Audio By Carbonatix
Don’t even start, y’all. When I really like an SUV, all the comments start claiming that Toyota or whoever paid me to be nice. If that were true, I would be able to afford something cooler than a Jeep Renegade. Anyways, reviewing the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter just changed my life for the better and worse with tons of things you need to know.
1. I’ve never gotten so much attention
I’ll admit that I like peacocking with cool cars. I’ll drive a little slower than normal and linger in parking lots to give people a chance to provide compliments or ask questions.
But the 4Runner Trailhunter attracted too much attention. People were constantly waving, looking, approaching me, and more.
It got more complaints than the Tacoma Trailhunter, Bronco Raptor, and $150k BMW XM. This might not be the best SUV for blending in.
2. There’s no sunroof
Modern trucks and SUVs have massive panoramic sun roofs that provide a connection with nature. I’m a fan of seeing the sky. So, it was a bit disappointing to discover that the 4Runner Trailhunter doesn’t have one.
But it makes sense. It’s designed for overlanding and has a cargo basket on top. The roof is reinforced to support added weight.
3. It’s a lot faster than the previous generation
I’ve seen only about a billion complaints about the previous-generation Toyota 4Runner being too slow. But on paper, it has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 to 7.6 seconds.
The Trailhunter gets the beefy I-Force Max engine, which is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that’s paired with an electric motor to generate 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque.
It can reach 60 mph in about 6.7 seconds, and it’s tons of fun. Plus, it has a substantial amount of torque for off-roading.
4. You won’t have to fill up often
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and up to 24 mpg on the highway. This doesn’t make it sound like the most efficient SUV in the world, but it has a range of 437 miles between fillups.
While driving from Rock Hill, SC, to Asheville, NC, running errands, and doing light off-roading, I can confirm that the fuel economy is accurate. The auto start-stop feature and the Eco mode really help save gas.
5. The snorkel is loud
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is a rugged option for adventuring, so don’t expect it to be luxuriously quiet. However, the snorkel on the Trailhunter trim contributes to quite a bit of wind and road noise.
It can create a high-pitched whine, especially at highway speeds. It was noticeable enough for three passengers to complain about it.
Also, on that note, the 4Runner Trailhunter does provide a surprisingly smooth ride and quickly dampens impacts.
6. Short folks, be warned
The Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter has a high liftover height. It has a 10.1-inch ground clearance and rides on 33-inch tires to make space for steel skid plates and rock rails.
As a result, it has a tall step-in height. The rock rails are a bit slippery and narrow, not making them the best thing to try and balance on.
You have to lift items such as bulky camping gear or large dogs pretty high to load them in the backseat or rear cargo area.
I couldn’t reach the built-in air compressor from the back bumper. Speaking of the compressor, the mobile lights and Bluetooth speaker are also neat accessories.
7. The 4Runner feels massive inside
There is an abundance of passenger and cargo space in the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter. The front row has more than enough space for people of all shapes and sizes. Plus, the second row is great for adults as well.
The Trailhunter doesn’t have a third row, providing extra space for overlanding. It features 42.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and up to 82.6 cubic feet total.
Also, the roof rack has a 770 lb static roof load and 165 lb dynamic (moving capacity load of 165 lbs. My roof top tent that’s about three years old, is 150 lbs. If you need even more cargo space, the 4Runner Trailhunter can tow up to 6,000 lbs.
The 4Runner Trailhunter could carry my tent, but I’m not tall enough to put it on the roof.
8. The Trailhunter doesn’t feel as large as it is
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter has a turning radius of about 19.7 feet, which is better than some mid-size trucks. For example, the Nissan Frontier has a 21.3-foot turning radius, and people often complain about it being annoying to park.
Parking the 4Runner Trailhunter is a breeze, and so is turning around on first roads in the woods. You don’t need things like the 360-degree camera, but it’s extremely helpful in a tight pinch.
However, it can exhibit a bit of body roll around tight mountain curves. You feel its heft, and I’m wondering what models without all of the extra off-roading features feel like.
9. The 4Runner interior is nice
I know that the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter has a $66,900 MSRP, so one should expect it to have a nice interior. But it goes above and beyond, with attractive high-quality materials such as SoftTex upholstery, all-weather mats, yellow accent stitching, and textured patterns.
The seats are comfortable and seem durable. There are cup holders and storage trays everywhere you look.
Comfort and convenience features include heated and ventilated seats, automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, heated side mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate, and low-speed reverse automatic braking.
Overall, despite not having 4Runner Trailhunter money, it feels like a complete package and a bargain. The comfort features plus added off-roading features such as Old Man Emu off-road shocks and steel skid plates, provide the perfect platform for overlanding.
It’s not as polished around the edges as other SUVs, but it’s worth having some extra wind and road noise in exchange for solid tech, enhanced capabilities, plenty of space, and intelligent safety features. But I really need to see how athletic other trim levels are.
