Toyota will Provide a Hybrid Engine in Its First 4Runner SUV Release in 15 Years

Toyota Motor completed a redesign of its current line of trucks and SUVs and unveiled the 4Runner SUV for the first time in almost 15 years.

In addition to sharing styling cues with the recently redesigned Toyota Tacoma pickup, the 2025 4Runner will debut new high-end “Platinum” and “Trailhunter” trim levels and a hybrid engine.

“This all-new 4Runner has incredible versatility and capability that nicely rounds out our truck family,” Dave Christ, Toyota group vice president and general manager, said in a release. “We’ve sold over 3 million 4Runners over the past 40 years, and this sixth-generation model offers a cool new look and incredible features yet retains the rugged style and capability our customers love about this adventure icon.”

Toyota’s “truck family,” which consists of the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks and the 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and Sequoia SUVs, is also referred to as the “five brothers.” After the Land Cruiser and Tundra made their debut on Toyota’s global truck platform in 2021, the 4Runner is the last vehicle to be redesigned and manufactured on it.

Pricing for the 2025 4Runner will be revealed closer to when it goes on sale, according to Toyota. The 2024 model has starting prices ranging from over $55,000 to roughly $41,000.

While Toyota is renowned for producing cars with low fuel consumption, like the Prius, its larger “brother” SUVs, like the 4Runner, had considerably lower fuel ratings before they were updated, according to federal ratings, at 17 mpg combined or less. With a few changes, the current 4Runner has been available for purchase since 2010.

According to Toyota, the new 4Runner’s mpg will be revealed closer to when it goes on sale in fall dealerships. The fuel efficiency of Toyota’s other redesigned SUVs and trucks has significantly increased.

Toyota Motor North America’s executive vice president, Jack Hollis, stated to CNBC last month that the company is still working to balance out the lineup of trucks and SUVs, including plug-in hybrid, all-electric, and plug-in hybrid models.

“Those brothers, they all have a lot of similarities, and they have a lot of differences,” he said. “How do we curb carbon emissions fastest with everyone, everywhere? It’s having the right mix between those five products.”

The 48-horsepower electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission of the 4Runner’s available hybrid engine is a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine that can generate up to 326 horsepower and 465 foot-pounds of torque. The 2.4-liter turbocharged engine that comes standard with the car generates 317 foot-pounds of torque and 278 horsepower.

Nine models—the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter—will be available for the 2025 4Runner.

The Platinum model is designed with more luxury and convenience features, while the new Trailhunter model has more off-road styling and equipment, such as rock rails and high-strength steel skid plates.

Toyota is producing the 2025 4Runner at its Tahara plant in Japan.