The 4Runner is definitely showing its age. Be it mechanically or from the standpoint of interior design, there’s no denying a replacement is badly needed. Previously expected to drop in late 2023 for the 2024 model year, the all-new 4Runner is believed to drop in late 2024 for 2025.
Given that no prototypes of the sixth generation have been spied thus far, one could also imagine the 4Runner being delayed for the 2026 model year. Whatever the future may hold, one thing is certain. Rather than updating the fifth generation’s platform, Toyota will switch to the TNGA-F vehicle architecture of the Tacoma and Land Cruiser.
Not that Land Cruiser, but the Prado. Internally referred to as the 250 series, the mid-size Land Cruiser is joined at the hip to the GX. It should be noted the Lexus offers three-row seating, whereas the Land Cruiser is limited to five seats only.
Care to guess how many the 4Runner will have? Of course, Toyota will differentiate its family-oriented SUV from the Land Cruiser with the addition of a third row. It’s easy to imagine rear-wheel drive as well, further differentiating the 4Runner from the 4WD-only 2024 model year Land Cruiser.
Rendered by pixel wizard Halo oto, the 4Runner in the featured clip is best described as hypothetical. As mentioned earlier, there is no photographic evidence of prototypes or test mules at press time. Halo oto’s design study is a bit wonky as far the front end is concerned as well, a front end that feels more at home on the Hilux-based Fortuner.
Photo: Halo oto on YouTube
The pixel artist dubs the 4Runner "the most popular off-road Toyota SUV ever," apparently ignoring the Land Cruiser's existence. To whom it may concern, the 72-year-old Land Cruiser sold in excess of 10 million units, the 10 millionth being confirmed by Toyota in the fall of 2019.
The 4Runner entered production in 1983 with two doors rather than four. The two-door body style was discontinued for good in May 1993. So far, the 4Runner’s best calendar year in the United States market was 2021. TMNA delivered no fewer than 144,696 examples of the breed in 2021.
Similar to the Land Cruiser, the 4Runner symbolizes quality, durability, and reliability. Add high resale value to the mix, and you’ll understand why the 4Runner is a hugely popular sport utility vehicle despite its age. Codenamed N280, the fifth gen rolled out in 2009 for the 2010 model year.
Updated for 2024 with two new exterior colors (Terra and Underground), the 4Runner comes with a 270-horsepower V6 of the naturally-aspirated variety. Good for 278 pound-feet (377 Nm) at full chatter, said engine is likely to be replaced by a four-cylinder turbo displacing 2.4 liters. Toyota is also supposed to ditch the outgoing automatic transmission in favor of an eight-speed unit.
The Land Cruiser offers hybrid assistance from the outset, with said powertrain expected to be available in the 4Runner as well. There is a case to be made for the Tacoma mid-size pickup truck’s auto rev-matching stick shift, although only for the non-hybrid turbo four-pot lump.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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