Petersen’s 4-Wheel Names 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro 4X4 of the Year

Petersen’s picks the 4Runner TRD Pro over Ram and Jeep.

Since 1983, Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine has chosen one vehicle that it thinks is the best off-road vehicle of the year. This year, the 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is the winner, and it was not even close. The 4Runner edged out its siblings the 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro, and Tundra TRD Pro, as well as the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and Ram Powerwagon, to take the overall win.

2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro For the Win
In its analysis, Petersen’s looked all aspects of the vehicle’s ability off-road. The only area that the 4Runner did not win was fuel economy. The 4Runner’s 4.0-liter 6-cylinder engine and 5-speed automatic are not exactly fuel misers. But the 4Runner had it where it counted most. Speaking of the 4Runner, Petersen’s said, “With its custom-tuned suspension aimed at go-fast dessert play, it’s no wonder we like Toyota’s four-door wagon so much.”

Petersen’s uses a numerical ranking system to find its winner. The 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro earned a total score of 542. The runner-up was the 2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro with a score of 462 and then the Tundra TRD came in third with a score of 416. The Ram and Jeep earned scores of 401 and 400. Before you start thinking that Petersen’s is somehow biased toward Toyota consider that since 1983, Toyota vehicles have only won 4X4 of the Year three times. This is the first 4Runner victory.

The full story can be found in the March 2015 print issue of Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine or may be found after it is uploaded at 4wheeloffroad.com.

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