital dash package, upgraded interior, and beefed-up rear axle.
For 1987, the SR5 trim was available on all models, both truck and passenger, but the turbo engine was still confined to passenger models.
Grill changes to 2-segment style, headlights become more rounded and new striping was added.
Start of body-mounted step bumper. This was the last year for the Turbocharged EFI 22R.
More power and refinement arrive in a 3.0-liter V6 engine, with a front grill badge.
Turbocharged EFI 22R 4-cylinder dropped. Side mirror shape becomes larger, more square.
First year for rear split fold seats. Small vents windows on doors go away.
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