If you’re searching for your next midsize SUV, the Toyota 4Runner is a likely option. With plenty of interior space for passengers and cargo, off-road chops, and reliability, the 4Runner is a staple in the market. However, there are a few reasons it might be worth waiting for the next model year. While nothing, in particular, is wrong with the 2023 model, here are some reasons the 2024 Toyota 4Runner is worth the wait.

1. Welcome the next generation of 4Runner

According to HotCars, the next-gen Toyota 4Runner could arrive as a 2024 model. The current version of the popular SUV has been sold since 2009 without any significant changes. Before that, previous generations never lasted for longer than seven years. Fortunately, in recent years the interior and exterior have been refreshed multiple times, so the 4Runner doesn’t feel as outdated as it actually is. Moreover, special edition versions have also helped keep the 4Runner fresh.

Instead of arriving as a 2023 model as many fans had hoped, there’s a good chance the next-gen 4Runner enters the lineup for 2024. Like other members of the Toyota lineup, the Sequoia and Tundra, we expect the 4Runner will get similar treatment. A new platform, a new exterior design, and much more.

2. Same Sequoia and Tundra updates

Next, HC says the new 2024 Toyota 4Runner could get the same updates as the Tundra and Sequoia. Both models just transitioned into next-generation models. Additionally, the two sit on a TNGA-F platform and feature a never-before-seen hybrid powertrain. All this and more will likely be the same for the 4Runner as it enters its sixth generation.

The two models also received exterior design changes, making them look more rugged and better overall. The extensive and wide hexagonal grille gives the vehicles a unique look to stand out from rivals and older model years. Since the 4Runner’s looks are over a decade old, customers have noticed. Furthermore, it’s no longer appealing to buyers the way modern SUVs are, which is a problem for the automaker. Copying the front end, platform, and other design upgrades from the Sequoia and Tundra will make the 4Runner a popular SUV again.

3. 2024 Toyota 4Runner hybrid powertrain

Finally, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner will likely have an available hybrid powertrain. Sharing with the Tundra and Sequoia again, it might be the i-Force MAX hybrid unit. It combines a 3.4-liter V6 engine with an electric motor, good for 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque for the Tundra pickup truck. While the hybrid unit doesn’t make these models particularly fuel efficient, it does improve performance compared to alternative powertrains. As a result, we’d expect the 4Runner to beat the Ford Bronco Raptor R and Jeep Wrangler 4xe, as HC suggested.

The publication calls the idea of a hybrid 4Runner “an unbeatable midsize SUV.” It’s difficult to disagree with all the midsize SUV has going for it. These models are famous for lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles, and adding a hybrid powertrain to that is never a bad thing.

Is the 2024 Toyota 4Runner worth waiting for?

In conclusion, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner is worth the wait. A few reasons are that it will enter the sixth generation, meaning many things will be changed and upgraded, it will receive the Tundra and Sequoia exterior design changes and a hybrid powertrain. Together, all of these updates make the 4Runner a much more modern SUV. As a result, we think it’s well worth the wait if you’re considering making a purchase.