2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road review: Ready and Rough

Mitchell Weitzman
26 minutes ago
5 min read

It's outrageously good off-road, but too rough for the streets

Everest 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road in Everest paint in a field at sunset

2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road review by The Road Beat

Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman

I initially was not big on the looks of the latest 4Runner, a vehicle that replaced a time capsule that dated back to when Tom Brady only had a single Super Bowl victory, but I've got to say, the looks are growing on me. Could this be a future classic in the visual department? Only time will tell. And they better tell, as the looks and overall vibe of the 4Runner have long been a selling point of the popular SUV.

Features and tech finally worthy of the decade are nice, but even if this TRD Off-Road model can excel in its namesake habitat, it's unfortunately too coarse in the real world.

Picks

As said above, the 4Runner looks ace in TRD Off-Road trim. Some look even better once you remove the ridiculous front air dam in exchange for a proper skid plate, but even then, in the glimmering Everest paint, this rig looks proper out in the wild. Boasting a purposeful stance with its wide haunches and a big, square jaw, it's a good-looking piece of kit that has aged already remarkably well in just the two years since its release.

Turbocharging is now the standard engine for 4Runners, displacing 2.4 liters and churning out 278 easy horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque on command. Paired with the eight-speed automatic, progress is effortless in normal driving, with plenty of juice to accelerate hastily and pass. The horsepower figure might be the same as the old model on paper, but it's wildly faster in the real world and doesn't struggle to maintain speed on highway ascents like its elder.

Fuel mileage has also marginally improved, and while there's a hybrid option available called i-FORCE MAX, this is the better unit for me since it saves a substantial amount of weight and is actually quicker despite giving up only about one mpg in real-world efficiency. 20 MPG is not great for a four-cylinder SUV, but it's at least a step ahead of the old V6 with improved acceleration to boot.

Everest 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-road on a trail during sunset

Driving manners are highly refined on highways, with steering that is literally pinpoint compared with old Toyota SUVs. Instead of constant corrections, you just aim and go. I miss the feedback through the wheel of past 4Runners, but it's a thoroughly modern driving car and even reasonably quiet at speed.

Backroads can be hustled and charged through way quicker than any 4Runner has a right to, with enough lateral grip and composure for any modern SUV.

Other positives include the easy infotainment system with physical controls for climate and volume. I also like the tailgate window that slides down neatly, a classic 4Runner trait.

2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium interior photo and review | The Road Beat

But the real highlight is what the 4Runner can do when you leave the mall crawling and venture into the bush. There aren't many other vehicles with as much capability or potential when off-roading as a 4Runner. The main limit becomes ground clearance, not helped at all by that same dumb plastic air dam that just scoops up the earth.

Articulation of the suspension is great to keep you in contact with the ground, and what looks like large ruts in front of you just disappear as the 4Runner seemingly glides over. During the brief dirt driving I tackled, I never even utilized any of the advanced traction modes let alone four-wheel drive, instead choosing to use 2WD with traction control off for some added rally fun and playfulness. And even then, it's beautifully balanced, with plenty of grip and traction.

Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium in Everest exterior front three quarter on an off-road trail during sunset golden hour

It was so good on this mild little adventure down '8 mile' from Latrobe to Rancho Murrietta that I reckon you'd need to cross the Dead Marshes outside Mordor before I'd even think about reaching for 4WD or needing any of its fancy tricks.

Nicks

There are several key areas where the latest 4Runner does fall notably short and leaves lots to be desired. My main annoyance after a week? Poor ride quality, making even smooth roads feel battered.

Harder impacts can shudder through the chassis, and the suspension is also too stiff to drive quickly off-road. That's the especially frustrating part of a vehicle meant for rough country. An off-road-oriented vehicle should be able to glide over washboard surfaces, allowing the chassis to stay planted while the suspension absorbs the repeated impacts. Instead, this TRD Off-Road makes grated gravel feel like a washboard even when it isn't.

2026 Toyota 4runner TRD Off-Road Premium interior front seats

Both the top-tier TRD Pro and Trailhunter ride softer with their fancier off-road dampers and increased suspension travel which makes them more comfortable on both paved and terra surfaces, but this more standard TRD Off-Road rides like a brick shit house for no obvious reason.

Then there's the price issue. Starting at $58,065 with destination for a TRD Off-Road Premium like this, that seems awfully steep for a Toyota 4Runner and easily breaches into Land Cruiser territory. Despite the price, the interior just isn't all that nice considering the luxury price. Like, it's nice for a 4Runner, but it's not nice enough for the asking price. Especially disappointing is the plastic 4WD selector knob, which feels like a cheap toy and inspires no confidence when using.

I also experienced some annoying rattles and creaks, including one on the A-pillar next to my ear that would creak during songs, with the EQ all set flat and volume low. That's not exactly the sort of refinement I want to hear from a nearly $60,000 SUV, not to mention a $60K Toyota .

2026 Toyota 4Runner trd off-road premium interior rear seats | review by the Road Beat

Even if it's a big SUV, the back seat is less than satisfactory when it comes to comfort and legroom. Toyota also has perhaps the most intrusive implementation I've experienced of active driving safety assists, constantly tugging at the wheel when you're simply smoothing out winding roads or negotiating turns near a white line.

Ruined by the ride

No matter what, the 4Runner tested here is outwardly blighted for me by its shoddy and stiff ride performance. California is not known for smooth roads, and this TRD Off-Road makes them feel particularly bad. Even off-road on '8 Mile,' gravel roads are unnecessarily harsh and feel abusive at just 25 mph, and that's in its natural playground. That's not to say it isn't capable, because it's incredibly capable, it just does so with such unnecessary roughness.

2026 Toyota 4Runner interior review by The Road Beat

That's what makes the 4Runner so frustrating. The car looks great, steers great, goes great, and is wildly more capable than the old one, but the price is an unfortunate obstacle along with a ride that's simply too brutal for daily use.

I want to like this 4Runner. Toyota has given me plenty of reasons to. Unfortunately, every time the road gets rough, the suspension reminds me why I ultimately don't. As other off-road SUVs and trucks have shown, it's possible to combine off-road performance with comfort.

The Road Beat rating: 3.5/5

More photos from the 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium review