New & Used 2026 Toyota 4Runner for Sale nearIowa City, IA

Is the 2026 Toyota 4Runner a good car?

Yes — the 5/5 user rating and 6.67/10 expert rating point to a vehicle that fits a very specific mission well. The standout strength is Technology at 8/10.

The 4Runner’s appeal is its old-school, adventure-first character: it’s built around off-road ability, can carry the family, and offers an available hybrid powertrain. That makes it a strong fit if you want a rugged SUV that prioritizes trail use over the polished feel of a crossover.

The trade-offs are clear. You give up passenger comfort and interior space, and the ride is firm and jiggly. The hybrid also doesn’t deliver the kind of efficiency you’d expect from a typical crossover, so this is not the best choice if everyday comfort and fuel savings are your top priorities.

38.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which gives you a decent amount of market opportunity.

Is the 2026 Toyota 4Runner reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The 4Runner’s reliability case is helped by its straightforward, purpose-built identity and its focus on durability-minded use. Its performance notes also point to a powertrain and transmission pairing that works well together, with the eight-speed automatic described as well matched to the engine. The hybrid setup adds torque that is useful for off-roading, especially in low-range use with Crawl Control engaged.

If you’re buying used, the main long-term ownership risk is that this SUV’s rugged setup can come with more compromise than a typical crossover, especially if you expect quiet, cushy daily driving.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Toyota 4Runner?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 97.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the truck has seen trail use or heavy-duty family duty. Focus on ride quality, interior wear, and signs that the suspension or underbody has been stressed. If you’re considering an off-road-oriented version, pay extra attention to the condition of the tires, skid plates, and any added equipment.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base cabin is simple and utilitarian, with cloth upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims add synthetic leather or leather, a larger digital cluster, and a 14-inch touchscreen on Premium trims and above. The off-road models also add more aggressive exterior hardware, including unique bumpers and black wheel flares.
• Powertrain: You can choose a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, or the i-Force Max hybrid with 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. The hybrid adds useful torque, but it is not especially quick.
• Safety package: Every 4Runner gets Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, road-sign recognition, and high-beam assist. Blind-spot monitors, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic-jam assist are also standard.
• Infotainment: Standard equipment includes an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. The cluster grows to 12.3 inches on all but the base trim, and Premium trims or higher get a 14-inch touchscreen.
• Fuel efficiency: The hybrid TRD Off-Road is rated at 23 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Other 4WD non-hybrid versions rate 21 mpg combined, while the RWD non-hybrid model gets 22 mpg combined.

Which 2026 Toyota 4Runner trim should I buy?

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner is offered in 9 trim levels: SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, Trailhunter, and TRD Pro.

Here's the short version:

• SR5: This is the entry point, and it gives you the 4Runner’s core rugged identity at the lowest price. It’s the trim to consider if you want the nameplate’s adventure-first character without paying for extra off-road hardware.
• TRD Sport: This is the next step up if you want a more equipped version of the standard formula, but it still sits below the more capability-focused trims.
• TRD Sport Premium: This is the better pick if you want more comfort and tech than the SR5 or TRD Sport, especially because Premium trims get the larger touchscreen.
• TRD Off-Road: This is the best-value trim for buyers who actually want the 4Runner’s off-road hardware. It adds a locking rear differential, Bilstein remote-reservoir dampers, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and the Multi-Terrain System.
• TRD Off-Road Premium: This is the one to choose if you want the off-road gear plus the added convenience of the Multi-Terrain Monitor. It’s the smarter pick if you plan to use the truck off pavement often.
• Limited: This is the more street-friendly choice, with a full-time 4WD system and a lower ride height that should make it easier to live with on pavement.
• Platinum: This is the upscale route, with the same more street-oriented setup and standard hybrid powertrain.
• Trailhunter: This is one of the most serious adventure trims, with extra ride height, disconnecting sway bars, a snorkel, rock rails, an onboard compressor, and heavy-duty underbody protection.
• TRD Pro: This is the most extreme factory off-road version, with Fox adjustable remote-reservoir shocks, disconnecting sway bars, a unique front bumper, and additional underbody protection.

Toyota’s safety package is standard across the lineup, but crash-test results are mixed, so the off-road trims are best for buyers who value capability over comfort.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Toyota 4Runner?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you have room to shop carefully rather than rush.

• Deal availability: 38.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,242 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 97.1% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Toyota 4Runner safe?

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner earns four-star ratings in frontal crash and rollover, and five-star ratings in all other NHTSA tests. It also received mixed IIHS results, including a Marginal score in the moderate front overlap crash test.

It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard, and it includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, road-sign recognition, and high-beam assist. Blind-spot monitors, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic-jam assist are also standard.

The main caveat is that crash performance is uneven, and headlight performance varies by trim level.

Should I buy a 2026 Toyota 4Runner or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 38.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 97.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Shoppers looking for an old-school SUV should be careful what they wish for, because the 4Runner makes compromises in passenger comfort and interior space to make it one of the better off-roaders on the market.

Consider the 2025 if:

• The redesign brought more capability, power, comfort, and technology.

The bottom line: If you want the current 4Runner’s adventure-first formula, the 2026 is the one to target. If you’re more price-sensitive and want a newer-generation 4Runner with a similar rugged mission, the 2025 is the better value path to compare first.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.