Last Spring, Toyota introduced the motoring public to its comprehensively redesigned fourth-generation Tacoma mid-sized pickup truck range. Fast-forward roughly a year later to today, and the Japanese marque has now bestowed the same treatment upon its mid-sized SUV, ultimately giving way to the 2025 Toyota 4Runner lineup.
Designed by the Michigan-based team at CALTY, the all-new 4Runner is constructed atop Toyota’s TNGA-F global truck platform also used by the Tacoma, Land Cruiser, Tundra and Sequoia. This body-on-frame SUV’s framework consists of a high-strength boxed, steel-ladder chassis that’s been paired with a multi-link coil rear suspension and a double wishbone setup up front. Upon its release, the sixth-gen 4Runner will be offered across nine different trim levels including the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off Road, TRD Off Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, and the range-topping TRD Pro and Trailhunter specs. Like its pickup counterpart, the new 4Runner comes standard with Toyota’s new turbocharged 2.4-liter i-FORCE inline-four engine making the same 278hp and 317ft-lbs of torque. The brand’s more potent i-FORCE MAX hybrid 2.4-liter turbo four-banger — which makes 326hp and 465ft-lbs of torque — is also available on the TRD Off-Road and Limited and standard on the Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter models. Both engines come mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Alongside being equipped with an available 14” touchscreen display, every version of the new SUV comes loaded with Toyota’s latest Safety Sense 3.0 tech and assists. This means each model features a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, plus lane departure alert with steering assist, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, automatic high beams, and proactive driving assist. Boasting a towing capacity of up to 6,000lbs, this new SUV lineup also gets a standard power rear window with an available power liftgate as well. Again, just like the latest generation Tacoma, the gen-six 4Runner is being offered with some impressive go-anywhere capabilities. Trim levels like the TRD Pro and new Trailhunter benefit from a stabilizer bar disconnect mechanism, an available Multi-Terrain Monitor system, active traction control, a skid plate, fender flares, a snorkel, rock sliders, a factory lift kit, and off-road-specific wheels and tires. What’s more, the Trailhunter model also gains numerous factory-installed aftermarket upgrades from several leading brands like ARB, RIGID Industries, and Old Man Emu.
Slated to be built at the marque’s Tahara plant in Japan, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner lineup is scheduled to hit U.S. shores this fall. Full details and specs are expected to be released in the coming months, and while pricing has yet to be revealed, we anticipate lower-specced trim levels to start from under $50,000.
