The Toyota 4Runner has always been an enigma to me. It was one of those vehicles that, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t understand. I couldn’t see why the extra cost was worth it compared to the other SUVs on the market. However, there’s a huge following, so I wanted to figure it out. Over the years, I’ve reviewed dozens of 4Runners, most recently logging 3,386 miles in a 2022 TRD Pro as I reflected on life. Even after that, I liked it, but I didn’t love it. But now, after fourteen years, there’s a new one!
2025 Toyota 4Runner: Overview
As usual, we’ll quickly review the 4Runner lineup before getting started. For 2025, the sixth generation gets a wide range of trim levels to choose from. It’s not an inexpensive proposition, as Jeff noted when they announced the new 4Runner. In fact, the price difference between the entry-level SR5 and the top-tier Trailhunter and TRD Pro exceeds $26,000. That means you could buy an SR5 and a nicely equipped Corolla for the price of the Trailhunter.
Speaking of the Trailhunter, that’s exactly what Toyota sent us for the week. Well, I had a choice between a few different trim levels, but I needed to check out a top-spec. Right? Oh well, too late now.
This Everest Green Trailhunter got a handful of options. I’ll let you read through them on your own. In the end, you’re at nearly $70,000 for this new sixth-generation 4Runner. Does this feel like a $70K SUV? I think we should find out.
2025 Toyota 4Runner: Inside & Out
OK, first impression time. The 4Runner arrived, replacing a 2025 Volvo XC60 T8 AWD Polestar that I had just spent a week with. It was striking how big and bulky it looked in comparison. That’s a good thing in this case, the 4Runner is almost four inches longer, two inches taller, and four inches wider than the outgoing fifth-generation 4Runner. The difference is striking, and I like it.
I think I prefer a more traditional green, but the blue-green Everest paint color is interesting. It reminds me of older Toyota 4Runners. I absolutely adore the gold wheels, especially set against this paint color. Someone said they feel like it’s trying a little too hard. I can see that perhaps.
The Trailhunter includes a variety of exterior bits and bobs to set it apart from other trim levels. Most apparent is the “high-mounted air intake,” more conventionally known as a “snorkel.” That provides some of the most entertaining noises I’ve experienced in a new vehicle, more on that in a bit. Otherwise, you get some Rigid Industries lighting and a host of badges to differentiate things from lesser trim levels.
The inside is no less dramatic. Aligned to the latest Toyota SUV interior design layout, the 4Runner has a large center-mounted screen, beefy dials, and a large T O Y O T A badge on the passenger side. It’s quite comfortable, with nicely sized seats, solid grab bars for off-roading, and well-laid-out ergonomics. Said screen looks a bit tacked on, but that’s a plague that has fallen across the industry.
On the tech side, the fourteen-inch screen handles most of what you need to access. Thankfully, there are plenty of hard buttons and dials to make things a bit easier. I added my iPhone to Apple CarPlay fairly easily, and it stayed connected. The wireless charger worked well, but I kept turning the AC off when I put my phone back on the charger. It’s even got a neat little light built into the dash.
Rear leg room is about two inches more than in the 5th-generation 4Runner. However, out back, you get 42.6 cubic feet of space, which is significantly less than the previous model’s 47.2 cubic feet of space. Why? The hybrid powertrain raises the rear floor. Opt for a non-hybrid 4Runner, and you’ll regain that space with 48 cubic feet.
2025 Toyota 4Runner: On The Road
The Trailhunter is powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, producing 323 horsepower and a stonkin’ 465 lb-ft of torque. Edmunds testing has 60 mph arriving in around 7.7 seconds, which is perfectly fine for a 5,500-pound SUV. The torque is ever present, with fairly easy acceleration in most situations. The best part of the Trailhunter is that it has a damn cool blow-off valve! When you let off the throttle, you can hear the whistle from the BOV come straight out of the snorkel. It’s so silly and awesome—I love it.
Is the 4Runner a good car for road trips? It is, as it’s more comfortable than the average Wrangler or Bronco, and I love the driving position. The center armrest lines up perfectly with the shifter so that you can rest your wrist perfectly on top of it. The left door sill is a little high, but it’s nice and flat for resting your arm up there with the windows open. We’ll do some off-roading next time, but I imagine that the 4Runner will perform as it always has.
At 74 inches tall, make sure to check parking garage heights before you go. As you can see from the middle picture above, it can get pretty tight.
Summary
After my week with the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, I still find it interesting. It has always been just on the edge of something I would consider buying. I never quite understood the strong following. It’s like a slightly more comfortable Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but without the removable top. Having spent significant time in the previous generation 4Runner, this one is significantly better. In my personal opinion (don’t @ me), it looks better on the inside and out, and drives better.
The real question is, which trim is proper for you? Does the Trailhunter feel like $70K? It does, my oldest noted that it felt expensive as soon as he sat down in the passenger seat. When I told him the price, he was like, “Wow, not bad.”