This is the 2025 Toyota 4 Runner! It’s been so long since we’ve seen a fresh and fully revamped version, 15 years, to be exact. Now we have the Trailhunter, a shiny new trim that promises to deliver not just off-road prowess but also a cozy ride on the pavement.

The Toyota 4Runner is like a vampire, forever young and old at the same time, a giant middle finger to anyone who thinks making SUVs like sedans is the way to go. This beast is as tall as a giraffe on stilts and just as graceful, and it’s not exactly a master of space or fuel efficiency or speed. Yet, somehow, Toyota can’t churn out enough of these cars, and that will probably be true for his brand-new one!

Exterior

The newest 4Runner has undergone a significant makeover, although to the untrained eye, it might seem like nothing has changed. It rides on the trusty TNGA-F platform that also supports the Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia, featuring a body-on-frame design, a lively rear axle, and an independent front suspension. Oh, and let’s not forget the rear glass that magically rolls down into the hatch!

Off-Road Goodies

Mechanically speaking, the Trailhunter is like the long-lost twin of the new 4Runner TRD Pro. They’re practically the same price, making them the priciest sixth-generation Toyota 4Runner SUVs on the market. But hold your horses, we’ll dive into the pricing later. The 4Runner Trailhunter struts its stuff on 33-inch Toyo Open Country III tires, which are as quiet as a ninja on the road and fantastic off-road. They’re paired with these snazzy bronze 18-inch alloy wheels

Both the TRD Pro and this Trailhunter boast a 3.2-inch wider track compared to the base model, along with a 1.5-inch front lift and a 2.0-inch rear lift. The Trailhunter models come with an electronic front anti-rollbar disconnect, giving you more off-road suspension articulation than a yoga instructor. The Trailhunter’s off-roading goodies include “Crawl Control” low-speed driver assistance system,  exterior cameras to improve visibility over rough stuff, Multi Terrain Select, and a rear locker.

The major distinction between the two is all about the dampers. The TRD Pro is equipped with Fox shocks, perfect for leaping around like a kangaroo and zooming through the desert like a bat out of hell. Meanwhile, the Trailhunter comes with a set of Old Man Emu dampers, which, as the name suggests, are as Australian as a koala on a surfboard.

These bad boys are tailored for a more leisurely and technical off-roading experience. And here’s a fun twist: a sunroof is a no-go in this trim! Why, you ask? Because the whole idea is that you’ll be living it up on the roof in a pop-up tent! It boasts a massive roof rack that can handle a whopping 700 pounds of static weight.

Under The Hood

Is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid that cranks out a whopping 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque! This additional power comes from an AC motor, providing 48 hp and 184 lb-ft. It’s paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, making it smoother than the old model by a country mile.

0 to 60 takes just 6.7 seconds, and if you are careful, you will get 23 mpg on the highway. Now, you might spot the Trailhunter sporting a snorkel, but don’t get too excited; it’s not for swimming in deep puddles. Nope, it’s there to keep dust from sneaking into the engine. Just a heads up, though, with this fancy snorkel, you’ll lose about 3 hp.

Driving

We headed out to our favorite off-road area close to the US/Mexico border, a place heavily trafficked by the US Border Patrol. It’s home to several trails, which are mostly technical and require 4WD and plenty of ground clearance, as well as 4 LO.

Out in this terrain, the Trailhunter really shines. We picked tracks that were steep, narrow, and littered with rocks, and only when one wheel was on loose rock and the other was on dirt did we need to engage the rear locker. The 4Runner romped up, and thanks to the Trailhunter’s 10.1 inches of ground clearance and numerous skid plates, there was never a worry about damaging the underside.

The cameras also eased the stress of navigating some larger rocks that we were able to bypass on either side. In low range, with the differential locked and the front anti-roll bar disconnected, the Trailhunter just cruised over anything in its path, thanks to that huge torque kicking in at just 1700 rpm. It is virtually unstoppable.

The Trailhunter outperforms any factory 4Runner when it comes to on-road driving. The smooth Toyo tires play a big role, but it’s the Old Man Emu dampers that really stand out. No one has ever called a 4Runner sporty, and while that might still be a bit of a reach, I couldn’t help but grin as we navigated a twisty back road, impressed by how well this 2.5-ton beast handled. It’s still a truck, so it bumps and sways over imperfections just like you’d expect with that body-on-frame design.

Interior

Inside, this 4Runner is like a fancy upgrade from the last-gen model, especially when it comes to interior quality. Just like the Tacoma, it boasts comfy SofTex seats and a bunch of materials that feel solid when you touch them. There’s a gigantic 14-inch central screen that runs Toyota’s latest operating system, giving the truck a modern twist, both good and bad.

The enormous TOYOTA text on the driver’s dashboard might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those in the know will recognize it from the Tacoma and Tundra models. For those who found the Tacoma’s back seat a bit snug, you’ll be thrilled to learn that the 4Runner doesn’t come with Toyota’s ridiculously cool IsoDynamic Sport Seats that eat into the legroom.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter offers a cargo space of 42.6 cubic feet behind the second row. When the rear seats are folded down, the cargo space expands to 82.6 cubic feet. However, the hybrid battery pack in the Trailhunter raises the cargo floor by about 5.5 inches, which reduces the overall cargo volume compared to non-hybrid models.

Pricing

The starting price is $66,900, and this model comes with some extras like a cargo cover, cargo lights, a cargo mat, and floor mats. This brings the total cost up to $69,713.

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Verdict

The issue with the 4 Runner Trailhunter is the Land Cruiser and the GX 550 Overland +. The 4Runner is positioned between these two, and it really delivers. It’s fantastic for off-roading and performs well on the road too, making it a good option if the Land Cruiser feels too basic and the GX is out of your budget.

2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter Numbers

BASE PRICE: $66,900
PRICE AS TESTED: $69,713
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, rear/4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door SUV
ENGINE: 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
ELECTRIC MOTOR: AC motor, 48 hp, 184 lb-ft
COMBINED POWER: 323 hp
TORQUE: 465 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
0-60 MPH: 6.7 sec
CURB WEIGHT: 5,500 lbs
TOWING CAPACITY: 6,000 lbs
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 23/24/23 mpg
OUR OBSERVED: 16.8
PROS: Unstoppable off-road and on, rock-solid build quality, much-improved interior
CONS: Noisy air intake, Pricey