What to Expect From the 2025 Toyota 4Runner’s 6th Generation Overhaul
After fifteen years, the Toyota 4Runner enters its sixth generation for the 2025 model year. This new-generation 4Runner should be the next in the Toyota lineup to receive the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, new technology, and upgraded features. Let’s consider some FAQs regarding the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner to understand what it should offer.
What powers the new Toyota 4Runner?
The current 4Runner is a bit of a dinosaur in the automotive world. This SUV currently uses a 4.0-liter V6 engine that’s extremely inefficient. We expect this SUV to transition to a new turbocharged 4-cylinder powertrain for the base power offering. Toyota has been moving its vehicle fleet to turbocharged and hybrid powertrains since the 2022 Tundra arrived.
According to The Fast Lane Car, a new i-Force 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine could power the new 4Runner. This is the same base engine for the new Tacoma, delivering 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque to the wheels.
Will the sixth-gen 4Runner offer a manual transmission?
Although manual transmissions are quickly going extinct, Toyota still offers a stick shifter in the Tacoma. If the 4Runner has the same platform and powertrains as the midsize truck, we can expect the new SUV to include an optional manual transmission for versions powered by the new i-Force powertrain. This would match the Taco truck.
Will Toyota offer the 4Runner with a hybrid powertrain?
A hybrid i-Force Max powertrain for the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner could create some overlap in the Toyota SUV lineup. The 2024 Land Cruiser has a hybrid engine and moved down the market, becoming a smaller two-row off-road SUV. This sounds like the Land Cruiser is infringing on 4Runner territory.
If Toyota gives the new 4Runner the same i-Force Max hybrid powertrain as the Tacoma, it might only be available on the top trims, powering Limited and TRD Pro versions of this Toyota SUV.
Could the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner include an overlanding trim?
When Toyota announced the new Tacoma, it revealed a new “from the factory” overlanding trim called Trailhunter. This trim gives drivers the right equipment for weeks of wilderness driving, which might make a lot of sense in the new 4Runner. Of course, this is another area where we could see the 4Runner and Land Cruiser overlap.
Does the new 4Runner come with a better interior?
The 2025 4Runner SUV should mimic the new Tacoma with impressive interior upgrades. This means improved seating materials, modernized tech features, and an available 14-inch touchscreen. We can expect similar improvements to be part of the new 4Runner lineup as we see the improvements made in the Tacoma.
When will the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner arrive?
A release date for the sixth generation 4Runner hasn’t been announced by Toyota yet. The current 4Runner continues for the 2024 model year, with the new version of this off-road SUV expected for 2025. Rumors from the 4Runner6G forum show this new Toyota SUV entering production in July 2024, making it available late in the fall as part of the 2025 model year lineup.
