Driving the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Professional

October 29, 2025

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You could possibly use a instrument belt to carry up your pants. A instrument belt is able to much more than the typical belt. But it surely additionally does the belt job.

Likewise, I started working, the grocery retailer, and the fitness center in every week of driving the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Professional. However I by no means felt I used to be utilizing most of what it may do.

I even took it effectively exterior the Washington, D.C., metro space the place I reside in the hunt for some filth roads and stream fords within the West Virginia mountains that I’ve used to problem different off-roaders earlier than. The 4Runner made gentle work of them.

Toyota has a whole lot of very strong automobiles in its lineup, however the automaker is especially cautious with the 4Runner. It has a status as one of the vital succesful off-road automobiles you should purchase with out paying luxurious automotive costs. Toyota stored it the identical from 2010 by way of 2024 — an unusually long term with no redesign — as a result of they knew it was precisely what it wanted to be.

However they couldn’t wait to replace it ceaselessly. So, for 2025, we get an all-new 4Runner. Toyota loaned me the TRD Professional model – probably the most succesful off-road trim stage – for every week of driving. I used it as a household automotive, simply casually carrying a instrument belt to carry up my Bonobos, and took it for some gentle path work.

I’m blissful to report that the 2025 4Runner is surprisingly comfy in an city setting, and nonetheless a mechanical mountain goat on gravel and dirt.

Which Trim Degree?

Toyota builds the 4Runner in a outstanding 12 trim ranges. The worth distinction between the bottom SR5 mannequin and this TRD Professional is a whopping $26,130. 4Runners maintain their worth effectively over time. Fetching the next resale worth if you’re accomplished with it may provide help to justify the expense of a TRD Professional. However I’d solely contemplate one if I have been really going to make use of the manually-adjustable Fox distant reservoir shocks, stabilizer disconnect, and comparable off-road gear.

When you’re not more likely to ever take your 4Runner far off the asphalt, a well-equipped mid-trim just like the Restricted or Off-Highway Premium will get you all the identical rugged appeal for a lot much less.

New 2025 Toyota 4Runner Costs

	Retail Value	Truthful Buy Value (92620)
SR5	$42,220	TBD
TRD Sport	$48,700	TBD
TRD Off-Highway	$50,640	TBD
TRD Sport Premium	$54,060	TBD
TRD Off-Highway Premium	$56,420	TBD
Restricted	$56,850	TBD

Favourite Characteristic

Longtime 4Runner lovers have taken to the web to precise skepticism concerning the 4Runner’s new base engine. 4Runners lengthy got here with a normal V6. The brand new one will get a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine as a substitute. It’s extra highly effective than the V6 it replaces, however questions on turbo lag and reliability persist.

The TRD Professional, nonetheless, provides an electrical motor to it for a complete of 326 horsepower and hybrid effectivity. Energy felt considerable, whether or not merging on the freeway or surging up a steep mountain highway. A TRD Professional mannequin is meant to be all about its suspension, however I loved the ability below the hood most.

Honorable point out goes to the compressor constructed into the cargo space. For severe off-roaders, airing down and reinflating tires wherever is a great comfort.

What It’s Wish to Drive

Essentially the most difficult factor I requested the 4Runner TRD Professional to do wasn’t off the highway. It was on it: May this beast be a snug perch in city site visitors?

Sure. It by some means manages to be large with out actually feeling large (aside from if you climb in – I’m 5’6” and will have used a seize deal with). I can’t imagine I’m saying this, however the brand new 4Runner is a nice city commuter.

Steering is responsive and simple – shockingly gentle in a car based mostly on a body-on-frame truck. The brakes are assured, even a contact grabby, till you study that you simply don’t should be agency with them.

Drive modes principally change throttle response. The spectacular off-road suspension is manually adjustable – it’s important to get out to tune the shocks, although I by no means felt a necessity to the touch them.

Inside Consolation and Expertise

The traditional 4Runners of the mid-’80s have been primarily pickups with seats and caps. The brand new one shares sufficient components with the tacoma to make that heritage clear, however it’s a rather more composed household hauler.

Toyota nonetheless builds its driver’s instrument display and central touchscreen far aside, even in a yr when most automakers home them collectively to seem like one massive display. I choose Toyota’s strategy – the steering wheel by no means blocks your view of something essential. However the 14-inch central touchscreen is comically massive at first sight.

The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio System isn’t luxurious sound however borders on it. I used to be stunned by its vary. It additionally gives a transportable Bluetooth speaker that pops out of the dashboard.

Lately, Toyota has used a delicate camouflage impact on the trim of TRD Professional fashions. I haven’t been a fan — I’d somewhat they not less than let patrons determine whether or not to spec that – however it’s toned down right here. Toyota’s SofTex faux-leather upholstery stays maybe the perfect vegan leather-based in the marketplace — delicate however long-wearing.

The 4Runner has traditionally had one lovable quirk – a rear window that rolls down. Toyota, fortunately, preserved it.

Limitations

I had only one main grievance in my time within the 4Runner TRD Professional. A distinguished hood scoop seems to be cool from the surface, however significantly harms visibility, notably when cresting a hill. Most trim ranges lack it, however drivers below 6 toes would possibly contemplate it a downside on trims which have it.

Key Concerns

Solely a handful of automobiles can do household responsibility and double as supremely succesful off-roaders. Examine the 4Runner to the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Broncoand if you do, discover the resale worth distinction and historical past or reliability this one gives. Of the few vehicular instrument belts on supply, this is likely to be the one kindest to your pockets over the long term.