1990 Toyota 4Runner | Retro Review

Even though the SUV market was ruled by Cherokee and Explorer, there was still plenty of room for the hip and sporty 1990 4Runner.
Show 928 | Original Airdate 04-07-1990
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[@1970HondaCL100]

Worth more money now than when it was new.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

That's because these things rusted into oblivion within 3 years. Nothing rusts faster than Toyota crap

[@andyleo8418]

​@@Welcometofacsistubedon't drive it on salt roads. Duh🤡

[@shiftmotorsports9803]

No it's not

[@chriscornelius2518]

​@@Welcometofacsistubethis is around the time they fixed the rust issues. Toyota is the best car company in the world regarding longevity and reliability. Honda is very close second. Just research any csr info for the last 30 years

[@ricepony33]

I know what I’ve got! ;)

[@kelvinmagoon]

The lack of plastic body cladding makes old school 4x4's seem classier.

[@nahteo]

My brother has a very well kept 1990 4Runner, 4 cylinder, 5 speed, 4WD. Bone stock, low miles, slow and dependable. Manual locks and windows.

[@JackTorrance333]

I still see these on the roads. Crazy great vehicle.

[@philsmgb4393]

And they have to be made of rust and have 300 thousand miles if you want to pay less than 10 grand.

[@JackTorrance333]

@@philsmgb4393 so true. I priced an 90 with 225000 miles…… 20k!!! But, it was perfect.

[@Ihateironyanddumbusernames]

I dont see em that often more so the 3rd gen. The 3.0 engine wasn't great

[@Policearegood-mt6kx]

You don’t see them in the rust belt, they disintegrated in a few years.

[@evanboyer5928]

This engine is one of the best sounding truck engines I've ever heard, especially with a severe exhaust leak, as mine had almost all throughout college.

[@DaLizMs]

My 2014 FJ Cruiser 4.0 V6 has entered the chat.

[@j_mars_cars]

You are joking, right? I’ve owned 2 v6 2nd gen’s and 1 22re. The 4 cylinder is certainly the best sound and performance.

[@ianyeh75]

The 3.Slow? You’re kidding right? The 3vz makes the same sound as a kid with asthma after running a mile, oh and it eats head gaskets like crazy.

[@Jeff_S...]

Little tanky SUVs should have a torquey straight six or a V8.

[@Acc0rd79]

Toyota needs to get back to these amazing trucks! I live in an upscale neighborhood and yet my neighbor a few doors down still drives a 90s 4 runner as his daily! 4 runners are amazing.

[@Grasshopper.80]

I have three of these trucks and love the rugged and reliability.

[@Dogman36]

im curious what model years you got? they stopped updating the exterior in like 2013 lol

[@Dogman36]

i work in a toyota dealership and this truck literally has not changed beyond updating small comforts and safety since they released it. i cant tell most of the model years apart unless its from the 90s or im physically sitting in it, but that really doesnt matter anyways. this machine has outlasted every terrible buyers market, government crusade, and safety recall you could throw at it. people love em.

[@scott8238]

Except for the 3.0 v6 that eats head gaskets...

[@billsmith281]

​@@scott8238only if you overheat the engine, proper cooling system maintenance can't be overlooked

[@theKevronHarris]

The song that was playing on the stereo at 4:59 is "The Logical Song" by Supertramp.

[@steadysmv]

Bloody well right

[@landonlefevre5167]

Good thing this isn't a gasoline dodge. Otherwise they'd be taking the long way home

[@jamiedriscoll9781]

5:08 "Headroom is plentiful " right as the tester hits his head on the headliner and glares at it 😊

[@kyleknott1097]

God I love these throwback review videos.

[@InvestBetter.]

If you can get around how underpowered it is, solved in the 1996 redesign, still a solid vehicle, 30 years later. I drove it back in 1992, and enjoyed my time with it

[@gtemnykh]

Some guys will swap that 3.4L 5VZFE into these older trucks with the “3.slow” blows a head gasket

[@KLM817]

I remember working at a Toyota dealership when these were sold new. They were pretty good workhorses for their day.

[@derkommissar4986]

There's this joke that 4Runners from this era had to be recalled... due to the fact that the owners should seriously have bought a new car by now 😂

[@growingup4487]

because the frame was shieet on the long term

[@DM-hw4cr]

The v6 had head gasket issues.

[@manthony225]

That's the Camry.

[@DaLizMs]

I still see this truck on the street to this day but can't say the same for it's competition.

[@oxouk]

100% agreed

[@dedeborya9015]

A friend of mine had this truck in college... we discovered that the cargo area was a thin single wall construction ... and that pony kegs should be well strapped down .... and gained a rugged look with a few circular dings in the back from that bouncing pony keg. Good Times.

[@cbh148]

What? There's a bonded metal cab frame structure on the insides of the cargo area that hold the interior plastics, panels, speakers, etc. up, just like most any other SUV from the 80s up to today. Was his cargo area gutted out and then the bonded structural metal sawed out to where a keg in the back could possibly make contact with the quarter panel skin?

[@J.W.W.]

Great vehicle for the time. The 3.0 V6 was underwhelming. The 3.4L that came a few years later was a huge improvement

[@doug6191]

Great vehicle f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶. Fixed it.

[@notyourcarNYC]

@@doug6191only good for the time because most of these Toyotas with the 3.0 v6 were very unreliable

[@doug6191]

@@notyourcarNYC Nah. Great vehicle. Not all came with the 3.0. The 4Runner was great.

[@notyourcarNYC]

@@doug6191 clearly missed the point of either of our comments

[@doug6191]

@@notyourcarNYC Nope. I know your point - the V6 was problematic. That applies to the V6s. The vehicle is great even if the engine had head gasket issues. They became legends among off-road enthusiasts. That means they weren't great "for the time"; they were simply great.

[@Policearegood-mt6kx]

I like how he says plenty of headroom and the guy gets in and hits his head.

[@thatoneguy985]

Boy the 90 explorer didn't age well 😂😂🥶

[@johnnymason2460]

This version of the 4Runner did eventually get 4-wheel ABS. I recommend finding one with the 4-wheel antilock brakes already on it.

[@hellkitty1014]

I saw so many of these in Afghanistan back in the day that I thought to myself, if they can survive this hell-hole, they will survive a true nuclear holocaust. Truly built to last...

[@GordoAlbondigas]

Have been waiting for this video for a while. I have a 95 4runner. So much fun offroad.

[@philsmgb4393]

Rode in a friend's Jeep years ago and couldn't believe how it felt like the tires were made of carved stone and I thought "Why would anyone buy this thing?"

[@Jeffhilux94]

Ive owned my 1994 4runner for a few years now. It has 349 thousand miles and still going. Reliability 10/10. 22re 5 speed

[@cbh148]

That's awesome. I've wanted a 2nd gen 4Runner for a long time. Only seen 1 in person that was 22RE, but it was automatic. Seems like 98% of them are v6. Got 3 old 4x4 Toyotas ('87 4Runner, '88 Pickup Xtracab, '94 Pickup Xtracab), all 22RE DLX 5 speed, and they've been great. I've avoided the v6 like the plague haha. Needed an SUV and found the 1st gen 4R a year ago from a neighbor. 1st gens seem to get way more love than the 2nd gens, and it's cool and all, but man I would really prefer 4 doors. Maybe 22RE 4x4 5 speed 2nd gen 4R's are only uncommon around here in Alabama, but you've got a unicorn as far as I can tell.

[@Jeffhilux94]

Thank you. They are rare here up north. NY. I will hang on to it as long as I can. You have some nice rigs.

[@AaronSmith-kr5yf]

Its funny how the 4Runner went from a pickup with a factory camper top/bigger back seat to a legit go anywhere 4wd mid sized station wagon. The leap in refinement/usefulness to the family man was just astronomical.

[@ROBinJVILLE]

i had the 4 banger version. 2nd owner, i got it with 86k miles. still ran great when i sold it at 219k. i wish i kept it tbh

[@DillonAuto]

The V6 is where I cut my teeth doing tear down and rebuild with the headgasket campaign.

[@Theyralltakenfu]

I had a 4Runner a couple years older then this one, and currently have an 06 (with only 96,000 miles on it) and I'd take the old one of this one. For some reason I was so much more comfortable and confident driving the old one. So much so, I just traded my brother an 11 CRV with only 63,000 miles for the 4Runner. It was never the vehicle I hoped it to be.

[@senseicorey9979]

Just bought a 2013. Look forward to owning it the next 10 years

[@shizzy_Snorlax]

I just did a quick search for 1990 4Runners for sales near me and well kept examples are going for about the same purchase price in 1990. Slow and thirsty but very capable and will last if you keep up on them.

[@tall_dude1233]

Love hearing that clip of Supertramp on the radio.

[@elonsus9747]

The 3.0 blew head gaskets left and right unfortunately. The 3.4 was a much better engine in the 3rd gen. I still like the looks though.

[@scott8238]

3.4 blows head gaskets as well

[@damilolaakanni]

​@scott8238 and so did the early 1GR-FE engines, but not as much as the 3VZ-E engine.

[@ike4496]

had a 94 pickup with the 4cyl auto never any problems except valve adjustments at 80 to 90k dealership charged $400 back in 99 still running good at 190k when sold 4 runner looks like it had more leg room sets up much higher than 2wd pickup

[@NEO_RedPill_2024]

Head room is plentiful as the guy grimaces after bonking his head on the roof lol😂

[@ok-cv6nd]

The logical song on the radio.

[@svenskfox]

One of my neighbors has a 2 door version of this. I had no idea they even made the 2nd gen 2 door, the things are crazy rare. There was definitely a switch to 4 door SUVs in that era.

[@JohnEvans-ct6mz]

In that beginning scene where the 4Runner pulls up in front of John. I want to know how many takes that took to get right? Between flinching because it’s so close and maybe once or twice getting a little too close. 😂

[@Kiss__Kiss]

Nothing but the best. Toyota 4Runner!!! I've owned generations 1st-4th and they keep getting better. Waiting on the 6th Gen.

[@stavroslask1292]

I still have my 1992 4Runner here in Queens NY. Almost 32 years old! When cars were built like tanks!

[@nwezetx1]

Was it built in 1991? I have a press video from January 1992 of the facelifted model, but thought those were already out in late '91.

[@cbh148]

@@nwezetx1 I'd like to see that press vid! I've got a '94 Toyota pickup 4x4 DLX 22RE 5 speed that of course shares so many parts to these 2nd gen 4R's, but also didn't get nearly as changed during the '92 refresh as what the 4R's did -- just a slightly changed bumper (now 1 piece), valence, grille, and corner lights, still using the old sealed beam headlights, whereas the 4R's got the full flush headlight housings with more modern bulbs that remove from the back side.

[@nwezetx1]

@@cbh148 It was generally a B-roll, dated January 1992. I could be wrong I haven't watched it in one year. My channel for uploading videos I can't find the password and it predates Gmail being mandatory, so can't retrieve it. I'm guessing unlike the '92 Pickup, maybe Toyota released a 92 4Runners in January 1992, which is ironically when they began development of the 1996 third gen that same month. Apparently the '92 pickups got a refresh, at the same time in 1991 when the '95 Taco mockup had been fully designed. It's interesting how Toyota does that on purpose though.

[@BradThePitts]

Interesting how the Jeep and Explorer was less money. I guess they didn't consider that those are 100,000 mile vehicles, and this Toyota is a 500,000 mile vehicle.

[@kowalski5599]

Definitely a beautiful vehicle. A very close second in my garage to the XJ Cherokee with 4.0 4x4 and LSD If I were back in 1990.

[@irishare76]

Owned 4 of these little tough suv's since 1990. Can't wait to get another. Only switched to Tundra because needed to haul horses. Now going back, but was told engines aren't as good as earlier models! An comments to that???

[@l.e.miller1208]

It's crazy to hear them describe this vehicle as being too tall for some people. SUVs and trucks have gotten so huge now that the old 4RUnner looks like a sedan in comparison

[@stevemcgowen]

Vehicles in the USA have had to get larger to match the expansion Americans have had since the ‘80s…

[@l.e.miller1208]

@@stevemcgowen manifest destiny into the middle seat.

[@stevemcgowen]

What? It's because of obesity...@@l.e.miller1208

[@dangarcia4866]

Lol. Motorweek was definitely carrying the big three’s water in 1990!

[@nathankoroush7918]

The big 3, is called a trash bag of union built crap.

[@nwezetx1]

Exactly, complaining about no airbags at @6:24? Lol, a huge reach. They never asked that about the '91 S-10 Blazer & expensive Oldsmobile Bravada or the '91 Explorer, yet this one got such a ding. Nothing in this class had a single airbag until 1994 ('95 S-10 Blazer), let alone two ('95 Explorer). Toyota couldn't install them in the old Hilux based architecture yet, so they opted for a full redesign in late 1995/early 1996. Toyota was ahead of both GM and Ford by 1996, in having a thoroughly new design and not just a heavy facelift of an existing platform from the 80s. I'd say Toyota came out on top with a safer design overall until 2001.

[@austinfrazier7325]

Hey John Davis had to eat

[@davidaubin3902]

5:00 “The Logical Song”by Supertramp.

[@doug6191]

I try to figure out the tune, too 😁

[@wheezin_mtnbkr3576]

Had one to 417,000 miles and sold it running after 30 years. Funny to see it compared to the Ford Explorer. 😂 Please.

[@damontroch4765]

I'd rather have Jeeps 4.0 Inline 6. Good power and was good for over 300k miles

[@JC-xc8rx]

Lol, it’s a joke right?

[@waterloo123100]

@@JC-xc8rxLol both of my Jeep Zj’s have been super reliable and their 30 years old. The 5.2 is unbeatable for that era

[@WoodsPrecisionArms]

Still one of the best looking SUV’s built. Inside and out. Straight up. The best feature on that vehicle is that it has an actual tail gate - people forget how useful a tail gate is until you don’t have one lol

[@bryantmorton5999]

Why was it so much more money? Because they’re still running and driving 33 years later

[@Coldpack13]

My head gasket leaked, as did so many others.

[@MarkMeadows90]

I had the privilege to own a 2001 4 Runner back in 2013. Bought it from my brother in law and drove it for about 5 years before selling it again. It was a good SUV, but I didn't use it much except for hauling things around mostly. It was very reliable in its own way. I somewhat regret selling it, but again, I didn't drive it much.

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

That 4-runner is probably still trucking away somewhere

[@plmn93]

More likely it rusted away or blew a head gasket before the turn of the century.

[@NewDevanaYudityach8485]

Wow, I'm amazed to see car The 4 Runner is called a Hilux surf car for Indonesians, like driving a super 5k 1.5 cc model box Kijang car and an MPV-based Grand Extra 7 k 1.8 CC with a luxurious interior in the 90s, the ignition key is similar It's really like a 4 Runner and 4 Runner SR5 car, the sound of the ignition key is the same as His voice rattling

[@fernandorocha901]

Best SUV of Toyptta 4Runner 80s amd 90s

[@gilbes1139]

Some things never change, like the price of a 4Runner. A good condition 1990 4Runner still costs around $20,000.

[@Anomize23]

I don’t know about anybody else but every now and then you still be seeing these old 4runners just driving around like it was bought last year😂

[@thndr_5468]

One of these factory stock and red is my dream car. One day...

[@jimv77]

I remember my sister buying a new 1990 4Runner for like $26,000. What is crazy is that same month my brother bought his first HOUSE for $25,000. Gotta love the 90s and inflation. Zillow says that house is worth $145,000 today.

[@dohc1067]

There are still a lot of these on the road today. Throttle cables, instead of these, drive by wire systems of today. Not the most efficient per say, but they can last another 20 to 30 years.

[@WestShore88]

I like this

[@user-uc6bf5ze3b]

My son in law lucked out and bought a white automatic in 05 for $400. Sitting for years clean gas new battery and drove it home. Slow as heck tires had flat spots but he drove it anyway.

[@Mason-fv1zl]

Oh no the head gasket blowing 3.0 😂😂

[@kgthegreatone943]

Great vehicle

[@ascott2168]

The pillar of automotive reliability even when its covered in rust and it rolled off the assembly line not to longer after me 😅

[@stre622]

Nice,had 5 different 4runners, first one 1985

[@dundeeecroc]

I have the 1985 Toyota 4runner SR5 5 speed on 35's with 5:29 gearing and gets 22mpg using PURE gasoline, also has the 22re engine.. tried a few times with the E10, mpg dropped to 17mpg. so I stay with PURE gasoline. Also had the 1995 Toyota 4runner SR5 5 speed with the v6, blew a head gasket at 268kmiles, removed the rear crossover pipe just behind that engine and rebuilt it. problem was the crossover pipe putting too much heat onto the right rear side of the 3.0 v6.this is what caused the head gasket leak, it happened on the passenger side of the engine

[@TheJiggs666]

Been looking for an 84 to 1992 Toyota 4runner or Pickup for years. I've seen these models listed at 30k and above.

[@4HBirtcher]

Very first 4 door 4Runner!

[@jeepgibby]

Did you guys make a 1st gen tacoma review?

[@HelmetOfHonor]

I have a 2000 4runner I bought a few months ago at 264,000 it's now at 271,000 and still going strong

[@silverxstar01]

5:07 “Headroom is plentiful,” he says as he hits his head on the ceiling. LOL!

[@Porsche996driver]

Wow what an INTRO!! Did John script that? But seriously, I mean there are way more old Ford Rangers on the road than these.

[@djsonic6533]

My uncle had a 93 i think it was with the 4cyl slow but reliable and still regrets trading it in for a brand new car till this day 😂

[@retro_88yota]

The 2nd gen sold well when it was new but the the headgasket failure prone 3vz-e sent many of them to the junkyard early on and it tarnished the reputation of the 2nd gen 4runners.

[@te_squared]

Still have my 91. Almost 280k on the original chassis.

[@tinhinnh]

wish they kept the drop down tailgate

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Great 4x4s.... But like Subaru 2.5 EJ engine plan for a Head Gasket replacement on the 3 slow

[@82_KID]

This is basically the SUV version of Marty McFly's pick up in Back To The Fyture

[@poivre22]

The ‘83-‘89 runner is the McFly equivalent.

[@82_KID]

@@poivre22 MCFLY!!!!!!

[@nwezetx1]

​@@82_KIDMCFLY... Yeah you don't know what you're talking about.

[@nwezetx1]

​@@poivre22Exactly lol

[@82_KID]

@@nwezetx1 MARTY! (And. Yes I do lmao)

[@ericverdone2845]

yeah, good thing the fine folks at Motorweek opted for the domestic competitors. real tough decision between this, the jeep, and the ford in 2023 🤔

[@johnb-ke9xi]

and they still sell for $22,918 today in good condition!

[@nickkatsoulakis6103]

I want one

[@bryanwashington9511]

I still see these older 4Runners on the road now!

[@AdolfAdolfovich1375]

🎉

[@michaelmcwhorter8707]

30+ years later and they still can't muster much better than 16 MPG. But I wouldn't trade mine for a Jeep.

[@justinchamberlin3651]

The new one's weigh almost 1k lbs more

[@pinkipipe]

Best 4 runner ever ….

[@razvandobos9759]

A Hilux with a covered bed. Solid truck.

[@cgreenfield6655]

Absolutely over engineered and so damn perfect

[@ChristopherOvrebo]

That 3.0 was such a mixed bag. Either you got a good one or you got one that blew head gaskets and was slow

[@billsmith281]

They only blew head gaskets if the engine got over heated, usually due to low coolant....lack of maintenance

[@guyfarano7372]

My head gaskets got changed under warranty in 1991, but they were not leaking. About 6 years later the the gasket blew around the #1 cylinder, I changed them myself. If I remember right there was around 6 upgrades to the gasket

[@Robraeil]

Those specs are similar to cars right now! 😂

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

Was there a difference between the 4Runner V6 and the 1MZ-FE they used in the Camry, Avalon, ES300, etc ? I had a 1999 Camry XLE V6 and even past 300,000 miles it was still the smoothest engine i’ve ever owned

[@tacoma171]

They are different engines yes

[@niia.3642]

This 4Runner has the 3VZ-E (and later the 5VZ-FE in the 3.4). Early V6 Camries used the 3VZ-FE before being replaced by the 1MZ-FE

[@nwezetx1]

The 4Runner had the 3VZ-E from May 1989 to December 1995 The Camry had the *3VZ-FE* from October 1991 to September 1993, debuting in the redesigned 1992 model. It switched to the 1MZ-FE in September 1993 and used it until 2003, through two redesigns in 1996 and 2001.

[@nwezetx1]

​@@niia.3642The 1992 and 93 Camrys had the 3VZ, but not so much the earlier 2nd gen with the 2VZ-FE from 1987 to 1991.

[@DANNYN224]

Very reliable engine

[@scott8238]

Nope not the 3.0 it eats head gaskets

[@darnellrobeson4761]

U see wayyyyy more Explorers and Cherokees still riding around than these. They rusted into oblivion. But they were so cool when new. Very tough yet very refined.

[@Anomize23]

I don’t think so. I’m still seeing 90s 4runners at least here in the southwest desert, where there isn’t snow or rust.😂😂

[@waterloo123100]

@@Anomize23its the opposite in the rust belt. Toyotas don’t last here unfortunately

[@ooluta7578]

This is basically a Toyota Hilux badged as a 4Runner.

[@doug6191]

OMG, dude! You cracked the case! 😮

[@ooluta7578]

​@@doug6191, I know!

[@erich84502ify]

V6 3.0 had issues but excellent truck

[@j_mars_cars]

I have owned 3 2nd gen 4Runners. 3.0 v6 auto and manual, and my current 22re powered manual one. It’s a base model with no ac, cruise, roof rack, spoiler or rear speakers optioned! I added all but the ac and cruise now, and I have explored over many of the United States with it. I even took it on my honeymoon! I have all the emissions deleted, rare TJM front bumper with a winch, 3” lift, 33” tires, 4.88 Yukon gears, off road lights and a subwoofer. It’s pretty much unstoppable, even with open diffs. It’s outperforms a lot of other vehicles in the same category. One day I’ll 3rz swap it for the additional pony’s, then turbo it. But for now, old faithful keeps on moving!

[@OliverSkatt03]

Even when this thing was brand new, it looked like it’s been sitting in a driveway for 30 years. 🤣🤣

[@English_MoFo]

I’d pay top dollar for one of those 💯

[@Mike-hu3pp]

Funny how all the review complaints are about the benefits of this great vehicle. "High to step out of", "Top heavy" that's what you get with high ground clearance. This is the reason why North America has been left with fwd based 4 door minivans as "SUVs" rather than great little truck based machines like this.

[@christopherwaits7852]

Where’s the review for the 1984 Pickup and 1989 Pickup??

[@AR-pm9nv]

1990 4Runner still on the road. All others died after 5 years.

[@THE-xp3hp]

4x4x4 drive a 4 runner specialty 😮