Excitement is building around the arrival of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, and I recently had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the highly anticipated 2025 4runner Trd Pro at the St. Louis Auto Show. Being a 5th Gen 4Runner owner and a dedicated enthusiast, I was particularly keen to see how the new generation, especially the TRD Pro trim, stacks up. My initial impressions? Color me impressed.
Stepping inside the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro, the interior immediately felt satisfying to the touch. The seats offered a comfortable embrace, suggesting long drives and off-road adventures will be a pleasure. Initially, my interest leaned towards a TRD Off Road Premium Hybrid, but the allure of the Wind Chill Pearl on the TRD Sport Premium almost swayed me. However, after examining the TRD Pro, specifically the cargo space, my priorities shifted slightly.
The hybrid model, while appealing, comes with a battery that intrudes into the cargo area. For someone who frequently travels with dogs, that extra cargo height reduction in the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro Hybrid could pose a slight inconvenience. This is a personal consideration, and others might not find it to be an issue, but it’s a factor worth noting for potential buyers with similar needs.
Concerns about the interior material quality, often discussed among enthusiasts comparing it to the plushness of the 5th Gen, seemed largely unfounded upon closer inspection. While the soft-touch surfaces in the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro are undeniably premium, they might not be as heavily padded as the previous generation. However, in real-world feel, this difference appears negligible. The piano black fender flares, a design choice on this off-road focused vehicle, might be prone to scratches and could benefit from paint protection film (PPF) to maintain their glossy finish.
On the positive side, the materials used for the seats, steering wheel, and gear shifter in the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro exude quality and feel great in hand. The switches below the center display, possibly metal, provided a satisfyingly solid click when used, indicating attention to detail in tactile feedback. One notable change is the smaller center console compared to the 5th Gen. This likely reflects the shift away from physical media like CDs, which the larger 5th Gen console was designed to accommodate. In today’s digital age, this downsizing is a practical and understandable change.
From the driver’s seat, the perspective in the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro feels elongated due to the windshield’s shallower angle. Yet, the vehicle retains the familiar, boxy 4Runner silhouette. It still feels easy to judge the vehicle’s corners and front end, crucial for both on-road maneuvering and off-road navigation.
Although the tech features weren’t functional during this static display, the screens and overall layout look thoroughly modern. Compared to my 2015 model, the 2025 4Runner TRD Pro represents a significant leap forward in technology integration, finally bringing the 4Runner in line with contemporary expectations. The 2025 4Runner TRD Pro seems poised to be a worthy successor, blending the rugged DNA of the 4Runner with modern refinements.
