Toyota 4Runner review for Colorado buyers

The 4Runner for Colorado buyers

Fifth gen or the 2025 redesign: which one fits you

The fifth-gen 4Runner ran from 2010 through 2024 with almost no mechanical change. Every one has the same 270-hp 4.0L V6 and five-speed automatic. That's the appeal for a lot of buyers: it's a known quantity, parts and know-how are everywhere, and the aftermarket for lifts, armor and racks is huge. The tradeoff is fuel economy. EPA rates 4WD versions at 17 mpg combined in the later years and 18 mpg on mid-2010s trucks.

The sixth generation arrived for 2025 with a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder (278 hp, 317 lb-ft) and an optional i-FORCE MAX hybrid version of it making 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. Both use an eight-speed automatic. EPA numbers jump to 21 mpg combined for the gas 4WD and 23 mpg for the hybrid, and Toyota raised max towing to 6,000 lb.

Our honest take as brokers: if you want the simplest, most proven 4Runner and you don't drive huge miles, a clean 2014-2024 truck is a strong buy. If you tow, live up high, or put a lot of highway miles on, the redesign's torque and efficiency start to earn their keep. Either way, the right trim and 4WD system matter more than the model year, so it helps to have someone hunting for the exact 4Runner you want.

Part-time vs full-time 4WD, and why Colorado buyers should care

This is the 4Runner detail that trips up the most shoppers. On the fifth gen, SR5, TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro 4WD models use part-time 4WD: you drive in rear-wheel drive and shift into 4HI or 4LO when you need it. Part-time 4WD isn't meant to stay engaged on dry pavement. The Limited was the exception, with full-time 4WD and a locking Torsen center differential, so it can run in 4WD on mixed snow and dry road without you thinking about it.

For 2025 and later, Toyota kept part-time 4WD on most trims and offers full-time 4WD with an electronic locking center differential on the Limited and Platinum. If your winter driving is Denver to Summit County with patchy snow and dry stretches, the full-time setup is easier to live with. If you mostly want low range for trail days and you're fine shifting into 4HI when the road turns white, part-time is simpler and works well.

Don't go by the trim name alone. Check the window sticker or the transfer case controls on the actual truck, because a Limited badge on a used 4Runner doesn't tell you its 4WD hardware with certainty, and 2WD versions exist in several trims.

Winter, I-70 and the traction law

4WD helps you get moving and keeps you from getting stuck, but it doesn't help you stop or turn. That matters because Colorado's traction law, enforced on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison from September 1 to May 31, is about tires: you need at least 3/16 inch of tread on tires rated all-weather, M+S or winter, or you need chains or an approved traction device. CDOT recommends AWD or 4WD in the mountains, but 4WD alone doesn't satisfy the law.

So when you look at a used 4Runner, look hard at the tires. A lot of these trucks wear aggressive all-terrains, and some of those carry the mountain-snowflake symbol and some don't. Worn mud-terrains look tough and can be poor on packed snow and ice. Our guide to buying a used car for Colorado winters covers tread checks in more detail.

On the highway itself, the fifth gen feels like what it is: a tall, body-on-frame SUV with a five-speed. It's stable, but crosswinds on open stretches and long climbs to the tunnel make it work. The 2025 turbo engines have far more torque low in the rev range, which is what you want for passing and climbing at speed.

Trails, ground clearance and the TRD trims

This is where the 4Runner earns its reputation. Toyota lists 9.6 inches of ground clearance for 4WD fifth-gen models, and the part-time 4WD trims all have a two-speed transfer case with low range. TRD Off-Road models add trail-focused hardware, and the TRD Pro sits at the top of the off-road range. For the 2025 redesign, the TRD Pro and the new overland-focused Trailhunter both come only with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid, and the Trailhunter gets Old Man Emu shocks, a high-mount air intake and 33-inch tires from the factory.

For typical Colorado use, meaning forest service roads, rutted trailhead approaches and moderate 4x4 roads, a stock 4WD SR5 on good tires does more than most owners will ask of it. The TRD trims make sense if you're doing rocky, technical routes, or you want factory hardware you'd otherwise add later.

If you're comparing body-on-frame options, the Toyota Tacoma shares a lot of the same thinking in pickup form, and the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco go further on trail hardware at the cost of comfort and enclosed cargo space.

Towing and the altitude question

Toyota rates every fifth-gen 4Runner at 5,000 lb with a 500-lb max tongue weight. The 2025 redesign is rated up to 6,000 lb, properly equipped, and Toyota ties that figure to the stronger frame and i-FORCE MAX powertrain. Check the specific truck's rating before you buy, since equipment matters.

Altitude is the part flatland reviews skip. As a general rule, a naturally aspirated engine like the fifth-gen 4.0L V6 loses roughly 3 percent of its power for every 1,000 feet of elevation, according to turbocharger maker Garrett Motion. Turbocharged engines like the 2025 4Runner's make up much of that loss. If you're pulling a camper over Vail or Monarch Pass, that difference is real.

A 5,000-lb rating works for small teardrops, utility trailers and light pop-ups. For anything heavier, or long grades loaded with family and gear, read our notes on towing a camper in the mountains and consider a full-size truck.

What to check on a used 4Runner

Run the VIN for open recalls first. On 2010-2016 trucks, confirm the Takata passenger air bag inflator work was done. Certain 2018-2019 models are part of Toyota's low-pressure fuel pump recall. Many 4Runners sold through regional distributors also had dealer-installed accessories that were later recalled, from hood scoops to exhaust tips to wheel packages.

Then look underneath. Trail rash on skid plates is normal on a truck that's been used as intended, but bent components, fresh welds or heavy rust from plowed-road salt deserve a closer look. Ask what modifications were made, since lifts and big tires change how a 4Runner rides, stops and handles in snow.

Hail is the other Colorado-specific issue. 4Runners have big, flat roofs and hoods, so check for dents in angled light and ask about any insurance claim history. Our article on hail damage and used cars explains what to look for and how it affects value.