90% of Toyota 4Runner owners simply want an SUV that LOOKS capable. They want the looks of the TRD Pro, but don’t need the off-road capability. This is where the 4Runner Venture comes in.
Toyota hasn’t done more than an aesthetic facelift to their 4Runner since 2009 which leaves it, at least mechanically, a bit of a dinosaur. Typically, most people don’t want to buy dinosaurs, but given Toyota’s customer base and their ravenous appetite for reliability they have been able to let this iconic off-roader soldier on. However, Toyota has to sweeten the pot now and then by offering special editions and unique focused trims to keep people open to the idea of paying $45,000 for a Toyota from 2009.
4Runner Venture Powertrain
Like every other 4Runner, the Venture Special Edition gets the 1GR 4.0L naturally aspirated V6. It’s tuned for 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque and it’s slow. That’s largely due to it being mated to an ancient 5-speed automatic transmission that’s as confused as a European visiting an Alabama tailgate party.
From there the power goes to the rear wheels unless the mechanical 4X4 system is engaged in which case equal torque goes the the front and rear axle. It’s a simple system and the mechanical 4WD shifter vibrates along as you drive, removing any doubt that it’s mechanically connected. In trims such as the base SR5 and the luxxed-up Limited, the 4WD selector is a dial and much more boring.
Off-Road Technology
Despite the Venture Special Edition being an aesthetic-based trim package, it gets a shocking amount of off-road extras. Crawl Control is here and will completely modulate your throttle up to 10 mph so you can focus, simply, on steering and wheel position. Multi-Terrain Select is available in 4LO which brings in some traction control capabilities and allow more slip for loose conditions and less slip for rock crawling modes. You’ve also got a true locking rear differential, and ATrac individual wheel braking off road.
It all comes together to make the weak link the Bridgestone Dueler tires and the stock 9 inch ride height. You also don’t get the fancy TRD skid plate up front or the exception Fox shocks.
Styling
The TRD Pro model 4Runner get black accents all over the body and so does this Venture special edition. However, the TRD Pros also get Toyota’s heritage grille which stays reserved for the top-of-the-line TRD Pro. The silver and red-painted TRD skid plate also stays reserved for the TRD Pro. The Venture and TRD Pros both get roof accessories, but the TRD Pro gets a special roof rack while the Venture gets a Yakima roof basket from the factory.
4Runner Venture final thoughts
Ultimately, the Venture is closer to the TRD Offroad Premium than it is to the TRD Pro, but that’s not such a bad thing. That allows you to have KDSS on the Venture which greatly improves the on-road manners of the truck. That, along with, the Dueler tires make it the beefiest looking road-going 4Runner you can get.