Do 4Runner Fans Want a Next-Gen 2023 Toyota 4Runner Hybrid? The People Weigh In

Great article Jeff. Thanks for posting

Give it the. Rav 4 prime's phev system and thos HYBRID naysayers will quickly shush up. They should offer that more ofted as an opt.powertrain upgrade.

I CANNOT wait for a Hybrid 4Runner! Could not justify the 4Runner gas consumption and am leasing a 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid for now until they come out with the Hybrid 4Runner! The future is bright!

We would purchase a hybrid 4Runner in a heartbeat provided it retains some off road feature like locking rear diff. Otherwise, just modernize the transmission and improve gas mileage and we’ll purchase it. Either way, we’re looking for an improved 4Runner to replace our Jeep Wrangler JKU as we need more hauling space for outdoor gear and IFS for better handling on long road trips. Hurry up Toyota! Bring back a nice blue color for 2023, too!

I am SO torn as to whether I should grab a new Hybrid Highlander Plat, or wait for the hybrid 4runner. But I really want a 4runner like the one I grew up learning to drive on, and my dad still has, but hybrid!

PLEASE make the next 4runner come in a leaner body like the 4th generation with Phev. I’m a loyal Toyota and 4runner owner. It’s very discouraging to see other vehicle companies come out with more sustainable options for sport utility vehicles. I’ve been waiting many years for the 4runner to become leaner. It was originally a “compact Sport utility vehicle.” Compact as in the body wasn’t so thick like it I had been. It’s such a clunky ride in the 5th gen. If customers want a bigger Toyota SUV they can get a Sequoia. Modernizing the fourth generation body to include phev 100+ electric miles, would be a dream come true! I’d buy at least one in the highest trim and tell everyone I know to do the same.

if toyota 4runner 4.0L 2023 is Hybrid it,s very Good in city block & Slow Traffic

If it’s hybrid, the 4 runner will most likely be an AWD car and not 4x4. So it will be a Highlander with a 4 runner body, which makes no sense.
But makers of the car will know looks are more important than drive Tran to the buyer. Even the guy who really wants a 4 runner will give up Highlander comfort and thousands more for a 4Runner body with same AWD system. They ll still have a 4*4 but not hybrid for 2023

The 4Runner I say is likely to receive a hybrid. I say this because the Fortuner, a distant sibling to the 4Runner and a Hilux-based SUV will also receive a hybrid. It could be a diesel hybrid, gas hybrid, or even Toyota might offer it with both. And don't worry, it'll still be a 4x4.

I would love a plug in hybrid 4Runner, it's the mileage that prevents me from daily driving one. I'm going to be looking at the Bronco PIHV when it comes out. Toyota could have had a winner against Jeep with a removable top FJ Cruiser, they screwed that up. They should have done what Ford is doing now. I feel like everything with a gas engine will need to be hybrid plug in at this point.

I do think the 4 Runner would welcome a hybrid option soon. I do not see a serious makeover with the vehicle for 2022, but I have to assume it will be 2023. About 4 years ago I heard of a diesel option for a powertrain but I am not sure how strong that rumor is. A hybrid or if they want to be real ambitious a PHEV would make a lot of sense with government regulations wanting to phase out petrol engines by 2030 at the earliest.

I have a 2018 Toyota 4Runner TRD off road edition and overall I really like it. Sure there are a few flaws with that year as it was the second year of the TRD off road level. The 4Runner needs a 6 cylinder that can put out the minimum of 300 hp. If it wants to continue with an automatic transmission a 5 speed is outdated and could at least a 7 speed. It could stand to be more efficient for fuel mileage as you are pushing 560 km on a full tank. Notice the KM as I live in Canada. The tire monitoring system is a guessing game in winter as with colder weather can result to lower pressure on tires. A tire indicator comes on in my 2018 model what will not label which tire it is. I could live without the pressure amount but not without the specific tire. I believe the more current versions have blind spot monitoring which is a nice safety feature to have and so many vehicles have it now.

What I do like about the 4Runner is you know what type of vehicle it is. Sure it may be a dinosaur in many ways, but it has a lot of charm. It still looks and feels like an SUV as I get tired with so many cookie cutter CUV's on the market. It is quite easy to operate as within a few days you know the overall daily habits of it. The 4X4 is a bit complex but if you have time to read the colossal manual it is a great system. Whether it is for aggressive trails or a serious snow storm, this vehicle is apocalypse lite. Only reason it is lite would be not being set up like a vehicle from Mad Max! My dog loves riding in this vehicle just for the viewing ability where he sits at also!

Another thing is the 4 Runners like mine have held their value extremely well. They barely depreciate and if a driver can put only 15K to 20K per year with regular service they almost sell nearly the same value as they were MSRP in 2018! I guess it is because they are unicorns on the sales lot and they only last for a few days if not a day. Finally I think a huge reason why 4 Runner needs to look at new powertrain options is the arrival of the Ford Bronco. I know the traditional SUV with good 4 wheel drive capability are dwindling for options, Ford has to make the competitors plan out thoroughly for the next generation model such as the Toyota 4Runner.

As long as it holds out, the performance I've heard about so far from the Rav4 Prime, is pretty great. With a few tweaks and lessons from their current models, I would buy a 4Runner Prime in a heartbeat. Those whining about power need to update their knowledge. As long as it's well-engineered, a hybrid or PHEV will have all the power you need.

In 2007 my intention was to purchase a hylander,they had redesigned to look like a family van,instead of a scaled down 4 runner with sport look good gas mi. The hylander set on cambray chassis for smooth ride.so I ditched that idea. So I opted for 4 runner 4wd sr5. The car I was driving made in USA Chevy blazer 1998,10 yr old I had replaced window motor and alternator and now the head liner was drooping.so the 4 runner was my first Japanese made car. The thing about 4 runner style is it is set apart.when u see it ,u know it’s a 4 runner. Most cars and trucks look a like copy cats. My 4 runner is dependable ,I feel safe in it.I love the cargo space.I don’t get a lot of bells and whistles on my cars because they are designed to fail. My 4 runner is 15 yrs old and just as good as the day I drove it off the lot. I’ve been looking for a new car only to give my 4 runner to my son with 129,000 mi on it ,it’s still new.I’m sure I will get a 4 runner.there isn’t anything out there that has what I want.

I've owned 4Runners for over 40 years and currently own two of them (one is kept at a second home). I want to purchase a new 4Runner now to replace my oldest one, but I won't buy another ICE vehicle. I'm forced to look to other medium size SUV manufacturers that make a hybrid model. It's too bad, but clearly, the future is electric and, in my opinion, at some point it's going to be hard to sell used ICE vehicles with the EV rebate program that is surely coming our way.

Toyota should offer both the hybrid and gas engines. This will satisfy the people who don't want the hybrid engine and offer a more efficient vehicle to everyone else.