Toyota 4Runner
Toyota 4Runner is Toyota's body-on-frame midsize SUV, sold in the US since 1984 and known in Japan as the Hilux Surf. It started life as a Hilux pickup with a fiberglass top, and six generations later it's still a real truck-based off-roader, now with a turbo four or a hybrid instead of a V6. Pick your year below to jump to the full guide, or read on for the history and which generation suits you.
Toyota 4Runner at a Glance
US launch 1984 Went on sale in May 1984
Generations 6 N60 to today's N500
Japan name Hilux Surf Same truck, different badge
2026 price From $41,570 US MSRP, SR5 4×2
Best US year 144,696 sold In 2021
Only V8 2003–2009 Fourth generation's 4.7-liter
Toyota 4Runner Generations
Years shown are US model years. The first 4Runners went on sale midway through 1984. Pick a card to open its full guide as each one goes live.
1984–1989
First generation (N60)
N606 model years
A Hilux pickup with a removable fiberglass top and two doors, with four-cylinder, turbo-four and, later, V6 power.
Guide coming soon
1990–1995
Second generation (N120/N130)
N1206 model years
The first four-door 4Runner, with rear coil springs and a steel body. The two-door was dropped in the US after 1992.
Guide coming soon
1996–2002
Third generation (N180)
N1807 model years
Coil springs all around, a 183-hp 3.4-liter V6 and a factory rear locker made it a trail favorite.
Guide coming soon
2003–2009
Fourth generation (N210)
N2107 model years
Built on the Land Cruiser Prado platform, with a 4.0 V6 or the only V8 a 4Runner ever got.
Guide coming soon
2010–2024
Fifth generation (N280)
N28015 model years
A 15-year run with the 270-hp 4.0 V6, plus the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro and the 40th Anniversary edition.
Guide coming soon
2025–present
Sixth generation (N500)
N5002 model years
The current truck on the TNGA-F platform, with a 278-hp turbo four or a 326-hp hybrid, plus the Trailhunter.
Read the N500 guide →
Toyota 4Runner History
The 4Runner went from a pickup with a fiberglass shell to one of the best-selling body-on-frame SUVs in America. Here are the moments that shaped it.
- 1984 The 4Runner goes on sale in the US in May 1984, a two-door Hilux with a removable top. In Japan, it's the Hilux Surf.
- 1986 Independent front suspension replaces the solid front axle, and a 22R-TE turbo four joins the lineup.
- 1990 The second generation brings the first four-door 4Runner. Then in 1992, the US two-door is dropped.
- 1996 The third generation arrives with coil springs at every corner and a 3.4-liter V6. In 1997, US sales hit 128,496.
- 2003 The fourth generation moves to the Land Cruiser Prado platform and offers a 4.7-liter V8 for the first and only time.
- 2009 The fifth generation is revealed at the State Fair of Texas on September 24, as a 2010 model with the 4.0 V6.
- 2015 After a 2014 facelift, the first TRD Pro arrives. In 2017, the Trail trim becomes the TRD Off-Road.
- 2021 US sales reach a record 144,696, late in the fifth generation's life.
- 2023 The 40th Anniversary Special Edition is limited to 4,040 trucks.
- 2024 Toyota reveals the sixth-generation 4Runner on April 9, with a turbo four, an i-FORCE MAX hybrid and the new Trailhunter.
- 2026 The 2026 model starts at $41,570. In July 2026, reports say the 2027 TRD Pro gets a new Hot Honey yellow paint, while the rest carries over.
Which 4Runner Generation Is Right for You?
Every 4Runner is a proper body-on-frame SUV, so the choice comes down to budget, power and how old a truck you'll live with. Here's how the six generations line up.
| Generation | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| First generation (N60) | 1984–1989 | Collectors and two-door fans; expect an old truck |
| Second generation (N120/N130) | 1990–1995 | A cheap, simple four-door project |
| Third generation (N180) | 1996–2002 | Budget trail builds with the 3.4 V6 |
| Fourth generation (N210) | 2003–2009 | The only V8; good tow-and-trail value |
| Fifth generation (N280) | 2010–2024 | Proven V6 and huge aftermarket |
| Sixth generation (N500) | 2025–present | More power, modern tech and safety; hybrid option |
Our take: a late fifth-generation truck is the safe choice if you want the old-school V6 and endless parts, while the sixth generation is the one to get if you want more power, better safety tech and the hybrid.
4Runner Owners Community
4Runner owners swap notes on trail builds, overlanding setups, towing and keeping high-mileage trucks running. Share your rig, ask questions and trade tips.
- Sixth-gen i-FORCE vs i-FORCE MAX
- Fifth-gen 4.0 V6 maintenance
- Lift kits, tires and armor
- Overlanding and roof racks
- TRD Pro vs Trailhunter
- Third-gen and fourth-gen V8 builds
- Towing and real-world mpg
- Recall and service experiences
Toyota 4Runner FAQ
What are the 4Runner generations by year?
In the US: first generation 1984–1989, second 1990–1995, third 1996–2002, fourth 2003–2009, fifth 2010–2024 and sixth from 2025 to today.
Does the new 4Runner have a V6?
No. The sixth-generation 4Runner uses a 278-hp 2.4-liter turbo four or the 326-hp i-FORCE MAX hybrid. The fifth generation, through 2024, was the last with the 4.0-liter V6.
Which 4Runner has a V8?
Only the fourth generation (2003–2009). Its 4.7-liter V8 made 235 hp at first, then 268 hp from 2005.
What's the best 4Runner generation?
It depends on what you want. The fifth generation has the most proven V6 and the biggest aftermarket, while the sixth generation is far stronger and has much better safety tech.
Is the 4Runner sold in Australia?
No. Toyota Australia doesn't sell the sixth-generation 4Runner and points buyers to the Land Cruiser Prado and Fortuner instead.
What's new for the 2027 4Runner?
As of November 2026, the only reported change is a new Hot Honey yellow paint for the TRD Pro. Toyota hadn't released full 2027 details, so expect a mostly carryover truck.
Keep Exploring
See the rest of Toyota's lineup, or compare the 4Runner with its closest relatives in the Toyota truck family.
Photo credits
- Header image: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Blue 2025 Toyota 4Runner SR5, sixth generation: HJUdall, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Silver 2017 Toyota 4Runner, fifth generation (N280): Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner (N210): OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Rear view of a silver 1996 Toyota…: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.