Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Toyota 4Runner Hybrid 4WD Trailhunter
Specs
Class: Midsize Crossover/SUV
Nation of Manufacture: Japan
Shade: Everest
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 155
Actual-world gas financial system: 18.7 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B |
| Energy and Efficiency | B+ |
| Match and End | B |
| Gas Economic system | B |
| Worth | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not mirror Shopper Information’s impressions of your entire mannequin lineup. | |
| Massive & Tall Consolation | |
| Massive Man | A- |
| Tall Man | B+ |
| Massive & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” score based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 326-horsepower 2.4-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbocharged hybrid 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | 4WD |
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 435% freeway
EPA-estimated gas financial system: 23/24/23 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gas kind: Common Gasoline
Base worth: $66,900 (not together with $1450 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check car: Digital key ($275), cargo lights ($375), pink entrance tow hooks ($180), trailer ball ($24), LED lantern ($160), cargo mat ($130), flooring mats ($199), ball mount (towing) ($65)
Worth as examined: $69,758
Execs and Cons
The good: Extra refined, highly effective, and gas environment friendly than earlier era 4Runner
The nice: Promise of great off-road/foul-weather functionality
The not so good: Premium trim ranges command premium costs
Evaluation
2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter
After going largely unchanged for 14 huge years, the fanatically beloved Toyota 4Runner has been fully redesigned for 2025. The 4Runner is the final of Toyota’s conventional “body-on-frame” vans to transfer to the maker’s new, trendy, GA-F structure. With the transfer, the ‘Runner joins the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser, in addition to the Lexus GX, and LX on the GA-F platform. Additionally architecturally associated are the international-market Land Cruiser Prado, and bigger Land Cruiser 300 Sequence. We want that was the entire story right here, however it’s not; the 4Runner replace consists of all-new drivetrain choices–together with hybrid–new trim ranges, and a brand new range-capping Trailhunter variant.
4Runner versus land Cruiser
And whereas the Land Cruiser has additionally been lately redesigned and repositioned—much less premium, extra rugged—the 4Runner retains its place within the Toyota showroom because the model’s off-road-capable Highlander various. And for the document, although related in dimension, the also-off-roadie Land Cruiser nonetheless performs upmarket of the 4Runner, although that hole has closed a bit. Additional differentiating the 2 fashions, a 3rd-row seat is obtainable on some 4 Runner trim ranges, whereas the Land Cruiser is strictly a 5-seater.
Dimensions
Although to some eyes the brand new 4Runner seems trimmer than its predecessor, it’s really considerably lager. For 2025, the 4Runner is 2 inches longer in wheelbase, 4-5 inches longer general, and a pair of inches wider.
Off-roaders will likely be glad to listen to that the brand new ‘Runner picks up about half an inch of floor clearance, and an extra 1-2 levels of strategy angle. The brand new truck does lose about 2 levels of departure angle, nonetheless.
Engines
Gone for ’25 is the 4Runner’s aged however fabled 4.0-liter V6. The 270-horsepower workhorse was common with off-road fanatic for its easy, ample, low-end torque, which proved a boon on difficult trails. The engine was additionally recognized for its horrible real-world gas financial system.
Changing the 4.0-liter powerplant are a pair of 4-cylinder engines, each smaller however extra highly effective than the V6. For 2025, the usual 4Runner engine is a turbocharged 2.4-liter mill rated at 278 horsepower. Additionally obtainable is Toyota’s i-Power Max hybrid engine. Within the 4Runner, the two.4-liter engine, mated to an electrical motor, produces 326 horsepower. Each engines pair with an 8-speed computerized transmission. Normal on i-Power fashions, and customary or obtainable on base-engine examples, is part-time 4WD augmented by a 2-speed switch case. Restricted and Platinum fashions (see under) with the i-Power engine include customary full-time 4WD. Sure base-engine trim ranges include rear-wheel drive, see under:
Extra on rear-wheel drive fashions in a second…
Costs and Trim Ranges
Toyota has aligned its 4Runner lineup across the drivetrains choices, with six variants provided for every powertrain choice. Right here’s the deal:
Normal 278-horsepower trim ranges:
SR5* ($42,675)
TRD Sport* ($49,245)
TRD Off-Highway ($51,185)
TRD Sport Premium ($54,605)
TRD Off-Highway Premium ($56,985)
Restricted* ($57,395)
i-Power Max trim ranges:
TRD Off-Highway ($53,985)
Restricted ($59,765)
Platinum ($62,195)
TRD Off-Highway Premium ($65,895)
TRD Professional ($68,895)
Trailhunter ($68,895)
*Costs for the SRT, TRD Sport, and Restricted are for rear-wheel drive fashions. All different 2025 4Runner trim ranges come customary with 4WD. Half-time 4WD provides $2000 to the underside line.
Trailhunter
New for 2025 is the Trailhunter. Parity priced with the TRD Professional, the Trailhunter caters to people critical about each luxurious trappings and critical off-road journey.
Observe that the TRD Professional and Trailhunder, although related in worth and tools, really serve totally different wants.
Trailhunter versus TRD Professional
The TRD Professional, which returns for 2025, is design for high-speed desert-style off-road use, whereas the Trailhunter is configured for slower, rock-crawling fashion off-road exercise. As such, although each vans boast greater than 10 inches of floor clearance, the Trailhunter boasts bigger wheels and tires, in addition to better wheel articulation for improved low-speed maneuverability. Whereas each vans are loads succesful, however consumers will wish to intently look at their wants to find out which 4Runner most closely fits their wants. Observe that the Tacoma small pickup can be provided in like-price TRD Professional and Trailhunter configurations.
Check Automobile
Shopper Information lately spent every week behind the wheel of a 2025 4Runner Trailhunter in Everest (coloration). All informed, our well-accessorized top-of-the-line check automobile got here to $69,758.
One of many belongings you get in your almost $70,000 price of Toyota SUV is massive variety of reminders that you’ve, certainly, chosen the Trailhunter trim stage. We stopped counting the trim-level/engine-specific badges, however share quite a few them within the gallery under.
Cabin
The inviting cabin is each properly completed, and customarily upscale in really feel, although not precisely luxurious. As a substitute of leather-based, Toyota has opted for SofTex-brand seat cloth which seems tidy had high-grade, and is supposed to be simpler to scrub than cowhide within the aftermath of a critical off-road tour.
There’s a truthful quantity of exhausting plastic to be discovered within the 4Runner cabin, which is somewhat disappointing at this worth. That mentioned, the final look is considerate and arranged. The infotainment system is Toyota-familiar, which implies it really works effectively, and is usually bother free. So far as controls go, there’s a massive financial institution of customizable switches on the decrease sprint to the left of the steering wheel. Customizers wanting so as to add auxiliary lighting and the such will discover the built-in management panel useful.
Audio System
Music lovers will likely be disillusioned, because the JLB audio system serves solely satisfactory sound replica, and hardly deserves particular branding. It’s tremendous, however sounds no higher than a normal, base trim-level setup.
Room and Consolation
Regardless of the journey peak, moving into and out of the 4Runner is simple sufficient. And there’s ample front-row house for even bigger adults, comparable to this editor. Rear seat lodging are not any much less beneficiant. Bear in mind, too, that sure non-hybrid 4Runners are provided with 3rd-row seating.
Cargo Area
Cargo house is SUV-ample, although the excessive cargo flooring (see picture under) can complicate bigger and heavier gadgets.
Trip and Dealing with
On the street the 4Runner in Trailhunter trim rides and handles stunning effectively, particularly given its critical off-road potential. Whereas there’s some wallow throughout directional transitions—and after main impacts—the Trailhunter typically delivers journey high quality just like similar-size crossover—comparable to Toyota’s personal ighlander. Dealing with is somewhat numb, doubtless a perform of the burly tires, however general, we discovered our check automobile straightforward sufficient to zip round city in.
Quietness
Although not as hushed as some midsize crossovers/SUVs, the Trailhunter cabin is quiet sufficient for relaxed long-trim consolation. Observe although that the i-Power engine doesn’t sound—or-feel—fairly as easy because the outdated husky V6.
Energy and Efficiency
And whereas we’ve got not but evaluated a 4Runner with the usual 278-horsepower engine, we are able to report that i-Power Max unit serves up loads of energy, and first rate gas financial system, as effectively. Whereas old-school 4Runner loyalists will bemoan a scarcity of low-speed torque in comparison with the departed V6—and perhaps that’s true—the i-Power engine delivers much more passing and merging energy, and glorious midrange oomph as effectively. Additionally, and that is key, we noticed almost 19 mpg in routine driving, an enormous enchancment over the past 4Runner we check, which returned simply 17 mpg. Additionally, each 4Runner engines run simply tremendous on regular-grade gasoline.
Affordability
Some media retailers have decried 4Runner pricing, claiming that the truck has develop into too costly for long-time followers to afford. In actuality, costs haven’t really risen a lot—model-to-model—as an alternative, Toyota has launched premium and hybrid trim ranges, which do increase the common worth of a 4Runner. Observe that the SR5 and TRD Sport can nonetheless be had for much less that $50,000, not together with 4WD.
Worth
In a nutshell, no less than in Trailhunter trim, the 2025 4Runner is a fast and nimbler feeling truck, with a quieter cabin and higher gas financial system than its processor. Most consumers don’t want—and should not need—the expensive tools included within the Trailhunter mannequin, however its exhausting to not be impressed by how effectively the truck comes collectively. If the Corvette can transition to a mid-engine structure after virtually 70 years of going with a front-engine design, we suspect the 4Runner will soldier on simply tremendous with its new structure and 4-cylinder engines.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter Photos
Click on under for enlarged photographs
2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Highway: Evaluation, Costs, and Specs
