Calling the redesigned Toyota 4Runner overdue hardly captures it. After nearly two decades of minimal evolution and countless special editions, Toyota has finally delivered a new generation. The result is still unmistakably a proper 4Runner, yet the celebration comes with a significant caveat as this once-straightforward, rugged SUV now arrives with a price tag that is difficult to ignore.

New vehicles are expensive, of course, and the 2026 4Runner wastes no time reminding you of that reality. Modern SUVs are expected to carry advanced safety systems, larger screens, comfort features, and enough electronic assistance to make a mountain goat feel underqualified, so a higher entry point was inevitable. Even so, the base SR5 4×2 starts at $43,665, which is a meaningful psychological leap. Roughly 12 years ago, a fully loaded Limited 4×4 sat only a few hundred dollars below that figure. Toyota now offers 12 trims, evenly divided between the standard turbocharged engine and the stronger hybrid setup, giving buyers more choice while also moving the 4Runner into decidedly premium territory.

For this review, Toyota provided the TRD Off-Road Premium, a trim that sits just above the standard TRD Off-Road and starts at $57,865. It is positioned as a more mainstream  attainable model, though “attainable” is doing some admirable stretching here. While both Off-Road trims can be paired with the more powerful hybrid system, this test vehicle used the standard 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, rated at 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission, a welcome improvement over the previous model’s archaic gearbox.

Performance is adequate rather than inspiring, which is familiar 4Runner territory. The previous V6 often felt burdened by the SUV’s considerable weight, and despite losing two cylinders and adding a turbo, the new turbo-four does not entirely escape the same accusation. Around town, the engine is responsive enough, and highway merging does not require advance notice to nearby municipalities. The eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly and helps keep the power delivery predictable. Still, with the 4Runner weighing just over 6,200 pounds, the standard engine can feel strained when asked for urgency. Load it with passengers, cargo, and a 6,000-pound trailer, and one suspects patience and high revs may become part of the recommended equipment list.

Where the TRD Off-Road Premium regains its footing is in capability. It retains a traditional part-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case, along with Multi-Terrain Select modes for surfaces such as mud, dirt, and sand. Toyota also includes its latest CRAWL Control system, A-TRAC, and an automatic limited-slip differential, all of which reinforce the 4Runner’s more serious off-road intentions. The Premium model adds a Multi-Terrain Monitor with a useful 360-degree camera view.

Inside the 4Runner, the nearly $60,000 asking price becomes harder to negotiate emotionally. The TRD Off-Road Premium is not intended to match the richer appointments of higher trims such as the Platinum, but the amount of poverty buttons and hard plastic throughout the cabin still feels underwhelming at this price. Durability may be the explanation, and in fairness, the cabin does feel ready for mud, dogs and other lifestyle accessories. The SofTex-trimmed seats look upscale enough and provide good comfort, while the front seats are power adjustable, heated, ventilated, and complemented by driver memory settings. The rear seat is less impressive, with a high seating position, tighter-than-expected legroom, and no available heated seats on this trim.

Ultimately, Toyota got the important part right; the new 4Runner still looks and feels like a 4Runner. Its squared-off proportions, chiseled front end, and purposeful stance give it genuine presence even without the more theatrical Trailhunter or TRD Pro upgrades. More importantly, it remains one of the few true SUVs left, pairing body-on-frame construction with a proper four-wheel-drive system and real trail capability in a market increasingly populated by soft crossovers wearing Uggs for a weekend getaway. The price is difficult to overlook, and the standard engine has its limits, but for buyers who value old-school toughness and legitimate off-road credibility, the 2026 Toyota 4Runner still makes a convincing argument for itself.