Runner’s High: The New 4Runner is Finally Here
Although not quite as long as our once and future wait between eclipses, the gap between Toyota 4Runner models has lasted a mind-melting 15 years. The fifth-generation 4Runner was revealed in 2009; since then, we’ve gone through three presidential elections, a global pandemic, and the entire Game of Thrones series. It’s been so long since the 4Runner’s last major revision that even the Chicago Cubs have won a World Series in the meantime.
Fortunately, now that we’ve seen the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, we’re ready to declare it worth the wait. Much more than a simple facelift, the new 4Runner re-introduces itself with a new engine, vastly updated interior, and more safety tech and features than ever before.
A 4Runner For a New Era
At first glance, the new sixth-generation 4Runner doesn’t appear to deviate much from its fifth-generation iteration. When it comes to exterior style, Toyota avoided making any dramatic alterations to the top-selling SUV’s proven formula; in other words, you won’t mistake it for anything other than a 4Runner.
And yet, the 2025 4Runner is no minor upgrade – it’s an all-new vehicle, inside and out. This is immediately clear under hood, where the outgoing 4.0-liter V-6 engine has been replaced by Toyota’s tried-and-true 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder, good for 278 hp and 317 lb.-ft. For the first time, higher 4Runner trims (there are nine total trims this time around, including the new Trailhunter and Platinum editions) get an i-Force Max hybrid engine that boosts those numbers to 326 hp and 425 lb.-ft. If the word “hybridization” in relation to Toyota’s off-road bulldozer gives you pause, rest assured there’s no mistaking the new 4Runner for the Prius; this hybrid engine is designed to optimize performance, rather than maximize fuel economy.
In addition to the new powertrains, the new 4Runner has an upgraded frame. It shares its TGNA-F frame and suspension architecture with recent models of the Tacoma. Like the Tacoma, the 4Runner’s wheelbase has been lengthened at the front to accommodate larger tires. In the back, the 4Runner’s new styling jogs up past the rear doors; combined with the SUV’s expanded length, it gives it an altogether bulkier, more muscular appearance. Meanwhile, the rear side windows’ upper edges roll onto the roof, evoking memories of the 4Runner’s first- and second-generation ancestors.
Change From the Inside
If the new 4Runner’s exterior is a welcome but familiar sight, the interior aims to upend your expectations. Equipped with more safety tech and features than ever before, the inside of the modernized 2025 4Runner practically overflows with ideas.
The cabin area has been totally overhauled, once again borrowing heavily from the Tacoma’s design; the instrument cluster, center stack, and various buttons, knobs, and switches are identical to what you’d find inside Toyota’s off-road pickup. Each trim comes with an optional 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2025 4Runner comes loaded with the latest in modern amenities. You’ll find the following when you peak inside:
- Screen-Mounted USB Port
- Upright Wireless Charge Pad
- Roll-Down Rear Window Button
- Digital Rearview Mirror
- Rear Climate
- Cupholders for Optional Third-Row Seats
Run With the Wind This Autumn
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner sprints to dealerships this fall – no time at all, considering the 15-year hiatus between models that we’ve already endured. While we wait for its arrival, run over to Steven Toyota: Rocktown’s premier location for all things Toyota.
At Steven Toyota, you can explore our diverse inventory of new and certified used Toyota vehicles. From the reliable 2024 Camry to the adventurous 2024 RAV4, we’re sure to have the vehicle to meet your personal criteria. Meanwhile, our team of service experts will handle your brake repairs, battery replacement, oil change, and other maintenance concerns. With Steven Toyota, you’ll have every resource at your disposal to keep your Toyota on the road until the seventh-generation 4Runner arrives… you know, in a decade or two.
