2025 Toyota 4Runner Configurations: Trims, Features, and What Sets Each Apart

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner arrives as a fully redesigned generation — the first major overhaul since 2010. After more than a decade on the same platform, Toyota rebuilt the 4Runner from the ground up, introducing new powertrains, updated technology, and a broader trim lineup than the outgoing model offered. If you're researching the 4Runner, understanding how the configurations stack up is the starting point for any serious buying decision.

How the 2025 4Runner Lineup Is Structured

Toyota organizes the 2025 4Runner into several distinct trims, ranging from a straightforward entry-level configuration to heavily off-road-focused variants. The full lineup includes:

• SR5
• SR5 Premium
• TRD Sport
• TRD Off-Road
• TRD Off-Road Premium
• Limited
• Trailhunter
• TRD Pro

That's a wider spread than the previous generation offered, and each trim is designed with a somewhat different buyer profile in mind — though they all share the same underlying platform.

Powertrain: What's Under the Hood 🔧

One of the biggest changes for 2025 is the powertrain. The long-running 4.0-liter V6 is gone. In its place, Toyota introduced two options:

2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (i-FORCE): The standard engine across most trims. It produces approximately 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This represents a significant torque increase over the old V6.

2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid (i-FORCE MAX): Available on select trims, this system pairs the same base engine with an electric motor integrated into the transmission. Combined output is around 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system here is focused on performance and capability rather than fuel economy alone — though EPA estimates are expected to be meaningfully better than the non-hybrid version.

Which engine is available depends on the trim. The Trailhunter and TRD Pro come exclusively with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid. Other trims offer it as an option or stick with the standard turbo four.

Drivetrain Configurations

4WD vs. 4WD with locking differentials: All 4Runners are four-wheel drive, but the capability varies by trim. Entry trims use a part-time 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case. Off-road trims — particularly TRD Off-Road, Trailhunter, and TRD Pro — add features like a rear locking differential and Multi-Terrain Select.

KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System): Available on higher off-road trims, this hydraulic system adjusts sway bar tension automatically to improve articulation off-road without sacrificing on-road handling.

crawl control and Multi-Terrain Select: These Toyota-developed systems help manage wheel slip on loose or uneven terrain by modulating throttle and braking automatically.

Trim-by-Trim Breakdown 🛻

Technology and Safety Across Trims

All 2025 4Runners include Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 — Toyota's suite of driver assistance features covering pre-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. The depth of the available technology scales up from there.

Higher trims add a larger infotainment display, available heads-up display, a panoramic moonroof, and a digital rearview mirror. The Trailhunter specifically targets buyers who plan extended off-pavement travel and comes with pre-wired accessories and a standard AC outlet in the bed area — a first for the 4Runner.

Variables That Shape the Right Configuration for Any Buyer

No single trim works for every situation. The factors that differentiate buyers most sharply include:

• Primary use — daily commuting, road trips, weekend trail use, or serious overlanding each point toward different trims
• Powertrain preference — the hybrid adds cost but increases capability and efficiency; it's standard on only certain trims
• Off-road equipment needs — a locking differential and skid plates matter on trails but add cost and complexity for pavement-only drivers
• Budget — price spread across the lineup is significant, and the i-FORCE MAX option adds to cost on trims where it's available but not standard
• Towing and payload needs — towing capacity varies by trim and powertrain, so buyers with trailers or boats should verify figures against their specific configuration
• Region and climate — in areas with severe winters or high-altitude terrain, the drivetrain and suspension specs carry more weight than in flat urban environments

What the 2025 Redesign Actually Changed

The 2025 model isn't a refresh — it's a ground-up redesign. The body-on-frame construction remains, but the new TNGA-F platform brings updated geometry, modern electronics, and the entirely new powertrain lineup. Buyers comparing a leftover 2024 4Runner to a 2025 model are looking at fundamentally different vehicles, not year-over-year tweaks.

The right configuration depends entirely on where you're driving, what you're hauling or towing, how far you're stretching your budget, and how much of the available capability you'll actually use. The lineup is wider than it's ever been — which means there's likely a version that fits, but identifying which one requires matching the specs to your actual circumstances.