2025 Toyota 4Runner Review - New Ingredients, Same Recipe
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Date: 2025-01-30
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Comments and reviews: 20
bigd7386
I see two common threads in all of the vehicles based on the TNGA-F platform: compromised and expensive (maybe three threads: less reliable. The interior of this and the Tacoma look terrible and cheap, and that headliner in this price category is insane. But all of these things are conveniently overlooked because of the Toyota badge and the promise of reliability. which isn't holding up all that well as of late, but no one is going to say that. And they've sliced the same sausage to make so many different products that are more or less the same size with the same compromises. In my eyes, everything the prior 4Runner had going for it is no more. I would gladly spend my money on a GC over this. You're getting a more premium and probably more capable product for the money.
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I see two common threads in all of the vehicles based on the TNGA-F platform: compromised and expensive (maybe three threads: less reliable. The interior of this and the Tacoma look terrible and cheap, and that headliner in this price category is insane. But all of these things are conveniently overlooked because of the Toyota badge and the promise of reliability. which isn't holding up all that well as of late, but no one is going to say that. And they've sliced the same sausage to make so many different products that are more or less the same size with the same compromises. In my eyes, everything the prior 4Runner had going for it is no more. I would gladly spend my money on a GC over this. You're getting a more premium and probably more capable product for the money.
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fishsaysn0
Thanks for the review. You are the best.
I find Toyota is a bit confused. This many trims, this many options. If this is not your thing go up to Land Cruiser, if not go up Sequoia. Once you start adding up you go up to Lexus territory. And then there's Lexuses to choose from. They've moved the production to Mexico, but these prices keep going up and up and up. Instead of simplifying things they're making it harder on the buyers. Look at all those Ram trucks rotting at dealer lots. That's a lesson to learn for Toyota USA. I personally am going to pass this generation of Toyota trucks. Come back next generation; everything's going to be electric. Hopefully this would be a good seller for Toyota, but they need to start slicing lots of trims and then some products.
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Thanks for the review. You are the best.
I find Toyota is a bit confused. This many trims, this many options. If this is not your thing go up to Land Cruiser, if not go up Sequoia. Once you start adding up you go up to Lexus territory. And then there's Lexuses to choose from. They've moved the production to Mexico, but these prices keep going up and up and up. Instead of simplifying things they're making it harder on the buyers. Look at all those Ram trucks rotting at dealer lots. That's a lesson to learn for Toyota USA. I personally am going to pass this generation of Toyota trucks. Come back next generation; everything's going to be electric. Hopefully this would be a good seller for Toyota, but they need to start slicing lots of trims and then some products.
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MrMom950
wildly frustrating that you cant get a 3rd row if you have the Hybrid. and the top end models ONLY come in hybrid.
So you are either going high end and having to compare this to other 5 seaters as competition, or if you want it to carry more people. have to get a stripped down version.
its so frustrating Toyota and other companies do this for their top end models. the higher end you go with some of the great features, they automatically assume you want less seats on a big SUV. its mind boggling to me. Sequoia does the same thing. but with 2nd row seats. want all the bells and whistles that aren't available in the lower trims Yup. you can't carry 8 people anymore. sorry. only people with less kids can enjoy nicer things bub!
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wildly frustrating that you cant get a 3rd row if you have the Hybrid. and the top end models ONLY come in hybrid.
So you are either going high end and having to compare this to other 5 seaters as competition, or if you want it to carry more people. have to get a stripped down version.
its so frustrating Toyota and other companies do this for their top end models. the higher end you go with some of the great features, they automatically assume you want less seats on a big SUV. its mind boggling to me. Sequoia does the same thing. but with 2nd row seats. want all the bells and whistles that aren't available in the lower trims Yup. you can't carry 8 people anymore. sorry. only people with less kids can enjoy nicer things bub!
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joec1774
Sweet spot for me is the 4Runner TRD Sport Premium with the 2. 4T and 4WD. This has a better but far from excellent interior, with the upgraded tech and most of the options, and the combo of on-road and off-road capes that I'd want. With tow and moonroof that's still at $58K, below the Land Cruiser and still gives the power roll-down window.
That's expensive. but seriously, the 4Runner has ALWAYS been expensive. In 1996 dollars, when the 3rd gen came out - the model I speak of is $30K in those dollars. which is exactly what a well-equipped 4Runner cost.
Thoughts, autobuyersguide
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Sweet spot for me is the 4Runner TRD Sport Premium with the 2. 4T and 4WD. This has a better but far from excellent interior, with the upgraded tech and most of the options, and the combo of on-road and off-road capes that I'd want. With tow and moonroof that's still at $58K, below the Land Cruiser and still gives the power roll-down window.
That's expensive. but seriously, the 4Runner has ALWAYS been expensive. In 1996 dollars, when the 3rd gen came out - the model I speak of is $30K in those dollars. which is exactly what a well-equipped 4Runner cost.
Thoughts, autobuyersguide
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Molishious
A new Forerunner already The exterior is fine but I prefer the new Land Cruiser styling. The interior on top trims is good. I’d hope anyone getting this really needs to go off-road. My Rav4 Prime has a battery that is 10 times larger and a rear motor but doesn’t look any different from a regular Rav and has a spare time in the cargo. But I’m not taking it off-road. I wonder if a PHEV Forerunner that has more horsepower and far better efficiency but little off-road capability would sell What % of buyers do the kind of off-roading this is capable of
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A new Forerunner already The exterior is fine but I prefer the new Land Cruiser styling. The interior on top trims is good. I’d hope anyone getting this really needs to go off-road. My Rav4 Prime has a battery that is 10 times larger and a rear motor but doesn’t look any different from a regular Rav and has a spare time in the cargo. But I’m not taking it off-road. I wonder if a PHEV Forerunner that has more horsepower and far better efficiency but little off-road capability would sell What % of buyers do the kind of off-roading this is capable of
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secerator
Would have liked to see interior dimensions with the seats folded down. Especially hybrid with second row down. Is it flat Can somebody sleep there for camping How wide is the back door entrance How much room do I have from back door to the back of front seats/back of folded 2nd row seats Can I put some 2x4s in the back with the back door and back window closed
Looking to upgrade to this from a Subaru Outback, but not convinced of the practicality of the storage and no full time AWD on the most trims, especially the off road ones.
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Would have liked to see interior dimensions with the seats folded down. Especially hybrid with second row down. Is it flat Can somebody sleep there for camping How wide is the back door entrance How much room do I have from back door to the back of front seats/back of folded 2nd row seats Can I put some 2x4s in the back with the back door and back window closed
Looking to upgrade to this from a Subaru Outback, but not convinced of the practicality of the storage and no full time AWD on the most trims, especially the off road ones.
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kubi0461
I don’t hate it, but I’m not a fan. The base trim has less ground clearance than the prior gen and this new gen has bigger dimensions which I consider a drawback. Pricing seems a bit high. Mostly I think the issue is that I dislike so much about the Tacoma and this has a lot of Tacoma influence. Oh, and I was hoping a new gen would mean a quieter smoother more refined engine experience but certainly doesn’t sound like it.
I wish there was a Toyota equivalent of a bronco sport badlands.
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I don’t hate it, but I’m not a fan. The base trim has less ground clearance than the prior gen and this new gen has bigger dimensions which I consider a drawback. Pricing seems a bit high. Mostly I think the issue is that I dislike so much about the Tacoma and this has a lot of Tacoma influence. Oh, and I was hoping a new gen would mean a quieter smoother more refined engine experience but certainly doesn’t sound like it.
I wish there was a Toyota equivalent of a bronco sport badlands.
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rightlanehog3151
Alex and Travis, The first new model on the TNGA-F platform was the Tundra with its hybrid battery sitting under the second row. The Tacoma uses the same location. Every subsequent TNGA-F SUV has had the battery placed behind the second row which substantially reduces cargo capacity. How did this major compromise get approved in the design process Speaking of compromises, not only does the new, more expensive 4Runner lose rear seat headroom but the 40/20/40 rear seat is gone as well.
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Alex and Travis, The first new model on the TNGA-F platform was the Tundra with its hybrid battery sitting under the second row. The Tacoma uses the same location. Every subsequent TNGA-F SUV has had the battery placed behind the second row which substantially reduces cargo capacity. How did this major compromise get approved in the design process Speaking of compromises, not only does the new, more expensive 4Runner lose rear seat headroom but the 40/20/40 rear seat is gone as well.
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dphotos007
Consumer Reports Magazine rates the Jeeps the worse SUV cars along with the Range Rovers. The Jeep will breakdown more often and will be in the repair shop more often. I owned a Jeep before a 4Runner and it was always in the shop starting at 60, 000 miles. Never again will I own a Jeep product. The repairs were very expensive.
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Consumer Reports Magazine rates the Jeeps the worse SUV cars along with the Range Rovers. The Jeep will breakdown more often and will be in the repair shop more often. I owned a Jeep before a 4Runner and it was always in the shop starting at 60, 000 miles. Never again will I own a Jeep product. The repairs were very expensive.
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iandeleon8132
Anyone know how tall the guy is Want to get an idea how much room there is in that 3rd row. I know it's tight for him, but it still looks like he could tolerate sitting back there. If he's around 6 ft, those of us who are shorter might be ok back there or even have toddler seats back there.
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Anyone know how tall the guy is Want to get an idea how much room there is in that 3rd row. I know it's tight for him, but it still looks like he could tolerate sitting back there. If he's around 6 ft, those of us who are shorter might be ok back there or even have toddler seats back there.
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james2042
Toyota is going to suffer with all these compacted turbo conversions, their sales are already trending downwards. I'm genuinely not interested in any new turbo toyotas. If I'm buying something unreliable, it might as well be a brand that can design an interior worth being in
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Toyota is going to suffer with all these compacted turbo conversions, their sales are already trending downwards. I'm genuinely not interested in any new turbo toyotas. If I'm buying something unreliable, it might as well be a brand that can design an interior worth being in
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TheRacingShawn
The 2. 4t is neither refined nor powerful. If you like Toyota, buy their unibody smaller cars or suvs. These body on frame SUVs from Toyota are too much overpriced. I truly respect Toyota production system. But their high residue value is artificial.
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The 2. 4t is neither refined nor powerful. If you like Toyota, buy their unibody smaller cars or suvs. These body on frame SUVs from Toyota are too much overpriced. I truly respect Toyota production system. But their high residue value is artificial.
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naveenthemachine
So just as I predicted, it’s underwhelming. I told y’all this was gonna happen.
If only you had listened to the Toyota hater
Of course you didn’t and you chose to laugh. Well who’s getting the last laugh now Oh it’s me
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So just as I predicted, it’s underwhelming. I told y’all this was gonna happen.
If only you had listened to the Toyota hater
Of course you didn’t and you chose to laugh. Well who’s getting the last laugh now Oh it’s me
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dennisdenise1
I’m a jr member of the Toyota fan boy club, but for me this is a big miss. Just seems like it was put together with random parts. It doesn’t feel/look like a fully integrated design, more like a running prototype.
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I’m a jr member of the Toyota fan boy club, but for me this is a big miss. Just seems like it was put together with random parts. It doesn’t feel/look like a fully integrated design, more like a running prototype.
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labradachig1976
Great review, but the typical 4Runner customer would never look at something like Grand Cherokee. They are at the opposite spectrum of reliability. I prefer my truck in my garage than in someone else's.
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Great review, but the typical 4Runner customer would never look at something like Grand Cherokee. They are at the opposite spectrum of reliability. I prefer my truck in my garage than in someone else's.
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Soarin2Orl
Give up trying to put adults in the third row, just say pets and children and maybe groceries Bring back the six cyl. or just make a super blend of cruiser and 4-runner. We like noises, but not from 4’s
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Give up trying to put adults in the third row, just say pets and children and maybe groceries Bring back the six cyl. or just make a super blend of cruiser and 4-runner. We like noises, but not from 4’s
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bjsimon802
The tacoma engine is powerful, 4cylinder has better torque curve than the v6, and also if you use premium fuel, there is 20 hp gain. This was all tested on a dyno. So this engine is better than v6
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The tacoma engine is powerful, 4cylinder has better torque curve than the v6, and also if you use premium fuel, there is 20 hp gain. This was all tested on a dyno. So this engine is better than v6
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kieransteele7223
I just can’t stomach a $68K TRD Pro. Not when a somewhat competitor vehicle (Ranger Raptor) is 10K less!
Toyota needs a wake up call. Overpriced every vehicle and lost the reliability.
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I just can’t stomach a $68K TRD Pro. Not when a somewhat competitor vehicle (Ranger Raptor) is 10K less!
Toyota needs a wake up call. Overpriced every vehicle and lost the reliability.
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gk9453
I love the folks in these comments trying to justify the 4 cylinder turbo as more (or similar) durability as the 4. 0L V6. No engine builder or engineer designer in the world would agree with you.
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I love the folks in these comments trying to justify the 4 cylinder turbo as more (or similar) durability as the 4. 0L V6. No engine builder or engineer designer in the world would agree with you.
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Toe_Knee_69
The whole hybrid performance thing is a lie. It adds a 700lb electric motor and battery, loses cargo room, and does nothing to improve acceleration, as seen with the Tundra/Tundra hybrid.
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The whole hybrid performance thing is a lie. It adds a 700lb electric motor and battery, loses cargo room, and does nothing to improve acceleration, as seen with the Tundra/Tundra hybrid.
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