Toyota plans to make some big news in a couple weeks and it’s giving a big hint at what’s on the docket with the first tease of the next-generation 4Runner. If these images offer any indication, the new 4Runner will get an evolutionary design makeover, but it’s also likely to get more significant updates when it comes to capabilities and technologies.
The 4Runner is being refreshed for the first time in 15 years.
It’s been a long time coming. Toyota hasn’t given a major makeover to the popular 4Runner in 15 years. That’s more than a bit unusual these days, especially for the Japanese automaker which rarely lets any of its products go that long without a substantial update.
The wait finally is over and we expect to see the 2025 Toyota 4Runner make its formal debut during a big media event the Japanese giant has scheduled in a couple weeks.
Evolution at work
These first images offer a close-up of the new truck’s tailgate and rear bumper, the rest of the pics showing how the SUV has evolved over the years. The Instagram post asks fans to see if they can identify when each of the older models came to market.
What to expect? The teaser image reveals a few key changes from the outgoing 4Runner. Smaller, more integrated lights, a more squared-off bumper, metallic trim, and an integrated trailer hitch, to start with. But the basics don’t stray far from what’s on the road now.
2025 Toyota 4Runner teaser. The new model will debut in mid-April.
We could be surprised, of course, but if the tailgate is any indication, the 2025 makeover won’t stray far from the boxy shape of the current model. And that shouldn’t be surprising, considering 4Runner’s heritage and purpose.
Indeed, we’re seeing a lot of manufacturers move back to squared-off SUV designs. The new Hyundai Tucson, introduced at the New York International Auto Show is moving away from the jellybean shape of the outgoing model.
Even so, the 2025 4Runner should get a more seamless look, starting up front, with smaller headlamps better integrated into the nose, and a new grille — or grilles, with different takes for each of the various trim packages — closer to what we’ve seen with the latest-generation Toyota Tacoma.
What we (think we) know
The revamped 4Runner will carry on legacy in off-roading.
What we do know is that the 2025 4Runner will share the same TNGA-F body-on-frame platform as three other Toyota truck models, starting with the newly revived Land Cruiser, the Sequoia, and the all-new Tacoma.
There’s been plenty of speculation about powertrain options. Toyota is widely expected to make some notable changes under the hood. It could, of course, mirror what it’s done with the new Tacoma. The pickup starts with a 2.4-liter turbo-4 making 228 hp and 243 lb-ft on base models, though there’s an upgrade available to the automaker’s I-Force Max powertrain with the Tacoma Limited Hybrid. That package pairs a 2.4-liter gas engine and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery to pour out 326 hp and 465 lb-ft.
Some speculate the 4Runner will get a powertrain option landing somewhere in-between, a 2.4-liter turbo-4 making 278 hp and 317 lb-ft. The automaker may choose not to give 4Runner the I-Force Max to help differentiate it from the new Land Cruiser. On the other hand, Toyota has made a point of saying its plans call for offering hybrid packages for its entire lineup. We’ll just have to wait a few weeks to know for sure.
As for the interior layout, the new 4Runner is expected to retain a three-row layout which would further differentiate it from the new Land Cruiser.
More Toyota News
- First Drive: 2024 Toyota Tacoma
- Toyota Announces Pricing for 2025 Land Cruiser
- Toyota Prius Named World Car Design of the Year
More options?
4Runner first began production in 1984.
Considering current market trends, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Toyota increased the off-road capabilities of the 2025 4Runner. It took that step with the new Tacoma.
We might even see some new packages. The midsize pickup now offers four different off-road-rated options, including the all-new Trailhunter trim.
Pricing should be the big differentiator between the new 4Runner and the revived Land Cruiser. The latter model has a base MSRP of $55.950. The current 4Runner starts at $40,155 – though, in today’s market, it’s highly likely that will jump a bit, if nothing else to cover new standard features such as Toyota’s latest infotainment and safety gear.
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