Like other Toyota trucks and SUVs, the 2010 4Runner looks angry. Its grille gives it an attitude not found on the 2009 4Runner, and you can decide for yourself whether that's a good idea.
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The front fascia is chunkier on the 2010 4Runner, perhaps befitting its position in the large SUV lineup as the sport-utility with some serious offroading abilities.
New on the Trail model, the area just below the upper grille is painted black, adding contrast and forcing a comparison to the Mitsubishi Lancer and 2010 Outlander.
Squared-off wheel wells appear on the 2010 model, as do huge bulges in the sheetmetal on the doors. Lower door cladding distinguishes the 2009 model from the new one.
Taillights on the new model pop out from the metal while the black or chrome "4Runner" bar above the 2010 SUV's rear license plate is a nice touch. This 4Runner's body style is likely to stick around for six or more years. How well do you think its styling will age? And is it an improvement on the last-generation model? Use Motor Trend's Comparison Photo Gallery to help make your decision.
Last week, the 2010 Hyundai Tucson met mixed reviews. "Refreshing compared to the last one," said IBx1, "revolting on its own."
The basic design is very sharp; however ... the front does look too busy," said fear the voices.
Photo order: 2010 Toyota 4Runner front view, 2009 Toyota 4Runner front view, 2010 Toyota 4Runner rear view, 2009 Toyota 4Runner rear view, 2010 Toyota 4Runner interior, 2009Toyota 4Runner interior.
I’ve come a long way since I drove sugar packets across restaurant tables as a kid, pretending they were cars. With more than 17 years of experience, I'm passionate about demystifying the new car market for shoppers and enthusiasts. My expertise comes from thoughtfully reviewing countless vehicles across the automotive spectrum. The greatest thrill I get isn’t just from behind the wheel of an exotic car but from a well-executed car that’s affordable, entertaining, and well-made. Since about the time I learned to walk I’ve been fascinated by cars of all shapes and sizes, but it wasn’t until I struggled through a summer high school class at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design that I realized writing was my ticket into the automotive industry. My drive to high school was magical, taking me through a beautiful and winding canyon; I've never lost the excited feeling some 16-year-olds get when they first set out on the road. The automotive industry, singing, and writing have always been my passions, but because no one seeks a writer who sings about the automotive industry, I honed my writing and editing skills at UC Irvine (zot zot!), serving as an editor of the official campus newspaper and writing stories as a literary journalism major. At USC, I developed a much greater appreciation for broadcast journalists and became acquainted with copy editing rules such as why the Oxford comma is so important. Though my beloved 1996 Audi A4 didn’t survive my college years, my career with MotorTrend did. I started at the company in 2007 building articles for motorcycle magazines, soon transitioning to writing news posts for MotorTrend’s budding online department. I spent some valuable time in the copy editing department, as an online news director, and as a senior production editor. Today, MotorTrend keeps me busy as the Buyer's Guide Director. Not everyone has a career centered on one of their passions, and I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.
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