2026 Toyota 4Runner

Name: 2026 Toyota 4Runner Review
Brand: Toyota

Release Date: Fall 2025

Estimated Price: Starting around $43,000

Rugged build, multiple trims and a choice of standard or hybrid power make the Toyota 4Runner a top SUV for on- and off-road work. Now in the second year of a new generation, the 2026 4Runner carries over tech and interior upgrades, offering something for every SUV buyer, whether you're seeking to spend, save or just get off the grid.Read full review

Contact your local dealers about upcoming availability and pricing details.

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2026 Toyota 4Runner Review

by the Edmunds Experts

Pros

Impressive all-terrain capabilities
Well mannered on pavement
Slightly more fuel-efficient than rivals
Many models to choose from

Cons

Limited rear seat space
Hybrid powertrain limits cargo capacity
Not as comfortable as conventional SUVs
Tiny third-row seat option

What's new

No significant changes expected for 2026
Part of the sixth 4Runner generation introduced for 2025

Overview

If we could choose a tagline for the 2026 Toyota 4Runner, it would be "Prepared for Anything." OK, it doesn't roll off the tongue — Don Draper, we're not. But the 4Runner can tackle just about everything you throw at it, whether the task is dropping the kids at school, making the monthly big-box store run, battling a blizzard, or trekking across punishing terrain. This midsize SUV was redesigned last year, and this year it continues as a capable alternative to its relatively raw and unrefined rivals.

Edmunds spotlight: Unusual features of the 2026 4Runner

While it's true that you can't remove the 4Runner's roof and doors the way you can with a Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler, let's be honest: It's a hassle, and you probably wouldn't do so very often. Instead, thanks to a rear window that powers down into the liftgate and the 4Runner's available power sunroof, you open this SUV up, let the outside in, and enjoy a similar sense of carefree freedom in seconds. We also dig the available JBL Bluetooth speaker that you can remove from the dashboard to add a soundtrack to your on-foot adventure. You can get pretty far away from civilization, too, thanks to features like Crawl Control (an off-road low-speed cruise control system), a stabilizer disconnect mechanism (to improve wheel articulation), and an off-road surround-view camera system to better navigate treacherous terrain.

Competitors to consider

The 4Runner's primary competitors are the Bronco and Wrangler. The Ford and Jeep are available in two-door or four-door formats and with a removable top and doors. But they're not quite as refined or sophisticated as the 4Runner. You might also consider this SUV a budget-friendly alternative to the Toyota Land Cruiser. If you like the rugged, boxy look but have no plans to travel where cell signals fade, you might want a more asphalt-friendly crossover like a Honda Passport or Hyundai Santa Fe instead.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict

Average

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the 4Runner drive? The Toyota 4Runner is available with either a gas or hybrid powertrain, both powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Our Trailhunter test model came equipped with the hybrid system, achieving a 0-60 mph sprint in 7.7 seconds. Around town, the electric motor's low-end torque provides an added boost, making the 4Runner feel quicker and more capable than the raw numbers suggest. Off-road, the hybrid's part-time 4WD system and low-range gearing allow for precise power delivery, enhancing its agility on rugged terrain. Toyota's expertise with hybrid technology is evident, as the braking system transitions seamlessly between regenerative and friction braking.

On the road, the 4Runner's truck-based design limits its handling abilities; the steering feels numb, and there's noticeable body roll. However, these trade-offs are expected in a vehicle built for off-road performance, where the 4Runner truly excels. While the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler may outperform it in extreme off-roading scenarios, the 4Runner offers a smoother, more refined driving experience on pavement, setting it apart in the segment.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the 4Runner? The front seats are comfortable, but the back seat feels tighter than expected, with flat cushions that lack proper support — make sure to call shotgun. The ride quality leans more toward a truck-like feel, with noticeable bounce, though it stops short of being harsh. Cabin isolation is respectable, but noise becomes an issue when you dig more into the power, and the four-cylinder engine produces an unrefined sound that's far from pleasant. On Trailhunter models, the intake snorkel amplifies turbo noises directly into the cabin, especially near the passenger's side. While novel at first, it takes all of 10 minutes before this sound grows tiresome.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? Along with its platform, the 4Runner also shares a lot of its interior with the Tacoma midsize pickup truck. So it acquires the same chunky knobs and, thankfully, its approach to buttons, and you'll find plenty of well-placed and easy-to-find controls for the climate, cameras and various off-road settings. However, the instrument cluster isn't very easy to navigate. That usually wouldn't be as much of a problem, but some important safety and driver aids settings can only be accessed through that screen.

Getting into the 4Runner can be a challenge if you're the one driving because there isn't a grab handle to help pull yourself into the cabin. For a vehicle of this size, the 4Runner's back seat feels very short on legroom, though headroom is pretty good. Tall passengers will have to stagger or else be prepared for their knees to be introduced to the front seatbacks. Visibility is just OK but is helped mightily by the available surround-view camera system that offers plenty of views. It can even sweep around the SUV to let you see if anything has been left around it.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? The 4Runner's trims are about evenly split between the standard 8-inch touchscreen and its larger 14-inch counterpart. Both feature wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and there are plenty of USB ports and an available wireless charger (though it doesn't hold your phone very securely) to keep devices juiced up. While Toyota's native navigation system is easy to use and accepts voice commands rather seamlessly, it's a better experience using either of the smartphone mirroring options.

There is a long list of standard driver aids on the 4Runner, including adaptive cruise control that works down to a stop, lane keeping assistance, blind-spot warning and automatic high beams. There's also a Proactive Driving Assist system that will slow the vehicle for curves or if it senses traffic slowing ahead, but if that's not your cup of tea it can be easily shut off. Two-thirds of the 4Runner's trim levels also come standard with a surround-view camera system that's very helpful given the 4Runner's high sides.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? Gas versions of the 4Runner offer a bit more cargo room with 48.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and, more importantly, a lower cargo floor so it's easier to get large or heavy objects up there. With the optional third row equipped, cargo space shrinks to a minimal 12.1 cubic feet behind the third row and 44.8 cubic feet behind the second. The hybrid powertrain tucks its battery up behind the rear seats, so it has 42.6 cubic feet behind its second row. (Hybrid models don't offer an optional third row.) Note that even with the seats folded down, you don't get a completely flat load floor.

Interior storage is adequate. Though the center storage bin isn't that big, there are helpful pockets on all four doors, a shelf for small items above the glovebox, and an L-shaped bin in front of the shifter.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? With the gas-only powertrain, numbers vary only slightly by trim level as 2WD variants top out at 22 mpg combined (20 city/26 highway). If you opt for 4WD, combined mpg only drops to 21 mpg. The hybrid is only offered with 4WD, and though it adds electricity, it doesn't add much efficiency — 4Runners with the hybrid all get 23 mpg combined. These numbers are similar to those for the Tacoma and Land Cruiser but markedly better than figures for the Bronco and Wrangler, even the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid.

Value

7.5/10

Is the 4Runner a good value? Whether you consider the new 4Runner to offer good value comes down largely to which trims you're examining. It ranges from rather affordable on the low end to shockingly high on top. The TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims push up to the high $60,000s, which puts them in spitting distance of Land Cruiser territory and makes the value proposition murkier. We had no complaints about the 4Runner's build quality, and even when taken off-road, there were no weird squeaks or rattles from the interior.

Wildcard

8/10

Get a 4Runner into the elements and that's where it feels the most alive. On the road there's nothing special about it and it drives like a truck, but once you can get one out into the dirt or the mud, it's a different story and you come to appreciate the SUV even more. The old model's distinct styling has been traded in for the Tacoma's nose, but it looks suitably rugged and we love the use of the old-school "TOYOTA" logo on the grille for some of the off-road trims.

Which 4Runner does Edmunds recommend?

Toyota hasn't released official information on the 2026 4Runner as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's 4Runner, we think the TRD Sport Premium is the best choice for drivers who need daily street comfort with occasional off-road capability. This trim comes with upgrades such as synthetic leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and a larger touchscreen. More serious adventurers should consider the TRD Off-Road or Trailhunter.

2026 Toyota 4Runner videos

Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter vs. Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler | Off-Road Comparison Test

NOTE: This video is about the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, but since the 2026 Toyota 4Runner is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.

As iconic as the Toyota 4Runner is, it’s never quite been able to keep up on the trails with the Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler. Has the redesigned 2025 4Runner finally caught up to its rivals? In this comparison test video, Edmunds’ Brian Wong puts all three to the test off-road to find out.

2026 Toyota 4Runner

2026 Toyota 4Runner Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: Unusual features of the 2026 4Runner

Competitors to consider

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which 4Runner does Edmunds recommend?

2026 Toyota 4Runner videos

Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter vs. Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler | Off-Road Comparison Test

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