It was a long time coming.
The first all-new Toyota 4Runner in 15 model years has been revealed.
The 2025 4Runner is built on the same body-on-frame platform as the 2024 Tacoma pickup and will arrive in showrooms this fall.
Many 4Runner fans will be happy to hear that it will be manufactured at the Tahara plant in Aichi, Japan, which has been known for producing a very dependable truck. However, it was designed at Toyota’s Calty studio in Michigan specifically for the U.S., which is its primary market. Toyota doesn’t even sell the 4Runner in Japan.
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The new 4Runner looks a lot like the Tacoma up front, but with modified headlight, grille and hood designs.
The roof over the cargo area features windows that wrap on top like the original 1984 model.
The 4Runner’s wheelbase and overall length are both a couple of inches longer than the outgoing version, but it remains a midsize SUV.
The interior is a near carbon copy of the Tacoma’s and will be offered with a three row option. The touchscreen infotainment system is offered in 8-inch and 14-inch versions, depending on the trim.
The Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 package of driver aids is standard across the board and includes lane-centering adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and Toyota’s Proactive Driving Assist, which can be set to automatically reduce the vehicle’s speed if it is approaching a curve too quickly and also brake and apply steering assist to help the driver avoid cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles.
Many will be offered starting with the entry-level SR5, which is followed by the TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off Road, TRD Off Road Premium, Limited and the first-ever Platinum luxury trim. The TRD Pro is decked out for serious off-roading, while the Trailhunter is inspired by overlanding trucks.
Toyota has ditched the 4Runner’s long-serving 4.0-liter V6 in favor of a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, with or without hybrid assist, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. No manual will be offered. The standard i-Force engine is rated at 278 hp and 317 lb-ft, which are bumps from the V6’s 270 hp and 278 lb-ft figures. The i-Force Max adds an electric motor and 1.87 kWh battery pack into the mix that cranks the output up to a maximum of 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. Full performance specifications haven’t been announced, but the 4Runner’s towing capacity increases from 5,000 pounds to 6,000 pounds.
The i-Force Max is standard on the Platinum, TRD Pro and Trailhunter, which is equipped with ARB Old Man Emu 2.5-inch reservoir shocks, an ARB roof rack, 33-inch tires and a snorkel air intake. It also gets added underbody protection, rock rails, Rigid LED lights and a 2400-watt inverter. A sway bar disconnect is also being offered for the first time and is fitted to the Trailhunter and TRD Pro.
One old-school feature that endures is the 4Runner’s power-opening tailgate window.
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Pricing and additional details will be released closer to when the 4Runner hits showrooms this fall.
