10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota 4Runner Comes Before Chevy Trailblazer, Buick Encore GX
For a vehicle named for something that heralds an impending arrival, the outgoing Toyota 4Runner’s 14-year run between comprehensive redesigns was one heckuva harbinger. Returning for the 2025 model year with an obscenely overdue overhaul, the 4Runner proves that good things come to those who wait — at least as far as we could tell during our first time getting an up-close introduction to the mid-size off-road SUV. In Cars.com’s most popular news article of the past week, we run down our 4Runner first impression’s finer points.
One of the first things that became obvious in our brief encounter was that the 4Runner’s forerunner was the 2024 Toyota Tacoma — the pickup truck with which it shares not only a platform but also the same rugged looks and profile (save for the open bed in back, of course). The cabin, meanwhile, is nearly identical to that of the Tacoma, minus the availability of the pickup’s IsoDynamic Performance Seats. The 4Runner’s trademark roll-down rear window returns, and the liftgate’s repositioned lock/unlock buttons are easier to use.
For a full recounting of our time up close with the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, follow the link below to the No. 1 news story of the week.
Whereas the 2025 4Runner’s starting price will almost certainly exceed the 2024 model’s entry fee of around 42 grand, SUV shoppers can still get a high-riding hauler for almost as little as half that much if you choose from our handy list of the cheapest SUVs you can buy right now — the fourth-place finisher on this week’s countdown of most read articles. These modestly priced models range from just over $24,000 to just under $27,000, including a destination charge. All are from the 2024 model year and include specified trims of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Toyota Corolla Cross, Volkswagen Taos, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Subaru Crosstrek and Buick Encore GX.
For specific starting prices and the trim level you’ll need to choose to get those prices, as well as each model’s respective fuel economy estimate, features and equipment, follow the link below to the No. 4 news story of the week.
Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. 2025 Toyota 4Runner Up Close: Took Ya Long Enough!
2. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
3. Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?
4. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now
5. Is the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL63 a Good Car? 6 Pros, 4 Cons
6. 2025 Kia K5: New Tech, Engine and Face, Priced from $28,145
7. New, Larger 2024 GMC Acadia Priced From $43,995
8. Electric Cars With the Longest Range
9. 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS Gets Larger Battery, Updated Nose
10. 2025 Subaru Legacy, Outback Mostly Unchanged; Priced From $26,040 and $30,290
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