Toyota 4Runner 2025 Embraces Hybrid Plunge
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner made its premiere with new Trailhunter and Platinum models, an optional hybrid drivetrain, and contemporary technology—all while retaining the essential features and design that have made the 4Runner iconic.
The 2025 4Runner will have an astounding nine trim levels available when it goes on sale later this year, including the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off Road, TRD Off Road premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter.
When the 4Runner goes on sale, pricing will be revealed.
2025 4Runner will Become Turbo-4s
Bid farewell to the reliable 4.0-liter V-6. All 2025 4Runners will have turbo-4 engines, while some will have hybrid powertrains as well.
The most common engine for these vehicles will be a 2.4-liter turbo-4 with 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. However, a hybrid version of same engine that couples an electric motor to the transmission for a combined output of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque will be standard on TRD Pro, Trailhunter, and Platinum models. The hybrid engine is an available option for TRD Off-Road and Limited versions. There will be an 8-speed automatic transmission available for every 4Runner.
With the Toyota 4Runner, Off-Road
Modernization of the 4Runner appears not to have come at the expense of off-road performance.
Although it now rides on a contemporary frame, the ninth-generation 4Runner is still a body-on-frame SUV. The Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks, Lexus GX, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Sequoia SUVs all share the same TNGA-F platform that the 4Runner currently resides on. The enhanced performance of the new powertrains will allow for a tow rating of up to 6,000 pounds.
Rear-wheel drive will remain the default, but four-wheel drive will be an option on a part-time or full-time basis. The 4Runner’s four-wheel-drive system is electronically actuated by a switch as we go into the twenty-first century. While the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter versions get a rear locking differential, the majority of 4Runners have a limited-slip rear differential. It is confusing to note that full-time four-wheel drive with a locking center differential is only available on high-zoot Platinum vehicles; all other variants have this feature as an option.
The 4Runner is still equipped with a solid back axle, coil rear springs, and independent front suspension. To combat heat dissipation, TRD Pro models include Fox shocks with remote reservoirs and a 2.5-inch diameter.
ARB Old Man Emu 2.5-inch forged shocks with external piggyback remote reservoirs are used on the new Trailhunter model. Should the 4Runner’s undercarriage come into touch with the ground, a whole set of skid plates beneath the Trailhunter protects everything from the front bumper to the back of the transfer case. Together with 33-inch Toyo Open Country tires, the shocks The Trailhunter is 2.0 inches taller than regular 4Runners thanks to its all-terrain tires.
The most recent 4Runner is a mixed bag, with up to 9.2 inches of ground clearance and 32-degree approach and 24-degree departure angles. The latest 4Runner had a 33-degree approach angle, a 26-degree departure angle, and up to 9.6 inches of ground clearance. However, the new 4Runner’s 112.2-inch wheelbase compensates for the existing 4Runner’s shorter 109.8-inch wheelbase, which should significantly improve ride quality. Wheel articulation should be maximized using the new electronic disconnecting sway bar that is available.
4Runner Appears to be Evolving
It’s clear from a cursory glance at the 4Runner what kind of SUV this is. The front end adopts the Tacoma’s appearance, but the trademark features—punched-out flares, a towering greenhouse, and blunt front and rear ends—remain. The grille and headlamp shapes are similar, and the non-off-road cars’ ridiculously enormous chin spoiler can be removed with nine nuts, but doing so will reduce fuel economy by one or two mpg. In homage to the original 4Runner, the back windows wrap around the roofline, while the rear tailgate glass electrically lowers into the tailgate to accommodate larger objects.
Along with an LED light bar placed in the middle of the grille that emits 10,000 lumens—roughly twice as much as the light bars on the larger Tundra and Sequoia—both the Trailhunter and TRD Pro models have rigid LED fog lights built into the front ends.
The Tacoma pickup truck’s dashboard, which features an 8.0- or 14.0-inch touchscreen front and center, is nearly identical to this one inside. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless connectivity will be standard. Upper trim levels will get a 12.3-inch display as standard, while the base model will get a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster. While upper trim models hide the hard plastic with leather and soft-touch components, lower trim models have acres of hard plastic. Because of the battery pack’s increased liftover height, hybrid vehicles will require more work while carrying cargo into the back. For extended road journeys, the rear seat may be manually reclined, and Platinum models come with heated rear seats.There will be a head-up display accessible. A 2,400-watt inverter is a feature of Trailhunter vehicles that provides power for off-road excursions.
Safety is a Standard Feature of 4Runner
Adaptive cruise control, active lane control, automatic high beams, and automated emergency braking are among the cutting-edge safety features that will be standard on every 2025 4Runner. There will be blind-spot monitors accessible.
