2019 6th Gen 4runner
- Thread starter RunningLife
- Start date
As a guy who traded in his 2017 tacoma, count yourself lucky we are not getting the 3.5l, what a hunk of crap. I was averaging 14mpg and it has zero torque below 3000rpm. The gear ratio is low in the rear end but transmission was built for Bonneville flats. 6th gear was garbage unless you were headed downhill.
The 4.0 is a gass guzzling antique but solid and torquey. I can’t beli be the 3.5 hasn’t made its way under the hood. Test driving the 3.5 taco vs the 4.0 4Runner completed my decision to not get the taco. It felt and sounded like a 4 cyl. My old ‘03 350z 3.5 seemed more solid and powerful with its technology from a decade and a half earlier.
DeltaSkyWolf
New member
Awesome. Thanks for the clarification
chmura
New member
I am in the market for a Tacoma. I want to purchase a 2014-2015 2nd gen. No way I want a 3rd gen Tacoma with the 3.5 and all the standard Toyota Safety Sense crap in it.
DavidR1
New member
Based on this information, I have visited both Chuck E Cheese locations in Richmond and not found either Elvis or Hitler working at either. Just wanted to spare everyone the same let down I experienced.
Back on topic, I sure do hope Toyota changes the 4Runner in different ways then they have changed the Taco. Would be nice if they updated the drivetrain, added the Fox suspension from the '18 TRD to all models, and improved the in cabin media. No complaints aside from this.
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Lets just hope the 3.5 and 6 speed auto don't find their way into the 6th gen.
alphabeast
New member
RaginTxn84
New member
Totally agree - keep that POS 3.5 out of the runner. I had to take mine in for that recall a few years ago and got a loaner taco with the 3.5 (when they first came out - trying to get people into the new truck). My '98 I4 Camry had better "performance" than that block. Miserable. Just miserable, which is sad for me cause MY first vehicle I bought was a regular cab I4 taco and loved that truck.
As for the 6th gen runner - just update the 4.0, slap a new tranny with a 6 (true OD) and leave the rest of the gearing alone - keep the responsiveness and allow for better highway mileage. If they wanna go crazy, follow the big 3 trend and bring over the yota diesel.
M2C
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
As for the 6th gen runner - just update the 4.0, slap a new tranny with a 6 (true OD) and leave the rest of the gearing alone - keep the responsiveness and allow for better highway mileage. If they wanna go crazy, follow the big 3 trend and bring over the yota diesel.
M2C
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Daohaus
New member
that was bad, were you stock? i was on 33's and was averaging 18 mpg, although the gearing on those trucks made not fun to drive unless you were romping on the gas all the time. Those motors didn't come alive till you were past 3k on the RPM
I had a manual transmission, all stock. Mine was fully loaded 4 door. Couldn't even use 6th gear unless I was headed down hill. I'm still not sure how toyota gets away with that setup in a truck. Plenty of them used for sale on the local car lots.
Jetboy
New member
I think the transmission is really just a matter of choosing the right one with the right gearing and software. The Tacoma 6AT is a great transmission. It just wasn't well calibrated initially. The current version IMO is pretty well dialed in. The engine... well... that's more of the issue. The Tundra 6AT is great, because it has a big engine in front and 4.30 diffs. No one complains about the 6AT in the GX either.
I personally am not optimistic, but very hopeful that they go with the 2.0 Turbo or some variant of that engine over the Tacoma 3.5. Toyota poured money into that engine. Too much effort went into it not to expand it outside of the IS200t and NX200. It's the most thermally efficient gas engine ever made in that size range. They'll probably stick it in a Highlander instead.
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83Mule
New member
Toyota have ties with Yamaha, yet they act like Honda......way too conservative in their product and marketing. 4Runner is a level above the crap Tacoma and should have a tweaked 4 liter to move it's extra mass and to give it a more relaxed and torque centered feel. I don't want to ''thrash'' my Runner to move it like my 89 3.slow! Drop the 3.5 or bore it out to get some OOOMPHH!!:guitar2:
Baystate4Runner
New member
Not necessarily cheaper in this case. Highlander, Camry, Taco and the 3.5 liter engine are built in the US and Mexico.
4Runner is built in Japan - this would mean shipping the 3.5 to Japan.
Pathfinder!
New member
The idea of putting a less powerful motor in the 4runner is definitely not appealing. Using an under powered engine in a big car usually just makes gas mileage even worse in the real world as well.
