Toyota 4Runner

The sixth-generation Toyota 4Runner ditches the old V6 for a turbo four and an available hybrid, but keeps the rugged body-on-frame bones that made it a trail-day favorite. It rides on the same TNGA-F platform as the Tacoma and Land Cruiser, so it finally gets modern tech and a quieter cabin without trading away genuine off-road hardware. Buyers choosing between mall-friendly comfort and serious dirt capability now have one truck that leans both ways.

On paper, the new 4Runner looks like a clean-sheet redesign, and in many ways it is. The turbocharged 2.4-liter four makes 278 horsepower and a stout 317 lb-ft of torque, comfortably more grunt than the old 4.0-liter V6 and available far lower in the rev range. The optional i-FORCE MAX hybrid bumps output to 326 horsepower and adds a usable low-end shove that suits crawling and towing. The eight-speed automatic is smooth, though the four-cylinder's coarse note under hard acceleration reminds you this is a workhorse, not a luxury cruiser.

Off-road is where the 4Runner still earns its badge. TRD Off-Road and the range-topping TRDPro and Trailhunter trims add locking rear differentials, disconnecting sway bars, crawl control, and serious approach angles. Even on lesser trims, the body-on-frame chassis and available full-time 4WD shrug off rough trails that would unsettle a unibody crossover. The trade-off is the on-road experience: steering is light and vague, the ride is firm over broken pavement, and wind noise climbs on the highway.

Inside, the cabin is a major leap over the outgoing model, which had soldiered on for over a decade. A standard 8-inch touchscreen (14-inch on upper trims) runs Toyota's current software with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and material quality is markedly improved. Space up front is generous, the rear bench is adequate for adults, and the available power-folding third row returns on certain trims, though it remains tight and best reserved for kids. Cargo room behind the second row is excellent, and the roll-down rear window survives as a beloved quirk.

Value is the sticking point. Base SR5 pricing is reasonable, but the trims most buyers actually want, especially the hybrid off-road models, climb quickly toward and past sixty grand. Fuel economy is improved but unremarkable for a 2025 vehicle, and rivals from Ford and Jeep offer comparable capability. Still, Toyota's reputation for longevity and strong resale keeps the 4Runner near the top of the segment.