- The 2025 Toyota 4Runner was revealed today with an overlanding-focused Trailhunter model.
- The 4Runner Trailhunter comes exclusively with the 326-hp i-Force Max hybrid powertrain.
- The overland special also has 33-inch tires, add-ons like a snorkel air intake, a taller ride height, and unique Old Man Emu dampers.
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner mirrors the Tacoma pickup truck in many ways, from its squared-off front end to its mix of gas and hybrid four-cylinder powertrains. Toyota’s mid-size truck also introduced a new Trailhunter moniker when it debuted for the 2024 model year. Now, the redesigned 4Runner follows in the Tacoma’s off-road tire tracks with its own Trailhunter variant that’s geared towards overland exploration.
Toyota describes the 4Runner Trailhunter as “a manufacturer-developed overland rig straight from the factory,” essentially eliminating the need to go through third-party upfitters for those who want to explore the wilderness in their vehicles. The Trailhunter only comes with the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 2.4-liter turbo four paired with an electric motor and a tiny 1.87-kWh battery. Total output is 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. For those looking to take a dip, a high-mounted snorkel intake helps feed clean air to the i-Force Max engine.
Similarly to the Tacoma version, the overland-oriented 4Runner trades the TRD Pro’s Fox QS3 dampers for Old Man Emu 2.5-inch units with rear external reservoirs from ARB. The Trailhunter model also sits 2.0 inches higher at the front and 1.5 inches higher at the rear versus lesser 4Runners thanks to 33-inch Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires. Aside from the upgraded dampers, the Trailhunter uses the same front dual control-arm suspension and rear multilink setup as other 2025 4Runners. The Trailhunter also features a standard electronic locking rear differential as well as a disconnecting front anti-roll bar.
To protect its vital components, the Trailhunter has rock rails directly bolted to the frame along with steel skid plates. Other unique visual elements include a special ARB roof rack specifically designed for the 4Runner Trailhunter, bronze wheels with color-matched Toyota grille badging. The grille also contains a 20-inch LED light bar for illuminating dark trails, while the Rigid LED fog lamps in the bumper are color-selectable.
Toyota also fitted the Trailhunter with a 2400-watt AC inverter that sends electricity to ports in the cabin and the rear cargo area. Three auxiliary switches that are prewired allow owners to easily personalize their SUVs even further, and the i-Force Max powertrain allows for a 6000-pound tow rating. Inside there’s trim-specific elements that separate the Trailhunter from its more pedestrian brethren.
The 2025 4Runner is due to hit dealerships in the fall of this year. While there is no word yet on pricing, we expect the Trailhunter to sit near the top of the range at close to the $60K mark.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.