2025 vs 2026 Toyota 4Runner: What Actually Changed?
Short answer: almost nothing — and that's the real story. The 6th generation 4Runner was an all-new truck for 2025, and Toyota carried it into 2026 with one new option, one new color, and a price increase of roughly $800 on most trims. If you're cross-shopping a leftover or used 2025 against a new 2026, you're looking at the same platform, the same powertrains, and the same capability. Here's the full breakdown so you can buy on price and availability instead of model-year anxiety.
What Carried Over From 2025 to 2026
Everything that made the 6th gen a big deal is unchanged:
- TNGA-F platform: the body-on-frame chassis shared with the Tacoma and Land Cruiser, with the boxed steel frame that replaced the 15-year-old 5th gen underpinnings.
- Two powertrains: the 2.4-liter turbo i-FORCE (278 hp, 317 lb-ft of torque) and the i-FORCE MAX hybrid (326 hp, 465 lb-ft), both paired with an 8-speed automatic.
- Towing: up to 6,000 lbs on both model years — a 1,000-lb jump over the old 5th gen.
- The power rear window: the 4Runner's signature feature, standard across the lineup.
- Screens and safety: standard 8-inch or available 14-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 on every trim.
- Nine grades: SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter.
- Hybrid availability: i-FORCE MAX is available on TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and Limited, and standard on Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter. Hybrid models also get a 2400W AC power outlet in the cabin and cargo area.
- Fuel economy: EPA-estimated 26 MPG highway for the gas i-FORCE, 24 MPG highway for the i-FORCE MAX hybrid.
In other words, a 2025 and a 2026 parked side by side are the same truck underneath, with the same strengths (torque, towing, modern tech) and the same compromises (four-cylinder soundtrack, hybrid cargo floor height).
What Actually Changed for 2026
Toyota's own announcement for the 2026 model year leads with exactly one piece of hardware news. The complete list of changes is short:
1. Stabilizer Disconnect is now optional on TRD Off-Road Premium (hybrid)
The Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM) — which lets the front stabilizer bar disconnect for more wheel articulation on technical trails — was previously standard on TRD Pro and Trailhunter only. For 2026, Toyota made it an available option on the i-FORCE MAX version of the TRD Off-Road Premium. That's the single functional addition to the lineup, and it's the one change that might matter if you were going to buy that exact trim anyway.
2. A new TRD Pro color: Wave Maker
Each year Toyota gives the TRD Pro an exclusive color, and 2025's Mudbath gives way to Wave Maker for 2026 — a bright, glacial blue developed by Toyota's CALTY design studio. It's exclusive to the TRD Pro grade. The rest of the palette (Ice Cap, Cutting Edge, Underground, Black, Heritage Blue, Everest, plus premium colors like Supersonic Red and Wind Chill Pearl) carries over.
3. Prices went up
Every 2026 trim costs more than its 2025 equivalent — about $800 more on most of the lineup, and $1,000 more on the TRD Pro ($66,900 → $67,900). The hardware you're paying extra for is, per the two items above, essentially nothing unless you're shopping one specific trim or color.
2026 4Runner Pricing
MSRP by configuration (before the $1,495 destination charge):
| Configuration | MSRP |
|---|---|
| SR5 4x2 | $41,570 |
| SR5 4x4 | $43,570 |
| TRD Sport 4x2 | $48,050 |
| TRD Sport 4x4 | $50,050 |
| TRD Sport Premium 4x2 | $53,410 |
| TRD Sport Premium 4x4 | $55,410 |
| TRD Off-Road 4x4 | $49,990 |
| TRD Off-Road i-FORCE MAX 4x4 | $52,790 |
| TRD Off-Road Premium 4x4 | $55,770 |
| TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX 4x4 | $58,570 |
| Limited 4x2 | $56,200 |
| Limited 4x4 | $58,200 |
| Limited i-FORCE MAX 4x4 | $61,000 |
| Platinum i-FORCE MAX 4x4 | $63,660 |
| Trailhunter i-FORCE MAX 4x4 | $67,700 |
| TRD Pro i-FORCE MAX 4x4 | $67,900 |
For comparison, the 2025 lineup launched at $40,770 for the SR5 — so the entry price climbed $800 for 2026, and the range-topping TRD Pro climbed $1,000, with no corresponding equipment change for the buyer.
Which Should You Buy: 2025 or 2026?
Buy the 2025 if you find one at a discount. Leftover new stock, a dealer eager to clear the older model year, or a low-mile used example — in every case you're getting the identical truck for less money. The ~$800–$1,000 you don't hand Toyota is better spent on the truck itself; it's most of the way to a roof rack, sliders, or a wheel-and-tire package. Our 6th Gen 4Runner accessories roundup covers the upgrades new owners usually start with.
Buy the 2026 if:
- You want a TRD Off-Road Premium hybrid with the Stabilizer Disconnect — that combination didn't exist in 2025.
- You want a TRD Pro in Wave Maker — that color is 2026-only.
- The 2025 you want simply isn't out there in your trim and color, and the 2026 is. Availability is a legitimate reason; the trucks are otherwise twins.
Either way, the first mod is free. Whichever year ends up in your driveway, our 6th Gen air dam removal guide walks through the 10-minute job most new owners do first — and when wheels are on the list, the 6th gen wheel fitment guide covers the new bolt pattern, hub bore, and offsets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the 2025 and 2026 4Runner?
Very little. Both are the 6th generation truck on the TNGA-F platform with the same powertrains, trims, and 6,000-lb tow rating. For 2026, Toyota added an optional Stabilizer Disconnect on the TRD Off-Road Premium hybrid, introduced a new TRD Pro color (Wave Maker), and raised prices roughly $800 per trim ($1,000 on TRD Pro).
Is the 2026 4Runner a redesign?
No. The redesign happened for 2025, when the 4Runner moved to the TNGA-F platform and turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains. The 2026 model is the second year of that generation and carries over unchanged in nearly every respect.
How much does the 2026 4Runner cost?
MSRP runs from $41,570 for the SR5 4x2 to $67,900 for the TRD Pro, plus a $1,495 destination charge. That's about $800 more than the equivalent 2025 models on most trims.
Which 2026 4Runner trims offer the hybrid?
The i-FORCE MAX hybrid is available on TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and Limited, and comes standard on Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter. It makes 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, versus 278 hp and 317 lb-ft for the standard i-FORCE gas engine.
What is Wave Maker?
Wave Maker is the exclusive TRD Pro color for 2026 — a bright blue replacing 2025's Mudbath. Toyota rotates a signature color for the TRD Pro each model year, and Wave Maker is only available on that grade.
Does the 2026 4Runner tow more than the 2025?
No. Both model years are rated to tow up to 6,000 lbs, which is 1,000 lbs more than the 5th generation 4Runner they replaced.
When did the 2026 4Runner go on sale?
Toyota announced the 2026 lineup on November 5, 2025, with trucks arriving at dealerships in fall 2025.