I’ve always thought that Toyotas in rental-car fleets were nothing but legends, made up by people who just didn’t want to admit to driving a Hyundai or a Nissan for a week like the rest of us. But I finally got one, and I have the pics to prove it.
It began with a phone call from the local Hertz office.
“I’m sorry sir, but we aren’t able to get the 3-row SUV you requested.”
This happens pretty much every time with the local place. I don’t know why I even get a choice when I make a reservation. It should just say “automobile” and I would select it and then they could call me like they always do to work something out. This time, the choices weren’t all bad though.
“I can get you a Toyota 4Runner, which is big but only has 2 rows, or a minivan if you need the seating.”
“Is the 4Runner four wheel drive?” It is a ski trip.
“Yes.”
“Cool, I’ll take it.”
I spent the few days before my pick-up appointment imagining how impressive the vaunted 4Runner was going to be. After all, this was the heavy-duty, body-on-frame, off-road capable 4Runner, not a reconfigured Camry with a lift kit. And when the day finally arrived, first impressions mostly confirmed my excitement.
It had huge 265/70 tires on 17 inch wheels, not the silly blacked-out 20s that are all the rage in the preschool parking lot. It sits high, with lots of ground clearance. And the styling, which has been around since 2014, didn’t have any egregious features, which is just about the kindest thing I can say about most modern car designs. It was more plasticky in the front end than I would have liked, and there seemed to be a lot of front overhang, but overall it was pretty honest and unpretentious.
Once the clerk had photographed all of the many cosmetic imperfections this example had suffered, I jumped in, tuned the radio off the pop music station, and drove off.