Nine grades from $43,000 to $69,000, and the beach gear arrives at the fourth rung: the locker, the terrain modes, the Bilsteins and the taller tires. Above that the money buys a hybrid, leather, a snorkel and racing shocks. Here is where it lands on the sand.
The opinions on this page come from Beach4x4, our rental company in Kill Devil Hills, whose 4x4s run the Carova beach every day of the season. The Beach Test Drive is our drive-before-you-buy program: a new vehicle, this beach, nobody selling. Planned for summer 2027.
2026 starting prices including the $1,495 delivery fee, as Cars.com reported them in November 2025; the SR5 figure is two-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive $2,000 more. Toyota had not priced the 2027 when we looked.
The base, the sweet spot and the fast one
The 4Runner is the same upright, square, sensible thing on every grade. The ladder buys a locker and terrain modes first, then the hybrid, then comfort, then the overland and racing gear. Highway 12 below is North Carolina Highway 12, the two-lane road up the Outer Banks; the drive from Kitty Hawk to the Corolla beach ramp is about 45 minutes of it.
SR5
The base
$45,0652026 four-wheel drive, with delivery
The 278-horsepower turbo four, part-time four-wheel drive for $2,000 over the two-wheel-drive price, 17-inch wheels, cloth seats, the eight-inch screen, a power liftgate and the roll-down back window. A third row is optional.
In four-high, aired down, an SR5 does this beach the way 4Runners have for forty years. No locker, no terrain modes, and most days you’d never miss them. The 17-inch wheels leave plenty of sidewall to air down.
A little more truck in the ride than the hybrid grades and a lot less weight. The base engine is plenty for Highway 12.
The family that wants the 4Runner, the window down and the beach, and the third row for the cousins.
TRD Off-Road
The sweet spot
$51,4852026, with delivery
Four-wheel drive standard, an electronic rear locker, Multi-Terrain Select with a Sand setting, Crawl Control, Bilstein shocks, an inch more lift, all-terrains on 18-inch wheels and skid plates. The hybrid is $2,800 more; the sway-bar disconnect comes only on the Premium hybrid and up.
Pick Sand and it stops second-guessing you. The locker is the backup for the one soft spot that bites, and Crawl Control at walking pace is a party trick that works. The lift and the sidewall take the ruts.
All-terrains hum a little; the Bilsteins are firm but not harsh. The hybrid’s torque makes the trip up feel effortless if you spend the extra.
The driver who wants the 4Runner that was built for this and nothing they’d have to add.
TRD Pro
The fast one
$69,3952026, with delivery
The hybrid, Fox internal-bypass shocks with remote reservoirs, 33-inch tires, 10.1 inches of clearance, a disconnecting sway bar, the light bar and the retro grille. The Trailhunter, at $69,195, is the overland version: Old Man Emu shocks, a snorkel, an onboard air compressor for airing back up at the ramp, and rock rails.
The Fox shocks are built for speed over rough ground, and at the beach’s 35 miles an hour you’d feel their calm over the ruts and not much more. The Trailhunter’s compressor is the one top-trim feature this beach would use every single time.
Firmer than the TRD Off-Road on the Fox shocks, quiet with the hybrid, and the 33s hum. The snorkel whistles if you buy the Trailhunter.
The driver who wants the top 4Runner and will use it on trails that aren’t this one. If it’s the beach every weekend, the Trailhunter’s compressor is the better $69,000.
What the money buys you on this beach
Carova is soft sand, packed sand, ruts and 45 minutes of two-lane each way. That is the whole test. Here is which 4Runner money shows up in it.
What you’d feel
Four-wheel drive, obviously; the two-wheel-drive SR5 stays off the sand. The Sand setting and the rear locker, once in a while. The extra inch of lift and the all-terrains, every rut. The roll-down window, every grade, all day.
What you wouldn’t
The Fox or Old Man Emu shocks at beach speed. The sway-bar disconnect. Leather, until it’s wet. The TRD Sport’s 20-inch wheels are a step backward here: less sidewall to air down.
What the hybrid buys
326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet off idle, which is what moves a heavy SUV through deep sand without digging. $2,800 on the TRD Off-Road. On the sand it is the most useful upgrade on the ladder after the locker; on Highway 12 it is the quieter, easier engine.
Every 4Runner, bottom to top
Starting price, the off-road gear that matters here, and our take. Trims and prices change every model year; the note under the table says which year and when we looked.
| Trim | Starts at | Off-road gear | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR5 | $43,065 | Two-wheel drive; 4WD $2,000 more. 17-inch wheels, roll-down window, third row optional | The baseThe base; get the four-wheel drive |
| TRD Sport | $49,545 | 20-inch wheels, hood scoop; 4WD optional | The street 4Runner; the wrong wheels for sand |
| TRD Off-Road | $51,485 | 4WD, rear locker, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Bilstein shocks, 1 in. more lift, all-terrains, skid plates; hybrid +$2,800 | Sweet spotBuilt for this |
| TRD Sport Premium | $54,905 | TRD Sport with leather, the 14-inch screen, JBL | The street one, dressed |
| TRD Off-Road Premium | $57,265 | TRD Off-Road with the Premium comforts; sway-bar disconnect optional | The sweet spot, dressed |
| Limited | $57,695 | Leather, moonroof, third row optional on the gas version; 4WD Limiteds get full-time 4WD with a locking center differential | The family one |
| Platinum | $65,155 | Hybrid, full-time 4WD, 20-inch wheels, the works | The luxury 4Runner |
| Trailhunter | $69,195 | Hybrid, Old Man Emu shocks, 33s, snorkel, onboard air compressor, rock rails, 10.1 in. clearance | The overland one; the compressor earns its keep at the ramp |
| TRD Pro | $69,395 | Hybrid, Fox shocks, 33s, sway-bar disconnect, 10.1 in. clearance | The fast oneBuilt for speed over rough ground |
2026 model year, starting prices including the $1,495 delivery, processing and handling fee, as Cars.com reported them on November 5, 2025. Equipment by grade from Toyota’s 2026 4Runner release and the same article. Toyota had not priced the 2027 when we looked (October 2026).
Watch a review, not ours
Top Trims goes through all nine 2026 4Runner grades, with a pick at the end. Their video, their opinions. It is here because it is the best one we found; we make nothing from it.
All 9 trims and options explained: which 2026 Toyota 4Runner is right for you? Top Trims, on YouTube. Model year shown: 2026. Plays from YouTube when you press play; YouTube’s terms and cookies apply then.
Every 4Runner grade in one checklist
Toyota sells the 2026 4Runner in nine grades, two engines and a long option sheet. Here is all of it on one sheet. 2026 starting prices including the $1,495 delivery fee as Cars.com reported them in November 2025 (Toyota’s site ran $700 higher on every grade by October 2026); equipment from Toyota’s 2026 specification table and release.
Every 4WD 4Runner has a two-speed transfer case. A dash under Full-time 4WD means part-time: two-wheel drive on the pavement, four on the sand, which is all this beach asks. Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
| Version | Starts at | Engine, as it comes | Hybrid | 4WD | Full-time 4WD | Rear locker | Sway-bar disconnect | Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control | Tires, as it comes | 33s | Skid plates | Shocks | Clearance | On this beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR52WD or part-time 4WD | $43,0652WD; 4WD +$2,000 | 2.4 turbo, 278 hp | — | ○1 | — | — | — | — | 30.5-in. all-seasons, 17s | — | — | twin-tube | 8.1 in. | The base; get the four-wheel drive and the all-terrain tire |
| TRD Sport2WD or part-time 4WD | $49,5452WD; 4WD +$2,000 | 2.4 turbo, 278 hp | — | ○1 | — | — | — | — | 31.5-in. all-seasons, 20s | — | — | sport-tuned twin-tube | 8.8 in. | The street 4Runner; 20s are the wrong wheel for sand |
| TRD Off-Roadpart-time 4WD | $51,485hybrid +$2,800 | 2.4 turbo, 278 hp | ○ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | 33-in. all-terrains, 18s | ✓2 | ✓ | Bilstein, remote reservoir | 9.1 in.3 | Built for this; the sweet spot |
| TRD Sport Premium2WD or part-time 4WD | $54,9052WD; 4WD +$2,000 | 2.4 turbo, 278 hp | — | ○1 | — | — | — | — | 31.5-in. all-seasons, 20s | — | — | sport-tuned twin-tube | 8.8 in. | The street one, dressed |
| TRD Off-Road Premiumpart-time 4WD | $57,265hybrid +$2,800 | 2.4 turbo, 278 hp | ○ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ○4 | ✓ | 33-in. all-terrains, 18s | ✓2 | ✓ | Bilstein, remote reservoir | 9.1 in. | The sweet spot, dressed |
| Limited2WD or full-time 4WD | $57,6952WD; 4WD +$2,000; hybrid 4WD +$4,800 | 2.4 turbo, 278 hp | ○ | ○1 | ○5 | — | — | — | 31.5-in. all-seasons, 20s | — | — | Adaptive Variable Suspension | 8.8 in. | The family one; the only grade with full-time 4WD and a third row |
| Platinumfull-time 4WD, hybrid | $65,155 | hybrid, 326 hp | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | 31.5-in. all-seasons, 20s | — | — | Adaptive Variable Suspension | 8.8 in. | The luxury 4Runner; full-time 4WD and 20s |
| Trailhunterpart-time 4WD, hybrid | $69,195 | hybrid, 323 hp | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 33-in. Toyo all-terrains, 18s | ✓2 | ✓ | Old Man Emu | 10.1 in. | The overland one; the onboard compressor earns its keep at the ramp |
| TRD Propart-time 4WD, hybrid | $69,395 | hybrid, 326 hp | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 33-in. Toyo all-terrains, 18s | ✓2 | ✓ | Fox QS3 | 10.1 in. | Built for speed over rough ground |
- Two-wheel drive standard; part-time 4WD with a two-speed transfer case is $2,000.
- Toyota calls the 265/70R18 a 33-inch tire; the math says 32.6.
- Toyota’s spec table shows 8.1 inches for the gas TRD Off-Road and 9.1 for its hybrid and both Off-Road Premiums; Cars.com says the Off-Road sits an inch above the SR5.
- The Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism is a 2026 option on the hybrid TRD Off-Road Premium only.
- Toyota’s spec table lists full-time 4WD with a Torsen center differential that locks on every 4WD Limited, gas or hybrid; Toyota’s release says the hybrid. Ask which one is on the lot.
Seats, windows and the rest
Every 4Runner rolls its back window down; that is the beach feature. The third row and the moonroof are what split the grades.
| Version | Third row | Roll-down rear window | Moonroof | Roof rails | Onboard compressor | Max tow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR52WD or part-time 4WD | ○ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | 6,000 lb |
| TRD Sport2WD or part-time 4WD | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | 6,000 lb |
| TRD Off-Roadpart-time 4WD | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | 6,000 lb |
| TRD Sport Premium2WD or part-time 4WD | — | ✓ | ○ | ✓ | — | 6,000 lb |
| TRD Off-Road Premiumpart-time 4WD | — | ✓ | ○ | ✓ | — | 6,000 lb |
| Limited2WD or full-time 4WD | ○a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | 6,000 lb |
| Platinumfull-time 4WD, hybrid | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | 5,800 lb |
| Trailhunterpart-time 4WD, hybrid | — | ✓ | — | ✓b | ✓ | 5,800 lb |
| TRD Propart-time 4WD, hybrid | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | 5,800 lb |
- Gas Limited only, 2WD or 4WD; no hybrid gets the third row. About $770 on the SR5, $1,330 on the Limited.
- An ARB roof rack in place of the rails.
The hybrids carry two 2,400-watt outlets and give up cargo room (82.6 cubic feet behind the first row against 90.2 for the gas truck). Tow ratings are Toyota’s spec table; Cars.com’s line that every 2026 4Runner tows 6,000 pounds is not what the table says.
Packages worth knowing
Toyota sells most of its options as grades, so this list is short. These are the ones that change how a 4Runner feels on this beach or on Highway 12.
- The Premium gradesTRD Sport Premium: $5,360 over TRD Sport. TRD Off-Road Premium: $5,780 over TRD Off-Road.
Heated and ventilated power SofTex seats, the 14-inch screen with 14-speaker JBL audio, a hands-free liftgate, and the moonroof and Tow Tech on the option list.
Same sand gear as the grade underneath. On the Off-Road, the Premium is also the only way to the sway-bar disconnect, on the hybrid.
- The hybrid (i-Force Max)TRD Off-Road, Off-Road Premium and Limited: $2,800. Platinum, Trailhunter and TRD Pro: standard.
326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet (323 on the Trailhunter), two 2,400-watt outlets, and on the Off-Road grades the option of four prewired auxiliary switches.
The torque is nice off the line in soft sand and you will not miss it if you skip it. The outlets run a cooler all day at the Virginia line.
- Third-row seatSR5 ($770) and gas Limited ($1,330).
A 50/50 fold-flat third row; seven seats, 12 cubic feet behind it.
Seven on the beach is the 4Runner’s trick; no other vehicle on these pages does it with the back window down.
- Stabilizer Disconnect MechanismTrailhunter and TRD Pro: standard. Hybrid TRD Off-Road Premium: optional. Nowhere else.
A button that unhooks the front sway bar for more wheel travel at a crawl.
Rock gear. Sand does not flex you; leave it connected.
- Tow Tech PackageBoth Premiums and the Limited: optional. Platinum, Trailhunter, TRD Pro: standard.
A digital rearview mirror, an integrated trailer brake controller and the backup guide.
For the boat to the Whalehead ramp. Every 4Runner tows 5,800 to 6,000 pounds.
- Four auxiliary switchesHybrid TRD Off-Road and Off-Road Premium: optional. Trailhunter and TRD Pro: standard.
Four prewired dash switches for lights or a winch.
A light bar for a night launch without a wiring project.
The beach checklist
What the Carova sand asks of a 4Runner, and what it does not.
- You need
✓Four-wheel drive with a low range. Every 4WD 4Runner has it; the SR5, TRD Sport, Sport Premium and Limited sell two-wheel drive as the base, so check the window sticker.
✓Tires you can air down to 18 to 20 psi, and a gauge and a compressor in the back. The Off-Road and Pro grades’ 33-inch all-terrains air down best; the 20-inch all-seasons on the Sport, Limited and Platinum are the weak spot.
✓The Currituck County beach parking permit in season, to stop or park on the sand; the Currituck 4x4 beach guide has the dates.
- Nice to have
○A rear locker, for the one soft spot a summer that bites. The four Off-Road grades: TRD Off-Road, Off-Road Premium, Trailhunter, TRD Pro.
○The Trailhunter’s onboard compressor: air back up at the ramp without digging the pump out.
○The third row, if the whole family is coming. SR5 and gas Limited only.
- Skip for sand
—The sway-bar disconnect and Crawl Control. Rock gear; the sand never asks for them.
—The Fox and Old Man Emu shocks, except over the washboard in Corolla. The Bilsteins on the Off-Road do this beach.
—Full-time 4WD. Part-time does the beach; full-time is a wet-pavement comfort. The beach limit is 35 miles an hour, 15 within 300 feet of any person.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need lockers for this beach?
No. Four-wheel drive, tires aired down to 18 to 20 psi and a little momentum get a stock 4x4 up and down Carova every day. A rear locker is a nice backup in the softest spots. Front lockers, 37-inch tires and desert-racing shocks are built for places that aren’t this one.
Is the top trim better on sand?
Usually not in any way you’d feel at beach speed, which is 35 miles an hour and 15 near people. The top trims buy horsepower, 35-inch or 37-inch tires and shocks tuned for speed over rough ground. What you’d feel here is the ride on Highway 12, the seat, and whether the tires float, and the sweet-spot trim has all three.
Can I try one on this beach before I buy?
Yes. The Beach Test Drive, our drive-before-you-buy program planned for summer 2027, puts shoppers in new Broncos, Wranglers, Gladiators, Silverados and Rams for five and a half hours on the Carova sand, the whole family along and no salesperson. Until then, Beach4x4, our rental company in Kill Devil Hills, rents 4x4s for this beach by the day or the week.
Gas or hybrid?
For the sand, the hybrid: 465 pound-feet from a stop is what gets a heavy SUV moving in deep sand without digging in, and it is $2,800 on the TRD Off-Road. For the budget, the gas four does this beach fine and weighs several hundred pounds less. Either way, get the four-wheel drive.
Sources
- Cars.com, how much is the 2026 Toyota 4Runner? (November 5, 2025)
- Toyota, the 2026 4Runner
- Toyota, 2026 4Runner specifications by grade
- Pickup Truck Talk, Toyota 4Runner vs. Land Cruiser: what’s the difference? (March 2025)
Prices on this page are the makers’ published starting prices on the dates shown and change with every model year. Dealers in The Beach Test Drive program sell to its drivers at the factory invoice, which is a different number; that program explains it. Opinions on how each trim feels are ours, drawn from the published equipment lists and from running four-wheel drives on this beach.
Related: Which 4x4 for the beach? All the comparisons · The Beach Test Drive, summer 2027 · The Toyota 4Runner on Outer Banks beaches · Best tires for sand · How to air down · Beach driving setup