SAN DIEGO – The final time a brand new Toyota 4Runner debuted, Barack Obama was within the first yr of his presidency. “The Hangover,” “Avatar” and sixth Harry Potter film have been large on the field workplace; Taylor Swift was nonetheless thought-about a rustic artist. Children born that yr can now get their learners’ allow. So yeah, to say the 4Runner was due for a alternative is placing it mildly. Lastly, we’ve got one thing to report within the “What’s New” part of annual 4Runner critiques in addition to delicate tech upgrades and a brand new TRD Professional colour.
OK, OK, sufficient with the preamble. The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is lastly(!) right here and can lastly(!) be obtainable at sellers this fall after it begins rolling off the manufacturing line in Tahara, Japan. It’s primarily based on Toyota’s TNGA-F truck platform, the most recent in a too-long-to-list household of redesigned SUVs and vans that have been equally lengthy within the tooth. Amongst these is the brand new Tacoma, and loads of what you’re about to learn ought to appear acquainted in the event you’re well-briefed on Toyota’s midsize truck — particularly the rugged new Trailhunter trim that was first supplied on the pickup.
2025 Toyota 4Runner options
The usual 4Runner engine is now the identical 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four good for 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque you will get within the Tacoma. The outdated 4.0-liter V6 produced 270 hp and 278 lb-ft, however it additionally had a five-speed automated that did it zero favors by way of efficiency and gas financial system. The brand new 4Runner joins the twenty first century with an eight-speed automated. Gasoline financial system estimates are TBA. There’s additionally no handbook regardless of the Tacoma providing one with the identical engine.
As good of a generational replace as that engine is, although, the 4Runner will as soon as once more supply an engine improve. No V8 this time, although. It’s Toyota’s i-Power Max hybrid powertrain that pairs the turbo-four with a 48-hp electrical motor built-in inside the eight-speed automated for a complete system output of 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. It is going to be obtainable on the TRD Off-Street and Restricted trim ranges, and commonplace on the TRD Professional and new Trailhunter and Platinum trims. This might be the identical hybrid engine improve obtainable within the Tacoma that we’ll be reviewing April 23.
We talked about obtainable third-row seating up high, and it ought to be famous right here that you would be able to’t get the third row with the hybrid. The battery and third row occupy the identical house within the cargo space. With each, the cargo ground raises by 2-3 inches (kind of just like the outdated Chevy Tahoe) and due to this fact reduces capability. The third row is non-compulsory on the SR5 and Restricted, although, once more, with the turbo engine solely.
Drivetrain choices embrace rear-wheel drive, part-time four-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel-drive. The distinction between these final two is you must shift into 4 Excessive with part-time, whereas an automated mode can interact the entrance axle as wanted in full-time, not in contrast to an all-wheel-drive system. This model is simply obtainable on the luxury-oriented Restricted (non-compulsory) and Platinum (commonplace). The TRD Off-Street, TRD Professional and Trailhunter get digital locking differentials. The Multi-Terrain Choose system now features in 4WD Excessive and 4WD Low, whereas the Crawl Management low-speed off-road cruise management is seemingly quieter. Presumably, which means it received’t sound like somebody mounted an automated rifle below the entrance bumper.
Now, whereas the last-generation 4Runner TRD Off-Street got here with Toyota’s trick KDSS mechanically disconnecting stabilizer bars, that function is now the unique property of the Lexus GX Overtrail. Making up for that deletion, at the very least considerably, is a brand new manually disconnecting stabilizer bar obtainable on the TRD and Trailhunter trim ranges. The brand new Land Cruiser can be obtainable with this much less refined, however nonetheless helpful function that will increase suspension articulation off-road whereas additionally bettering on-road experience and dealing with.
2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter
OK, so now let’s speak in regards to the Trailhunter, trigger it’s clearly essentially the most intriguing addition to the 4Runner household. It’s one in every of two new trim ranges, or grades in Toyota parlance, together with the ritzy Platinum that goes in a complete totally different route atop the 2025 4Runner hierarchy. You may learn extra about it in our Trailhunter trim breakdown, however lengthy story brief:
Just like the Tacoma model that debuted the title and idea, the 4Runner Trailhunter goes past the TRD Professional with {hardware} and functionality particularly meant to look superior for overlanding. Among the many upgrades are a 2.5-inch carry courtesy Outdated Man Emu (OME) cast shocks with exterior piggyback distant reservoirs on the rear; 33-inch Toyo Open Nation all-terrain tires that increase the experience peak by 2 inches on the entrance and 1.5 on the rear; rock rails and high-strength metal skid plates; a high-mount air consumption; a 20-inch mild bar with color-selectable fog lamps (if they’ll’t flip purple, what’s the purpose?); a 2,400-watt AC inverter with retailers within the cabin and cargo space; three aux switches; and an ARB roof rack. With the 4Runner Trailhunter, carry on the apocalypse.
Different 2025 Toyota 4Runner trims
So how does the Trailhunter evaluate to the 2025 4Runner TRD Professional, which was beforehand the gnarliest off-roading model? It additionally will get a 2.5-inch carry, however does so courtesy Fox shocks with adjustable reservoirs. These are meant extra for higher-speed desert working, whereas the OMEs on the Trailhunter are supposed to maintain heavier curb weights (keep in mind, overlanders carry loads of stuff with them) whereas rock crawling. The TRD Professional additionally comes commonplace with the identical 33-inch tires because the Trailhunter (the most important ever supplied on the 4Runner, by the best way) however with totally different TRD tires in black. It additionally will get the manually disconnecting stabilizer bar commonplace, plus the broader stance that stretches a whopping 3 inches past the last-generation TRD Professional.
Talking of the last-generation TRD Professional, you may discover the brand new one lacks a big-old roof rack. As a substitute, it has the identical rails obtainable on different 2025 4Runners. The thought was many people preferred the outdated rack for aesthetic functions, particularly as some extent of differentiation with different 4Runners. With so many different distinctive styling cues, although (observe the fender flares and gloss black trim), Toyota figures there received’t be as nice demand for it. In the meantime, these searching for further roof functionality will most likely gravitate to the Trailhunter anyway. That’s the logic at the very least. The brand new TRD Professional additionally loses the outdated one’s droning TRD exhaust (no loss) whereas gaining a purely aesthetic hood scoop (no achieve). The colour you see right here is known as Mudbath, and I can affirm that is certainly the particular TRD Professional colour for the assorted 2025 fashions.
As for the TRD Off-Street, it returns as a step up past the fundamental SR5 for these searching for some further off-road functionality with out spending all that dough on the higher trim ranges. The handbook stabilizer bar is now an possibility (KDSS was non-compulsory earlier than), and it will get a TRD-tuned suspension that’s extra off-road-oriented than the SR5 provides. It comes commonplace with Crawl Management, Multi-Terrain Choose and the digital locking diff. It nonetheless seems to be just like the SR5.
On the opposite ending of the rugged spectrum, the TRD Sport returns, however has its personal TRD sport-tuned suspension for extra on-road goings (it beforehand shared the Restricted’s suspension). It will get the identical 20-inch wheels because the Restricted, although, together with comparable styling.
Trailhunter inside (high) with Restricted (beige) and TRD Professional (the opposite one)
Earlier than attending to the inside, let’s first point out that the 4Runner’s most indelible function is as soon as once more current: the facility roll-down rear window. Your canine and surf board can rejoice. Past that could be a large, boxy cargo space with capability TBA and an obtainable third-row seat, and a cabin that soars into the long run after 15 years caught in 2009. True, Toyota did considerably improve the tech alongside the best way, however it was at all times in a retrofit kind of method reasonably than a complete redo. There are actually 8- and 14-inch touchscreens obtainable, each working Toyota’s colourful, responsive and infrequently irksome infotainment interface. A 7-inch instrument panel show is commonplace on decrease trims with a 12.3-inch cluster on higher ones. This display availability is similar because the Tacoma. There are three USB-C ports up entrance, extra obtainable within the rear, and wi-fi charging added to higher trim ranges.
From a design perspective, the 4Runner’s inside is a direct copy-paste from the Tacoma, which is a bit disappointing from an originality standpoint. It’s additionally awfully extreme, verging on brutal. That could be extra in line with the more durable exterior, particularly for the TRD Professional and Trailhunter pictured in black, however it does make the Restricted a fair iffier luxurious proposition. It might have the tools and leather-like beige upholstery, however from an aesthetic and supplies perspective, it’s a far cry from the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Although we have been capable of scrounge up the above data in regards to the varied TRD trims, we do not have pics obtainable of all of them too see how they by way of styling. We are able to at the very least see that the TRD Professional and Trailhunter get exaggerated fender flares in black (gloss TRD Professional, matte Trailhunter), with varied black badging to match. Additionally they get TOYOTA within the grille, whereas the Restricted pictured above will get the Toyota emblem together with a singular fascia and body-colored trim (plus a laughably large air dam). TRD Professional will get raised roof rails rather than the extra substantial metallic platform-type rack of the final model – the Trailhunter now sports activities the most important rack. The Restricted will get no rack, which makes it look a bit bald.
No matter what’s occurring high of the roof, just under it you’ll discover a return of one of many 4Runner’s earlier design staples: the “wrap-over” rear quarter glass. Despite the fact that the final two 4Runners haven’t had this cue, there’s one thing about it that simply seems to be so proper. The remainder of the design additionally works fairly effectively, and manages to make the brand new 4Runner look smaller despite the fact that it’s truly 4.7 inches longer and a couple of inches wider with a 2.4-inch longer wheelbase. It’s a bit shorter, although. Floor clearance is listed at 9.2 inches, however it’s unclear how that will differ with varied trim ranges. The outdated one had totally different specs for 2WD (9.0 inches) and 4WD (9.6) earlier than.
In order that’s all we all know in regards to the 2025 Toyota 4Runner at this level. Pricing can be introduced nearer to its on-sale date this fall.
