1996 Toyota 4Runner Interior Review at Automotive.com
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1996 Toyota 4Runner Review: Interior

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1996 Toyota 4Runner Review

All new and much improved.
Interior
This is where the 4Runner's 1996 changes are most easily appreciated. For starters,

all four doors are wider, the floor is lower and the roof is higher, making entry and

exit a breeze, something definitely not true of past versions. The handsome dashboard,

subtly redesigned in the new edition, holds a complete array of legible gauges, and

has controls placed where they are most accessible to the driver. Dual airbags are

also standard, a welcome safety upgrade from the previous 4Runner, which had none.

Once inside, the occupants will find not only usable room for five adults, but more

comfortable seats. In front there's headroom for hat-wearers; full-sized rear-seat

occupants need to doff their fedoras, but have nothing else to complain about, another

big improvement over the old 4Runner. Storage area has been increased as well.

Our only complaint with the new dashboard is the location of the cupholders, which pop

out of the top of the dashboard. When they're in use, they severely restrict access to

the climate controls, and they won't accommodate an ordinary coffee mug.

Cupholders aside, Toyota's attention to detail can be seen everywhere. One example is

the cargo-area cover, configured for use with the rear seatback folded or upright.

Quality of materials and workmanship has long been a given with Toyota products; the

4Runner will do nothing to tarnish that reputation. Our SR5 tester was beautifully

finished inside and out, and is reasonably well equipped, with base models carrying

full carpeting, a 4-speaker AM/FM radio, fabric seats and a power rear window.

Our SR5 tester had more, including a tilt steering wheel, intermittent wipers

(variable-rate in front, fixed in back) rear window wiper and defogger, rear privacy

glass, rear-seat cupholders and power door locks.

Additions to the luxurious Limited are power windows and driver's seat, 16-in.

aluminum wheels (with larger-diameter front brakes), cruise control, one-touch

shifting between 2- and 4-wheel drive (all Limiteds are 4WD automatics), leather seats and wood interior trim, a premium 6-speaker sound system and air conditioning.

Even the Limited can be dressed up with options such as rear heater, power tilt/slide moonroof, locking rear differential and CD player. Most can be ordered on base and SR5 models, as can packages that duplicate many of the Limited's standard amenities. Next Page



1996 Toyota 4Runner