{"id":3803,"date":"2026-01-06T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/max2voyages.com\/?p=3803"},"modified":"2026-01-06T04:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T12:00:00","slug":"toyota-4runner-trailhunter-tested-it-does-this-one-thing-much-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/?p=3803","title":{"rendered":"Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter Tested: It Does This One Thing Much Better"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

<\/path><\/svg>Pros<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Looks badass<\/li>\n
  • Extremely comfortable off-road<\/li>\n
  • Muscular powertrain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    \n

    <\/path><\/svg>Cons<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Breathy fart intake noise<\/li>\n
    • Trucky on-road behavior<\/li>\n
    • Cargo floor height<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      In the sixth-generation Toyota 4Runner<\/u> lineup, the Trailhunter variant is peak 4Runner. It has the same widened stance, lifted suspension, and 33-inch tire size as the identically priced 4Runner TRD Pro, but let\u2019s be real\u2014even though the latest TRD Pro and its newfound desert-running capabilities are awesome, the new Trailhunter is the burliest 4Runner in the traditional sense. Mostly it\u2019s because of the look, which includes a standard metal roof rack, exclusive bronze wheels, and a high-inlet air intake that climbs up the passenger-side windshield pillar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      With the new TRD Pro having pivoted to chasing Ford Raptors<\/u> over jumps and dunes and stuff, the new-to-4Runner Trailhunter trim is geared toward lower-speed crawling and general off-road ride comfort\u2014essentially copying and pasting over the old TRD Pro\u2019s tuning philosophy. Of course, the last-generation 4Runner TRD Pro was capable as all get-out off-road\u2014and this new Trailhunter\u2019s even better\u2014despite being borderline awful on road. So, has peak 4Runner progressed at all on-road?<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"027<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      What Is a Trailhunter, Anyhow? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

      From top to bottom, the new 4Runner family drives better than before<\/u>. That’s a relatively low bar to clear, of course, but even festooned with all the toys, the Trailhunter is no different. It rides on a set of third-party-sourced Old Man Emu shocks\u2014with remote reservoirs on the rears\u2014and unique springs that lift it 1.5 inches in front and 2.0 inches in rear. There’s a front anti-roll bar disconnect system to enhance articulation, too, and those sweet bronze wheels are wrapped by 33-inch Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires. With a 3.2-inch(!)-wider track front and rear (same as the new TRD Pro), the Trailhunter\u2019s wheels and tires stick out proud of the bodywork.<\/p>\n

      The Trailhunter is also almost comically heavy, with its standard hybrid powertrain (optional on lesser 4Runners), beefy ARB roof rack (with a 700-pound static capacity), and other add-ons ballooning its curb weight to 5,586 pounds. This is the heaviest new 4Runner you can buy\u2014a curiosity in that its payload capacity (including people and stuff) is limited to 1,005 pounds, even though this is the model aimed squarely at gear-toting overlanders. It’s worth noting that lighter 4Runners can carry up to 1,550 pounds.<\/p>\n

      About that hybrid powertrain. The Trailhunter is powered by Toyota\u2019s i-Force MAX setup combining the same 278-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine used in i-Force (non-MAX) 4Runners with a 48-hp electric motor where the eight-speed automatic transmission\u2019s torque converter would be to produce 323 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque.<\/p>\n

      Other MAX-powered 4Runners make 3 hp more, but they don\u2019t have the Trailhunter\u2019s peacocking intake snorkel snaking up their passenger-side A-pillars, do they? Step on the gas, and that power-sapping snorkel sounds like you stepped on someone\u2019s midsection after a Taco Bell lunch, amplifying the turbo engine\u2019s whooshing intake white noise to the point that it sounds like an rpm-sensitive wheezing fart. The soundtrack is annoying, although it\u2019s less noticeable here than in the mechanically related Tacoma Trailhunter pickup with the same basic setup. But before you point the 4Runner\u2019s snoot at deep water, keep in mind that the snorkel doesn\u2019t raise the Trailhunter\u2019s wading depth at all\u2014the unsealed unit is simply there to gobble up cleaner air in dusty conditions.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"009<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      How Does This Bruiser Go, Stop, and Turn? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

      The new 4Runner drives far better than you\u2019d expect in Trailhunter guise, particularly if you\u2019ve spent any quality time behind the wheel of the previous-generation TRD Pro model. As we noted in our first drive<\/u>, give credit to the Trailhunter\u2019s wider track, which seems to do a lot of work keeping the tall, heavy SUV\u2019s handling feeling stable and controlled. While the body still pitches fore and aft when stopping or accelerating hard, and leans when initiating a turn, all those motions are far more reined in than in the old TRD Pro.<\/p>\n

      The Trailhunter\u2019s 0.72 g of lateral grip might not seem like much\u2014several Jeep Wranglers we\u2019ve tested have done better\u2014but the way it achieves that number is revelatory. Where the Jeep (perched on dual live axles) feels genuinely concerning when exploring its handling limits, the 4Runner Trailhunter (with only a live rear axle) is secure and almost ordinary in its moves. The tires clearly aren\u2019t suited to skidpad evaluations, and the body roll is there, but the Toyota\u2019s mass is evenly distributed front to rear, and the steering is fairly accurate.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"016<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Stopping is also decent, in spite of the tires. A 121-foot stop from 60 mph for something this heavy is pretty good, and although it\u2019s accompanied by plenty of nosedive, hard braking events don\u2019t send the 4Runner squirreling around. Our only complaint? That the brake pedal operates in a numb manner, with a distinct switchover between the regenerative and mechanical braking that\u2019s difficult to modulate, leading to un-smooth stops around town.<\/p>\n

      Thanks to the MAX\u2019s electric assist, this is the quickest current-generation 4Runner we\u2019ve tested yet, reaching 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. But keep in mind it\u2019s also the heaviest at nearly 5,600 pounds. We expect that lesser 4Runners with the same powertrain will be quicker.<\/p>\n

      Either way, the powertrain is way more modern than the 270-hp 4.0-liter V-6 of yesteryear. (Those 4Runners reliably sauntered to 60 mph in about 8.0 seconds.) The Trailhunter\u2019s hybridization helps smooth over some of the new turbo four-cylinder\u2019s paucity of low-end torque, but there remains detectable lag between mashing the gas and the i-Force MAX engine and motor spinning up to max steam. In everyday driving, however, the powertrain\u2019s torque feels muscular, and the switch from a five-speed automatic to the eight-speed is transformative\u2014no more random gear hunting when hitting slight grades on the freeway.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Better Inside, Too<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      The interior benefits from seats with a higher hip point than before (like Toyota\u2019s last-generation Tacoma pickup, the old 4Runner\u2019s seating position was low to the floor). This new setup allows for more natural leg positioning. Toyota also groups the 4Runner\u2019s various controls more coherently, with a row of off-roading features (front anti-roll bar disconnect, locking rear differential, and more) located just aft of a dual-function knob for changing drive modes and off-road traction control settings on the center console. Previously, buttons were scattered this way and that all over the 4Runner\u2019s dashboard, overhead console, and center stack. The rear seat is spacious for adults, too, and parents will appreciate the headliner-mounted air vents that make warming or cooling car-seat-bound kiddos a snap.<\/p>\n

      On the downside, as with the mechanically related Land Cruiser, hybridized 4Runners like the Trailhunter suffer from a noticeable cargo area floor intrusion from the battery pack. In both Toyota SUVs, the cargo floor is stepped up a few inches above the lower edge of the liftgate opening, raising the liftover height and eating up 2.2 cubic feet of volume compared to the non-hybrid 4Runner. But there remains plenty of space behind the second-row seats for stuff\u2014a decent 42.6 cubic feet of it. Trailhunter buyers can\u2019t opt for the third-row seat available in the other 4Runners, either.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"002<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      So, About That Price<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      There’s no avoiding the 4Runner Trailhunter\u2019s biggest issue: price. We had similar reservations about the Tacoma\u2019s Trailhunter variant. Both command nearly $70,000\u2014this one cost just over that amount as tested\u2014which is super rich for what’s essentially a mainstream midsize SUV. But the package is well turned out, and the upgrades make the Trailhunter a thorough factory starting point for an overlander build.<\/p>\n

      Whether you appreciate the cohesion of those upgrades being fully integrated and developed by Toyota, rather than cobbled together from individual hop-up parts on a lesser 4Runner at home will determine their worth. But what is clear is that the Trailhunter\u2019s capability comes with far less compromise for commuters than before. And yes, you can still roll down the 4Runner\u2019s rear window\u2014that hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"014<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Addendum: It’s a Beast Off-Road<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      If we\u2019re being honest, the natural habitat of any new vehicle, no matter how rugged, is a landscape of paved roads and parking lots. But what\u2019s a Trailhunter story without at least a few pictures in the dirt? That was my motivation for booking Michigan\u2019s Holly Oaks Off-Road Park, but the moment I drove through the entrance gate, my lizard brain took over. Can it climb that? Is it any good in the sand? If we\u2019re here, we have to jump it, right? <\/em>Answers: Yes, yes, and hell yes.<\/p>\n

      Holly Oaks isn\u2019t your average off-road playground. Its proximity to Detroit-based automakers and suppliers has made it a de facto proving ground for the industry\u2019s most capable rigs. It also helps that the county-operated park has access to a road commission\u2019s worth of earth-moving equipment, so the park looks slightly different every time you show up. From deep sand to mud pits to boulder scrambles, the variety of terrain here is more than you\u2019ll find in any 100 miles of overlanding.<\/p>\n

      Take Mt. Magna, a lump of concrete that mimics Moab\u2019s infamous (and not-so-slippery) slick rock. The steep climb peppered with deep chuckholes is the perfect test of the 4Runner\u2019s articulation, clearance, and traction. Moving from easier to hard lines across the face of the \u201crock,\u201d the 4Runner never flinched.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"010<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      The most striking revelation, though, was just how quickly I could rip around on the rough and rutted transit roads between features. Those Old Man Emu shocks soak up bumps and jolts with a doughy goodness that also cushioned a 40-mph jump with impeccable grace.<\/p>\n

      Replacing the Toyo Open Country A\/T III footwear will be an easy and obvious upgrade for anyone with specialized needs or discerning tastes, but they far exceeded my expectations, especially since days earlier I had shaved down the shoulders of the tread blocks on our asphalt figure-eight circuit. They had no problem finding purchase in thick mud and loose sand even in two-wheel drive.<\/p>\n

      Complaints? The forward-facing cameras are too grainy and washed out to make out the highlights and shadows that reveal the terrain right in front of your tires. There\u2019s also a whiff of throttle lag at low speeds that an electric motor probably should have solved. For a lot of off-roaders, the build process is part of the fun, but if you\u2019re looking for a turnkey, Swiss army knife solution that works in pretty much any environment, the 4Runner Trailhunter is a hugely capable rig that can get you out on any type of trail as quick as you can sign a purchase agreement.\u2014Eric Tingwall<\/em><\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n
      [data-ids=CardContent]_[data-card-title]]:underline flex-col gap-2″><\/p>\n
      \n
      \"022<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Pros Looks badass Extremely comfortable off-road Muscular powertrain Cons Breathy fart intake noise Trucky on-road behavior Cargo floor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[152],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-first-tests"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}