2025 Toyota 4Runner i-FORCE MAX

The previous-generation Toyota 4Runner was one of the oldest new vehicles you could buy, dating back to the 2010 model year. Yet it remained among the most popular SUVs in the country. Not even time can slow down a 4Runner, it turns out.

The totally redesigned 2025 Toyota 4Runner promises to be even more relentless. It’s bigger, bolder, more powerful, and more capable. But it’s also more refined, tech-savvy, and so much more satisfying to drive, which bodes well because the country will rack up some serious miles in this thing.

What’s old is new again. Finally. The sixth-generation 4Runner midsize SUV improves in perhaps every measurable way than the beloved but aging star it replaces. It grows slightly in size, and the lineup has expanded to include a choice of engines. A well-equipped Platinum model and the overlanding-ready Trailhunter also join the party.

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at around $38,500, but with less equipment. That’s about as close as it comes to a direct competitor for the 4Runner. Expanding the search a bit, the 4-door Jeep Wrangler also starts at around $38,500, with the 4-door Ford Bronco lineup starting at around $42,000. The 4Runner’s stablemate, the Toyota Land Cruiser starts close to $57,000.

Resale star

The Toyota 4Runner has long been a resale value all-star, a trend we’re confident will continue. Buy a new, $50,000 Toyota 4Runner today and in five years it could sell for $7,500 more than the midsize SUV average. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

It would hardly be an oversimplification to say the 4Runner is the SUV version of the Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup. It’s built on the same body-on-frame truck platform, offers the same engines, and has essentially the same interior.

Ditching the 4.0-liter V6 engine for the i-Force and i-Force Max does come with its advantages — and some question marks, too. The base i-Force does well in the power department, giving drivers solid power both on the road and off. The i-Force Max truly levels up with great torque numbers, helping you traverse even the steepest of inclines or the rockiest of trails and delivering a generous 326 horsepower to keep you moving.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner feels far more responsive and livelier than its predecessor, though, if you’re a V6 purist, the turbo lag on the i-Force engine might take getting used to. The hybrid motor on the i-Force Max all but addresses that issue for you. Steering response feels crisper, but for some, it might feel a bit too light and breezy. This is for all intents and purposes a truck and Toyota has engineered quite a bit of that rough and ready feel out of it. The brakes might be a bit eager and overly sensitive at the top of the pedal. On the plus side, they are easily deployed and feel solid beneath your feet.

When it comes to ride handling, this is where the new 4Runner excels — even outshining the Tacoma, which has a slightly long wheelbase. Somehow, Toyota’s engineers have dialed in the dynamics both on and off the road so well that it feels as though this first model year has been out for longer. Well, they did have 15 years to get it right. It feels well balanced, sure-footed around turns, and there are no squeaks or rattles of which to speak even coming off of jumps.

If you intend to take the 4Runner through its paces in the dirt, neither the TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, or the latest Trailhunter trims will disappoint. Each of these receives a unique suspension setup, with Bilstein shocks on the TRD Off-Road, an Old Man Emu monotube set up on the Trailhunter, and stellar manually adjustable 2.5-inch Fox internal bypass shocks with rear remote reservoirs under the TRD Pro.

The impressively outfitted 4Runner TRD Pro and new Trailhunter (seen above; note the snorkel) promise to be exceptional off-road, of course, and the optional i-Force Max powertrain may very well propel the 4Runner to 60 mph in not many ticks beyond five seconds.

If the interior of the new-for-2025 Toyota 4Runner looks familiar, then you’ve seen the new-for-2024 Toyota Tacoma. And the similarity works fine but we would like to have seen something a bit more unique and special, particularly on the higher and pricier trims. That being said, build quality feels solid even if the switch gear materials feel hollow and rather cheap.

Second-row legroom remains on the low side for a vehicle this size, but cargo room behind those seats feels generous. The 4Runner’s optional third row made the cut for 2025, but only on the SR5 and the Limited i-Force trims in 2-wheel-drive form. Keep in mind space back there feels extremely limited in all dimensions and is best used on occasion and by shorter humans.

One major disappointment: The rear seats do not fold down flat on the i-Force Max-equipped 4Runners. In order to accommodate the battery, there is a lifted shelf that does not allow for a level surface behind the first row. This will likely be addressed by the robust aftermarket fabricators for those looking to use their 4Runners in the great outdoors sans tent.

We think Toyota’s designers hit it out of the park with this redesign. The new 4Runner grows in size. It’s bolder, more contemporary, and still very much a 4Runner. See how the rearmost side window wraps into the roof? That’s a cool nod to earlier 4Runners. And it wouldn’t be a 4Runner without a power retractable rear window. The 2025 Toyota 4Runner expands a couple of inches wider and almost 5 inches longer than the outgoing model. The TRD Pro and Trailhunter tracks are a bit wider than regular trims and have fender flares to accommodate that feature.

Two Engine Options
For those waiting patiently, Toyota has delivered twice on the new powertrain promise. With either the i-Force or i-Force Max engine option, buyers will have a choice to make. Both deliver solid power and help make this SUV a bit more efficient in the process.

The Trailhunter
We like it in the Tacoma, and we like it even more in the 4Runner. The Trailhunter trim delivers a great base on which avid overlanders can build. With its Old Man Emu shocks, the ride feels simultaneously comfortable and capable. And we refuse to be quiet about how great the exterior looks with the earthy paint colors and those bronze 18-inch wheel options.

Truck-like configuration
There are now nine trim levels from which to choose on the 4Runner. The base SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, Trailhunter, and TRD Pro. Within some of these, you can get yours as a 2-wheel-drive (2WD) or 4-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle and can even option a third row on the SR5 and Limited 2WD models.

Exterior
Some exterior styling refreshes in the past on the previous generation left us a little cold. We felt they were overworked and too aggressive. The sixth generation has been scaled back a bit when it comes to design language and we’re glad for it. It looks modern and appropriately aggressive without being overwrought.

Tech Forward
Starting on the TRD Sport Premium, you get either an 8-inch screen or a massive 14-inch one, with perks like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Toyota’s also included some advanced safety features in its Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 package that ramp up its level two autonomous driving capability. These include a smooth-acting lane-centering feature and dynamic cruise control that will slow down as you enter turns.

TRD Pro Fox suspension components
The TRD Pro’s 2.5-inch Fox QS3 internal bypass shocks with remote rear reservoirs work well. They are manually adjustable depending on the compression damping you’re after, and their external reservoirs help keep things from heating up while in action.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner offers a choice of two strong engines. The 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder i-Force engine generates 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. That’s more and better power than the V6 it replaces, with all that torque hitting much earlier in the rev range. When combined with a 48-hp electric motor, that same engine becomes the i-Force Max hybrid, delivering 326 hp, a whopping 465 lb-ft of torque, and the title of most powerful 4Runner ever. Both engines are matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission, offering 60% more gears than the outgoing model’s dated 5-speed auto. Power continues to the ground via rear-wheel drive (RWD), part-time 4-wheel drive, or full-time 4-wheel drive, in combination with an array of capability-enhancing hardware and software.

The biggest question mark on the 4Runner will be these two drivetrain variants. Fans of the previous generation V6 and stalwart 5-speed have shown some skepticism that they will be able to coax the 300,000-plus miles out of the new options. Of course, this remains to be seen. In our experience, if we’re going to buy anything with a hybrid powertrain with longevity in mind, our first choice would be Toyota, given its proven reputation for long-lasting hybrids.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy was never something to crow about when it came to the 4Runner, but things are looking up a bit. On the i-Force engine in the SR5, TRD Sport, and TRD Sport Premium with 2-wheel drive, you’re looking at 20 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. The Limited 2-wheel-drive model gets 20 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Not ideal by today’s hybrid standards. Throw 4-wheel drive into that mix, and EPA estimates are in the teens, with 19 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway. The Limited 4-wheel drive manages 20 mpg in the city and 24 highway mpg.

When it comes to the i-Force Max, you’ll see more significant improvement. Everything with that engine will get 23 miles in the city and 24 on the highway for a combined 23 mpg. Again, your real-world numbers will likely be a few ticks below that. Steps in the right direction for sure. But we’d love to have seen more on that base engine.

Warranty

Toyota will back the 2025 4Runner with a new-vehicle warranty that lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, which is typical among mainstream manufacturers. The hybrid components of i-Force Max models are covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty, and the hybrid battery has a transferable 10-year/150,000-mile warranty. Toyota also provides free maintenance for the first two years or 25,000 miles, as well as two years of roadside assistance with no mileage limit.

Safety

The outgoing, fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner has a 4-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). With a long and impressive list of safety systems included as standard equipment, the 2025 4Runner is sure to perform as well or better.