--- title: "The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Gets the Tacoma’s Honking Front Air Dam" date: "2024-04-10" modified: "2024-04-10" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-2025-toyota-4runner-gets-the-tacomas-honking-air-dam" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Toyota News" - "Trucks" tags: - "4runner" - "Off-Road" - "suv/crossover" - "Toyota" --- # The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Gets the Tacoma’s Honking Front Air Dam ![]() *\José Rodríguez Jr.\* Despite all the clever engineering that goes into an SUV like the [2025 Toyota 4Runner](), off-roading is as much a game of simple geometry as it is a matter of nuts and bolts. All the attention paid to things like overhang lengths and approach, breakover, and departure angles are designed to benefit you on the trail. Trouble is, what's desirable when you're crawling rocks can work against you on flat road for a number of reasons, which is precisely why [the big, honkin' air dam]() below the front bumper of the new [Tacoma]() immediately stood out to so many people—and not *just* because it's ugly. Wouldn't you know, the 4Runner, which shares so much with Toyota's midsize pickup already, has the same thing going on. The picture above, snapped by my friend José Rodríguez Jr., demonstrates the difference the best. In the foreground is a 4Runner Limited, which is the 4Runner to buy if you want a comfortable, luxurious SUV that'll eat up highway miles. That one's got the air dam, as we can easily see. The Trailhunter-trim vehicle behind it, however, does not, and it's immediately obvious how a big rectangular chunk of plastic ahead of the front axle might keep it from clearing that rock. At best, it'd be a close call. ![]() *This is a 2025 4Runner Limited in "Heritage Blue." The more I look at this color, the more I like it. A white roof would look good on this, maybe even white wheels. The Limited trim will be available with the non-hybrid engine, making it a candidate for manual transmission fitment. *Toyota** ![]() The TRD Pro and Trailhunter ditch the dam; the Limited (and it stands to reason other road-centric versions) will get it, as the plastic helps reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. The Tacoma's chief engineer, Sheldon Brown, [explained the necessity of the air dam]() to us as it related to the pickup last year. See, Toyota increased the frontal area of the truck, partially out of a desire to refine the geometry that caused the outgoing-gen's awkward seating position. ![]() *The front of a 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport, for comparison's sake. Jerry Perez* Unfortunately, the size of the dam necessitated by the design also made it too large to be retracted as an active air dam, for all the clearance reasons we've discussed. So Toyota fits them to the trucks and SUVs that would benefit, and skips them on the rowdier builds that would be hampered by them. Seems like the smartest possible play. Besides, if you dislike the plastic chin that much, it's easy to remove—or, at least it is on the Tacoma. It's just a handful of bolts. There's no reason to believe the 4Runner would be any different, but we have asked Toyota for more details on that front, and will update this story should we learn anything. For what it's worth, the [Land Cruiser]() doesn't employ any such drag-limiting device and, if we're going purely on aesthetics, it's the one I'd choose anyway. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()