Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Exhaust Sound Level Measured - YouTube

Kind of a worthless video. Exhausts sound way different and are louder under load. More importantly, there's no assessment of the interior volume and drone.

The TRD exhaust drones like a mutha on the highway if you live ANYWHERE with some topography. You become very aware of how much shifting the auto does between 5th and 4th and torque converter lock and unlock. This often results in a constant change of resonances and volume in the cabin to the extent that it may make rear passengers a bit queasy or give them a headache from the constant and varying exhaust noise. I know that was case with my family and the TRD exhaust.

Around town and on flat highways, the TRD exhaust is fine. BUT, if you live anywhere with rolling or steep hills, good luck. Thank God we held on to our stock exhaust. I feel bad for those that have Pros and are stuck with the TRD exhaust. The stock exhaust makes this truck WAY more enjoyable.

Looking back, I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to get that exhaust. I should have known better that V6s sound terrible with exhausts, especially when teamed with a long-geared automatic.

Redline

I happen to have a very recent data point on this. I was on the highway this morning with a Pro behind me. I pulled over to let it pass and could very clearly him hit the gas and downshift (while he was still behind me) and then he slowly crawled by.

I've always had a pet peeve re: slow automatic cars with loud exhausts. IMO it'd better be a big-block v8 melting tires if you're going to hit the loud pedal on your slushbox. I'm going to keep mine nice and quiet so others don't know how much the 4.0 is suffering

This is a weird tic of mine. I have no problem with slow and loud if it's a manual. Shrug.

YMMV.

I hear you! (Pun intended).
Harleys are the worst...stupid loud and stupid slow and heavy.

Fwiw i switched my pro muffler out for a regular one and kept the trd tip

Just the tip?

It's definitely much louder than stock 4Runner exhaust.. but my other vehicle is a Mustang Mach 1 with no cats, so there's really no comparison there.

From my point of view I'm like "What highway drone?" I guess I must be used to car with a real exhaust on the highway.

I'm keeping the TRD exhaust, personally.

Perhaps or maybe you live in an area that's pretty flat? The TRD exhaust was killer going up long, minor grades at 70mph-80mph, teamed with 15-25 mph cross or head wind which is common all the time in the Midwest. The engine load going up these grades creates a tiresome resonance in the cabin to the point that we couldn't hear anyone in the back seat if they were talking. The truck is already loud enough inside with mild AT tires.

If speeds are below 70mph, the road flat, and winds minimal, the TRD exhaust is livable . I can see how people in areas with not much topography, wind, and generally lower highway speeds would be confused by what I'm saying.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that V6s sound horrible with exhausts. I made that comment on a facebook group once and it got into a pissing match about the Nissan GT-R and some BMWs and Audis that sound good. Kill me.

I understand what you mean, I was just making the point that it's relative to the person. My other vehicle is much, much louder in every instance: highway, slow cruising, etc. So the TRD exhaust on the Pro is pretty damn quiet compared to vehicles I've both driven and ridden in. Yeah, I live in one of the flattest parts of TX, but I've traveled to plenty of states that have topography(CO, UT, NM, AZ), and I've also had my 4R at wide open throttle plenty of times to know how loud it is under max load. To me, it's just not that bad.

The only worse sound than V6 with exhaust is a 4-cyl with a coffee can or V8 with glass packs.

I hear ya. I too am a fan of exhausts on some cars. My personnel ride, a 2016 BMW M235, has a BMW-made performance muffler and downpipe with a much smaller cat. The car is much louder than stock and sounds glorious all rpms and load, but it doesn't drone at all. Also, V8s like your Stang have soothing sound thanks to the cylinder count and firing order. V6s? Not so much. I loved the catback and y-pipe I had on my 94 Z28 and the catback and shorty header setup my buddy had on his 90 LX 5.0 notchback. Yeah, it droned, but the drone was pleasant.

I don't find the TRD exhaust to be bad above 2500rpms or full throttle. It's that 1900-2300rpm drone on grades that's such a killer.

When we driving through the foothills of northern Arkansas last year and had the TRD exhaust on, I kept it in 4th and it was so much better, but mpgs suffered a bit. I could also see how it could be tolerable on a 4Runner with deeper gears.

It is shocking to me that Toyota approved this exhaust for standard equipment. The sound and drone reminds me of a GM 3800 series V6 with an exhaust. That's not a good thing. LOL

At least people have factory option choice if they want to increase the sound of their 5th gen 4Runner.

I love the exhaust.

It helps cover up all the annoying rattles that have developed in the 3 years I've had a 2019.

These things don't seem to age well in that regard.

Rattles? I'm quite surprised to hear this. Our 2020 is closing in on 2 years now and 20K miles and it doesn't rattle at all. I've had every door and hatch panel off for a speaker installs and the entire floor and including the rear seats out trying to sound deaden the floor in an effort to try and reduce the resonance/drone of the TRD exhaust. That effort was a huge fail. Didn't make an ounce of difference. At least removing and reinstalling the panels didn't create any noises. These trucks come a part and go back together surprisingly well (and easy). I can have a door card off in about 2 minutes.

Surprised by this comment re: rattles too. I rented an SR5 a couple of months ago with a bunch of rental miles on it. Solid as a rock.