It’s been 15 years since we final noticed a very new Toyota 4Runner. When most automobile lifecycles final about 8 years, 2010 was eternally in the past. So, to say the SUV was due for an replace is an understatement. What’s actually fascinating, nonetheless, 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 effective 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 gradual to make massive adjustments, 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 technology. Through the years, 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 technology (pun meant), the 4Runner entered the Baja 1000 and completed second in its class.
Getting into the present technology, the 4Runner married off-road prowess with fashionable know-how, together with wi-fi Apple CarPlay, a easy hybrid powertrain and digital camera shows that wow.
i-Drive vs i-Drive Max
Let me begin by saying each the fuel and hybrid variations of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner are very well powered. The fuel engine, known 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 identical engine we see within the Tacoma, however whereas the Tacoma has a guide transmission possibility, the 4Runner is simply geared up 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 gentle. When you hear the engine underneath laborious 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 street, and the i-Drive Max retains on chugging steadily in steep inclines, whereas the i-Drive requires a bit of extra effort.
in the event you’re doing a whole lot of off-roading, the hybrid is certainly the powertrain you’ll need. However for on a regular basis driving, the fuel engine is the large winner–particularly because it will get higher freeway gas 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
Just 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’d 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 stable hours behind the wheel on street, it felt usually 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 approach that mimic wheel placement, so you could have a good suggestion of the place your wheels are going to hit, with out utilizing a digital camera, simply by trying 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 programs 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 may be an out there wi-fi telephone charger.
All trim ranges come customary with push-button begin and passive entry, and with a Distant Join subscription ($15 a month), you could have the power 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 geared up with the Multi-Terrain Monitor (included on TRD Off-Highway Premium, TRD Professional, and Trailhunter), you could 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 customary, 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 geared up within the safety-tech enviornment as effectively. Toyota has all the time finished an incredible job at prioritizing security and making it customary on all its autos. 4Runner is not any completely different, and Toyota Security Sense 3.0 is customary. 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 gradual the automobile when driving into curves. Different customary security options embrace entrance cross-traffic alert, traffic-jam help, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
A couple of misses
Whereas I usually assume 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 on account of extreme warmth. For those who’re solely in your automobile for brief bursts, this gained’t be an issue, however in the event you take a whole lot of street journeys or have a protracted commute, you’ll need to wire your telephone in to cost.
Solely fuel 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. In case you are 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 will probably be consuming their knees whereas sitting there. If, nonetheless, you propose to maintain the third row folded flat and use them often, this will likely give you the results you want.
Lastly, I need to speak concerning the autos with the front-facing or around-view cameras. They shut off at about 9 mph. I want they have been out there in any respect speeds. I’ve just lately examined vehicles from Common Motors that enable for retaining the facet and entrance cameras on, and it’s massively useful when driving a big automobile in small areas. In Chicago, for instance, I hold them on to make sure I’m staying out of the bike lanes. In an off-road scenario, it’s possible you’ll be touring at 9 mph, go as much as 12 mph after which drop down to five mph to deal with 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):
Normal with the i-Drive powertrain, contains 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-inch infotainment display, out there third-row seating, energy rear window, material seats, blind spot monitoring, tow hitch receiver. RWD is customary, 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 customary, 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 customary. Accessible 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. Accessible 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 customary, full-time 4WD is accessible. Accessible with i-Drive Max powertrain.
Platinum ($64,310):
Normal 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 gentle.
Our take
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is a type 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 instances. For our cash, we’d in all probability go for the TRD Off-Highway Premium for the heated-and-ventilated seats, bigger infotainment display and off-road prowess. Whereas the i-Drive Max powertrain is good, we don’t put it on our must-have record, particularly because it provides practically $3k to the underside line.
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