It’s been a minute since I spent time with a 4Runner. The all‑new 2025 model reminded me why this nameplate lives rent‑free in so many memories. I looped the D.C. metro, ran west off I‑270 toward the Appalachians, merged onto I‑70, then aimed for I‑81 along the Potomac. Somewhere near the river, it clicked: this sixth‑gen 4Runner respects its roots but finally speaks fluent 2025.
Toyota put the 4Runner on the TNGA‑F truck platform it now shares with Tacoma, Land Cruiser, Tundra, and Sequoia. Power starts with the i‑FORCE 2.4‑liter turbo at 278 hp / 317 lb‑ft, and climbs to the i‑FORCE MAX hybrid at 326 hp / 465 lb‑ft, paired with an 8‑speed automatic and up to ~6,000‑lb towing when configured right.
The greatest hits are still here—power roll‑down rear window, serious off‑road grades (TRD Pro, first‑ever Trailhunter), and gearing that feels born for gravel. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard, and you can specify a 14‑inch multimedia screen if you want a big map life. MSRP starts around $40,770, and models began hitting dealers in early 2025. A close friend—one of my oldest—ran a 4Runner back in the day, and a drive like this pulls up all those memories.
Cruising to Howard to show off our new DahVarsity AI platform and get high‑school students signed up, I caught myself nodding to classic boom‑bap, thinking about how the 4Runner has always had a certain prestige. For more information, visit www.toyota.com