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Back in the 1990s, when the SUV craze really started to take off, automakers used to run magazine ads showing their SUVs in remote off-road locations. The promise of adventure was a major selling point, and since most SUVs were based on truck chassis, they really could go pretty far off the beaten path. Over the ensuing two decades, SUVs evolved into road-friendly crossovers, trading the off-road capability that their owners rarely used for the fuel economy they so desperately need.

That's a bit of shame, considering we live in a country that offers a treasure trove of scenic adventure for those willing to venture beyond the pavement.

One SUV that has remained true to its off-road roots is the Toyota 4Runner. Freshly redesigned for 2014, the 4Runner retains its durable body-on-frame construction and adds some rather impressive off-road hardware from the world-famous Land Cruiser. 2015 sees a new TRD Pro edition, which allows owners to venture even father (and faster) into the wilderness than they might have imagined possible.

What is TRD?

"TRD" stands for Toyota Racing Development, a division that makes go-faster and go-farther parts for Toyota vehicles. Last year, TRD sold $23 million worth of accessories, so it's no surprise that Toyota has decided to take things further with the factory-prepped 4Runner TRD Pro edition. In fact, the 4Runner is one of three new-for-2015 TRD Pro models; there are also special editions of the Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks.

Based on the 4Runner Trail trim level, the TRD Pro edition adds a long list of heavy-duty off-road equipment.

TRD/Eibach springs at all four corners soften the ride and raise the front-end ride height by 1.5", and big Bilstein shocks (2.5" diameter in front, 2.0" with remote reservoirs at the rear)  increase wheel travel by 1". Unique black wheels wear Nitto Terra Grappler tires, and a quarter-inch aluminum skid plate protects the front differential and powertrain, supplementing the 4Runner's existing fuel tank and transfer case skid plates. Styling changes include a unique grille, TRD PRO badges, red stitching on the seats, and TRD Pro shift knob and floor mats. Pricing had not been announced at the time of our test drive, but we expect the TRD Pro edition to run several thousand dollars more than the $36,585 4Runner Trail.

Where can you go with TRD Pro?

I've had the opportunity to do slow-speed off-roading with the 4Runner, and it's a very impressive piece of kit. I love the Crawl Control system, which allows the 4Runner to slowly pick its way up and down terrain too uneven to walk over. It automates the off-roaders' mantra of "Slow as possible, fast as necessary."

The 4Runner TRD Pro opens up a new kind of off-roading: High-speed, Baja 1000-style trail bashing. Toyota brought us to the outskirts of Las Vegas, Nevada, to put the 4Runner and other TRD Pro models to the test -- and that meant putting the hammer down on trails of dirt and gravel. It's an experience I have never had:  I'd see bumps ahead that I thought for sure would bend a wheel, I'd brace for impact, and the 4Runner would float over them as softly as a 1976 Cadillac Coupe deVille, the extra suspension travel soaking up the shock and keeping the 4Runner's suspension bits well clear of their bump stops. If by some chance we did catch a rock, the big Nitto tires and industrial-strength skid plates kept the 4Runner well protected. And as I later discovered back home in California on some steep off-road trails, the TRD Pro bits only enhance the 4Runner's prodigious obstacle-crawling abilities.

What about on-road performance? One of the advantages of factory design (rather than aftermarket parts) is integration with the vehicle, and that shows in the way the TRD Pro 4Runner goes down paved roads. The suspension and tires soften the ride and the steering precision a bit, but not much, and road noise isn't much louder than the regular 4Runner. Of course, the TRD Pro model suffers the same limitations of the 4Runner's body-on-frame construction: Less interior space, slower acceleration, and lower fuel economy than lighter "crossover" SUVs like Toyota's own Highlander.

..And it looks really, really cool!

Let's not forget that the 4Runner TRD Pro looks really, really cool. Available in just three colors -- black, white, and the orange seen in the photos -- with its nose-high stance, black wheels, and classic "TOYOTA" badging on the grille, this thing looks like it's ready to take on whatever surface you choose to put under its wheels, paved or not.

While I'm sure many will buy the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro on looks alone, this may well be the ultimate family adventure vehicle, one properly equipped to explore parts of this beautiful country that few of her citizens get to see. Let the adventure begin. -- Aaron Gold

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.