2019 4Runner not that slow

[Ripper238]

I had seen quite a few people comment that the 4R is not that fast and lacks power to some degree. But to be honest i am impressed, its its 0-60 times is not shabby being under 8 seconds which is faster than my 2.5L Mazda 3 and not much slower than my Acura TL.
I also really enjoy the high rev tone of the exhaust or intake, its unique and puts a smile on my face evry time. lol

It no V8 sure, but i am still very happy/impressed with the power and i haven't even been able to drive it in 4L yet. But maybe that's where it falls off?

 

[Captain Planet]

Power isn't bad, it's just that everyone is now used to highstrung motors in everything now.

That and the throttle curve isn't the most responsive.

 

[angerbot]

Well, you're comparing it to two other slow cars. Coming from a Mk 7 Golf R my 4R feels sloooooooow! I think a supercharger is in my future, but they're so damn expensive (around $11k installed here in Canada).

 

[ProfessorP]

If you're coming from something like a twin turbo F-150, Tundra 5.7, or something sporty then the 4Runner is a pig. If you've been driving older small displacement naturally aspirated Japanese cars for years you're accustomed to flooring the car to get it moving. Floor the 4Runner and it moves along just fine. 0-60 in under 8 seconds would've been pretty fast 30 years ago. Now it's considered moderately slow.

Honestly, both my Tundra and F-150 were faster than they needed to be. Neither were anywhere near as fun off road as my '19 T4R.

 

[KP Texan]

I don't necessarily think the 4Runner is "slow", but I think most of it has to do with throttle mapping. I'm sure Toyota did this for fuel efficiency, but it certainly makes it less responsive at lower throttle inputs. My '06 4Runner felt faster because of this, but I don't think it actually was. My last vehicle was a 2018 F-150 with 3.5 EcoBoost and it was a beast, but I rarely could use that power and, although I do miss it, I haven't really found the 4Runner to be lacking too much.

 

[TEujunga]

This topic has been discussed at length before. Yes, it's true that in absolute terms, the T4R is not underpowered.

The problem is that it feels slow in ordinary driving due to a combination of issues. The engine's torque output in the 2,000-rpm range where it spends most of its time is weak, and the transmission's top gear is tall. On the highway, this means downshifts are required to maintain a constant speed on anything other than a level grade, and sometimes even on a level grade if there's a headwind.

The transmission is very reluctant to downshift without a deep stab of the throttle. While the gradual throttle programming may be useful when rock-crawling, it's frustrating when trying to get the vehicle to respond quickly (aftermarket devices such as Pedal Commander or Sprint Booster help address this).

I think most people disagree with your take on the engine sound at high revs. I, for one, avoid high RPMs at all cost. At anything over 3,000 RPM the engine sounds to me like a Cuisinart full of ball bearings.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

It's slow. My Tacoma with less power had more pep because it was lighter.

 

[mrblah]

It’s a pig, feels like driving a Camry from the 1990s. With that said I’m ok with it.

 

[kelkins]

My 4Runner is a pig running through the snow. My old F150 was a BEAST. Would have kept it if it wasn’t falling apart in every way imaginable. Bought the runner strictly for reliability. I drive like a madman when in my wife’s GMC because the gas pedal actually works. Not sure what Toyota was thinking when it came to throttle mapping.

 

[Ripper238]

Well, you're comparing it to two other slow cars. Coming from a Mk 7 Golf R my 4R feels sloooooooow! I think a supercharger is in my future, but they're so damn expensive (around $11k installed here in Canada).

The TL is by no means slow but yeah if comparing to an under 4 second car its slow. But i would say there are far fewer 4 second cars than 8+.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Well, you're comparing it to two other slow cars.

This^^^

 

[thennen]

I had seen quite a few people comment that the 4R is not that fast and lacks power to some degree. But to be honest i am impressed, its its 0-60 times is not shabby being under 8 seconds which is faster than my 2.5L Mazda 3 and not much slower than my Acura TL.
I also really enjoy the high rev tone of the exhaust or intake, its unique and puts a smile on my face evry time. lol

It no V8 sure, but i am still very happy/impressed with the power and i haven't even been able to drive it in 4L yet. But maybe that's where it falls off?

Thank you. I'm happy with mine, too. I read in Car and Driver, Motor Trend, somewhere, they measured 0-60 times of 7.5 seconds, which feels about right to me. I may be old-ish, but I do understand the thrill of a fast, nimble car. However, I don't get why people want their 4Runners to scoot to 60 in 6 seconds or less. I mean really, what race are you trying to win?

 

[rob_dixon]

Thank you. I'm happy with mine, too. I read in Car and Driver, Motor Trend, somewhere, they measured 0-60 times of 7.5 seconds, which feels about right to me. I may be old-ish, but I do understand the thrill of a fast, nimble car. However, I don't get why people want their 4Runners to scoot to 60 in 6 seconds or less. I mean really, what race are you trying to win?

That not it - a race. Its the simple everyday driving experiences like coming onto an onramp or pulling into traffic, or going up a steep grade around other cars. From that standpoint its slow and only the size inspires confidence.

And I've added only sliders and a roof rack and now its already down to ~8.5 seconds. A few more add-ons inside and out and it can get even slower very quickly.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Thank you. I'm happy with mine, too. I read in Car and Driver, Motor Trend, somewhere, they measured 0-60 times of 7.5 seconds, which feels about right to me. I may be old-ish, but I do understand the thrill of a fast, nimble car. However, I don't get why people want their 4Runners to scoot to 60 in 6 seconds or less. I mean really, what race are you trying to win?

So I haven't spent much time at all outside of CA, NV, AZ or WA but I went to PA, specifically Pittsburgh, this year. That's as far east as I have ever been. Anyway the highways had incredibly short on ramps. Trying to accelerate to highway speed is no fun in a weak car with traffic hauling butt. Some areas in Los Angeles are this way and you just have to mat the throttle. Some lower 0-60 times would be helpful in situations like that.

 

[ravens_wood]

It gets the job done. If you live in a city center or populated 'burb you're rarely moving fast anyways. Even if it was swifter that doesn't help solve the issue of the jerkwad in the BMW or Audi going speed limit in the left lane.

 

[alico268]

So I haven't spent much time at all outside of CA, NV, AZ or WA but I went to PA, specifically Pittsburgh, this year. That's as far east as I have ever been. Anyway the highways had incredibly short on ramps. Trying to accelerate to highway speed is no fun in a weak car with traffic hauling butt. Some areas in Los Angeles are this way and you just have to mat the throttle. Some lower 0-60 times would be helpful in situations like that.

Isn't California littered with Prius'? They seem to manage okay. I think the bigger issue is the inconsiderate nature of drivers who seem to take letting you merge in front of them a personal affront.

I remember growing up in Houston, you almost didn't dare use your turn indicator because the car in the intended lane would speed up and block your lane change.

 

[thennen]

So I haven't spent much time at all outside of CA, NV, AZ or WA but I went to PA, specifically Pittsburgh, this year. That's as far east as I have ever been. Anyway the highways had incredibly short on ramps. Trying to accelerate to highway speed is no fun in a weak car with traffic hauling butt. Some areas in Los Angeles are this way and you just have to mat the throttle. Some lower 0-60 times would be helpful in situations like that.

Yeah, I get you there. We have several short ramps in Ohio. That said, my 2019 is the fastest vehicle I’ve owned as far as 0-60 goes, so I guess I’m just used to taking ramps with even slower cars - lol!

 

[vondy21]

The Pedal Commander has really helped a lot with mine. It makes around town driving way more pleasant. I'm still hesitant changing lanes on a fast busy freeway at high speeds knowing the power isn't there.

I will add that putting 93 octane in once the temps rise above 90 degrees has also helped with the responsiveness around town. When it cools off I drop back down to 87.

 

[brtnstrns]

I've personally never felt that anything was missing with the power curve of the 4Runner.

Maybe it's just the fact that Seattle drivers are slow as shit in general, but I can generally get up and go to overtake people without much of a fuss, and the throttle response 99% of the time reacts as I expect it to. Especially if I compare it to something like my wife's previous Honda HR-V. I would floor it and then three seconds later, it finally reacts - now that is scary when you're trying to drive defensively.

 

[Generalisimo]

Umm, let me see if I’ve got this straight. The guys lamenting the lethargic acceleration wouldn’t also be fretting over the less than hybrid MGP would they? Pretty sure anybody who wasn’t “gifted” a 4Runner had a pretty good idea of what both performance figures were gonna be before buying, just sayin. BTW how come it seems like just about everyone is in such a “flyin pff” to get somewhere they don’t really have to be? Next time you’re behind the wheel ask yourself “why am I in such a hurry?” Journey not destination is a mind set.