6th gen owners - why did you jump on a year 1 model of the refresh?

[Charlie]

I was pulling a 4000 lb trailer with a 2012 4Runner Trail Edition that was nearing 180,000. I decided to get the TRD-Pro Hybrid for the 465 lbs of torque. Couldn’t be happier about that. The engine and drive train are superb, it has more low end grunt than I’ll ever need, climbs hills with no drama. As for 1st year problems, this chassis and engine have been around for a few years. That said, I’ll go with the member who stated, “I never thought like that when I was younger but now I do not wait on what I want.”

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[EL616]

My Jeep was on its last legs and I wasn't willing to sink any more money into repairing it, and I was getting increasingly nervous about it stranding me in the back country somewhere. I'd already settled on getting a 4Runner for my next ride, and loved the design of the 6th Gen. I've driven plenty of 5th Gens (friends who have them plus several Turo rentals on vacations) and while they're fantastic trucks, I couldn't see myself being fully satisfied with the dated interior and tech knowing how nice the 6th Gens are, plus even used ORPs and TRD Pros are still going for $50k+ in my area, so they aren't that considerably cheaper than just getting a new 2025. 4Runners are undeniably better than Jeeps in most ways but a 5th Gen just didn't feel like enough of a "sexy" upgrade for me to get excited about dropping the money for one when I'd been saving up for my dream truck.

As slowly as it's taken them to roll out the 2025s, I don't anticipate them changing much, if anything, for the 2026 models. For sure it would have been preferable for the 6th Gen to have been out a few years before I pulled the trigger on one, but I needed a new ride now and that's when they released it so here we are. That, plus the risk of tariffs or other price increases made me go ahead and pull the trigger vs. getting a 5th Gen and upgrading in a few years. I've had no issues with break squeal or anything else (4k miles on my non-hybrid ORP so far), but worst case I already have it paid off and figure, it being a Toyota, I can still get pretty good value for a trade-in toward a 2027 or 2028 if some issue arises that they fix down the line.

Also, let's be honest here: 5th Gen 4Runners may be legendarily reliable, but they aren't entirely without their issues either even after all these years (wheel wobble at interstate speeds, undercarriage rust, crap power delivery on hills and high elevation, etc.) And there are plenty of little things I can nitpick about the interior of both 5th and 6th Gens, but that's true of any vehicle really. Overall the 6th Gen just felt like a real upgrade while buying a 5th Gen would have felt like a sidegrade/holdover until I'd eventually give in to temptation and end up in a 6th Gen regardless.

 

[Doofy]

It's a Toyota - that in some ways does speak for itself. Granted, there can be lemons in every bunch, and more so in the 1st year of new gens.

I have owned, since new, a 2017 4R Limited, a 2021 4R Limited and now a 2025 Limited. No regrets on the purchase. NONE.

As reviews state, this 6th generation is well appointed and definitely a big improvement and upgrade from the 5th Gen . i haven't had any issues yet or any of the hiccups that other owners have noted, but i am still breaking it in. if it turns out to be a turd, i will trade it in and buy another. how's that for stupid? lol but hey, it's a toyota that is built in Japan. i will sign up for that until enough big data convinces me otherwise

 

[NWRes]

I have had a few Toyota vehicles as have other family members. You can't go wrong with Toyota. The last was a 2003 Sequoia which we purchased new and owned until a few days after we picked up our 2025 TRD Off Road Premium that we waited about three months for. Other than normal wear and tear and age issues the Sequoia never gave us trouble. We were lucky if the Sequoia gave us 16mpg in all around driving. So far we have never received less than 20 mpg in the new 4Runner and after 8,000 miles none of the issues others have reported. We miss the storage space in the Sequoia but so far I think the 6Gen 4Runner is a better vehicle. I don't expect any issues. If Toyota made a 3/4 ton pickup I would have one of those too instead of our Chev 2500HD diesel.

 

[Mad Ghost]

Although a 1st year of the new Gen, most the tech and equipment has been in use for years with hundreds of thousands on the road in different models. I wanted to start overlanding and hit trails and didn't want tow wait another year to have an adventure. The Highlander had held us back on several trips because it didn't have clearance or 4x4

 

[coloradomarmot]

Conventional wisdom has often been to skip year one of a new refresh of a vehicle. For everyone who has decided to go against this to purchase a 2025 year model of the new 4Runner, what made you decide to go against that prevailing wisdom? Have you run into any strange first gen issues? Has there been anything that has caused you to regret taking the plunge?

I am currently in the market now for one and was close to pulling the trigger on the purchase, but the brake squeal issue, and Toyota’s seeming inability to find a lasting fix for the problem, has given me some pause.

That was my original thought - I'd planned on buying a '26. What changed my mind? Two things: Tariffs and MudBath. I'm very convinced that the prices will go up next model year, and I've wanted that color for years.

So was I worried? Not really, the new 4Runner is largely a reskinned Tacoma. They've had the new transmission and engine for a few years now, and worked out all the kinks, so from a 'big rock' standpoint I'm confident in the design.

Now are there refinements that it needs? A few, but honestly, Toyota did a really good job of collecting things and getting them done - little ones like kicking the bumper to close the tailgate are just sweet.

So the functional refinements:

• Ability to turn off the interior lights when the tailgate is open
• More tie downs in the back (and move the ones by the door a bit backwards)
• Fix the HVAC controls so the darn thing doesn't randomly change itself when turning the 4Runner off and back on. Related: Fix it so the screen always shows the current state, and never, ever, enable the 'eco' mode on the A/C by itself.
• Use real handshake encryption in the keyfobs to prevent cloning
• Allow use of digital key when connected services are disabled
• Allow use of light bar without the high beams

But otherwise, I think they nailed it.

 

[get.outside.75]

the tariffs are being challenged and the federal appeals court has ruled against it.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tariffs-federal-appeals-court-rules-illegal-what-happens-next/

From the artice:
Does the ruling apply to all tariffs?
No, the court's ruling doesn't cover all of Mr. Trump tariffs. For instance, his levies on foreign steel, aluminum and autos were imposed under a different regulation after Commerce Department investigations concluded that those imports were threats to U.S. national security.

 

[Marty60]

Don't need it. The I4 turbo is plenty for me. My wife couldn't wait to get rid of the Lexus TX 500. That hybrid system was a joke. Now her Turbo 6 cylinder Beemer is a whole different animal

 

[coloradomarmot]

From the artice:
Does the ruling apply to all tariffs?
No, the court's ruling doesn't cover all of Mr. Trump tariffs. For instance, his levies on foreign steel, aluminum and autos were imposed under a different regulation after Commerce Department investigations concluded that those imports were threats to U.S. national security.

Toyota took a $1B charge last year (if I remember right) - there's no way that continues. These are getting really pricy though, so it'll be a bit of a push/pull decision. That said, they aren't exactly having inventory sitting on lots, so there's clearly some pricing power.

I suspect, fwiw, that the reason inventory has been thin is exactly this - minimizing the tariff impact until they can raise prices (again - they did that in July) for the new model year.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Toyota took a $1B charge last year (if I remember right) - there's no way that continues. These are getting really pricy though, so it'll be a bit of a push/pull decision. That said, they aren't exactly having inventory sitting on lots, so there's clearly some pricing power.

I suspect, fwiw, that the reason inventory has been thin is exactly this - minimizing the tariff impact until they can raise prices (again - they did that in July) for the new model year.

Toyota has artifically limited inventory for years at this point, that's why there isn't a ton of inventory sitting on the lots.

But I do agree, they aren't going to eat the tariffs fully for the next 3+ years. At some point those prices are going to start getting baked in even more in the sticker.

 

[JayTech]

My 23 Tacoma 4 cylinder was weak and underpowered.
I wanted to get back into a body on frame SUV. My wife had a Lexus TX, with the same Turbo 4 hybrid. Other than torque battery was a waste

While that Lexus also has a turbo 2.4L it isn't actually the same engine. While they might share a few parts, the head, block, turbo, are all different.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

That was my original thought - I'd planned on buying a '26. What changed my mind? Two things: Tariffs and MudBath. I'm very convinced that the prices will go up next model year, and I've wanted that color for years.

So was I worried? Not really, the new 4Runner is largely a reskinned Tacoma. They've had the new transmission and engine for a few years now, and worked out all the kinks, so from a 'big rock' standpoint I'm confident in the design.

Now are there refinements that it needs? A few, but honestly, Toyota did a really good job of collecting things and getting them done - little ones like kicking the bumper to close the tailgate are just sweet.

So the functional refinements:

• Ability to turn off the interior lights when the tailgate is open
• More tie downs in the back (and move the ones by the door a bit backwards)
• Fix the HVAC controls so the darn thing doesn't randomly change itself when turning the 4Runner off and back on. Related: Fix it so the screen always shows the current state, and never, ever, enable the 'eco' mode on the A/C by itself.
• Use real handshake encryption in the keyfobs to prevent cloning
• Allow use of digital key when connected services are disabled
• Allow use of light bar without the high beams

But otherwise, I think they nailed it.

I saw another thread talking about a 4Runner being stolen after the key fob was cloned. How does that happen?

 

[Everybodyduck]

4Runners are a lifestyle. They have been since day one. There is no risk in buying a 2025 4Runner. Toyota is the largest seller of vehicles on the planet. Japan's Tahara automotive plant is legendary in the automotive industry. How could you not purchase a Gen 6 that styles itself to a classic look from the past, yet comes in a hybrid with all of the latest technology?

I only regret that I couldn't buy the first (production model #1) new Gen 6 Platinum trim to come off the line.

As to the tariffs, or lack thereof, it doesn't matter. Surely everyone noticed the substantial increase over the last few years. The shortage of chips drove price increases, not tariffs.
It's all relative. Higher tariff income can lead to decreased personal income tax, which leaves more money in the pocket to pay the Toyota price increase.

The price of all vehicles has gone insane. Don't get me started on housing.

 

[4Runner4Fun]

My reasoning is similar to others. I had a gen 3 until a few years ago and switched to a Highlander when my wife got a work car. Missed the 4Runner but didn't want to buy a gen 5 that was so old. I had been waiting several years for Toyota to finally redesign the 4Runner and I liked the new Gen 6. I had planned to get a 2026 since it is a good idea to wait until some bugs are worked out, which happens even with Toyota, but I wanted a TRD Pro and given the potential wait times, I put a deposit down and waited. When a later 2025 came up, I decided to stop waiting (a late 2025 won't be much different than an early 2026 since Toyota makes improvements along the way).

Plus I would get delivery before the Midwest salt season, giving me time to rustproof before the snow. I also was comforted knowing that this wasn't really a first year vehicle. The Tacoma and Land Cruisers were year one in 2024 with the same tech and mechanicals. There is nothing completely new on the 4Runner this year. Lastly, it sometimes takes several years, not just one, to work problems out of a big redesign and I didn't want to wait several more years to be uber careful. If Toyota didn't carefully design the Tacoma, Land Cruiser and 4Runner and ended up with a lot of big problems they didn't fix, it would be a disaster for their business so I was pretty sure they did things well enough for me. I'm only at 700 miles but so far everything is perfect from performance to fit and finish.

 

[bancroftdg]

I've always wanted one, especially a Gen 5, but life circumstances never seemed to line up until last May when an old lady ran a stop sign and totaled my 23 Honda Ridgeline. The Ridgeline was ok but boring is a word I used most when describing it. I looked at some CPO Gen 5's but was astounded by what dealers were asking for them so by chance I looked online at the Gen 6 and immediately liked the looks and all the improvements. Almost 5K miles on it now and I couldnt be happier. Absolutely no issues so far other then the annoyance of the safety features when you have a bike rack on it. I think the 4cyl turbo is an amazing piece of engineering and much better than the V6 in my Ridgeline.

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