The Back Window Rolls Down
Beyond that tidbit, we also now know the SUV keeps its roll-down rear window. Just like generations of the 4Runner, the 2025 version features power-operated rear glass that can retract into the tailgate. As before, the button to operate the rear glass is conveniently located in the overhead console. However, we also notice up/down arrow buttons on the tailgate itself?
In the Instagram post below, when the glass is opened, we can see through the tailgate aperture to glimpse some of the dashboard, which includes a modern-looking new display. Moreover, there are stark similarities between the locations and shapes of its display, starter button, gauge cluster hood, volume knob, and outboard air vents compared to the latest Toyota Tacoma pickup, indicating a likely mechanical relationship. Oh, and at the end of the teaser, Toyota hints we’ll see the entire new 4Runner on April 9—that’s very, very soon.
How Land Cruiser-Y Is the 4Runner?
Initially, the teaser makes the 4Runner appear to be just a new Land Cruiser with “4Runner” lettering on its tailgate. We had expected the new 4Runner to be similar to the newest Land Cruiser, which it will share its frame and other mechanicals with, but will the two 4x4s really share sheet metal?
The newer teaser suggests they will not, although that will be determined when Toyota fully unveils the 2025 4Runner on April 9. We can, however, expect the 4Runner to be priced lower than the Land Cruiser. The new Land Cruiser starts in the mid-$50,000 range, while the current 4Runner has an MSRP beginning in the $40,000 range, allowing Toyota to incorporate the 2025 4Runner into its crowded SUV lineup without significant overlap. Likewise, there is likely to be more visual resemblance between the 4Runner and the latest Tacoma midsize pickup than between it and the Land Cruiser, even though all three vehicles utilize the same TNGA-F architecture.
Focusing on the latest image of the tailgate that Toyota released, some differences are apparent. The taillights differ, though they maintain a vertical arrangement similar to the Land Cruiser’s. Additionally, the tailgate’s surfacing is unique, as is the silvery trim on the bumper. The blue paint may also contribute to a Land Cruiser-like vibe; the new Land Cruiser is offered in a similar “Heritage Blue” hue.
We still appreciate the old 4Runner, of course, but that model is becoming quite dated. Look, at the end of the day, even if the new 4Runner shares running gear identical to that of the new Land Cruiser, who’s complaining about getting a Land Cruiser for less? We expect the 4Runner to be slightly more compact than the Cruiser and likely utilize the non-hybrid version of its turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain (which powers most of the also mechanically related Tacoma pickup lineup), at least as standard; the hybrid could be optional. Consequently, we’ll learn more about how Toyota managed to differentiate its two off-road SUVs when the new 4Runner debuts on April 9.
