Consumer Reports 2025 4Runner Evaluation / Review

[NWRes]

For those interested the Consumer Reports evaluation of the 2025 4Runner is out. Right now access is on-line only, Has not hit the printed edition yet.

As one would expect it is rated much better than the Bronco or Jeep Wrangler. For this evaluation they rented a 2025 TRD Pro. They also purchased an SR5 and updates to their evaluation will be posted as the SR5 evaluation progresses.

Its one weak area is ride quality which they do mention is due to it having been designed for off road use. Go figure. Pretty good article that does mention the different models/trim levels affect ride quality and other factors.

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[DutchDave63]

Here is the link (for subscribers?): https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/4runner/2025/overview/

My first Toyota and 4runner. I agree with the "Dismal interior furnishings" and the other lows listed. However, I enjoyed summer driving with all of the windows down and sunroof open. Learning to dive it in snowy conditions.

Looking forward to the predicted reliability of the vehicle.

 

[visually oriented]

The Consumer Reports' video about the 6g 4Runner has been on Youtube for a while:

 

[Lamuncha]

That magazine has drifted far from the objective reference that it used to be. I looked through it on line just for grins before buying my 4 runner. I am not sure it was reviewing the 2024 or 2025.
As expected they actually reported on the poor ride and how it tossed people in the rear seat around.
As MWRes wrote "Its one weak area is ride quality which they do mention is due to it having been designed for off road use. Go figure"
Exactly go figure.
Here is their thumbnail:

 

[NWRes]

Here is the link (for subscribers?): https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/4runner/2025/overview/

My first Toyota and 4runner. I agree with the "Dismal interior furnishings" and the other lows listed. However, I enjoyed summer driving with all of the windows down and sunroof open. Learning to dive it in snowy conditions.

Looking forward to the predicted reliability of the vehicle.

We sold our Sequoia that we purchased new in 2003 to buy the 4Runner. Interior furnishing/storage is my only real complaint. The ride is what I expected it to be and it both handles better and has more pep than the Sequoia did. However the 4Runner has less storage and what there is I consider an underutilization of of space and cheaply done. The console storage between the front seats is not very big. What storage there is in back could have been enclosed and/or larger. Yes the 4Runner is a bit smaller than a Sequoia but there is a lot of room for improvement without sacrificing cargo space.

 

[NWRes]

That magazine has drifted far from the objective reference that it used to be. I looked through it on line just for grins before buying my 4 runner. I am not sure it was reviewing the 2024 or 2025.
As expected they actually reported on the poor ride and how it tossed people in the rear seat around.
As MWRes wrote "Its one weak area is ride quality which they do mention is due to it having been designed for off road use. Go figure"
Exactly go figure.
Here is their thumbnail:

Consumer Reports is still a good source of information for a lot of things but you are right about automotive evaluations. They tend to rate trucks and SUVs poorly because of ride and on road handling but that's what I think people look at these days. They want a truck or SUV with a rough and tumble image and a Cadillac ride and that does not exist. Look how many people purchase a four door pickup and promptly load it with low profile tires on 20 inch rims and other showy upgrades that will never see rocks and ruts or ever a dirt road. It might get scratched. Boulevard cruisers/daily drivers and that's it. The new family primary mover. People like most of us who purchase vehicles like a 4Runner and use it for the purpose for which it was designed and capable of are the rare breed.

 

[Mad Ghost]

The complaints honestly surprise me.... I've been a car guy my whole life, when I was. young I built out an Acura Integra into a track beast, and daily drive an Avalon now, we traded in our 2020 Highlander for the 4Runner, I feel it does better than the highlander did, the ORP soaks up bumps nicely, handles the maneuvers I ask of it just fine compared to some Yukons I've driven has way less body roll. Truly only complain is the unrefined sound of the motor.

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