CO-Cygnus
New member
Some Background - I've been been waiting to upgrade my 2012 Limited for some time but have been hesitant due to the lack real changes. The 2020 models fall short of major changes on paper, but there are a few nice upgrades and I did want to take a look and see what's new.
First, the obvious, is that the major mechanical components are completely unchanged. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Looks the same, drives the same, smells the same.
The Changes:
Infotainment: The new infotainment screen is great. Very readable size. Shortcut buttons are still physical, not touch screen based. Unit is quick and responsive, especially the nav compared to my non-Entune JBL unit. No Click and wait while it thinks. Swiping the screen to pan the map is nice a fast.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Finally. So much better.
The center gauge screen is nice and it does not look like a mono-chrome 1990s flashback. My '12 didn't have a screen at all but I do remember particularly disliking at 8-Bit screen in the 2017 I looked at not too long ago. This is far better. There is a nice "4Runner" animation when you power the car up, not a generic "Toyota". I didn't pay a lot of attention to it otherwise.
Safety Features:
Adaptive Cruise: Works well. There is a button right on the steering wheel for changing follow distance but it is directly next to to the Lane Keep button. I found myself accidentally turning Lane Keep on/off a few times when I was trying to change the follow distance. Set Speeds are done in 1 MPH increments. No 5 MPH shortcuts, so meh. Also, the adaptive cruise shuts down at 25 MPH. I really did find this a bit jarring, especially since my Daily Driver will bring the car to a stop with its adaptive cruise, so I can see this particular setup being annoying in stop and go.
Lane Keep Assist: Seriously annoying to me personally. This is a big truck and I found it beeping constantly when the right of the truck got near, but not over, a lane line. Fortunately a single click, not a click and hold, tuns it off and the truck remembers your choices when you turn if off, so you don't have to keep turning it off every time you startup. As mentioned above, this button is right next to the Adaptive Cruise follow distance button, so there were a few accidental clicks.
Blind Spot Monitoring: Just Kidding, this does not exist on the 4R. I don't know why they'd add TSS and leave off the Blind Spot Monitor. Bean counters win again.
Auto High Beams: Did not test but I assume they work the same way they do on every car that has them: If the camera sees a tail light, street light, garden light, or flash light anywhere within 2 miles it turns the high beams off. This feature did have a hard switch on the left side of the dash, so I assume you can toggle it on or off if you want, which is nice.
Auto Breaking/Collision Warning: Definitely did not test. Sorry, not sorry.
A quick note, but there is a chunky little camera unit on the right hand side of the rear view mirror for the Lane Keep and High Beam assist. I didn't find it blocked the view out of the windshield, but it is hard to miss.
Not OK in a $45-50K truck / First World Problems:
The same poor headlights. Is this this the last vehicle in the Toyota lineup where you have no HID or LED options? The frickin Yaris gets LEDs @ $18K. The Tacoma gets LEDs this year but not the 4R? This really annoys me because I live in an area where night time Elk and Moose collisions are not uncommon.
Auto High Beams but no Auto Headlights on the TRD Offroad Premium. Seriously what?
Would I upgrade? Logically, no. I probably should just wait for the 6th Gen and hope they don't screw it up. Emotionally, I've already started negotiating prices.
First, the obvious, is that the major mechanical components are completely unchanged. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Looks the same, drives the same, smells the same.
The Changes:
Infotainment: The new infotainment screen is great. Very readable size. Shortcut buttons are still physical, not touch screen based. Unit is quick and responsive, especially the nav compared to my non-Entune JBL unit. No Click and wait while it thinks. Swiping the screen to pan the map is nice a fast.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Finally. So much better.
The center gauge screen is nice and it does not look like a mono-chrome 1990s flashback. My '12 didn't have a screen at all but I do remember particularly disliking at 8-Bit screen in the 2017 I looked at not too long ago. This is far better. There is a nice "4Runner" animation when you power the car up, not a generic "Toyota". I didn't pay a lot of attention to it otherwise.
Safety Features:
Adaptive Cruise: Works well. There is a button right on the steering wheel for changing follow distance but it is directly next to to the Lane Keep button. I found myself accidentally turning Lane Keep on/off a few times when I was trying to change the follow distance. Set Speeds are done in 1 MPH increments. No 5 MPH shortcuts, so meh. Also, the adaptive cruise shuts down at 25 MPH. I really did find this a bit jarring, especially since my Daily Driver will bring the car to a stop with its adaptive cruise, so I can see this particular setup being annoying in stop and go.
Lane Keep Assist: Seriously annoying to me personally. This is a big truck and I found it beeping constantly when the right of the truck got near, but not over, a lane line. Fortunately a single click, not a click and hold, tuns it off and the truck remembers your choices when you turn if off, so you don't have to keep turning it off every time you startup. As mentioned above, this button is right next to the Adaptive Cruise follow distance button, so there were a few accidental clicks.
Blind Spot Monitoring: Just Kidding, this does not exist on the 4R. I don't know why they'd add TSS and leave off the Blind Spot Monitor. Bean counters win again.
Auto High Beams: Did not test but I assume they work the same way they do on every car that has them: If the camera sees a tail light, street light, garden light, or flash light anywhere within 2 miles it turns the high beams off. This feature did have a hard switch on the left side of the dash, so I assume you can toggle it on or off if you want, which is nice.
Auto Breaking/Collision Warning: Definitely did not test. Sorry, not sorry.
A quick note, but there is a chunky little camera unit on the right hand side of the rear view mirror for the Lane Keep and High Beam assist. I didn't find it blocked the view out of the windshield, but it is hard to miss.
Not OK in a $45-50K truck / First World Problems:
The same poor headlights. Is this this the last vehicle in the Toyota lineup where you have no HID or LED options? The frickin Yaris gets LEDs @ $18K. The Tacoma gets LEDs this year but not the 4R? This really annoys me because I live in an area where night time Elk and Moose collisions are not uncommon.
Auto High Beams but no Auto Headlights on the TRD Offroad Premium. Seriously what?
Would I upgrade? Logically, no. I probably should just wait for the 6th Gen and hope they don't screw it up. Emotionally, I've already started negotiating prices.
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