Toyota 4runner Sr5 Generations
By the Editorial Staff
March 16, 2026
The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota and marketed globally since 1984, across six generations. In Japan, it was marketed as the Toyota Hilux Surf (Japanese: トヨタ・ハイラックスサーフ, Hepburn: Toyota Hairakkususāfu) and was withdrawn from the market in 2009. The original 4Runner was a compact SUV and little more than a Toyota Hilux pickup.
The Toyota 4Runner has been with us for four decades and across five generations. Here's what changed in that time. What's more, all the 4Runner's standard grades (SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and Limited) have a turbocharged 2.4.
Now in its sixth generation, the rough and ready 4Runner dates back to 1984. Toyota introduced the sixth generation of the 4Runner in the spring of 2024, ending the 15-year-long career of its predecessor, and the new model was a revolution in the model's history. In this guide, we'll go through the Toyota 4Runner Configurations, detailed trims, year-by-year evolution, specs, and which trim to pick.
Research the used Toyota 4Runner with CarMax to check out reliability ratings, highlights from each generation, and key changes per year. The 4Runner is all-new for 2025, and its predecessors are why the new one is so eagerly anticipated. Here is a complete history of the Toyota 4Runner.
The 4Runner was now available in a range of trim levels, including the SR5 and Limited models. Fourth Generation (2002-2009) The fourth generation Toyota 4Runner, or N210 series, was introduced in 2002. It featured a more aggressive design, with a bold front grille and a larger rear spoiler.
The best 2025 Toyota 4Runner trim to buy may be the base SR5 grade which offers a 4x4 model under $50,000.