Toyota’s latest 4Runner to offer luxury, space

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SUV fans have anxiously waited for an updated Toyota 4Runner, and the sixth-generation 2025 model goes on sale this fall. Check it out soon at any Earnhardt Auto Centers location, including Earnhardt Toyota in Mesa. This hefty yet stylish vehicle is sure to please!

The 4Runner is built on the same body-on-frame platform as the Tacoma pickup, says JD Power in a review. With a four-door body and an optional third-row seat, the 4Runner offers plenty of passenger room. It comes in nine trim levels with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

The new Trailhunter model sports a heritage-design grille with bronze Toyota lettering, an integrated 20-inch LED light bar, skid plates, a roof rack and rock rails. And the luxurious trim in the Platinum motion also hosts heated second-row seats. Seats can fold down to provide more cargo room, and the Trailhunter model includes a 2400-watt AC inverter with outlets in the cabin and cargo areas.

A turbocharged 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine is standard in most 4Runner models, notes JD Power, enabling 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. In some models including Trailhunter, a turbocharged i-Force Max hybrid powertrain provides 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. With the i-Force Max hybrid, the 2024 4Runner offers a hefty towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Both engines use eight-speed automatic transmission. With the two-wheel drive, an automatic limited-slip rear differential is standard. Every model includes a hill start assist system.

Technology fans won’t be disappointed in the latest 4Runner. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, according to JD Power. Or upgrade to a 14-inch display with a wireless charging pad and a digital key system.

Safety features include advanced driver assistance systems, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and an emergency driving stop system.

While the 2025 4Runner doesn’t feature a removable roof or side doors like its competitors the Ford Bronco or the Jeep Wrangler, you can open the sunroof and windows for a similar driving experience, says JD Power. “And the 4Runner is just as eager to tackle a trail as the Ford and Jeep.”

Try out the latest 4Runner soon at any Earnhardt Auto Centers location, or shop online anytime!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.