{"id":3547,"date":"2025-10-09T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/?p=3547"},"modified":"2025-10-13T13:03:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:03:37","slug":"the-toyota-4runner-trd-pro-is-awesome-maybe-too-awesome-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/2025\/10\/09\/the-toyota-4runner-trd-pro-is-awesome-maybe-too-awesome-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Is Awesome\u2014Maybe Too Awesome: Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With more buyers eager to ditch their phones and disappear into the woods over a long weekend, automakers have taken notice. These days, you can\u2019t walk through a dealership lot without laying eyes on some lifted rig with chunky tires and plastic cladding (or at least a crossover doing a halfway decent impression). Toyota is no exception.<\/p>\n
The TRD Pro<\/a> line has long represented Toyota\u2019s most capable off-road models, and it\u2019s offered across the entire truck lineup\u2014from the Tacoma pickup to the three-row Sequoia. (We’re still waiting on a TRD Pro version of the Sienna, by the way.) Now, with the 2025 4Runner<\/a> finally<\/em> on the market, Toyota has rolled out a new-and-improved TRD Pro trim.<\/p>\n As with its predecessors, the new 4Runner TRD Pro can tackle just about anything. It comes with oversized off-road tires, a taller ride height, roof racks, mud flaps\u2014the whole package. Powering the 4Runner is a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine (more on that in a bit), and it features a suite of off-road tech, including terrain selection and customizable traction control systems.<\/p>\n But before you drop $68,900 on Toyota\u2019s most rugged 4Runner\u2014yes, that\u2019s the actual<\/em> starting price\u2014it\u2019s worth exploring the rest of the lineup and Toyota’s still-excellent, yet more-affordable options. While the TRD Pro is undoubtedly the most extreme version, other trims might suit your needs just as well, or even better, depending on how you plan to use it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Insanely Capable Off-Road Let\u2019s get into the nitty-gritty of what makes the TRD Pro so capable. It all starts with the suspension: at each corner, you\u2019ll find manually adjustable 2.5-inch Fox Racing QS3 internal-bypass shocks. These are paired with a modest ride height lift, a slightly wider track, and 33-inch Toyo Open Country A\/T III tires.<\/p>\n Like its biggest rival, the Ford Bronco Raptor, the TRD Pro feels like it can drive over damn near anything. While we didn\u2019t take it to Moab, the 4Runner did handle Florida\u2019s pine forest trails\u2014ruts, potholes, and mud puddles included\u2014without breaking a sweat.<\/p>\n Under the hood, the traditional V-6 is gone, replaced by a smooth, powerful four-cylinder hybrid. It\u2019s paired with an equally smooth eight-speed automatic transmission. This new setup delivers 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque\u201456 more horsepower and a massive 187 lb-ft more torque than the previous generation.<\/p>\n Photos by: Jeff Perez \/ Motor1<\/p>\n Thanks to that instant electric assist, the TRD Pro puts its power to the ground immediately. Whether crawling over obstacles or powering through tough trails, it feels confident and composed. On the road, it\u2019s even more impressive, delivering brisk acceleration from a stop and plenty of punch at highway speeds.<\/p>\n The 33-inch tires do generate some road noise, but overall, the 4Runner TRD Pro is remarkably comfortable. The suspension is soft enough to soak up broken pavement with ease, yet still keeps body roll in check through corners\u2014as much as you can expect from a purpose-built off-roader.<\/p>\n More than anything, though, the 4Runner TRD Pro just looks the part. With aggressive, downturned headlights, a bold front grille, and those chunky off-road tires, it leans hard into the modern, boxy SUV aesthetic. And it\u2019s available in some striking colors\u2014like the aptly named Mudbath paint job on our test vehicle\u2014that make it stand out even more.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Almost Too Capable As cool and capable as the 4Runner TRD Pro is, here\u2019s one thing to consider: do you really need all that off-road hardware? With the majority of buyers spending more time on pavement than on trails, the TRD Pro model has a few drawbacks that might make some of Toyota\u2019s other 4Runner models more appealing.<\/p>\n First off, this thing is huge. At 194.9 inches long, the 4Runner is significantly longer than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, about an inch longer than a standard Jeep Grand Cherokee, and three inches longer than the Bronco Raptor\u2014though the Bronco is both wider and taller.<\/p>\n Photos by: Jeff Perez \/ Motor1<\/p>\n That size, combined with chunky tires, a raised ride height, and added off-road gear, makes daily driving the TRD Pro a bit of a chore. Squeezing into tight parking spots or maneuvering through compact garages takes patience. There are plenty of cameras to help\u2014but even so, visibility remains a challenge.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the price. While the previous 4Runner TRD Pro started around $55,000, the new model jumps to a steep $68,850 before options. Add a few dealer accessories and off-road upgrades, and this particular tester rings in at $73,388. That\u2019s right\u2014over $70,000 for a 4Runner. Considering you can get a 4Runner TRD Off-Road for around $50,000, it becomes a lot harder to justify the TRD Pro\u2019s premium.<\/p>\n The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is an undeniably badass rig; there are no two ways about it. But does it justify its nearly $70,000 price tag? For the average buyer, probably not\u2014especially when the 4Runner TRD Off-Road is nearly as capable and costs about $20,000 less.<\/p>\n That said, if you live deep in the woods, out in the desert, or high up a mountain and need something that can handle just about anything, the TRD Pro is hard to beat. Just be ready for the hefty monthly payments.<\/p>\n Ford Bronco Raptor<\/a> The Land Rover Defender Finally Won Me Over<\/a>\n\n
\n Quick Specs<\/td>\n 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Engine<\/td>\n Turbocharged 2.4L Four-Cylinder Hybrid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Output<\/td>\n 326 Horsepower \/ 465 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Fuel Economy<\/td>\n 19 City \/ 25 Highway \/ 21 Combined<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Base Price \/ As Tested<\/td>\n $68,850 \/ $73,388<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Pros<\/h2>\n
\nStill Comfortable On Road
\nPunchy Engine
\nLooks Great<\/p>\n
\nPhoto by: Jeff Perez \/ Motor1<\/p>\n
\nPhoto by: Jeff Perez \/ Motor1<\/p>\n
\nPhoto by: Jeff Perez \/ Motor1<\/p>\nToyota 4Runner TRD Pro Cons<\/h2>\n
\nFeels Massive
\nVery Expensive<\/p>\n
\nPhoto by: Jeff Perez \/ Motor1<\/p>\n
\nPhoto by: Jeff Perez \/ Motor1<\/p>\nToyota 4Runner TRD Pro Verdict<\/h2>\n
Competitors<\/h3>\n
\nJeep Wrangler Rubicon<\/a>
\nLand Rover Defender<\/a><\/p>\n
The Ford Bronco Everglades Is Worthy of the Badge: Review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
\n \n2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Engine<\/td>\n Turbocharged 2.4-Liter Four-Cylinder Hybrid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Battery<\/td>\n 1.87 Kilowatt-Hour Nickel-Metal Hydride<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Output<\/td>\n 326 Horsepower \/ 465 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Transmission<\/td>\n Eight-Speed Automatic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Drive Type<\/td>\n Four-Wheel Drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Weight<\/td>\n 5,225 Pounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Efficiency<\/td>\n 23 City \/ 24 Highway \/ 23 Combined<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Seating Capacity<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Towing<\/td>\n 6,000 Pounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Cargo Volume<\/td>\n 84.1 \/ 44.8 \/ 12.1 Cubic Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Base Price<\/td>\n $42,770<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Trim Base Price<\/td>\n $68,850<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n As-Tested Price<\/td>\n $73,388<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n On Sale<\/td>\n Now<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n