Our overriding takeaway impression of the Toyota 4Runner interior is its quietude, impressive given its ruggedness and off-road capability. Wind noise is the only sound heard because there is virtually no driveline or tire noise.

The cloth seats in the SR5 and Sport models are comfortable, with side bolsters to keep the driver in place when cornering or driving off road. The driver's seat adjusts eight ways. All five seating positions offer adjustable headrests and three-point seatbelts. About the only negative we noted was that the storage lid on the center console was flimsy. Otherwise, this is a quality interior. Storage bins are provided in all four doors.

A two-tone dashboard houses the instruments. Gauges with orange illumination are set in three deep binnacles and can't be read by the front-seat passenger. The fuel gauge uses an inclinometer for accurate readouts when the 4Runner is tilted on an incline. Automatic climate control is standard on all models. The Limited grade comes with a his-and-hers dual-zone temperature control. A display located just above the climate control reveals time, ambient temperature, and trip data. An optional 115-volt AC power outlet means you can bring all the electrical conveniences of home with you, a great feature.

An unusual feature is a pair of small convex mirrors at the rear corners of the interior designed to help the driver see vehicles approaching when backing out of a parking space. It works on the same principal as one of those big convex mirrors mounted at a corner in an underground parking garage. They may prove helpful when backing up in a busy parking lot because they help the driver pick up on movement. Using them effectively takes some practice, however, and it's hard to distinguish details.

The optional Navigation system calculates routes six times faster than previous systems, according to Toyota. The touch screen display flips up for CD/cassette and tilts in four positions to vary viewing angles for drivers of different heights.

The rear doors offer a relatively narrow opening to get into rear seats, but it's not as tight as, say, a Land Rover Discovery. The rear seat is roomy, but the bench itself is uncomfortable; it's raised slightly in the center position. The rear seat features a wide center armrest that folds down to provide two cup holders and a tray for French fries or whatever. An unusual feature, but perhaps a good idea, is a small trash bag holder for rear passengers. More appreciated are the rear ventilation ducts that bring comfort in the form of warm or cool air.

Cargo space is well designed. The rear seats can be folded down with the headrests in place, though we sometimes found it easier to pull them off. Then, pull the seat bottoms up and fold the seatbacks down. The rear seats fold nearly flat, flatter than a Ford Explorer's, and the seatbacks are reinforced to support heavy loads, again better than the Explorer. The cargo area includes structural steel tie-down hooks on the floor with additional hooks on the sides. A clever double-decker rear storage shelf helps organize cargo in two levels. Using just one hand, the collapsible shelf can be folded flat or lifted up easily with one hand. When deployed, the sturdy shelf is rated to 66 pounds. A large storage box is provided on the right.

The back hatch comes standard with a power rear window that can be operated from the key fob. If it senses a small hand in the way, the power rear hatch window will reverse directions and open. The rear hatch door also comes with power opener, great for icy weather. An electric power close function ensures the back hatch closes securely.