After 15 years in the making, the sixth-gen 4Runner certainly looks to be worth the wait. Toyota has not only modernized this driver favorite but also added two new trims to the mix—the off-road-focused Trailhunter and the luxurious Platinum—bringing this SUV’s towering trim ladder to nine distinct levels. This can almost be a little intimidating when you’re trying to pick the perfect Toyota 4Runner for sale.
It’s always nice to have options, but 4Runner drivers were already spoiled for choice even before Toyota decided to add two new trims. Luckily, I’m here to help. I’ve compiled the definitive 2025 4Runner trim guide outlining the different features, engines, and off-road equipment that make them unique. Let’s take a closer look at each trim as I climb behind the wheel of this legendary midsize model and see what its sixth generation has to offer.
The SR5
Toyota kicks off the new six-gen 4Runner with an old favorite in the SR5 trim. Short for “Sport Runabout 5-speed,” the name reflects the base trim’s versatility and pegs it as an SUV that’s just as comfortable navigating your local off-road trails as it is in the wilds of rush hour traffic. In truth, there’s nothing entry-level about the SR5 aside from the price.
This trim is available with either 2WD, part-time 4WD, or full-time 4WD, allowing drivers to choose the perfect drivetrain for whatever sort of excursions they have in mind. Speaking of, the SR5 has power in spades thanks to a brawny i-FORCE engine that can churn out 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The SR5 also retains one of the 4Runner’s best-loved features in the form of its roll-down rear window; this has been a keystone of 4Runner style since the SUV’s earliest days, so it’s nice to see Toyota making it standard across the entire 2025 lineup.
The TRD Sport
The TRD Sport represents a significant upgrade over the SR5 in terms of both style and off-road ability. The most obvious addition would have to be the color-keyed TRD hood scoop, a performance-inspired element that fits in well with the sporty TRD (Toyota Racing Development) trim. The SUV also gains 20-inch wheels, trim-specific interior accents, and synthetic leather seats that go a long way toward distinguishing it from the entry-level trim. However, it’s the TRD Sport’s suspension that really sets it apart.
Toyota has outfitted this trim with its X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension, a sophisticated system that has a noticeable impact on handling, cornering, and body roll. X-REAS is built around a network of diagonally opposed shock absorbers that are connected with a shared hydraulic line. When you hit a bump in the road, these shock absorbers distribute the hydraulic fluid to the opposite tire, creating a balanced, comfortable ride that’s perfect for challenging off-road applications.
The TRD Sport Premium
The TRD Sport Premium trim adds a few luxurious upgrades to the mix. An optional 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display replaces the 8-inch version found standard in the 4Runner, but that’s not the only tech-related feature that helps this trim earn its premium designation. It’s also packed with heated seats and an upgraded audio system that’ll allow you to blast your favorite tunes as you cruise through your local off-road trails or navigate the daily commute.
Like every 2025 4Runner trim, the TRD Sport Premium comes standard with a full array of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) dubbed Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. One must applaud Toyota for not locking these more advanced ADAS features behind a pesky paywall. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 includes all the ADAS drivers have come to expect from a modern SUV—like lane departure with lane steering assist, automatic high beams, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and dynamic cruise control—but also packs a few innovative features that really caught our attention.
Take Proactive Driving Assist (PDA), for example. With the ability to automatically apply the brakes and even steer the vehicle through curves, PDA should go a long way toward helping drivers sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
The TRD Off-Road
The 4Runner is ready for off-road adventure no matter which trim you opt for, but the TRD Off-Road is where this SUV can really show off its chops. This trim packs a full arsenal of off-road goodies, from an electronic locking rear differential that’ll give you plenty of traction in even the toughest conditions to Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select and CRAWL Control systems.
CRAWL Control is basically a form of low-speed off-road cruise control that commandeers the gas and braking duties in an effort to allow drivers to focus on navigating the road ahead. Available whenever the SUV is in 4LO, CRAWL Control is an invaluable tool when it comes to conquering steep hills, tight trails, and other hectic off-road terrain. The system comes with five distinct settings with slower speeds designed for navigating rocks, downhill moguls, and gravel, medium speeds aimed at bumpy inclines, and high-speed settings designed with snow, mud, sand, and dirt in mind.
The TRD Off-Road offers further customization in the form of Multi-Terrain Select, which includes dedicated modes for Mud & Sand, Loose Rock, Mogul, and Rock. Different modes adjust the 4Runner’s traction control settings to meet varying conditions and deliver consistent performance no matter where the trail might take you.
The TRD Off-Road Premium
The TRD Off-Road Premium trim doesn’t just enhance the TRD Off-Road trim with leather-trimmed seats and a power moonroof; it also sees the introduction of an optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). The KDSS is essentially an improvement on the typical anti-sway bar, which is responsible for limiting the vertical movement of a wheel.
An anti-sway bar—also known as an anti-roll or stabilizer bar—is designed to limit body roll on paved surfaces, but it can rob a vehicle’s suspension of full articulation when the going gets rough; this is typically solved with a disconnecting feature that allows drivers to manually disengage the anti-sway bar, but the KDSS improves on the traditional design by using hydraulic cylinders to automatically adjust the firmness and even disconnect the bar as needed. Built into both the front and rear axles of the 2025 4Runner, the KDSS gives this SUV improved handling and stability in on-road scenarios, enhanced off-road performance, and an all-around nimbler, more responsive ride.
The Limited
The Limited trim gives the 4Runner a chance to show off its luxury credentials with a long list of premium features that turn the SUV’s cabin into an opulent oasis of calm. Leather upholstery and ventilated front seats give the rugged off-roader a little sophisticated charm; meanwhile, a sunroof and dual-zone climate controls maximize both interior light and individual comfort.
Creature comforts aside, it’s the 4Runner Limited’s JBL Premium Sound system that really sets the trim apart from the rest of the lineup. Toyota has teamed up with the audio experts at JBL to outfit the Limited with a 15-speaker sound system pumping out 550 watts of pure sonic excitement. Throw in a 10-channel digital signal processing (DSP) amplifier that automatically improves sound quality and signal control, and the 4Runner is basically a concert hall on wheels.
The TRD Pro
Until recently, the TRD Pro was the 4Runner’s most off-road-ready trim. That all changed with the introduction of the Trailhunter trim for 2025—but that’s not to say the TRD Pro is a slouch when it comes to tackling the road less traveled. Toyota has equipped the TRD Pro with FOX high-performance shocks with rear remote reservoirs, exclusive TRD-tuned front springs, ample skid plates, and some clever software features like CRAWL Control and Hill Start Assist Control; however, the trim’s most notable highlight is the 2.4-liter i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine.
A little electrification goes a long way with this hybrid setup, allowing the engine to squeeze more power out of the same 2.4-liter engine found on other 4Runner trims. The i-FORCE MAX provides 326 hp compared to 278 for the regular i-FORCE, but it’s the increased torque that really separates the two motors: the i-FORCE MAX offers drivers 465 lb-ft of torque, which is nearly a 50% improvement over the base engine.
The Trailhunter
The 4Runner has always been an off-road MVP, but as more automakers roll out dedicated off-road trucks and SUVs, Toyota can’t help but get in on the fun. New for 2025, the Trailhunter maxes out this SUV’s rock-crawling, dune-bashing credentials to provide drivers with what the brand is calling a “manufacturer-developed overland rig straight from the factory.”
Overlanding is a fast-growing subset of the off-road market focused on long, meandering, off-the-grid adventures. In order to ensure success in the great outdoors, Toyota teamed with ARB, Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4×4 accessories. The company’s Old Man Emu shocks have become the gold standard in the off-road segment, with the Trailhunter proudly wearing a set of 2.5-inch forged shocks with rear external piggyback remote reservoirs and a custom ARB roof rack.
In addition to these thunderous features from Down Under, the Trailhunter also gains a high-mount air intake, steel skid plates and rock rails, a 20-inch LED light bar, RIGID LED fog lamps, a 2400-watt AC inverter, and 33-inch Open Country A/T tires that add a couple of inches of ground clearance to the equation.
The Platinum
The 4Runner Platinum tops the trim ladder with an unbeatable slate of luxury features. Like the Trailhunter, the Platinum trim is also new to the lineup, offering an enticing option that is sure to meet the needs of even the most discriminating driver. Black exterior styling elements set the Platinum trim apart from the crowd, marking it as a true luxury trim before you even step foot inside the well-appointed cabin. Second-row passengers will appreciate the decision to include heated seats, while those looking to hook up their trailer, RV, or boat are treated to a handy Tow Tech package.
Like the Trailhunter and TRD Pro, the Platinum comes standard with the muscular i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine, but the Platinum further distinguishes itself with some futuristic features like automatic rain-sensing wipers and a standard head-up display that allows drivers to monitor relevant drive data without ever taking their eyes off the road. With an estimated MSRP in the $60k range, the Platinum sure packs a lot of value.
Nine Shades of the Reimagined 4Runner
Patience might be a virtue, but even longtime 4Runner fans were starting to wonder if the sixth generation of this midsize SUV would ever hit the streets. After an unprecedented 15-year wait, the anticipation is finally at an end as Toyota unveils an all-new model for 2025.
In all honesty, the eon between the fifth and sixth generations just speaks to the 4Runner’s timeless design and emphasis on performance. While other automakers roll out new models in an attempt to drum up sales and excitement, the 4Runner has been able to post strong sales based on reputation alone. Toyota’s hallmark reliability certainly helps, with the automaker routinely ranking as one of the industry’s best in terms of pure dependability. Add in two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance on every trim, and it’s easy to see why the 4Runner has garnered such a loyal following.
