2013 Trailtest drive--underpowered?

[2013Trail]

Just took anew 2103 Trail for a test drive. Driving down the highway it seemed a little weak accelerating uphill to 65 or just going uphill in general. makes me wonder how it would perform driving in the mountains. Was it just me or is the 2013 underpowered? Of course it has the same power train as the 2010-2012 models. You all happy with the performance of your 4runners?

 

[philsey]

Just so you know, this has been discussed ad nauseum. And, I had your same opinion on my first drive. I believe it was "wtf" if I remember.

Some love it, some hate it, some want a S/C, some want a diesel. Earlier gens lament the loss of a V8.

This engine/trans is programmed for mpg - eg early upshifts, tq + hp develop a little higher up. Leading some (me too) early on to think it doggy.

Read the specs - it's a fairly powerful, high tech motor.

Bottom line: You just have to learn how to spank it. It will go, and it will stop.

EDIT: Take it for another drive, and kick the shit out of it, and hang on.

 

[Dongbeiren]

It's not very good in the mountains I can tell you that, the S mode feels the same as the D mode, it's a little bit better if you set the top gear to 4th...

 

[<<<<]

2013 TE here with 285/70/17 upsized tires is just as quick as my 4th gen (2004 V6). 0-60 is 7.6 seconds for me with stock powertrain setup and bunch of heavy off road stuff (skid plates, big fat tires and shrockworks sliders). Plenty fast for a rig.

 

[Sundog7121]

"Spank it!" If I'd just known this earlier!

 

[vicpick58]

I don't know about the 2013, but I have to assume that it is pretty much the same as 2012 as far as performance.

When I was shopping for a new vehicle, going from a V/8 Jeep 4.7HO to a 6cylinder Toyota was a big concern. I was worried that I would hate the gutlessness of a 6 compared to the V/8 performance that I was used to.

I found that the Toyota will go pretty well, but you have to be a little more aggressive with the throttle than a higher torque V/8.

Is it as fast when passing as the 04 Grand Cherokee? Well maybe not, but it is close enough if you really stomp on it.

I have found that I am quite happy with it and do not really miss the V/8, you just have to get use to pressing the pedal down if you want to really go.

In the mountains you do have to use the "S" mode, but even in other vehicles you usually have to take them out of overdrive anyway.

I do like the extra 2mpg average over my old ride.

The brakes actually took me longer to get used to than the accelerator. I am still not sure I like the "brake assist" feature of this Toyota. However it will stop damn fast when it kicks in.

The other thing that takes some getting used to is the oil change, but that is covered pretty well in another post.

So is it underpowered? I don't think so, I would say it is adequate but not overpowered.

 

[Moving Chicane]

2012 TE with 285/70/17 GY's-

1. With all the SoCal freeway merging/driving/rice-rocket-avoiding driving done here, I could use more power definitely.
2. My TE seems to respond best to "rolling on" the throttle agressively rather than mashing it. More akin to driving a 125cc racing kart or other small, high-rev'ing engine.

In 6-7 years I'll be thinking more #1 than #2. But this thing ain't going anywhere - I love it for what it is.

 

[BigredTEX]

I've had my 2012 TE w/ 285/70-17's for just over a year. I felt it was under powered from day one, but have learned how to get the power out of it. With the taller tires highway performance is really compromised and makes the cruise control useless. The shift point programming (or downshift programming) needs to be tweaked. To my knowledge nobody makes a programmer for the 5th gen. Fortunately the S mode works well and I just drop it down a gear when I need a little extra oomph rather than waiting for the auto trans to decide when it wants to down shift.

I surprised myself a few months ago while on a road tip. While passing someone on a two lane road I hit 100 mph when I wasn't really trying to. I no longer say it's underpowered, you just have to learn how to get to the power.

 

[LandCruiser]

The 2013 is fast enough.

I think that a SC would improve things, so would a V8.

I was using my FJ80 as a daily driver before this, so I'm not complaining.

 

[crunchcity]

As one reviewer put it, "deceptively bland" I tend to agree with.

It's aggressively detuned (might be the wrong word for it just a layman lol) forcing you to stomp on it when you need it.

 

[FactoryRide]

This thing isn't underpowered. Philsey hit the head on the nail with that. If you wanna move it then stomp on it. Keep it higher in the torque curve with sport and it'll surprise you.

 

[Shamish]

It's got enough power for me. I use the "s" mode when driving in the mountains to keep the tranny out of the way too tall 5th gear.

Would I like a 5.7L V8 equipped 4R TE (They could call it the TError8 or the TE8)? Heck yeah. But that ain't gonna happen for a while, so I am happy with what I have.

 

[Quentin]

The 5th gen likes it rough. [MENTION=51186]philsey[/MENTION] is spot on. Take some time to figure out sport mode. When I'm passing on the highway, I'll kick it over to sport, which puts it into 4th immediately, and mash the gas.

Also, sport mode basically sets the top gear you want to allow the truck to run in. If you set it in 3, it will choose 1, 2, or 3 based on the conditions. If you choose 4, it will shift into 1, 2, 3, or 4 based on conditions. If I know I want to accelerate onto a short onramp, I'll get into 3 in sport mode and romp on it. It basically lets you tell the AT what you are getting ready to do and it can get into a more aggressive gear.

 

[JayceeP]

I don't consider 270hp and 278-lb.ft of torque to be inadequate at all. I think it hauls ass for what it is.

 

[veloindy]

Yeah, under powered, and it sucks. Buy a Chevy. WTF!!!???

 

[chad_nm]

I don't own one yet, but I've test driven two. I wouldn't say it feels underpowered. I think it being such a smooth setup it comes off as a dog and also if you have been driving new ones, it could possibly be a bit underpowered until it gets broken in a little. I've had a few new vehicles in the past that did thankfully quicken up as I put 1k miles on them.

 

[rebelbowtie]

All new trucks and SUV's seem to be caught up in a HP race and they all feel "underpowered" compared to older designs. When the Gen III GM small block came out you wouldnt believe the disgust within the GM community at how "gutless" they were compared to the older engines. Torque/Horsepower equations will tell us that the engines torque or work must be moved to a higher RPM to yield great HP.

 

[neilsf]

I'm a 2-day old 2013 TE owner who traded in an 2005 Acura RL. I drove from San Francisco to LA Friday, and LA to San Diego yesterday -- my ride has less than 700 miles on it right now.

I agree with everyone -- the power is there but the sweet spot is higher in the RPM band.

Loaded with four passengers and a cargo area full of luggage, I could get a brief bit of tire squeal from red light stops in S and mashing the pedal.

 

[QSVeilside]

The 5th gen is anemic... As was the 4th gen... As was the 3rd gen... And so on and so on.

That is the only thing I truly dislike and can't stand about this vehicle. This was easily addressed in the past with the TRD supercharger and smaller aftermarket pulley. If TRD and Gadget decide not to release a kit for the 5th gen, I will seriously consider trading this in.

 

[rebelbowtie]

The 5th gen is anemic... As was the 4th gen... As was the 3rd gen... And so on and so on.

That is the only thing I truly dislike and can't stand about this vehicle. This was easily addressed in the past with the TRD supercharger and smaller aftermarket pulley. If TRD and Gadget decide not to release a kit for the 5th gen, I will seriously consider trading this in.

4th gen v8 is far from anemic, throttle response and low RPM torque remind me of my 6.0L Silverado I traded in.

Also see my post earlier in the thread about the HP race and as a result TQ is at a higher RPM