HERES HOW THE REDESIGNED 2025 TOYOTA 4RUNNER CHANGES THE MID-SIZE SUV GAME

SUVs and crossovers are all the rage these days, and that's why there are so many models on the market right now. As a result, it has become increasingly harder for automakers to stand out. In particular, it's the unibody crossover that's selling by the boatloads these days, and you've got nearly a dozen choices already in the midsize segment alone.

The reason unibody crossovers have gotten particularly popular is that these are essentially the modern-day minivan that was popular in the 1980s to 1990s, but with the look of a proper body-on-frame SUV. Not everyone wants the cumbersome driving experience of a full-frame SUV, and instead only prefer the toughness of how they look and the supposed active lifestyle that's attached to owning such a vehicle.

As a result, while the midsize SUV segment may have a plethora of options, only a few are body-on-frame models. The few that exist are dedicated off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco , and are not exactly the best for family use. There may be a new Toyota Land Cruiser currently on sale, but that's too expensive for some customers and still too hardcore. This brings us to the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner, which is completely new from the ground up, and ready to shake up the midsize SUV segment.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner's Balanced Appeal

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner has been given a complete redesign, finally putting its nearly 15-year-old predecessor to rest. As a result, the 4Runner feels significantly more modern than its predecessor, both in terms of tech, and the driving experience, which we'll be tackling first. Unfortunately, the 4Runner hasn't yet reached the hands of the press due to Toyota delaying its on-sale date to December due to parts constraints that are shared with the Tacoma, so we'll base some of its potential driving experience based on our team's experience with the equally-new Tacoma.

Completely New Underpinnings

There are more than a dozen midsize SUVs and crossovers currently vying for your attention, and only four have a traditional and rugged body-on-frame construction: the new 4Runner, the new Land Cruiser, the Wrangler, and the Bronco.

Among these four, the 4Runner is in desperate need of an update, but finally, for the 2025 model year, the 4Runner migrates to the new TNGA-F platform. This platform is stiffer, more rugged, and more capable than ever, and this is the platform that also underpins the Land Cruiser, the Sequoia, the mechanically-related Tacoma, and the Tundra.

However, while the TNGA-F platform carries multiple similarities across all models, each execution of the TNGA-F platform varies in terms of capability and driving character. The full-size Sequoia, which is more luxury and comfort oriented, doesn't get disconnecting swaybars, which is known as Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) in previous applications.

For the new 4Runner, it has a shared feature with the new Land Cruiser called Swaybar with Disconnection Mechanism (SDM). Unlike KDSS, which is an active feature (that's either electronic or hydraulic), SDM is mechanically simpler, but requires more steps for the swaybars to be disconnected. This is what many off-roaders seem to prefer, as the simpler setup means less stuff to malfunction, and it also allows the 4Runner's suspension and axles to be easily modified by its owners.

A Significantly Better Drive

Thanks to the new underpinnings, the 4Runner's driving experience is expected to be transformative, as is the case with our team's experience with the new Tacoma. As expected with new platforms, the TNGA-F platform is more rigid than the outgoing Toyota F2 platform. Our reviewer notes that the new Tacoma's migration to the TNGA-F platform has made the midsize pickup feel a lot more grown up and refined.

It's a lot quieter, whilst the chassis feels more rigid and the optional rear multilink suspension, which is standard on the 4Runner, allows for a more buttoned-down ride. Handling-wise, the new Tacoma also felt more composed when it comes to corners. There are fewer oscillations during sudden steering movements compared to the older model.

We're curious about what the ride will be like on the new 4Runner once we get our hands on one, but whatever driving experience we've had in the Tacoma will most likely carry over to this mechanically-related midsize SUV.

Maintaining A Design Icon

What we also like about the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner is that, while it gets a mechanical overhaul, the 4Runner still maintains a familiar look both inside and out that's already iconic in 2024. Furthermore, there are numerous variants to choose from. There's a 4Runner to meet a wide range of needs and wants.

Familiar But More Handsome Looks

It's difficult to pull off a family look these days without each model looking like merely small, medium, or large versions of each other. Here, in the 4Runner, the two rugged vehicles share the same family resemblance whilst still possessing a unique identity. The windshield is more steeply raked and has a more rounded profile to make it more aerodynamic. The side profile with its thick C-pillar separating the two main windows from the third-row window now has a kink that rises, giving its side a more dynamic appearance.

Lastly, Toyota's CALTY design team took inspiration from the past with the “wrap over” quarter rear glass--a nod to the second-generation 4Runner. The popular roll-down rear glass also carries over into this new model, as this design trait is pretty much etched into the vehicle’s DNA. The latter feature is standard on all variants, while a powered tailgate is only on higher variants. Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned delay, Toyota hasn't yet revealed individual specs and prices for each 4Runner variant.

A Significantly More Modern Interior

Depending on the variant, the interior of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner can be rugged or luxurious. What's common across all variants, however, is the sheer amount of tech it gets for this generational update. Higher trims are able to have features like heated and cooled seats, a larger 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch fully-digital instrument cluster, and a powered tailgate.

Now, having mentioned the newly-released Land Cruiser in our market, you're probably wondering where the 4Runner fits into the midsize body-on-frame SUV segment? Well, apart from the Land Cruiser lacking a hybrid option, the Land Cruiser is sold exclusively as a five-seater. The 4Runner comes with three-row seating, and it's the major interior difference of this model. Perhaps it's a sign that Toyota already has so many SUVs that they need to trim certain features on some of its models.

The 4Runner Will Push Toyota's Hybridization Ambitions

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is offered in two flavors, both of which are a 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder gasoline engine branded as i-Force. The main highlight of these two engines is the i-Force Max, which, as you'll see below, are two ingredients that will make the 4Runner a game changer in the segment.

The Hybrid Is (Probably) Worth The Splurge

Hybrids are selling extremely well in the United States these days, and Toyota is benefiting the most from this increased demand. Hybrids don't need a lifestyle change in terms of ownership, unlike a pure electric vehicle (EV) or even a plug-in hybrid. Yet, most of the time, hybrids offer significant fuel efficiency benefits, enough to offset the often minimal price difference with the non-hybrid. However, true judgment will only be possible until Toyota finally reveals the full pricing and spec differences of each variant.

What we already know is that the i-Force Max , which is a parallel hybrid system with four-wheel drive (4WD) as standard, produces 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, while the i-Force, on the other hand, produces just 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. In the Tacoma, the i-Force Max's average EPA-estimated fuel consumption is 23 MPG, while the non-hybrid i-Force fitted with 4WD is 3 MPG less efficient. The good news doesn't end there, because the new 4Runner is rated to tow 6,000 pounds, 1,000 pounds more than the previous 4Runner and the same across both powertrain options.

The 4Runner Is In A Unique Market Position

The 4Runner is a strong seller for Toyota, with 66,550 units sold as of June 2024. That's a massive 31.2 percent sales increase from last year despite a new model about to hit dealers by December, assuming the 4Runner doesn't face additional delays. It's the only midsize three-row body-on-frame SUV with a hybrid drivetrain, as the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is a plug-in hybrid that needs to be charged and is only a five-seater.

As a result of having a hybrid powertrain, as well as being family-friendly yet highly-rugged thanks to its body-on-frame construction, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner will further put the Japanese automaker in a dominant position in the North American market.

2024-09-19T09:13:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd