For the last few decades, automakers have been trying to solve a complex riddle. It’s like something you might ask ChatGPT and get a vague answer that is not at all helpful: How do you increase the power on a vehicle and make sure there is enough torque while at the same time saving fuel? The eternal debate on that question was at least partly solved on the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter, which has a unique hybrid drivetrain that provides power and saves fuel at the same time. That said, we still have a long way to go in solving the riddle.
Electric cars would seemingly be the ultimate answer, but drivers have balked. I feel their pain. Whenever I test an EV, I always cringe a little at how much babysitting I will have to do, planning out my stops so I can recharge since there are precious few charging stations.
The answer for now seems to be a hybrid drivetrain. On the 4Runner, there’s a turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor. This setup provides an impressive 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, along with a fancy turbo indicator in the dash called i-FORCE. The name is an obvious nod to the iPhone and the iPad whenever anyone uses the “i” nomenclature, but it’s not exactly a tech feature like CarPlay or lane-keeping. It shows you the level of turbo boost to make sure you can merge into traffic or climb up a steep embankment on your way to a camping site.
I really liked how it all worked, but I do have one quick gripe — it’s loud. The i-FORCE indicator climbs higher the more you stomp on the accelerator, and the more you stomp, the louder it gets. The turbo reminds me of a supercharger in a Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
As you may know, a supercharger uses the engine belt for added boost as opposed to a turbo using the exhaust. However you describe it, the 4Runner is a bit loud, and it’s something I feel Toyota might want to tweak in a future model.
At any rate, it’s a fantastic way to drive up the fuel economy to around 26 MPG. The 4Runner comes in a gas-only model and a hybrid, but the way the turbo works is obviously a big innovation here according to my testing. This vehicle just surges like there’s no tomorrow, and I had no problem passing other vehicles on a two-lane country highway. There’s a quick throttle response as well, and the 4Runner makes an impression due to the rugged look, too. I loved driving it because there was absolutely no problem merging into traffic.
What it means is that Toyota was able to boost two things at once — efficiency and power. Previous V6 models solved the power dilemma but had to sacrifice fuel economy. When you consider you can use the 4Runner to pull a boat or a camper quite easily and yet still have the MPG rating of vehicles that have historically not been very good at that, the 4Runner is a big win. If I were in the market for a boat-hauler that could also work for my commute, I’d consider the 4Runner in a second. As it is, my commute is a flight of stairs.
Even then, I’d consider the 4Runner Trailhunter as a wise choice for hunters, campers, and boaters even if you have a second vehicle for daily driving. It’s a massively fun, well-designed, and beefy machine that I was sad to hand back after my testing period.