It’s been 15 years since we final noticed a very new Toyota 4Runner. When most automobile lifecycles final about 8 years, 2010 was endlessly in the past. So, to say the SUV was due for an replace is an understatement. What’s actually fascinating, nevertheless, is that the 2025 Toyota 4Runner stays true to its rugged roots whereas amping up the tech and general drivability. Briefly, Toyota did a darn superb job with this sixth-generation SUV.
2025 Toyota 4Runner: First Spin
The 4Runner has its roots steeped in weekend off-road adventures. A cross between the Toyota Trekker and the Land Cruiser, the unique 4Runner mixed off-road functionality with on-road consolation. Whereas this SUV has been sluggish to make large modifications, it has been the results of steady enchancment and upgrades all through the years. Initially a two-seater, the 4Runner didn’t get a second row till its second era. Over time, it added extra floor clearance, an impartial entrance suspension, side-impact safety and anti-lock brakes. An automated transmission changed the guide in 2001. As a pre-runner to its fifth era (pun meant), the 4Runner entered the Baja 1000 and completed second in its class.
Coming into the present era, the 4Runner married off-road prowess with trendy know-how, together with wi-fi Apple CarPlay, a clean hybrid powertrain and digital camera shows that wow.
i-Drive vs i-Drive Max
Let me begin by saying each the gasoline and hybrid variations of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner are very well powered. The gasoline engine, referred to as the i-Drive, is a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that delivers 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. This would be the base powertrain, discovered within the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Highway, TRD Off-Highway Premium and Restricted trims. This is similar engine we see within the Tacoma, however whereas the Tacoma has a guide transmission possibility, the 4Runner is barely outfitted with an 8-speed automated.
I believed this powertrain had loads of get-up-and-go for swift acceleration in addition to popping out of a cease mild. Whilst you hear the engine underneath onerous acceleration, it didn’t sound or really feel prefer it struggled. It felt like the correct amount of energy for a automobile of this dimension.
The i-Drive Max, the hybrid powertrain, felt higher. With 326 mixed horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, this powertrain borders on easy. And, when off-roading, the low-end torque makes an enormous distinction throughout troublesome climbs. I had the opportunty to check each powertrains off highway, and the i-Drive Max retains on chugging steadily in steep inclines, whereas the i-Drive requires a little bit extra effort.
should you’re doing loads of off-roading, the hybrid is certainly the powertrain you’ll need. However for on a regular basis driving, the gasoline engine is the large winner–particularly because it will get higher freeway gasoline financial system in most trims. Although not vetted by the EPA but, Toyota estimates the 4Runner will get 25 to 26 mpg on the freeway in each trim besides the Restricted. The i-Drive Max, which is 4WD solely, will get 24 mpg.
Driving impressions
Much like the Tacoma, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner feels proper sized. We tackled off-road and twisty on-road bits, and whereas I wouldn’t name the 4Runner sporty, I might say it borders on nimble. It had a wonderful turning radius for miss-directed U-turns, and it stayed in its lane whereas “carving canyons.” Within the off-road, it agilely dealt with tight maneuvers, steep inclines and rock crawls.
Although I solely had a pair strong hours behind the wheel on highway, it felt typically comfy–from the seats to the driving place to the visibility out the home windows. Off-road, it was simply enjoyable.
One of many design options that helps contribute to the 4Runner’s driving prowess: the hood strains. They bump up in such a method that mimic wheel placement, so you may have a good suggestion of the place your wheels are going to hit, with out utilizing a digital camera, simply by wanting over the hood.
Technological leaps
Whether or not the 2025 Toyota 4Runner is supplied with the usual 8-inch infotainment or the up-level 14-inch one, each methods have wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in addition to Toyota’s newest infotainment system. You’ll see USB-C cost ports as an alternative of USB-A, and there’s an out there wi-fi telephone charger.
All trim ranges come normal with push-button begin and passive entry, and with a Distant Join subscription ($15 a month), you may have the flexibility to make use of your telephone as the important thing on uplevel fashions. There may be additionally an out there JBL-brand premium audio system on higher trims that features a cool JBL Flex moveable Bluetooth speaker that may be undocked and moved away out of your automobile.
One other nice tech advance contains the digital camera views. If outfitted with the Multi-Terrain Monitor (included on TRD Off-Highway Premium, TRD Professional, and Trailhunter), you may have selectable entrance, facet and rear views that primarily present a second set of eyes. In non-off-road trims (TRD Sport Premium, Restricted and Platinum), you even have the Panoramic View Monitor normal, which provides 360-degree views in addition to curb views. The bottom trims merely include a back-up digital camera.
The 2025 4Runner can also be effectively outfitted within the safety-tech area as effectively. Toyota has all the time executed an incredible job at prioritizing security and making it normal on all its autos. 4Runner is not any completely different, and Toyota Security Sense 3.0 is normal. This features a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise management, lane-trace help, automated excessive beams and proactive driving help, which makes use of cameras and radar to do issues like sluggish the automobile when driving into curves. Different normal security options embody entrance cross-traffic alert, traffic-jam help, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
A couple of misses
Whereas I typically suppose the brand new 4Runner is a house run, there are some things that want some tweaks. Let’s begin with the wi-fi charger. It begins to overheat your telephone after about half-hour, and by the point 45 minutes rolls round, your telephone stops charging as a result of extreme warmth. For those who’re solely in your automobile for brief bursts, this received’t be an issue, however should you take loads of highway journeys or have an extended commute, you’ll wish to wire you telephone in to cost.
Solely gasoline fashions have an out there third row within the 2025 Toyota 4Runner. Whereas that in itself isn’t a miss, the third row itself is. If you’re shopping for a automobile since you really need the third row frequently, this isn’t the automobile for you. The seats themselves are flimsy and awkward, and anybody taller than about 5 toes shall be consuming their knees whereas sitting there. If, nevertheless, you propose to maintain the third row folded flat and use them often, this will be just right for you.
Lastly, I wish to discuss in regards to the autos with the front-facing or around-view cameras. They shut off at about 9 mph. I want they had been out there in any respect speeds. I’ve lately examined vans from Basic Motors that permit for preserving the facet and entrance cameras on, and it’s massively useful when driving a big automobile in small areas. In Chicago, for instance, I maintain them on to make sure I’m staying out of the bike lanes. In an off-road state of affairs, chances are you’ll be touring at 9 mph, go as much as 12 mph after which drop down to five mph to sort out an impediment, and it’s distracting to maintain turning the cameras on once you want them.
Costs and Trim Ranges
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner has 9, sure NINE, trim ranges, with pricing starting from about $41,000 to $67,000. So, right here’s a fast overview of trims and pricing, together with vacation spot charges:
SR5 ($42,220):
Customary with the i-Drive powertrain, contains 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-inch infotainment display screen, out there third-row seating, energy rear window, material seats, blind spot monitoring, tow hitch receiver. RWD is normal, part-time 4WD is accessible.
TRD Sport ($48,700):
Provides color-keyed door handles, gloss-black hood scoop, heated energy outdoors mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels, 12.3-inch digital cluster, blind spot monitoring, tow hitch receiver. RWD is normal, part-time 4WD is accessible.
TRD Off-Highway ($50,640):
Provides black door handles, skid plates, 18-inch alloy wheels, Multi-Terrain Choose system, Crawl Management, electronically managed locking rear differential. Half-time 4WD is normal. Obtainable with i-Drive Max powertrain.
TRD Sport Premium ($54,060):
Builds off the TRD Sport and provides leatherette seating surfaces, heated-and-ventilated entrance seats, heated steering wheel, 360-degree digital camera, hands-free energy liftgate, 14-inch show.
TRD Off-Highway Premium ($54,420):
Builds off the TRD Off-Highway and provides leatherette seating surfaces, heated-and-ventilated entrance seats, heated steering wheel, hands-free energy liftgate, 14-inch show, Multi-Terrain Monitor. Obtainable with an i-Drive Max powertrain.
Restricted ($56,850):
Provides a moonroof, chrome roof rails, 20-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone local weather controls, 360-degree digital camera, leather-based seats, entrance and rear park help. RWD is normal, full-time 4WD is accessible. Obtainable with i-Drive Max powertrain.
Platinum ($64,310):
Customary with the i-Drive Max hybrid powertrain and full-time 4WD, and it provides 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, rain-sensing intermittent wipers, digital key functionality, 360-camera, head-up show.
TRD Professional ($68,350):
Contains part-time 4WD, digital locking rear differential, TRD black efficiency exhaust, Inflexible Industries-brand LED fog lights, heritage-inspired Toyota grille, TRD Professional aluminum skid plate, 18-inch TRD alloy wheels, pre-wired DC energy auxiliary switches, leatherette seats, Multi-Terrain Monitor.
Trailhunter ($68,350):
Builds on TRD Professional and provides Inflexible Industries-brand white-and-amber coloration switching LED fog lights, frame-mounted metal rock rails, ARB-brand roof rack, high-strength underbody safety, 18-inch bronze-finish alloy wheels, LED liftgate mild.
Our take
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is a kind of Janus-faced autos that has glorious off-road chops and on-road consolation. Whereas we just like the variety of choices and trims, it looks as if overkill at occasions. For our cash, we’d in all probability go for the TRD Off-Highway Premium for the heated-and-ventilated seats, bigger infotainment display screen and off-road prowess. Whereas the i-Drive Max powertrain is sweet, we don’t put it on our must-have listing, particularly because it add practically $3k to the underside line.
Hearken to the Automotive Stuff Podcast
2025 Toyota 4Runner Footage
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