Toyota’s 4Runner Hybrid Trailhunter – A 4GONE CONCLUSION

Toyota’s 4Runner Hybrid Trailhunter

 A 4GONE CONCLUSION

Santa Clarita, CA – Let’s go Hollywood, which is just a ½ hour drive and a gallon of gas from where I’m parking my laptop this summer. The all-new Toyota 4Runner embodies two of this year’s Hollywood blockbusters: With its overbuilt foundation and reputation for longevity, it could be rightly argued that this new 4Runner is the Superman of off-roading. And under its now bulging hood, Toyota has sh*tcanned the V6 and installed – on upmarket trims – an I-FORCE MAX turbocharged hybrid powertrain. It may not share anything with Brad Pitt’s F1 ride, but unlike the tired V6 of its predecessor, it’s more Brad than bad…

Finally, with the window sticker of our 4WD Trailhunter getting ridiculously close to $70K (as does Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon), its price point is most assuredly La La Land. 

The 4Runner franchise is golden, and Toyota’s marketing team has recently discovered more gold in them hills! After years in which the 4Runner’s basic platform had been largely left alone, in 2025 Toyota’s product team has taken a clean sheet approach to its design and spec, while amplifying the choices a consumer can make. Those choices better allow buyers to fit the order sheet to their anticipated usage. At the top of the mountain – both figuratively and literally – is the Trailhunter, spec’d for not only hunting trails but navigating them. 

Under the Trailhunter’s hood sits Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX powertrain, delivering 326 horsepower and – more notably – 465 lb-ft of torque. Lesser trims offer the non-hybrid i-FORCE turbocharged four, with 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque; both numbers represent a significant uptick relative to the previous boat anchor. With the hybrid assist, projected fuel economy is 23 City/24 Hwy/23 Combined, far better than the 15 my ’06 Grand Cherokee might deliver. But if headed from San Antonio to San Diego you’ll want to find a Prius or prepay your Shell card. 

In the walk-up, this newest 4Runner encompasses many of the same design cues as its predecessor, blown up by 110%. Especially on this Trailhunter variant, with the predictable suspension lift, 33-inch Toyo tires and Old Man Emu shocks, the overall impression is one of girth; you might take to the trails in this, but find yourself some WIDE trails! 

With the Trailhunter’s tall tires and corresponding higher ride, I found the climb into the cab to be – like the Tacoma Trailhunter – a climb, especially within the context of my 29-inch inseam and (still) no grab rail on the driver’s side A-pillar. 

Behind the wheel you’ll enjoy a commanding view, although the bulging hood – better to contain the 465 lb-ft of torque! – impedes the view over that hood. In front of the driver sits a digital gauge representation, while 14 inches of infotainment is centered in the middle of the dash. The screen is fairly intuitive, and I was pleased that both audio and HVAC controls can be accessed without having to touch the touchscreen. 

The 8-speed automatic trans retains the traditional stalk, along with a wide array of selectable variables, including Drive Mode, Tow Haul, Multi-Terrain Select, Downhill Assist Control and CRAWL control technology. In short, at this point in off-roading the driver needs to do little more than stay sober. And if headed to the boonies you’re well equipped to get you and your cargo – humans and the stuff they bring – both in and out; the value of that can’t be overestimated.

But then, neither is the $69,713 window sticker Toyota affixes to its 4WD Trailhunter. Again, within the context of its competitive segment, asking $70K is not much of an ask, especially when cross-shopping Rubicons or (Ford’s Bronco) Raptors. But if you see yourself doing little more than accessing an occasional fire trail or logging road, almost any 4Runner can do that…hell, even a base 2WD 4Runner could do that! There are now nine grades (NINE!) available on the 4Runner platform, beginning with the SR5 (at just over $40K in 2WD form) and topping out with the subject of this review, the Trailhunter at $70K. If it were my money (and you never know) I’d opt for the SR5 with optional 4WD (a $2K upcharge) and be out the door for under $45K plus destination. Alternatively, if there was some form of off-roading in my vehicular future I’d probably pop for the TRD Off-Road, investing $51K plus destination. For the $15K to $25K difference between those and the Trailhunter, I could buy a real offroad motorcycle or a quality trailer to get my toys where they need to go.

As the Toyota team is wont to suggest, ‘Let’s Go Places’! If going, you might as well go in a 4Runner. 4Ever.