When Toyota embarked on updating the 4Runner for 2025, the company knew it had a lofty task on its hands. The outgoing 4Runner had its roots in the early 2000s but it managed to amass a cult following that demanded perfection and eventually demanded that Toyota make updates to the aging SUV. The 2025 model promises to build on these building blocks and enhance many of the things that customers have come to love about the 4Runner. But does it succeed in filling the shoes left by the old model?

Tacoma DNA makes 4Runner a better SUV

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner shares its underpinnings and core DNA with the Toyota Tacoma. The TNGA-F platform also sees duty in the smaller Land Cruiser and the new platform helps add some newfound vigor to the 4Runner. Toyota decided to let us experience this first-hand by inviting us to their North American Tech Center in Saline, Michigan to get some drive time behind the wheel.

The benefits of the new platform are myriad and cover multiple angles with the new model feeling more secure and composed in urban driving. The TNGA-F platform showcases an improved production process for the 4Runner with the model benefitting from new reinforced welds and other production improvements. The lighter platform also underpins the reworked exterior styling with the front end sharing some of its inspiration with the Tacoma as well as the larger Sequoia. The rugged look retains the 4Runner’s old-school profile and the curved side windows lead out to the revised rear-end which gets reworked taillights and a new liftgate. However, the company retained the electronically operated rear glass and the outside locking controls with the latter being moved to the liftgate handle itself.

The front fascia is also a key method for identifying select 4Runner trims with lower trims getting the default Toyota logo in the front grille while the TRD Pro and Trailhunter get a heritage style unit with the logo being replaced with Toyota heritage script. The 4Runner will continue to be available in a myriad of trim levels with the company saying that it wanted to continue to give customers a wide degree of choice when it came to creating the 4Runner of their dreams.

4Runner interior is vastly improved

The biggest updates though are found in the interior where occupants will find a completely revamped experience. The old model focused on providing the essentials and keeping it simple. However, it did this at the cost of modern technology, refinement, and comfort which became more glaring as the years passed. The 2025 model is making up for lost time and while the cabin borrows much of its magic from the Tacoma pickup this is actually welcome since it allows the SUV to finally catch up to rivals.

The dinky infotainment system and its outdated software are replaced with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with select trim levels offering a bigger 14-inch display. Both displays get improved software and inputs are much sharper with reduced lag time. The increase in menus does eliminate some of the rugged simpleness that defined the old model but it’s a minor sacrifice. The seats in the 4Runner have been reworked with engineers raising the front seats higher so they don’t feel like you’re sitting on the floor with the raised position also enhancing the view of the road ahead of you.

The seats themselves also benefit from improved bolstering and TRD Pro and Trailhunter models get a slick digital camo pattern in the leather upholstery. The second row is still a bit tight for taller occupants but passengers get new charging ports and a house-style outlet for charging mobile devices. The rear cargo area is capable of swallowing large loads of stuff but Toyota also chose to put the needs of trail warriors first with the space getting several integrated storage shelves, additional charging outlets, and an integrated air compressor.

Four-cylinder performance is a big gamble

The biggest gamble Toyota made when updating the 4Runner was axing the old 4.0-liter V6 and replacing it with a pair of 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines. The non-hybrid version makes 278 horsepower and it’s expected to be the volume-focused engine moving forward. Meanwhile, buyers looking for more performance can go for the i-FORCE MAX version of the 2.4-liter which sees its horsepower get bumped up to 326 hp. An eight-speed automatic replaces the old five-speed and the extra gears help improve fuel economy with the EPA saying an i-FORCE MAX model can get 23/24 mpg in city and freeway driving.

The Off-Road Premium and Trailhunter models we drove had the hybrid motor but the two have completely different personalities. The Trailhunter is all about appeasing buyers who enjoy overlanding in their rigs with the model getting its own suite of upgrades including a snorkel-style intake. The snorkel also becomes the biggest flaw in the Trailhunter’s driving experience with the operating mechanism creating a good amount of noise inside the cabin.

While this quirk won’t be too much of a concern for hardcore fans, it might be too much for some buyers over long-term use. The Off-Road Premium and the TRD Pro on the other hand feel more balanced with the latter also allowing buyers to manually adjust the suspension via small switches that are located on the Fox Racing QS3 suspension system. Driving the hybrid motor on the freeway alongside the old V6 revealed better high-speed passing behavior with the noisy V6 forcing drivers to rev it high into the rev band to achieve the same result. Steering is also tighter and it eliminates many of the dead spots that once defined the old 4Runner’s handling behavior but the 33-inch Toyo all-terrain tires on some models have low cornering limits and will squeal in protest if you venture past them.

Value quotient

Pricing for the 2025 4Runner has gone up and the model now has two different pricing ladders one for non-hybrid models and the other for hybrids. A base non-hybrid SR5 4Runner starts at $42,220 before options with pricing climbing methodically upward as you make your way up the trim ladder. Stick with a hybrid model and you’ll be greeted with a reduced trim roster with the $53,440 TRD Off-Road iFORCE Max serving as the new base model (all pricing includes fees.)

TRD Pro and Trailhunter models share the same $68,350 base sticker price but options can cause the sticker to climb rapidly upward with the Trailhunter model we were in having a final as-tested price of just over $73,000 due to optional extras. This pricing is noticeably higher than older 4Runners but it also reflects the significant changes that the model has received. Look for the 2025 4Runner to continue to be a key presence in Toyota showrooms and its newfound modern touches will help it lure in a bigger pool of buyers.