This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

  • The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the 2016 model year is the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid FWD at 26 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $5,000 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 19 MPG
City MPG 17 MPG
Highway MPG 22 MPG
Annual fuel cost $3,150
Tailpipe CO₂ 467 g/mi
Fuel type Regular

How the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD compares

The 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD returns 19 combined MPG. Cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the same model year average 19.2 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 1%.

The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the 2016 model year is the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid FWD at 26 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Toyota 4Runner 2WD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2016 model year (across all classes) returns 25.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2016 model year is on its own page.

2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
19 MPG
Class average, 2016
19.2 MPG
Class best, 2016
26 MPG
Average new car, 2016
25.9 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 789.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,575
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $3,150
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $5,250

Year-over-year MPG for the Toyota 4Runner 2WD

The EPA has rated the Toyota 4Runner 2WD across 37 model years, from 1990 Toyota 4Runner 2WD through 2026 Toyota 4Runner 2WD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 2025 Toyota 4Runner 2WD at 22 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2026 22 MPG 2026 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2025 22 MPG 2025 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2024 17 MPG 2024 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2023 17 MPG 2023 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2022 17 MPG 2022 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2021 17 MPG 2021 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2020 17 MPG 2020 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2019 18 MPG 2019 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2018 18 MPG 2018 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2017 18 MPG 2017 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2016 19 MPG this page
2015 19 MPG 2015 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2014 19 MPG 2014 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2013 19 MPG 2013 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2012 19 MPG 2012 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2011 19 MPG 2011 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2010 20 MPG 2010 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2009 18 MPG 2009 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2008 18 MPG 2008 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2007 18 MPG 2007 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2006 18 MPG 2006 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2005 18 MPG 2005 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2004 18 MPG 2004 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2003 18 MPG 2003 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2002 16 MPG 2002 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2001 17 MPG 2001 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
2000 19 MPG 2000 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1999 19 MPG 1999 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1998 19 MPG 1998 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1997 19 MPG 1997 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1996 20 MPG 1996 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1995 17 MPG 1995 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1994 17 MPG 1994 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1993 17 MPG 1993 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1992 17 MPG 1992 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1991 18 MPG 1991 Toyota 4Runner 2WD
1990 18 MPG 1990 Toyota 4Runner 2WD

Compare against other Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD for 2016

If you are cross-shopping the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Infiniti QX60 Hybrid FWD leads this group at 26 MPG, 7 MPG ahead of the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD.

Specifications

The 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD runs a 4-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s5), sending power through rear-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Engine
4L 6-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic (S5)
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Regular
Annual petroleum use
15.7 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD.

  • Is the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD fuel efficient?
    It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD returns 19 combined MPG, and the average car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the same model year sits at 19.2 MPG.
  • What MPG does the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD get?
    The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD at 19 combined MPG, 17 MPG in city driving, and 22 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,150 for the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • What fuel does the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD use?
    The EPA lists the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity.
  • Has the Toyota 4Runner 2WD become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (1990 Toyota 4Runner 2WD, 18 MPG) and most recent (2026 Toyota 4Runner 2WD, 22 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 467 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,005 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD?
    City driving returns 17 MPG and highway driving returns 22 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns.
  • What engine is in the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD?
    The 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD has a 4-liter 6-cylinder engine.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD have?
    The 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD comes with a automatic (s5) transmission and rear-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2WD compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the 2016 model year is the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid FWD at 26 combined MPG. The Toyota 4Runner 2WD returns 19 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.