The safety of the 4Runner is a bit of a split decision. On one hand, there are plenty of safety features designed to protect you and your precious cargo. On the other, there’s a bit of a rollover risk, as there is with any tall SUV. Electronic stability and traction control systems help with that problem, and computerized antilock brakes are also standard. There are airbags all around in case of a collision, but Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ratings for rear-end collisions suggest that taller drivers aren’t well-protected. Lucky for me, I’m not that tall. And nobody hit me. Phew!

The nav system comes with a rearview camera, which is absolutely fabulous, especially in a vehicle this big. What I particularly enjoyed, however, were the two mirrors in the cargo area that give a view of the area immediately behind the car. That means that, even without the nav system, you can see where you’re going while in Reverse.

In the backseat, the two Latch connectors are somewhat buried and hard to reach. It’s not impossible to install a child-safety seat, but it’s not something you’re going to want to do on a regular basis. The seat belts can also be tricky for little hands. While my older son had no problems with it, he needed to help his little brother get the seat belt “clicked” about half of the time.

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safety: Ratings

NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings

Front, Passenger's
Front, Driver's
Other, Rollover Resistance
Side, Rear Seat
Side, Front Seat

IIHS ratings

Rear overall test	{Poor}
Front overall test	{Good}
Side overall test	{Good}

*Results are for the 2008 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 and may vary with airbag options.

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