- The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is the first car in a new generation, and it’s a lot better than the last one.The updated 4Runner gets a new frame and a longer wheelbase.
- It also gets a stronger turbo-four engine and a 326-hp hybrid drivetrain instead of the old 270-hp V-6.
- Toyota hasn’t said how much the 2025 4Runner lineup will cost, but we think it will go up by at least a couple of thousand dollars.
In 2025, the Toyota 4Runner gets a whole new look after being the same for almost twenty years. The new sixth-generation 4Runner is much better than the fifth-generation. It has a new frame with a longer wheelbase, a choice of hybrid or nonhybrid turbocharged powertrains, and features that finally feel like they belong in this day and age. We’re going to compare some of the most important features and specs of the new and old versions of Toyota’s famous off-road mid-size SUV to see how they compare.
The design and measurements
Even though it’s getting old, the current 4Runner still looks tough on the outside thanks to its boxy shape and flared ends. Even though the design wasn’t a problem, the frame was. The 2025 4Runner not only looks stronger (a lot like the redesigned Toyota Tacoma), but it also gets a new frame from the well-known mid-size truck. That makes the new 4Runner’s wheelbase 112.2 inches long, which is 2.4 inches longer than the old one.
The roll-down rear window from the 4Runner is still there, which is good news. The wrap-around rear side glass that looks like it came from the first and second generations is also a nice touch. The new Toyota 4Runner is about four inches longer, two inches wider, and just under an inch shorter than the 2024 model. The new model has the same 9.2 inches of ground clearance as the old one when it comes to off-road clearance. The new 4Runner has a 32-degree approach angle and a 24-degree exit angle. The front is about the same, but the back is 2 degrees less.
Inside and Outside
Only the hard plastics inside the old 4Runner were sturdy and easy to clean when they got dirty. The rest of the interior was pretty dull on most trims. With the new generation, which has a bigger range of materials and soft-touch finishes, that’s no longer the case. With the physical switches on the centre stack, things can still be used. For example, there is a power knob for the huge 14.0-inch touchscreen that is now available. It comes with a smaller 8.0-inch screen, but it’s not worse than the old entertainment system. The new 4Runner also has a 12.3-inch gauge cluster that can be set up in different ways. This alone makes the car feel even more modern.
Toyota hasn’t said how much cargo and passenger room the 2025 4Runner will have, but we expect it to be better because it will have a longer wheelbase and be bigger overall. If you want to carry things, the new hybrid models might not have enough room because the battery is under the floor of the back seat. Also, it’s possible that the 4Runner Hybrid will only have two rows of seats, with the third row going to cars that aren’t hybrids. The fifth-generation 4Runner used to have two or three rows. It could hold up to 47 cubic feet of things without them and with the second row up. When the back seats of a three-row layout were folded down, they only took up one cubic foot of space. However, when the seats were raised, they took up nine cubes of space.
Driving Force
Without a doubt, the 4Runner’s new engine choices are some of the best changes. The old naturally aspirated 4.0 V-6 engine with 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque is no longer available. The same is true for its very old five-speed automatic gearbox. Every 4Runner made after 2025 has an eight-speed automatic gearbox. A turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four is the base engine that can only run on petrol. It makes 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, which are rises of eight and nine, respectively.
The 4Runner now has a hybrid engine for the first time. It has a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that gets power from a small battery pack. Together, they make a strong 326 horsepower and 465 yard-feet of torque. Like the old 4Runner, the new one comes with both full-time and part-time four-wheel drive systems as well as rear-wheel drive. The most weight that the SUV can pull is still 6,000 pounds.
Price and Trims
The new Toyota 4Runner, which is the sixth generation, comes in the same model levels and more as the fifth generation. Along with the return of well-known models like the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro, there are also new models like the high-end Platinum and the off-road-focused Trailhunter.
Toyota hasn’t said how much the 2025 4Runner will cost yet, but they should when it goes on sale this autumn. We expect prices to go up compared to the 2024 model, which had prices that ranged from $41,600 for the SR5 to $56,565 for the TRD Pro. Based on how much the price of the new Tacoma went up, the price of the new 4Runner could go up by anywhere from $2600 to close to $6000, based on the trim.
