2026 Best Vehicle for Adventure: Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

This is the first time the Toyota 4Runner has won this category, an award usually taken by a certain American brand with seven slots between its circular headlights. Competition is a good thing, however, especially when it improves the driving experience of entertaining vehicles. For 2026, AutoTrader’s team of experts has voted the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro as the Best Vehicle for Adventure.

Under the hood is the type of powertrain for which Toyota is most well-known — a hybrid. Flying the “iForce Max” banner, a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder engine works together with a hybrid system to produce a stout 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. This is more than enough grunt to get into (and out of) the vast majority of extreme adventure situations into which the rig might be pushed. An eight-speed automatic plus a four-wheel-drive system with high/low range gets that power to the dirt.

What really turns the crank of a Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, and makes it a winner in the adventure category, is the abundance of off-road technology underneath its burly new bodywork. Knobby 33-inch Toyo tires are wrapped around surly 18-inch black alloy rims, working with a stabilizer disconnect mechanism that increases wheel articulation at the push of a button. Adjustable QS3 internal bypass shocks have 2.5-inch aluminum housings and rear remote reservoirs, permitting manual adjustment of compression damping to match terrain. This also can provide suspension travel when required, but dishes up an on-road ride that won’t beat you up on the way home from a day of wheeling. An electronic locking rear differential is standard.

Built on a platform shared with rigs like the Tundra and Land Cruiser, the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro benefits from increased chassis rigidity over previous generations thanks to the use of high-strength steel reinforced with laser welds. Aluminum is used in the upper body to reduce weight, while reinforced frame crossmembers should boost durability during off-road moves such as navigating that large rock you didn’t see until the last instant. Also assisting with such matters is a multi-terrain monitor that can display exterior camera views on the centre stack 14.0-inch touchscreen, helping spot obstacles on challenging trails.

Rugged performance usually pairs well with a rugged appearance. Toyota recently gave its 4Runner an overhaul, with the TRD Pro benefiting from gear like a 20-inch light bar integrated into the grille just south of a heritage-inspired TOYOTA billboard. They are joined by slickly installed fog lamps sourced from Rigid Industries. For 2026, the trim will be available in an eye-popping hue called Wave Maker, a colour we recommend you select without hesitation.

Interiors are available trimmed in black or jaunty red upholstery with funky technical-camo inserts, featuring heated and ventilated comfort for passengers in the front row. Look for a  14-speaker JBL audio with a too-cool portable speaker on the dashboard that can be released from its dock and taken to the campsite.

Pricing for the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro this year starts just north of $80,000 plus a non-negotiable $1,930 for destination and delivery charges. Including most fees, shoppers will be staring at an MSRP of $82,528. That’s a heap o’ beans, but true off-road capability doesn’t come cheap. Considering what’s under its skin, the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is priced within the ballpark of reason.

Our jury of more than 20 automotive experts from across the country considered every single adventure-ready vehicle available for Canadians to buy and voted for the best ones using a dozen different criteria ranging from safety and quality to efficiency and performance. These criteria are weighted with a critical eye to the segment’s intended purpose; for example, off-road prowess and cargo versatility were more important here than in the performance car category.