{"id":35474,"date":"2026-01-01T18:59:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T22:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=35474"},"modified":"2026-01-01T19:00:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T23:00:55","slug":"payne-wintry-4cast-no-problem-in-4wheelin-toyota-4runner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/payne-wintry-4cast-no-problem-in-4wheelin-toyota-4runner","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Wintry 4Cast? No problem in 4Wheelin’ Toyota 4Runner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Detroit<\/em>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0 With roads under four inches of snow one morning this winter, traffic stopped on hilly Franklin Road as a front-wheel-drive Nissan Altima struggled to climb an icy slope in front of me. The driver finally gave up, turning around in search of a different route. I kept on truckin\u2019.<\/p>\n

On Gilbert Lake Road, an all-wheel-drive Lexus NX crawled along at 12 mph in the white stuff before pulling into a driveway. I kept on truckin\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Limited weathered snowy conditions in Metro Detroit even with all-season tires.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

Waiting to enter Telegraph Road at a red light, I was joined on the right shoulder by a Volvo SUV that had obnoxiously jumped the line behind me to be first onto Telegraph \u2014\u00a0 and first into the far-left Telegraph lane to make the Michigan turn south. Some people. The light turned, the Volvo driver nailed the throttle, the Volvo\u2019s tires spun in place while I … kept on truckin\u2019.<\/p>\n

It’s good to be behind the wheel of a 2025 Toyota 4Runner.<\/p>\n

While not officially a truck, the $43K 4Runner is one of three SUVs that Toyota makes based on its rugged, midsized Mexican-made Tacoma pickup. Like the Taco, 4Runner gives you the confidence to go just about anywhere.<\/p>\n

With 8.8-10.1 inches of ground clearance and 18-33 inches of approach angle (depending on trim; my posh Limited tester clocked in at 8.8\/18 inches), 4Runner has similar capabilities to the Tacoma so I could take on:<\/p>\n

\"With<\/figure>\n
\n
With good ground-clearance, 4WD and sturdy truck frame, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner can take on all of Michigan’s elements.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

1) Michigan winter<\/p>\n

2) Detroit potholes<\/p>\n

3) Holly Oaks ORV Park, or<\/p>\n

4) Towing a 6,000-pound boat<\/p>\n

\"In<\/figure>\n
\n
In slippery conditions on Franklin Road in Oakland County, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner soldiered on while other cars turned back.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Same goes for the $66K Lexus GX (which I attacked Holly Oaks\u00a0with last year)<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0and the $58K Toyota Land Cruiser (which\u00a0I flogged all across northern Michigan<\/a>). That\u2019s an impressive toybox aimed at adventure-focused Detroit SUV icons like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.<\/p>\n

Curiously, it\u2019s a market that General Motors Co. has missed as it focused on going electric with its Chevrolet and Cadillac brands. So Toyota has flooded the zone with plenty of Jeep\/Ford competitors. GX is a premium off-roader. Land Cruiser a Land Rover Defender with a Japanese accent.<\/p>\n

But the butch 4Runner is legend.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
\n
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is a two-or-three-row SUV with RWD and 4WD offered.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

With its grizzled looks, climb-Mount-Rushmore attitude and bulletproof reputation, 4Runner\u2019s built a cult following \u2014\u00a0 from the Holly Oaks ORV Park-assaulting Michigan 4Runner Group to my 55-year old friend John, who still carries a torch for 4Runner since he put 150,000 miles on one as a young college grad.<\/p>\n

John was eager to check out the all-new, sixth-generation 4Runner in my driveway. Boy, has it changed.<\/p>\n

Like the new Tacoma pickup, the 2025 4Runner has matured into more than just a reliable Toyota tool. This ute has style.<\/p>\n

The exterior maintains its macho looks with signature truck-like elements like bold presence, bulging fenders and bulldog grille. It looks like a grownup\u2019s LEGO toy.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Toyota 4Runner shows off its signature roll-down rear window for easy cargo access.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But the interior has been transformed. It echoes the exterior\u2019s LEGO theme with a chunky, horizontal dash, climate\/volume knobs the size of your fist, and a giant \u201cOh, crap!\u201d handle for Mrs. Payne to hold onto when her husband takes a detour to Holly Oaks.<\/p>\n

Plugged into this LEGO landscape are a modern digital instrument display and eight- or 14-inch tablet touchscreens. Toyota has lagged digital leaders Ford and Hyundai, but it makes up a lot of ground with its new pickup-based utes.<\/p>\n

\u201cTune to 950 AM,\u201d I barked during the snowstorm to get the latest weather report. Whereas previous Toyotas had worse hearing than a 90-year old uncle, 4Runner understood and instantly brought up the AM station.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
\n
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner has a state-of-the-art interior with good design, big screens, and high-tech features like wireless charging and Apple Carplay\/Android Auto.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Most of the time, however, I used Android Auto, which Toyota has finally embraced (along with Apple CarPlay). I navigated effortlessly to Detroit Metro Airport on Google Maps, my Android phone docked on the wireless charger to maintain juice.<\/p>\n

John loved it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really carries the pickup\u2019s macho look,\u201d said the ex-football player. He was also happy to see signature elements like the roll-down tailgate window (for easy cargo access) had carried over to the latest gen. Thanks to 4Runner\u2019s deep exhaust growl, he didn\u2019t notice the Toyota had ditched the old nail, V-6 engine for a sippier, 278-horsepower, turbocharged 4-cyinder. GRRRRR!!!<\/p>\n

4Runner options a 326-horse, hybrid 4-banger with similar fuel economy. But even macho males want a smooth ride, and John marveled at the sixth gen\u2019s other big leap: drivability.<\/p>\n

\"Like<\/figure>\n
\n
Like its pickup truck sibling, the Tacoma, the rear seats of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner are tight for six-footers.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Truck-based SUVs are prone to handling like, well, trucks. But Toyota has done extensive suspension work for the 4Runner, and it sauntered smoothly around town. Like Bronco, its independent front suspension makes for good road manners while not sacrificing off-road capability.<\/p>\n

My Limited tester was loaded to the gills with features including sunroof, automatic side steps (thank you, said wee Mrs. Payne), memory seats, third-row seats and automatic AWD with two-speed transfer case that sensed travel conditions. You don\u2019t need to spend $62K to get a fully capable 4Runner, thanks to Toyota\u2019s generous suite of Toyota Safety Sense features.<\/p>\n

Purchase a base SR5 4Runner and you get blind-spot assist, adaptive cruse control, auto high-beams, blackout package and a refrigerator (kidding about the last one). Opt for AWD ($2,000) and my favorite Ice Cap white paint job ($0) and you\u2019ll look like a battle-ready Star Wars stormtrooper.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Toyota 4Runner has gained a cult following for its rugged capabilities, reliability and bold design.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

For my money, I\u2019d opt for the $57,265 TRD Off-Road Premium model to add all-terrain tires to the mix as well as a spare tire and faux-leather seats for long drives. But a base $46,495 SR5 gets you plenty (and a set of aftermarket all-terrain tires is just $1,200).<\/p>\n

Speaking of long drives, a pickup-based SUV has its drawbacks. Most noticeably in the hind quarters.<\/p>\n

With a solid rear axle, the 4Runner\u2019s third-row seats have no leg well, so only your tiniest family members will find them habitable. Second-row seats, too, are compromised and less roomy than in the unibody-based Toyota RAV4.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Toyota 4Runner drives more smoothly thanks to a reworked suspension.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

For all its interior advances, Toyota still lags in driver ergonomics compared to Detroit makers like Chevrolet and its steering wheel of ACC and volume rocker buttons \u2014\u00a0plus radio controls on the back of the wheel. Clever. Thanks to the meaty 4Runner knob, however, my fingers could tune the radio in the dark and ACC gets a rocker button.<\/p>\n