Toyota is killing it with the TNGA-F platform, slapping it under the comfy new Tundra, the big-but-competent Sequoia, the handsome new Lexus GX, the excellent new Tacoma, and the surprisingly reasonably-priced Toyota Land Cruiser. Now those new bones will grace another exciting new Toyota truck: The beloved 4Runner. And we have our first photo of what it will look like — well, what a small part of it will look like.
That picture you see above is the extent of the photos I have of the upcoming new 4Runner, which is expected to share the same 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four (in standard and hybrid form) as the new Tacoma. The pic shows some of the tailgate in what looks like the same Heritage Blue that we saw in the debut photos of the new Land Cruiser.
Toyota sneakily hid that teaser in this little 4Runner photo album on Instagram:
View this post on Instagram
What I like about the 4Runner, as I click through those photos of the various 4Runner generations, is that the formula feels the same. Body-on-frame, solid rear axle, independent front suspension, a similar overall shape with recognizable styling, a reasonable overall size, and above all — a propensity to just keep going.
But damn the current generation is old. Come on — this thing has been out since the 2010 model year? I had just graduated high school! The 4.0-liter V6 motor is old, the five-speed auto is old, and together they get fuel economy similar to that of a Nimitz-class carrier. [Edit: It turns out this is nuclear powered, so let’s go with a cruise liner. -DT].
Needless to say: I’m excited to see the 2025 Toyota 4Runner. It’s a long time coming, and the changes are going to be drastic, but only in the right areas (powertrain) I hope. Otherwise, I’d love to see familiar styling, a familiar overall size, familiar capability, and familiar longevity. We’ll learn about all but the last when this thing debuts later this year.
I love mine. Among the best cars ???? ive ever had. I also might be a bit more reserved than some of you so my sentiment is more along the idea of;
…… please give me at least one non hybrid of decent sort on this new platform…….
Time to increment the number Toyota! I can’t wait to get my hands on the new 5Runner!
Suck that this thing will be massive. I would love to replace my 2001 with a newer 4×4 from Toyota but they’re all huge. Give me a RAV4-sized 4Runner.
Funny you would mention that. A friend of mine parked her new Rav4 next to my 4th Gen 4Runner and the RAV is only about 6-7 inches shorter.
I am really trying to understand how this will be positioned in Toyota’s lineup
Somewhere between the RAV4 and Sequoia.
Because we all need several choices of oversized, top heavy, mega-wheel-drive, Environmental Assault Vehicle/Family Armoured Carrier.
It’s probably been asked and answered previously, but what’s the purpose of the license plate in this photo?
It’s painted the same color as the body so they want it to blend in or else the could have gone woth a contrasting color for style, and it’s obviously not a real license plate and therefore isn’t on there to make the vehicle street legal. If they’re worried about the mounting holes I assume they could just make a tailgate without them. Does anyone know?
It’s a placeholder to show where the plate goes. It’s the same color so focus is on the vehicle and not the plate which would draw eyes to it instead the vehicle. It’s about forcing the focus. Very common!
I’m excited to see the new 4Runner…and hoping for a Prime version.
I also can’t stand Toyota’s way of doing this for every new vehicle – showing bits and pieces over several weeks…just get on with it.
I’m excited to see it. With that shared platform, I thought they would distinguish this from the Land Cruiser, in part, by not offering a hybrid, but I guess that thought is at least a decade out of date.
First thing for me would be to remove that ugly 4runner badge from the liftgate!
At least it’s not that “Cowboy Wanted Poster” font like they used for a while!
3rd gen font was the best.
In fairness to the Nimitz, it’s nuclear powered, which means it’s a zero-emission vehicle, which in turn means it gets to park in the good spaces at Whole Foods.
…that’s fair.
The Autopian has the best editors’ notes of any site I frequent.
I know it’s just a number, but knowing the new 4Runner will have a 2.4L 4-cylinder again just like the 1st gen I grew up with makes me happy. And a turbo to boot, which the 1st gen’s also got, admittedly in limited numbers.
maybe in 40 years people building crawlers will still be searching out the 2.4T because of its stronger axle (which is will have)
The only thing I dislike about the 4Runner, is that they’ve become so outrageously popular that Toyota doesn’t really bother to make basic ones anymore. I would bet these end up being massively expensive. With adjustments to boot.
It’d be nice if someone bothered to compete with Toyota in this space so that at least SOMEONE was putting pressure on the outrageous pricing. Looking at you Nissan, you Xterra cancelling cowards.
A basic SR5 lists around 45k, which is similiar to a wrangler sport once you add a hard top and an automatic. My wife has an SR5 and it’s about as basic as a car gets. I think it’s just pricey to build a body on frame SUV.
And then when this launches, the countdown begins to the Land Cruiser FJ release via teasers
I hope the rear window goes down. Please don’t mess that up Toyota like you did with the Sequoia.
Other than a body-on-frame chassis, and a solid rear axle, the rear window that rolls down is the only thing that essentially has stayed the same since 1984.
It was one of my favorite features when I owned my 2003. Such a simple addition that made the 4runner a unique experience against most other SUVs on the market.
Don’t hold your breath.
No way they are that stupid. That was hands down the best part of our 3rd Gen. Sunroof open, every window down, Kid A on the CD player.
In my first gen leaving that window down just brings exhaust into the vehicle. I haven’t taken the top off. Maybe that is better.
They killed off the split tailgate for all Land Cruisers, there is very much way that they are that stupid.
I have seen 4runners in traffic with the rear window down about twice, ever. I don’t think most owners even know it can do that.
I think Toyota understands this, and will not be putting this feature in any cars anymore.
Maybe because nobody wants to breathe exhaust fumes? The window is helpful for loading shit.
We had the rear spoiler above the window. No fumes!
Roll down the rear side windows and this won’t be a problem.
I use mine all the time. It’s nice for low throttle cruising, but it does suck in fumes when heavy on the gas pedal. I always shut the window when preparing to merge onto the highway or climb a hill. Other than those situations I don’t notice the fumes, and I’ll typically have the other windows and sunroof open as well. It’s about as close to a Wrangler experience you’ll get in a Yota.
Toyota messed up with the Matrix too, first gen rear window opened, second gen doesn’t.
My favorite business rental experience was discovering the power tailgate window feature while piloting a 4 Runner on a five hour interstate drive. I turned off the A/C, lowered the tailgate and cracked the front windows, sending a breeze through the cabin that was to die for.
I think it will be interesting how this fits into the lineup with the new Landcruiser being very simliar in size and design to the existing 4runner.
Im a little worried about this. My guess is that it will be the Land Cruiser 100% minus a few powertrain choices. i.e. part time versus full time 4wd and a standard 2.4T without the hybrid.
I’m hoping that it will be closer to Rav4 dimensions, Land Cruiser is more mid-size and the 4runner will be more compact in size like a modern S-10 Blazer.
nah, its going to be nearly identical dimensionally and chassis wise to all the other J250 chassis variants.
Huh, that level of overlap isn’t something I expected from Toyota. now I’m really curious how they’re going to market the differences.
yeah, we are all waiting to see what they do with the 4runner. My guess is that it will literally be the Land Cruiser 250 well less engine and part time and…well thats about it.
Seems logical. The current 4runner starts at about 44k (4wd) and runs up to about 55k + with accessories (including 23 different coolers and fridges!) the landcruiser starts about 55k I can’t imagine the 4runner is going to be the premium “mid-size” off roader, so I’m guessing more of an entry level. Still seems like there will be a lot of overlap in capability. I guess the good news is if that’s the plan, the price point shouldln’t go up much
The motor may last forever.
If it is anything like most Toyota motors, it will bore me to tears with its lack of passion and guts.
And mid teens fuel economy.
Isn’t it disappointing when an automaker shows you a slideshow that shows the last time a certain model looked good was ~23 years ago? 1st gen 4Runner was awkward and weird, but the 2nd gen had that restrained and purposeful 90s Japanese styling that just holds up so well.
Every 4Runner after that has gotten uglier, with weird awkward bulging sheet metal and progressively angrier and bulgier faces.
SFA 1st gen is coolest and (potentially) the best offroad, second gen is best looking, 3rd gen is best combo of the two. I own a personally own a 5th gen, and really don’t know what to say about it.
I can’t wait to see this on the beach when some affluenza affected teen with a smol PP decides they want to ruin my time in the sun by treating the sand like an off road park. Or when I run into it in DC because some dude with an REI bumper sticker who went to Colorado a few times and needs AWD to get to the Whole Foods safely is currently holding up two lanes of traffic because they can’t handle how big it is while getting 7 MPG. Or when one of them with every aftermarket lighting attachment known to man is angrily tailgating me because I’m only going 17 over.
4Runners themselves are fine. They’re tools made for a purpose, they’re damn good at it, and they’ll outlive humanity. If I lived in a cold rural area they’d be near the top of my shopping list. But much like Wranglers they just seem to consistently attract the worst goddamn drivers…
you seem like fun at parties
but since we don’t limit what people can buy, shhhhhhhh now
everyone loves a good rant at a party.
I’m a goddamn sober. I am absolutely 0 fun at parties already. Checkmate, Yoda!
Tons of people daily driving these around me, and a huge number have those big rooftop tents. I can’t say I’ve seen the same behaviors as you (at least not to the same degree. I’d say RAV4s and Crosstreks are worse.), but those rooftop tents… I have a 4Runner for the cold, rural part of my life and I can’t imagine putting 150# on top of it on purpose. That thing would turn your average “oops I took on the ditch” to “now I’m upside down and maybe dead” too often for comfort. I also can’t think of anyplace within a thousand miles of here where “on top of a Toyota” is even in the top 10 best places to sleep.
My neighbor put a tent on a roof rack on his taco and even with the tent off he had to air down his tires just to pull it into the garage with the racking system. In Minnesota that means a cold car that needs its window scraped half the year basically.
The dumbest thing about a rooftop tent on a 4Runner is you can fold the back seats down and it’s long enough for most people to sleep inside.
Lets start taking bets now, what’s the highest markup going to be on the first ones on dealer lots? Price Is Right rules, closest without going over wins. My guess is it’ll be a CA or TX dealer with about 15k on normal trims, and 30k for the Off-Road focused ones.
Good thing that the markups will cool down when it’s 7 years into it’s 15 year product cycle 😀
sadly thissssssssssssssssss
My bet is they have markups on the new generation (because it’s new and amazing!) and on the left over previous generation (because it’s proven and reliable).
I’m hoping that the powertrain and transmission options carry over from the Tacoma. I’d love (and will buy) a manual 4Runner. Lets hope the rumors from TFL Truck are true.