A body-on-frame midsize SUV, the Toyota 4Runner is a fine choice for adventurous types. Off-road-oriented rivals include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which most closely matches the Toyota, as well as the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco. The 4Runner also competes with midsize competitors such as the Nissan Pathfinder and the Honda Passport.
2026 Toyota 4Runner Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Toyota 4Runner
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Toyota 4Runner
The 2026 Toyota 4Runner carries over unchanged after a 2025 redesign that was the first since 2010. With the sixth-generation, the 4Runner lengthened by 4.7 inches and its wheelbase grew by 2.4 inches. Under the hood, the familiar 4.0-liter V6 gave way to a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that's also offered as a hybrid. Its body-on-frame design switched over to the TNGA-F platform shared with the Toyota Land Cruiser and Sequoia, and unlocked more towing capability. Inside, there are larger screens and more connected technology.
Design
The 4Runner wears extroverted, angular bodywork with a high-set grille, pronounced front and rear wheel flares, and a tall ride height. The nose looks busier on the off-road-focused models, and they also get chunky tires and contrasting fender flares. TRD models also have a fake hood scoop that hints at their performance theme.
Powertrain
Toyota offers a pair of powertrains for the 4Runner, starting with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, known as the i-Force, that produces 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The i-Force Max is a hybrid that pairs the same engine with an electric motor to up the output to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, and two four-wheel-drive (4WD) systems are available. One works part-time and should not be used on dry pavement and the other works full-time. Both have low-range gearing.
The base engine is EPA rated at 22 mpg city, 26 highway, 24 combined with RWD, and 19/25/21 or 20/24/21 mpg with 4WD. The hybrid gets 23/24/23 mpg and all versions can tow up to 6,000 pounds.
Interior
The 4Runner is offered with two or three seating rows for five- or seven-passenger capacity. Toyota outfits the 2026 4Runner with standard cloth upholstery and manually adjustable, heated front seats. Also available are synthetic leather and real leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and ventilated front seats. A sunroof is standard on upper trim levels and available with some others.
Cargo space tops out at 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 90.2 cubic feet behind the first row in the two-row version. With three rows it has 12.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 44.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84.1 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid version comes only with two rows and its cargo space numbers are 82.6 cubic feet behind the first row and 42.6 cubic feet behind the second row.
Technology
The base 4Runner comes with analog gauges and a seven-inch multi-information display, while all other models get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The base infotainment system uses an 8-inch touchscreen and comes with an eight-speaker audio system. Upper trims get a 14.0-inch touchscreen and a 14-speaker JBL audio system that includes a portable Bluetooth speaker. Both versions get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Wi-Fi hotspot that requires a subscription is offered, and wireless smartphone charging is standard on all but the base SR5 trim level.
