The All-New 2025 Toyota 4Runner: Same DNA With More Luxury

The Toyota 4Runner has cemented itself as one of the most iconic off-road vehicles in North America. With four decades of proven capability, durability, and versatility, the 4Runner’s reputation as a rugged adventure vehicle remains unmatched. For 2025, Toyota has completely redesigned the 4Runner, introducing the sixth generation of this legendary SUV. While staying true to its core DNA of go-anywhere performance, the 2025 4Runner now offers modernized technology, premium materials, new trim levels, and advanced safety features. It seamlessly blends its off-road heritage with a more refined and luxurious package, making it a standout choice in the mid-size SUV segment.

Here’s a comprehensive look at everything the all-new 2025 Toyota 4Runner brings to the table, from enhanced powertrains to groundbreaking off-road features and first-ever luxury upgrades.

Redesigned from the Ground Up: A Stronger Foundation

The 2025 4Runner is built on Toyota’s advanced TNGA-F global truck platform, which it shares with robust models like the Tacoma, Tundra, Land Cruiser, and Sequoia. This body-on-frame architecture is designed to enhance both strength and refinement. Its high-strength, fully boxed steel ladder frame gives the 4Runner the structural rigidity necessary to tackle challenging terrain while also improving on-road manners.

The TNGA-F platform also features a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link coil rear suspension, providing a smoother ride and better handling than the outgoing model. This improvement will be appreciated not just by off-roaders but also by those who use their 4Runner for daily commutes or family road trips. Even with the available third row of seating, passengers in every seat will notice a more comfortable ride.

With this enhanced foundation, the 2025 4Runner can tow up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg), making it a highly capable choice for those with trailers, boats, or other recreational equipment.

Powertrain Options: Turbocharged Performance for Every Need

For 2025, Toyota offers two turbocharged powertrains for the 4Runner, ensuring both efficiency and capability across the lineup.

The standard powertrain is the i-FORCE turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, this engine provides a great balance of power and fuel economy, making it suitable for daily use and light off-road adventures.

For those seeking even greater performance, the available i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain combines the 2.4-litre turbocharged engine with a 48-hp electric motor and a 1.87-kWh nickel-metal hydride battery. This system delivers an impressive 326 horsepower and a class-leading 465 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful powertrain ever offered in a 4Runner. The i-FORCE MAX is available on TRD Off-Road trims and comes standard on the top-tier TRD Pro, Trailhunter, and Platinum models. This hybrid system not only boosts performance but also ensures instant torque delivery, which is critical for off-road crawling or towing heavy loads.

Enhanced Off-Road Capability: Trail-Ready Features

The 4Runner’s reputation as an off-road legend remains intact with the 2025 model, which features new technologies and enhancements designed to tackle even more challenging terrain.

One of the key innovations is the Stabilizer Bar Disconnect Mechanism, which allows for increased suspension articulation at the push of a button. This feature ensures better wheel contact with uneven surfaces, making the 4Runner even more capable on rocky or uneven trails.

Other off-road improvements include:

• Approach and departure angles of up to 32 degrees and 24 degrees, respectively, for improved clearance.
• Multi-Terrain Select, which now functions in both 4WD-High and 4WD-Low, offering optimized traction for mud, sand, and other surfaces.
• Crawl Control, a low-speed off-road cruise control that allows drivers to focus on steering while the system manages throttle and braking.
• An electronically locking rear differential, standard on TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter trims, which splits power evenly between the rear wheels for better traction in challenging conditions.

In Canada, buyers can choose between part-time and full-time 4WD systems, each paired with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case and Toyota’s Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) system for optimal grip. For the Limited and Platinum trims, a full-time 4WD system with a centre locking differential is standard with the i-FORCE MAX powertrain.

The All-New Trailhunter Trim: A Factory-Ready Overland Rig

One of the most exciting additions to the 4Runner lineup is the all-new Trailhunter trim, a factory-built overlanding SUV designed to take adventurers further off the grid. Toyota has collaborated with top off-road component manufacturers to equip the Trailhunter with high-quality gear, including:

• Old Man Emu (OME) 2.5-inch forged shocks with rear external reservoirs for better damping performance.
• 33-inch Toyo Open Country A/T tires for added ground clearance.
• ARB skid plates and rock rails for underbody protection.
• A high-mount air intake, which ensures the engine breathes cleaner air in dusty environments.
• An ARB roof rack for carrying gear and supplies.
• A 2400W AC inverter, with outlets in the cabin and cargo area for powering tools and camping equipment.

With Trailhunter-specific touches like a bronze “TOYOTA” heritage grille and an integrated 20-inch LED light bar, this trim is not only functional but also visually striking.

Introducing the First-Ever Platinum Grade

For buyers looking for a more luxurious 4Runner, Toyota has introduced the Platinum trim, a premium-grade model that takes the SUV into new territory. Positioned above the Limited trim, the Platinum comes with exclusive black exterior accents, heated second-row seats, a standard Tow Tech Package, and advanced features like a Head-Up Display and automatic rain-sensing wipers.

The Platinum trim brings a level of refinement that has not previously been available in the 4Runner lineup, making it an ideal choice for buyers who want off-road capability without sacrificing comfort or modern amenities.

Upgraded Technology: Smarter, More Connected

The 2025 4Runner receives a significant tech upgrade with the latest Toyota Multimedia system, which features either a standard 8-inch touchscreen or an available 14-inch display. This system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring seamless smartphone integration.

Additional tech highlights include:

• A 7-inch digital gauge cluster on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster on higher trims.
• An available Qi wireless charging pad with increased power output.
• Dual USB-C ports in the front row, with optional rear USB-C ports for passenger convenience.
• A Smart Key System with push-button start, as well as an available Digital Key that lets users unlock and start the vehicle via a smartphone app.

Safety and Driver Assistance: Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

Every 2025 4Runner comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), the latest iteration of Toyota’s advanced safety suite. This package includes features like:

• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, now enhanced with motorcyclist detection and better intersection support.
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, with smoother speed adjustments and improved multi-vehicle detection.
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, which now recognizes 3D objects like guardrails.
• Road Sign Assist and Proactive Driving Assist, which gently adjusts braking and steering for added safety.

The new Emergency Driving Stop System, part of Lane Tracing Assist, monitors the driver for inattentiveness and can bring the vehicle to a stop during a medical emergency.

Conclusion: Modern Refinement Meets Legendary Capability

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner represents a significant evolution of the SUV’s iconic legacy. With its stronger platform, turbocharged powertrains, and class-leading off-road features, it continues to be the capable adventurer that off-road enthusiasts love. At the same time, new trims like the luxurious Platinum and the overland-ready Trailhunter bring more versatility to the lineup, ensuring there’s a 4Runner for every type of buyer.

Whether you're seeking rugged capability, advanced technology, or premium comfort, the all-new 4Runner proves that it can handle whatever your lifestyle demands. It stays true to its roots while embracing the future, offering the perfect balance of tradition and innovation.