2025 Toyota 4Runner Preview
The last time a redesigned Toyota 4Runner rolled off an assembly line, Barack Obama was just eight months into his first term as President of the United States. So yeah, it’s been a minute.
Despite its advanced age, the fifth-generation 4Runner was among the 40 best-selling vehicles in America last year, a testament to the SUV’s enduring appeal. But change is coming, and soon.
A sixth-generation 2025 Toyota 4Runner goes on sale in the fall of 2024, built on the same body-on-frame platform as the Tacoma pickup truck and all-new Land Cruiser. Equipped with four doors, an optional third-row seat, a standard roll-down back window, and turbocharged power, the 2025 4Runner comes in nine trim levels with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). Naturally, it retains its go-anywhere and do-anything capability.
2025 Toyota 4Runner Exterior - Find the best Toyota 4Runner deals!
Toyota characterizes the new 4Runner’s look as “rugged with a purpose.” Inspired by the desert racing scene, the 4Runner reflects Tacoma-influenced styling with details exclusive to the SUV, such as the “wrap-over” quarter-window glass. Yes, the new 4Runner retains its standard power back window that drops into the liftgate, and a power-operated liftgate is now available.
New Trailhunter and Platinum trim levels top a lineup that includes SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, and Limited trim levels. The Trailhunter looks the part of an overlanding machine thanks to its heritage-design grille with bronze TOYOTA lettering, integrated 20-inch LED light bar, skid plates, roof rack, and rock rails.
2025 Toyota 4Runner Interior - Find the best Toyota 4Runner deals!
Inside, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner seats five people unless you get the optional third-row seat, which boosts capacity to seven.
Toyota promises improved materials and refinement in the new 4Runner, and the luxurious Platinum trim provides heated second-row seats. Those seats tumble forward to expand cargo capacity, preserving as much cargo floor space as possible. In addition, the 4Runner Trailhunter includes a 2400-watt AC inverter with outlets in the cabin and the cargo area.
2025 Toyota 4Runner Specs - Find the best Toyota 4Runner deals!
Built on the same rugged platform as the Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma, and Tundra, the redesigned 2025 4Runner boasts a steel ladder frame and a double-wishbone front/multi-link coil rear suspension design. A stabilizer bar disconnect system is available to improve wheel articulation.
A turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is standard in most 4Runners, making 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Available for the TRD Off-Road and Limited and standard in the TRD Pro, Trailhunter, and Platinum variants, a turbocharged i-Force Max hybrid powertrain provides 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. With the i-Force Max hybrid, the 2025 4Runner can tow 6,000 pounds.
Both engines employ an eight-speed automatic transmission. With two-wheel drive (2WD), an automatic limited-slip rear differential is standard. Every 4Runner gets a hill start assist system.
The available part-time 4WD system includes a two-speed transfer case. The SUV features a standard electronic locking center differential with the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter. A Multi-Terrain Select system is available with this 4WD system. Functional in 4-Hi and 4-Lo, it offers Mud, Dirt, and Sand settings and a new, quieter Crawl Control low-speed off-road cruise control system. A hill descent control system is also available.
Upgrade to a 4Runner Limited with its optional i-Force Max hybrid powertrain or the 4Runner Platinum, and you’ll get a full-time automatic 4WD system.
The new-for-2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter features 33-inch Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires, ARB Old Man Emu 2.5-inch forged shocks with rear piggyback remote reservoirs, a 2-inch suspension lift in the front, and a 1.5-inch lift in the back. Toyota reports maximum ground clearance of 9.2 inches and approach and departure angles of 32 and 24 degrees, respectively.
2025 Toyota 4Runner Safety and Technology - Find the best Toyota 4Runner deals!
The all-new sixth-generation 4Runner takes a giant leap forward technologically, especially regarding advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It comes with a standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) collection of ADAS, plus blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning.
Thanks to TSS 3.0, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner safety features include:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Lane-centering assistance
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Proactive Driving Assist
- Emergency Driving Stop System
The 4Runner’s Emergency Driving Stop System is active when using the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance systems. It detects an unresponsive driver who may be asleep or suffering a medical problem and brings the SUV to a safe stop.
Proactive Driving Assist provides subtle steering and braking assistance during everyday driving to help you maintain a safe following distance and navigate around obstacles. You can turn this off if you’d prefer.
In standard specification, drivers face a 7-inch information display. A larger 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel is available, as is a head-up display.
The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system includes a standard 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto connectivity. A 14-inch display is available, and you can get a wireless charging pad and a digital key system for the new 4Runner.
Expect Toyota to offer its various connected services plans for the new 4Runner, including Wi-Fi Connect access, Safety Connect with automatic collision notification, and Drive Connect, which adds a cloud-based navigation system and a conversational digital voice assistant. The plans require a subscription, but Toyota typically provides a generous trial period before you fork over your credit card number.
You are now subscribed to the J.D. Power Cars Newsletter.
