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2025 Toyota 4Runner First Look: What the New 4-Cylinder Gets Right

The redesigned 2025 Toyota 4Runner uses a 278-hp turbocharged four-cylinder as standard, with a stronger hybrid available on selected grades. Here’s what changes—and what stays truck-like.
Entry500 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is a major redesign with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder as its standard engine. It makes 278 hp and 317 lb-ft, according to Toyota; buyers who want more output can choose the i-FORCE MAX hybrid, which pairs that same basic engine with an electric motor. The new 4Runner is more modern and better equipped, but it remains a truck-based SUV—and an independent review found it still feels ponderous on pavement.

Is the 2025 4Runner a four-cylinder?

Yes. The standard i-FORCE powertrain is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder paired with an eight-speed automatic. Toyota rates it at 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. That is the baseline engine across the redesigned sixth-generation lineup, not a smaller entry-level option alongside a standard V6.

The available i-FORCE MAX is also built around a 2.4-liter turbo four, supplemented by an electric motor and battery. Toyota lists up to 326 net combined hp and 465 lb-ft for the hybrid, also paired with an eight-speed automatic. Those are manufacturer specifications, not independent dynamometer results. Toyota outlined the powertrains in its 2025 4Runner feature article.

Which 4Runner trims get the hybrid?

Toyota lists nine 2025 grades. The hybrid is standard on three and available on selected others; it is not listed as an option for every grade.

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2025 grade Hybrid availability
SR5 Not listed as available in Toyota’s launch powertrain details.
TRD Sport Not listed as available in Toyota’s launch powertrain details.
TRD Sport Premium Not listed as available in Toyota’s launch powertrain details.
TRD Off-Road Available
TRD Off-Road Premium Available
Limited Available
Platinum Standard
TRD Pro Standard
Trailhunter Standard

Availability can depend on the specific configuration and market. Toyota’s 2025 launch details identify the hybrid as standard on TRD Pro, Trailhunter, and Platinum, and available on TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and Limited.

What changes on the road and trail?

The redesign keeps the 4Runner’s body-on-frame character. Toyota describes a TNGA-F platform with a high-strength boxed steel-ladder frame, double-wishbone front suspension, and multi-link coil rear suspension. Four-wheel drive and grade-specific off-road equipment preserve its trail-oriented role, while Sport and Limited grades lean more toward road use.

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Car and Driver’s review describes improved road manners over the prior generation, along with quick steering and good visibility off-road. Its overall impression is more qualified: the 4Runner still feels clumsy and ponderous enough to remind the driver that it is a truck-based SUV. The review also reports a 7.5-second 0–60 mph test for a four-wheel-drive example; that is a result for the publication’s tested vehicle, not a Toyota-wide claim.

For more specialized off-road use, TRD Pro and Trailhunter are the dedicated upper-tier choices. Toyota describes Trailhunter as built for overlanding, with integrated equipment from ARB, Old Man Emu, and RIGID Industries. The Sport and Limited grades offer a more road-oriented alternative to those trail-focused configurations.

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How much can it tow, and what mpg does it get?

Toyota lists up to 6,000 lb of towing capacity for the i-FORCE MAX hybrid. That figure is a manufacturer-stated maximum for the hybrid; it should not be assumed to apply to every 4Runner configuration.

Car and Driver reports EPA combined fuel economy of 22 mpg for rear-wheel-drive nonhybrid models and 21 mpg for four-wheel-drive nonhybrids. Those are different drivetrain configurations, not a single rating for the whole lineup. The publication’s page also notes that its own 75-mph highway-test result was not yet available, so the EPA figures should not be mistaken for real-world highway-test results.

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Is the cabin more useful?

The redesign brings a more modern, more spacious interior, according to Car and Driver. Its review reports an 8-inch standard infotainment screen, with a 14-inch screen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster available. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also listed. Toyota says Toyota Audio Multimedia and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 are standard across the 2025 grades.

An optional third row adds flexibility, but Car and Driver finds it cramped for adults and better suited to children or occasional use. If regular adult seating is important, the third row should be treated as a compromise rather than the equivalent of a roomy three-row SUV.

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Does the four-cylinder make the 4Runner better?

It makes the redesigned 4Runner more contemporary without abandoning its truck-based layout. The standard turbo-four has substantial stated torque, while the hybrid offers a meaningful step up in Toyota-rated output for buyers willing to choose an eligible grade. The new cabin and improved road manners address some of the old model’s dated feel.

That does not make the 2025 4Runner an all-purpose winner. Car and Driver says the turbo-four could use more power, and its road impressions underline the trade-off inherent in a rugged body-on-frame SUV. The strongest case is for buyers who want the 4Runner’s off-road orientation with newer powertrains and equipment—not for someone expecting carlike handling or a proven long-term reliability verdict. The cited launch specifications and review do not establish long-term reliability.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
Hot Wheels Boulevard Premium Vehicles 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER GJT68 - JHW18
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$15.49

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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