Although it wasn’t quite as long as our wait between eclipses, we’ve been waiting 15 long years for a new model of the Toyota 4Runner. The fifth-generation 4Runner was revealed in 2009; since then, we’ve seen three presidential elections, a global pandemic, and the Chicago Cubs win a World Series.
Thankfully, now that we’ve seen the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, the wait appears to be well worth it. Much more than another facelift, the new 4Runner arrives with a new engine, vastly updated interior, and more safety tech and features than ever before.
A 4Runner for a New Era
At first glance, the new sixth-generation 4Runner doesn’t appear to deviate drastically from its fifth-generation iteration. When it comes to exterior style, Toyota avoided making any dramatic alterations to the SUV’s proven formula; when you see it, you won’t mistake it for anything other than a 4Runner.
And yet the 2025 4Runner is no minor update – it’s an all-new vehicle, inside and out. This is immediately apparent under hood, where the near-defunct 4.0-liter V-6 engine has been replaced by Toyota’s tried-and-true 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder, good for 278 hp and 317 lb.-ft. For the first time, higher trims (there are nine total, including the new Trailhunter and Platinum editions) of the 4Runner get a hybrid engine that boosts those numbers to 326 hp and 425 lb.-ft. If the word “hybridization” in relation to Toyota’s off-road champion gives you pause, rest assured there’s no mistaking this for a Prius; the i-Force Max hybrid engine is there to optimize performance, rather than prioritizing fuel economy.
In addition to the new powertrains, the new 4Runner has an upgraded frame. It shares its TGNA-F frame and suspension architecture with recent models of the Tacoma. Like the Tacoma, the 4Runner’s wheelbase has been lengthened at the front to accommodate larger tires. In the back, the 4Runner’s new styling jogs up past the rear doors; combined with the SUV’s expanded length, it gives it an altogether bulkier, more muscular appearance. Meanwhile, the rear side windows’ upper edges roll onto the roof, evoking memories of the 4Runner’s first- and second-generation ancestors.
Change from the Inside
If the new 4Runner’s exterior is a welcome but familiar sight, the interior is all about upending expectations. With more safety tech and features than ever before, the inside of the modernized 2025 4Runner practically overflows with ideas.
The cabin has been completely overhauled, and once again the 4Runner has turned to the clean lines of the Tacoma for inspiration; the instrument cluster, center stack, and various buttons, knobs, and switches are identical to what you’d find in Toyota’s off-road pickup. Each trim comes with a 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Overall, you’ll find the following when you peak inside the new 4Runner:
- Screen-Mounted USB Port
- Upright Wireless Charge Pad
- Roll-Down Rear Window Button
- Digital Rearview Mirror
- Rear Climate
- Cupholders for Optional Third-Row Seats
Coming to Casa Toyota this Autumn
The all-new Toyota 4Runner won’t be available until the fall – but after weathering the 15-year hiatus between models, what’s another couple of months? While we wait, pay us a visit at Casa Toyota: Alamogordo’s home for all things Toyota.
Stop in today and browse our expansive collection of new and certified pre-owned Toyota vehicles. From the electrified 2024 Grand Highlander Hybrid to the desert-defying 2024 Tundra, we’re sure to have the vehicle to match your preferences. And with our Service Center on standby to handle your battery replacement, tire rotation, oil change, and other maintenance concerns, you’ll have everything you need to keep your Toyota on the road until the seventh-generation 4Runner arrives… most likely in a decade or two.
