When I bought my brand new 2017 4Runner SR5 Premium, it smelled nice and new but never really had that knock your socks off "New Car Smell" that I remember with other new vehicles of the past. My 4Runner was new with only 14 miles on it. I purchased at a high volume dealer in the AZ desert which stores its vehicles in covered parking garages.

These trucks are all built in Japan and the Japanese are known to absolutely HATE new car smell. I wonder if there was some sort of treatment at the Japan factory to tone down the new car smell. I read somewhere that many vehicles built in Japan are baked in ultraviolet light to purposely remove the new car smell.

Anyone noticed the same? Lack of that intense new car smell in their new 4Runner?

Same with my one but as far as I know was the “new car smell” a result of degassing chemicals, not really healthy.
Today they use different materials that doesn’t degas as much, some companies add the “new car smell” at the end of the production with less harmful chemicals since that smell is so connected to our memory...
It brings back good memories, out of a time where life was easy and without responsibilities - as kid on the backseat!

I was dating a girl, she works in a company with customers like Audi, Porsche and Mercedes as a smell designer...

Anyways in that case I guess Toyota just decided to DON’T add that smell!

Thanks and likely the root cause of noticing less new car scent with my 4Runner. The last new vehicle I bought was way back in 1982. The intense new car aroma lasted for several years with that vehicle.

I’m glad you survived it
I guess it wasn’t even half as bad as they try to tell us today but who knows maybe we’re tougher as millennials

New chemical smell? No thanks.

I noticed the same. A very mild new car smell which is almost gone 4 months later.

I have found that Japanese cars (Mazda/Toyota) seem to have a reason and purpose for everything. They really think about the little details they feel is important to them. Like the radio volume going to 63.

I'm glad I found this thread. I was beginning to wonder about the smells from my new SR5. I was assuming it was just a break-in period of burning off overspray, coatings, fresh fluids, etc. I'm glad you folks confirmed this for me.


-- Frank

I noticed the lack of it my first week of ownership which sucks cause I love that new car smell. Was wondering why it was so faint these past few weeks

For those that want new car smell they sell sprays just put little dap behind each ear.

Different strokes I guess. I left all the windows open while mine was in the garage for the first couple of months to let it gas off.

My 4Runner had no new car smell.

Now it smells like crayons and wet dog.

New car smell is gross

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There was definitely no new car smell in our T4R which made me question what the deal was once we took delivery. Glad I came across this thread which explains the lack of smell.

I've owned a lot of Japanese cars and it's an interesting fact that the Japanese do not like the distinct smell of leather interiors. They reintroduce the smell for the US market on cars that are sold in both markets. It's not surprising as they're very particular about the details.

Just picked up a new 4Runner yesterday and it has minimal new car smell which was disappointing. I have to say that I’m glad to see this thread pop up and explain why that was.

I love new car smell and I'm always sad when it fades away. Unfortunately the various products you can buy that promise to make it smell like new again never smell right, and only last a few minutes anyway.