It’s to put the all-new 6th-generation 2025 Toyota 4Runner on the Ike GauntletTM – the world’s toughest towing test. We want to see exactly how it compares to the new Toyota Land Cruiser (250 series), so we are pulling the same 5,500 lbs trailer. Both, the new 4Runner and the new Land Cruiser have 6,000 lbs maximum tow ratings. We did not expect the 4Runner to be considerably better… Here’s what happened.
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We physically could not do this test without the Weigh-Safe hitches. There are made of aluminum, they are lightweight and very tough.
We measure the Tow/Haul driving mode on the way down the mountain and how it manages downhill grade shifting in order to keep speeds in check. We count brake applications in order to bring the speed from 61 MPH (the speed limit is 60 MPH) to 50 MPH. We crest the top of the mountain at 50 MPH because this is the speed limit inside the tunnel.
The Ike GauntletTM is an 8-mile stretch of I-70 in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It’s a steep 7% grade.
The new 4Runner surprises us with 8 brake applications (8.5 applications because I had to slow down a little due to traffic). This is not the best results we have ever seen, but it’s significantly better than the 12 brake applications that the Land Cruiser hybrid needed to descend the same mountain.
On the way up, it’s the test of power, acceleration, and cabin comfort. The new 4Runner is powered by the same engine as the new Tacoma pickup truck. It’s a 2.4-liter turbocharged four cylinder with 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and it has a part-timer 4×4 system. It means that we run the entire Ike Gauntlet in 2WD (rear wheel drive).
The 4Runner took 14 seconds to accelerate from 35 MPH to 60 MPH up the merge lane. The cabin is very quiet. We measured 60-61 dB inside when driving at 60 MPH up the mountain grade. In the end, the 4Runner made it up in just under 8 minutes, which is the perfect benchmark time to make this 8-mile run. The 4Runner trip meter showed 6.2 MPG, which is better than the Land Cruiser’s 5.8 MPG with the same load.
The 4Runner offers an optional trailer brake controller for $400. We recommend you get this option if you plan to pull any trailers with electric brakes that weigh above 2,000-3,000 pounds.
