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

[Everybodyduck]

Really the only thing that would make me switch is if the Platinum would get an Black interior option instead of the blue, I'm still on the fence of how I'll like it being I've ever seen it in person and likely wont until mine arrives. No local dealers around me have and any Platinum allocations arrive or id go look just to see. And I doubt that will be a change for 2026, I bet it happens down the road a few more years or with some "Nightshade" package.

The dark blue is excellent. It seems cooler in the heat than the black interior. I love it with my Heritage Blue color. Not sure what it looks like in other colors. As a disclaimer, I am red-green colorblind.

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[Everybodyduck]

Really the only thing that would make me switch is if the Platinum would get an Black interior option instead of the blue, I'm still on the fence of how I'll like it being I've ever seen it in person and likely wont until mine arrives. No local dealers around me have and any Platinum allocations arrive or id go look just to see. And I doubt that will be a change for 2026, I bet it happens down the road a few more years or with some "Nightshade" package.

Here is a pic of my seat with sun and shade to show what it looks like.

 

[Coldwiz]

Similar comfort here too. I was DDing a 99' 3rd gen manual for 7 years and was ready for an upgrade (comfort). Did not wan to wait any longer..... 6th gen Hybrid rides super good and the drivetrain is a mazing. With Taco and LC already out being built in two parts of the globe, I figured mechanically it's solid and so far I'm well impressed. Plenty of time to iron things out.
The t24-fts is been around in some form since 2021 and Toyota knows Hybrids well by now.
I was ok to deal with quirk fit & finish from 1st year but so far nothing to loose my mind about and yes I have the brake squeal too.

Ooooh 3rd gen manual! I had a 2000 3rd gen manual with the locking diff that I wish I hadn't ever sold. I hope you held on to yours!

 

[kekecarioca]

Ooooh 3rd gen manual! I had a 2000 3rd gen manual with the locking diff that I wish I hadn't ever sold. I hope you held on to yours!

Waw ! the true Unicorn! I still have mine, but honestly it's collecting dust at the moment... Plans were to sell it at some point, BUT from the wife's mouth : " we should actually keep it." (she was an advocate that it needed to go once the 6th gen arrived) It's in great shape in and out for it's age and it's rust free!!
I drove it the other day and it put a smile upon my face!

 

[MikeD]

To answer the original question.... My 2003 Sequoia was getting long in the tooth (296k miles) and I decided back before its 20th birthday when the new Gen6 was announced as coming as a 24 model that I would make the jump. My previous vehicle was a 1990 Gen2 4Runner (standard transmission) that I loved but upgraded to Sequoia when it hit about 200k miles. I needed the Sequoia space for lots of camping trips (with family, boy scouts, girl scouts, etc), carrying half the soccer team, etc. But now that the kids are grown, going back to 4Runner seemed perfect. Enough space for tailgating.

Bottom line: I was waiting for this new model to finally come out for several years and did not want to wait any longer. (purchasing before tariffs hit was a small factor in timing but really I had just waited long enough)

 

[Everybodyduck]

To answer the original question.... My 2003 Sequoia was getting long in the tooth (296k miles) and I decided back before its 20th birthday when the new Gen6 was announced as coming as a 24 model that I would make the jump. My previous vehicle was a 1990 Gen2 4Runner (standard transmission) that I loved but upgraded to Sequoia when it hit about 200k miles. I needed the Sequoia space for lots of camping trips (with family, boy scouts, girl scouts, etc), carrying half the soccer team, etc. But now that the kids are grown, going back to 4Runner seemed perfect. Enough space for tailgating.

Bottom line: I was waiting for this new model to finally come out for several years and did not want to wait any longer. (purchasing before tariffs hit was a small factor in timing but really I had just waited long enough)

Great story, great picture, great event..........Outstanding.

 

[HVLA]

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.

Toyota. Built in Japan. Basically flagship vehicle. You think they gonna mess that up? Lol

 

[Van Solo]

Well same as another person I really wanted a 4Runner, and the first year does not really apply since the tacoma has been out since 2024 and the 4Runner is made in Japan rather then Mexico. we are into the last quarter of the year and the only TSB was for breaks!? Well that was almost every vehicle on Frame recall.

Oh, and always nice to get upgraded parts if they do recall anything right?!

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

OP - After reading these replies, If you are not convinced now to pull the trigger and buy one, you just aren't that into me (said the new 6G awesome 4Runner).

 

[PawsAndPRs]

Short answer : it’s brown and I fell in love with mudbath. Being a limited color, I didn’t have the option of waiting a model year. Had mudbath been available on diff trims I would have gotten a less expensive trim.

Longer answer : I have always wanted a 4R but felt it was too “expensive”. Dogs didn’t comfortably fit in my small SUV (as one of them is a baby giant ) so I needed something bigger.

My 2023 CX5 with low miles was paid off so the trade was all toward the new car plus with all the waiting I had a decent down payment so I financed only half the price of the new truck. Plan to pay it off asap like my previous vehicle. I also got the 10yr/125mi platinum VSA bc of it being a new refresh and how much tech this vehicle has. It just worked out with timing for me. The dogs absolutely love the new truck!

 

[glocke12]

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.

At 295k miles, My 5th gen (2011 TE) became too unreliable to use as a daily driver. I had spent 2k to get the frame repaired due to rust back in may, thought Id be good for another 100k but than the fuel pump died while I was on my way to work leaving me stranded in 100 dg weather/100% humidity for two hours. I realized at that point that my dreams of reaching 400-500k with that truck were not going to happen, Im still bummed because I loved that vehicle.

I didn't think I wanted another 4runner, didnt need the cargo space like I once did, and wanted better fuel economy so was looking at a corolla cross, but ended up looking at 4runners instead. Fell in love with the Heritage Blue color, and the creature comforts that came with the TRD ORP package.

I dont think I fully realized that this was a brand new refresh until after I had talked myself into the vehicle and that honestly isn't really something that bothers me. Having owned both a 4th gen and a 5th gen I knew there would probably be things Toyota change I would find weird or didnt like , like the way the back seats fold but since I needed a vehicle " now ", and was already in love with the HB TRD OPR I found I didnt let it bother me.

 

[bkw777]

My 3rd gen is rusting away, and I can't wait another year, and I don't want a 4th or 5th gen, and I don't want a Jeep or Ford or anything else, and Slate isn't going to be ready soon, and Scout isn't going to be ready soon. (I know 4R, Slate, and Scout are 3 wildly different things with different selling points and different compromises, but these are what I was considering for different reasons in each case.)

I *almost* went with a 2014 FJ instead just to get the newest 4runner platform suv you can get in the US with a manual trans. (I don't want a pickup so no Tacoma)

But I'm 55 and never had a new vehicle before (I refused to finance or lease. For anything short of a house, if I can't buy it in cash, I don't need it.) and I have the money now and I've already been waiting 3 years for the new gen to finally ship, so... I test drove, decided it drove at least better than the 5th gen which I hated, and I will just deal with whatever has to be dealt with. I knew it would have 100 things I don't like, and it DOES, but I'm taking the bad with the good and just dealing with it.

 

[828findadventure]

We own a 25 Tacoma SR5 and a 25 4runner SR5, no issues on either while one is built in Mexico and the 4R in Japan. The brake has squealed three times in over 3000 miles on the 4Runner but that is all. Otherwise, knock on wood we love these vehicles.

Before these we owned these two we had these:
2021 Tundra 4x4 crew SR5
2017 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4x4 DC
2012 Toyota Highlander V6 AWD
2016 Subaru Legacy Limited 2.5
Still own 2017 VW GTI

 

[ugahairydawgs]

OP - After reading these replies, If you are not convinced now to pull the trigger and buy one, you just aren't that into me (said the new 6G awesome 4Runner).

Yeah…I’m in. Just have to find a new one to pick up since the model I was looking at previously sold during my period of indecision.

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

Yeah…I’m in. Just have to find a new one to pick up since the model I was looking at previously sold during my period of indecision.

Good call. You will not regret this decision.

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