For some drivers, off-roading is something to be avoided at all costs. While we certainly understand the preference for paved surfaces, there’s also a lot of fun to be had by leaving the asphalt behind. Off-road vehicles have become an increasingly popular corner of the automotive market in recent years, with more and more brands introducing new vehicles and trims designed to shine when the going gets rough. However, Toyota has long been a leader in this segment, with models like the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, not to mention the Tacoma pickup.
Now, the Japanese automaker is rolling out the next generation for all three models, which means the selection at your local Toyota dealer is about to get better than ever. The Tacoma’s fourth generation brings some intriguing changes for the best-selling midsize pickup, including a new Trailhunter trim that’s basically a readymade overlanding rig. The fifth-gen 4Runner is also ending its long run to make way for a new sixth-gen model, but it’s the resurrection of the Land Cruiser that has us the most excited. Absent from the scene since 2021, this SUV made its triumphant return with an all-new 2024 model. We’ll kick the tires of each model to see what Toyota has been up to and try to determine if the brand’s off-road approach is still as solid as ever.
The 2024 Tacoma
The Tacoma has always been a solid off-road contender, but Toyota is doubling down on the pickup’s all-terrain resume as it enters its fourth generation. While some automakers are prone to introducing “fully redesigned” models that feature little more than surface-level changes, Toyota has overhauled the Tacoma down to its very bones. In this case, those bones would be the Tacoma’s new TNGA-F platform. Built around a high-strength boxed steel ladder frame, the TNGA-F platform is shared with Toyota’s other off-road all-stars in the Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser. The new frame goes a long way toward increasing Tacoma’s overall rigidity, which is an important factor for any aspiring off-road model. A rigid frame allows the Tacoma to resist the intense twisting forces that can come with heavy-duty use, but it’s far from the only off-road upgrade you’ll find on the 2024 Tacoma.
The increased use of aluminum components allows the Tacoma to shed a few pounds to create a more nimble and comfortable off-road ride, while available multi-link coil springs for the rear suspension replace the outdated leaf springs found on previous models. The main advantage of a coil-spring suspension comes down to axle articulation. This improved range of movement is ideal for off-road applications, allowing each tire to make solid contact with the road and ensure consistent traction. Coil springs also tend to be lighter than their leafy counterparts and offer greater comfort and handling when it comes to both on and off-road driving. Making the switch from leaf to coil springs is not a cheap adjustment, which proves just how committed Toyota is to creating the most capable Tacoma to date.
Toyota didn’t neglect the goods under the hood when designing the fourth-gen Tacoma. Drivers can choose between two powertrains: the standard turbocharged i-FORCE 2.4-liter engine produces up to 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, while an available i-FORCE MAX version leverages hybrid technology to deliver 326 hp and a class-leading 465 lb-ft of torque. The 2024 model also features a full suite of off-road goodies like skid plates, high-mount headlights, and a stabilizer disconnect. Available accessories like roof rack rails, high-lift jacks, rooftop tents, and a camp fridge cleverly designed to fit under the available tonneau cover allow drivers to turn their Tacoma into a full-on adventure rig.
The 2024 Tacoma might be entirely new, but it relies on a proven formula that’s brought the midsize model so much success over the decades. “We looked at our truck DNA and the Toyota Baja race trucks for inspiration to capture the extreme spirit of off-road adventure,” says Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota’s CALTY Design Research Center. “High lift, big tires, slim body, and a powerful athletic stance define the iconic Tacoma look, referred to as Tacoma-ness.”
No roundup for the 2024 Tacoma would be complete without a mention of the pickup’s four off-road focused trims. It all starts with the TRD PreRunner, an economical off-road option inspired by the speedy trucks used to test off-road race courses. Outfitted with an XtraCab and an electronically locking rear differential, the PreRunner allows drivers to get a taste of the off-road lifestyle without breaking the bank. The TRD Off-Road trim is where the Tacoma gets the chance to start showing off its off-road chops, adding all the equipment found on the PreRunner as well as monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shocks, an available front stabilizer bar disconnect system, and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select feature with a Crawl Control function that’s perfect for low-speed applications.
New for 2024, the Tacoma Trailhunter is the production version of the Trailhunter concept that was first unveiled in 2022. Catering to the off-road niche known as overlanding, the Trailhunter is a readymade trail companion that excels in off-road antics. The truck features the new coil springs, the torquey i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine, rock rails, and an exclusive grille with an integrated 20-inch light bar. Still, it’s Toyota’s collaboration with the off-road experts at ARB that really sets the Trailhunter apart. Crafted in the birthplace of overlanding, Australia’s ARB lends the Tacoma its Old Man Emu suspension to prepare the Trailhunter for whatever you might throw at it. The range-topping Tacoma comes in the form of the TRD Pro, a well-rounded off-road pickup that includes a TRD performance air intake, cat-back dual-tip exhaust, TRD upper control arms, black flow-formed TRD wheels wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires, and an aluminum TRD front skid plate.
The 2024 Land Cruiser
Three years might not seem like much time in the grand scheme of things, but it can feel like an eternity when you’re waiting for the return of one of the industry’s most exciting off-road SUVs. The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser is a little different than you might remember, with Toyota shrinking the former full-size model down to a midsize SUV to compete with some of the segment’s heavyweights. Built on the same TNGA-F global truck platform as the Tacoma, the Land Cruiser is hardier than ever thanks to the new high-strength boxed steel ladder frame that allows the SUV to tow up to 6,000 lbs of toys for a weekend of backwoods fun.
Most brands offer an off-road trim that adds a little capability to their SUVs, but Toyota has taken a decidedly different approach with the revived Land Cruiser. All three trims are designed with off-road excellence in mind thanks to a standard four-wheel drive, low-range gearing, a locking center differential, and slick modern features like Multi-Terrain Select with Crawl Control and Hill Descent Control. Multi-Terrain Select can be used in either 4WD High or 4WD Low and is intended to reduce wheel spin when encountering mud, sand, dirt, and other surfaces that might present some traction-related challenges.
The Multi-Terrain Monitor rounds out the Land Cruiser’s arsenal of off-road tech, using an array of cameras to give drivers a detailed view of any obstacles that might be looming just out of sight. If you fail to spot a boulder, log, or particularly nasty stretch of road, have no fear: the Land Cruiser’s generous 31-degree approach, 25-degree breakover, and 22-degree departure angles will allow you to avoid the worst of the damage and contend with steep inclines.
The engine is another highlight of the 2024 model. The all-new Land Cruiser has given Toyota the opportunity to design the SUV from scratch and integrate some of the industry’s best and brightest automotive innovations. The Land Cruiser embraces both forced induction and hybrid technology for 2024, replacing the outgoing naturally aspirated V8 with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that, along with two electric motors, is able to pump out 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque.
While it might not be the first factor drivers consider when seeking out their next off-road vehicle, the new hybrid engine allows the 2024 Land Cruiser to offer some notable fuel economy, especially when compared to the previous generation. The new model offers an EPA-estimated 23 MPG combined, which is a huge improvement over the 2021 version’s 14 MPG combined. The next-gen Land Cruiser’s efficiency will trend a little lower when the SUV is spending a lot of time off-road, but drivers are sure to appreciate the ability to tear up the trail with fewer fill-ups.
Drivers have three trim options when it comes to the 2024 Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser 1958 pays homage to the SUV’s birth year with throwback styling combined with some modern touches like a standard Smart Key System with push button start, Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), and five USB-C ports. The mid-tier Land Cruiser trim adds some modern comfort and convenience features, such as heated and ventilated SofTex power-adjustable front seats, a power liftgate, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 10-speaker sound system, and more. The available Premium Package contributes leather-trimmed seats with lumbar support, a digital rearview mirror, a heads-up display (HUD), a power moonroof, and more, but if you’re seeking the cushiest Land Cruiser, look no further than the First Edition. The range-topping trim adds everything from the Premium Package as well as exclusive 18-inch wheels, First Edition badging, a roof rack, rock rails, and a front skid plate.
Last but not least, the Land Cruiser is now more affordable than ever. The switch to a midsize platform has allowed Toyota to reduce the SUV’s overall production costs, creating savings it is passing onto the customer in the form of an MSRP of just $55,950. “This vehicle retains its legendary capability, and now it offers a significantly lower starting price, tons of creature comforts, and even more maneuverability on the trails,” says Mike Tripp, vice president of Toyota Marketing.
The 2025 4Runner
Spanning 15 years, the fifth-generation run of the Toyota 4Runner was one for the history books. But all good things must come to an end, and while the fifth-gen 4Runner might have gone the way of the dodo, the sixth-gen model packs some noteworthy improvements. From a fully overhauled exterior and a wide range of new safety features to advanced tech, premium cabin materials, and a long list of optional equipment, the new 4Runner should do the badge proud. “Designing the legendary 4Runner began with identifying its unique and memorable aspects linked to fun, outdoor recreation,” says Hunter. “Inspired by Baja desert racing, the high lift, lean body, big tire, rugged athleticism defines the core of 4Runner’s go anywhere purpose”.
If this sounds familiar to the method behind the new 2024 Tacoma, there’s a good reason. The two vehicles were developed side-by-side and share a desert racing-inspired ethos that comes through in their muscular design. The all-new SUV also serves as a sort of retrospective on the 4Runners of yesteryear with some classic design cues reminiscent of the first and second-generation models. The timeless wrap-over quarter glass makes for a bright, airy cabin thanks to a larger window affixed to either side of the rear cargo area, as does the 4Runner’s traditional roll-down rear window.
The 4Runner has always been a standout in the off-road SUV segment, but the 2025 model takes it to a new level thanks to the new TNGA-F platform, not to mention its multi-link coil spring rear and double-wishbone front suspension. The 4Runner features the same engine selection as the Tacoma, giving drivers the opportunity to choose between the 2.4-liter i-FORCE and hybrid i-FORCE MAX engines.
The 4Runner features Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems like Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist, and Automatic High Beams, plus a brand-new feature dubbed Proactive Driving Assist. The system applies the brakes and accelerator as needed to keep a set distance between the 4Runner and any other vehicle on the road and can even subtly apply the brakes as you head into a curve. It might not get a lot of use when you’re engaging in some off-the-grid exploration, but it’ll sure make the drive home a little easier.
The 2025 model is loaded with all the hardy off-road tech drivers have come to expect from the adventurous SUV, including a new stabilizer bar disconnect system that allows for increased suspension articulation at the push of a button. The 4Runner also shares the Land Cruiser’s Multi-Terrain Monitor system, Crawl Control, and Downhill Assist Control. This latter feature is sure to come in handy the next time you’re facing a particularly steep downslope, automatically controlling the 4Runner’s speed to improve overall safety.
Standard on the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter trims, the electronically activated locking rear differential is another piece of advanced off-road tech, letting the 4Runner split its torque 50/50 to each of the rear wheels to help you avoid getting mired in a sticky situation. This feature is complemented by the SUV’s Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and an automatic limited-slip differential on the four-wheel drive models, while the two-wheel drive 4Runner is limited to just the Auto LSD feature.
With nine trims to choose from, it’s never been easier to find a custom 4Runner that meets your unique on and off-road driving needs. The 2025 lineup consists of driver favorites like the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro, as well as a new luxury option in the 4Runner Platinum and the overlanding-centric newcomer that is the Trailhunter. Like the Tacoma, the 4Runner Trailhunter includes a full slate of professional-grade off-road gear like ARB’s Old Man Emu 2.5-inch shocks with external piggyback reservoirs, an exclusive ARB roof rack, and a two-inch lift. Toyota has even designed the 4Runner Trailhunter with a low-profile, high-mount air intake that guarantees the engine will always be treated to fresh oxygen no matter how dusty (or wet) the trail might get. Customizable Rigid LED fog lamps come in a range of eye-catching colors, and a 20-inch LED light bar will allow you to keep tearing up the trail even as the sun goes down.
A Testament to Innovation
Toyota is known for its lineup of reliable and efficient cars, trucks, and SUVs, but there’s no denying the automaker’s impact on the off-road market. Models like the Tacoma, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser have left an indelible mark on the segment while providing drivers with decades of off-road fun. Toyota has certainly put some effort into modernizing its fleet as of late, and the all-new Tacoma, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser stand as a testament to the brand’s commitment to innovation. From a robust new lineup of i-FORCE engines––including a hybrid model that delivers best-in-class torque––to interior comfort, convenience, and safety tech, sturdy off-road equipment, and some off-road advancements that’ll have you actively seeking out the messiest path possible, Toyota continues to advance its off-road offerings with the latest features. Only time will tell if these new models will become as beloved as their predecessors, but with Toyota’s track record, it’s hard to see any other outcome.
