2021 Trail Editions

[Mikey2020]

Well... the Raptor that Ford raced had the cab cut in half, the cage put in, and then re-assembled to meet Baja safety specs. The Toyota's were installed in place. They all have to have OEM suspension links and such, so the main difference is that the Raptor was put back together with a higher level of effort to resemble an OEM setup. Either way - the raptor just isn't very well built for actual race conditions design wise. It's not the suspension that mostly held it back. It's transmission failures, turbo failures, broken drive shafts that were poorly designed, broken shock mounts (also poor engineering), etc. But it's a fair point that it's a lot closer out of the box in terms of suspension and tires than the Toyota models. I mean - Toyota practically puts the same tire on their "off road" models as they do on the Camry. I suspect the ford bronco raptor version will - at least on paper- be very capable if they're going to put a turbo v6 and 35" tires on it.

As far as the engine goes, my parents have a 2019 tacoma. It shares essentially the same engine/transmission with my RX350. It's perfectly fine in the Tacoma, but feels very peppy in the RX. In all honesty the RX tows my camper better than my 4Runner. The chassis isn't really as good, but the drive train is noticeably better. Still tow with the 4Runner, but I'm not sure I have a great reason for doing it other than it feels more like a truck. The two key differences are tune and that the RX has 4.40 diffs while the Tacoma has 3.73. The 3.5L v6 is much smoother, quieter, and produces great power delivery when it's tuned appropriately for the vehicle and geared correctly. Not sure why it's it's tuned to be so sluggish in the Tacoma and why Toyota didn't take the gearing seriously. The Tacoma could be so much better with zero additional manufacturing costs. Just swap the ECU tune to the one already used in the RX/IS/GS and put the 4.30 diffs from the MT version in the AT. Problem solved.

With the 5 speed I didn't like 4.56 gears. They were too low for comfortable highway cruising with only the 5AT and the old 4.0. It's just not well and has a relatively long stroke so it doesn't like to run at high rpms. The 3.5 is a much more free revving engine. So it's nice and smooth at 3500 rpms where the 4.0 feels like you're killing it. If you didn't have a tach in the RX you'd never know it was even there. With a 6AT I'd probably go even lower. Ideally we'd get the 8 or 10 speeds. They cover the entire range of needs. 5.5:1 first gear and a double over drive.

Thanks for the insight. My main issue with the 4runner is it feels like you are gunning it everywhere, and just keeping up with traffic. But for the reasons you mentioned, maybe the right V6 with proper gearing, and transmission would solve some of the woes.

And i agree, the raptor isn't exactly known for its reliabilty, either in races or on the street. I hear tons of people have major engine issues regarding cam phasers and have to have engine rebuilds early on, something you never really hear about with 4runners.

 

[drewsro]

So Toyota is finally going the route the Tacoma's did with bringing the exclusive colors to other trims after the fact? I'm sure this will go over will with TRD Pro owners...

 

[Jetboy]

Thanks for the insight. My main issue with the 4runner is it feels like you are gunning it everywhere, and just keeping up with traffic. But for the reasons you mentioned, maybe the right V6 with proper gearing, and transmission would solve some of the woes.

It might not sound like it, but I really do agree with you. The 4Runner and the new Tacoma aren't well sorted vehicles in the engine/transmission/gearing department. They need some modernizing and I don't know why Toyota is sitting on their hands for so damn long. The 4.0 and 5AT was pretty great in 2002 when it first hit the show room floors. The 2010 update was pretty nice at the time too.

But here we are now another decade later and you can buy a turbo I6 diesel Tahoe that gets 30mpg and a Rav4 that has 302hp and gets 40mpg. And Toyota's answer for a new version of the 4Runner is painting an SR5 gray and putting a cooler in the back?!? And making a very confusing naming convention. That's just not good enough anymore.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

Toyota just trying to milk more money out the legendary, elusive and the only true “Trail” edition that were made in 2010-13… eep:

I can not say I blame them as it is easy money… (there's a sucker born every minute) ... of course people who “know” will never try to compare it to the original one: "2010-13 Trail"… LOL…

4th gens had "trail editions" as well, in 2009.

 

[Mikey2020]

It might not sound like it, but I really do agree with you. The 4Runner and the new Tacoma aren't well sorted vehicles in the engine/transmission/gearing department. They need some modernizing and I don't know why Toyota is sitting on their hands for so damn long. The 4.0 and 5AT was pretty great in 2002 when it first hit the show room floors. The 2010 update was pretty nice at the time too.

But here we are now another decade later and you can buy a turbo I6 diesel Tahoe that gets 30mpg and a Rav4 that has 302hp and gets 40mpg. And Toyota's answer for a new version of the 4Runner is painting an SR5 gray and putting a cooler in the back?!? And making a very confusing naming convention. That's just not good enough anymore.

I haven't got to the point of buying non Toyota vehicles.... Yet.

I didn't realize some of the points you brought up about the Lexus vs Tacoma, and it baffles me that they would supress any performance out of the Tacoma. I think they are not catering toward thier market.

Maybe the rav4 prime will pave the way for the future, combining power and efficiency. But I never thought I'd say this, I am somewhat disappointed with my new 4runner, which I really wanted to love, and the way Toyota seems to be heading. I don't currently see it as a keep it 10-15 year type car for the performance reasons stated earlier.

What I want, Toyota doesn't offer (and other manufacturers don't really either). A performance based SUV, off road capable, third row SUV. Good combo of fun and exhilaration, but still does an alright job hauling family around. The 4runner is the closest to that, which is why I bought it.

The 4runner could be all of this, and corner the market, and only needs to try a little bit harder. All the parts are there, just put it together Toyota!

 

[BADCLOWN]

IMO, those trail editions don't look great at all. Kind of a chintzy they are adding all those "options" in order to give it the cool factor needed to make it more appealing to buyers. A cooler, rack/basket, and the stupid rear slider tray would not attract me enough to a vehicle. Whoever said Toyota was being lazy, you're 100% right.

We should have gotten a diesel T4R ages ago, it would be amazing to get that in TRDP trim.

 

[Jivewalker]

Not a real TE, doesn't have a hood scoop.

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

I haven't got to the point of buying non Toyota vehicles.... Yet.

I didn't realize some of the points you brought up about the Lexus vs Tacoma, and it baffles me that they would supress any performance out of the Tacoma. I think they are not catering toward thier market.

Maybe the rav4 prime will pave the way for the future, combining power and efficiency. But I never thought I'd say this, I am somewhat disappointed with my new 4runner, which I really wanted to love, and the way Toyota seems to be heading. I don't currently see it as a keep it 10-15 year type car for the performance reasons stated earlier.

What I want, Toyota doesn't offer (and other manufacturers don't really either). A performance based SUV, off road capable, third row SUV. Good combo of fun and exhilaration, but still does an alright job hauling family around. The 4runner is the closest to that, which is why I bought it.

The 4runner could be all of this, and corner the market, and only needs to try a little bit harder. All the parts are there, just put it together Toyota!

Sounds like you're looking for a Range Rover Sport? I know JLR absolutely sucks in the reliability department, but RR's are quite capable off-road, and their on road manners are nothing to sneeze at regarding performance.

 

[Pathfinder!]

Honestly, this annoys me to no end. We got an Army Green TRD Pro and waited 6 months to get it because it is the color my wife had to have. Plus, we thought it would be cool to have a rare color on a rare trim. WE certainly did not need a TRD Pro since she will never off-road it. I'm sure some Cement owners are annoyed too. I thought the TRD Pro for each year was exclusive to that trim only. Not anymore apparently. Proof Toyota knows they need a major update to their line when they start offering the exclusive colors on the lower trims. Dodge has done the same with their ancient Charger/Challenger. I wonder what the TRD Pro "exclusive color" will be for 2021. If you miss out, you'll be able to get it across the board for 2022...

but keep in mind this is a limited run, so it may be even more difficult to find these than the Pro you ended up with.

 

[sicnarfone]

The Cement color will sell like hotcakes.

Only 4,000 hotcakes.

 

[sicnarfone]

I am happy with my 2020 4runner in Barcelona Red. Even happier now that Cement and Army Green less rare. Still don't see that much red in the SoCal area. And have people forgotten about Quicksand? I think that is more rare than Cement and Army Green.

 

[jp.vegas]

So Toyota is finally going the route the Tacoma's did with bringing the exclusive colors to other trims after the fact? I'm sure this will go over will with TRD Pro owners...

They've been doing it with the Tundras for years too. I guess it was only a matter of time until it happened to 4Runners as well.

That will kill resale on all of the 4Runner Pros with duplicated colors. That's a bummer I guess but whatever. Maybe I can pick up a second as a cheap beater now with an "exclusive" color eep:

 

[Pathfinder!]

IMO, those trail editions don't look great at all. Kind of a chintzy they are adding all those "options" in order to give it the cool factor needed to make it more appealing to buyers. A cooler, rack/basket, and the stupid rear slider tray would not attract me enough to a vehicle. Whoever said Toyota was being lazy, you're 100% right.

We should have gotten a diesel T4R ages ago, it would be amazing to get that in TRDP trim.

Yeah these things are moronic add ons. I'd just want the SR5 with my color choice, but these crappy add ons will let them charge thousands more and let them pretend like they are special.

 

[mordotz]

Eh, I have an Army Green TRDP and I'm okay with this. 4000 Trail edition total is a pretty low number in the grand scheme of things, maybe 1-1.5k of AG and Cement each? They sell like 130k+ 4Runners per year so it's a pretty low number overall.

Also have to keep in mind that the Trail is an upgraded SR5. It won't have any of the offroad goodies included in the ORP or TRDP.

 

[Mikey2020]

Sounds like you're looking for a Range Rover Sport? I know JLR absolutely sucks in the reliability department, but RR's are quite capable off-road, and their on road manners are nothing to sneeze at regarding performance.

The new Land Rover Defender may be an option at some point as well. I have heard the range Rover sport is all kinds of awful in terms of reliability, tho makes me nervous.

 

[kfs-4runner]

Sounds like you're looking for a Range Rover Sport? I know JLR absolutely sucks in the reliability department, but RR's are quite capable off-road, and their on road manners are nothing to sneeze at regarding performance.

The reliability department equities to extremely high upkeep cost. I for one would not have to pay for the repairs on a Range Rover once the warranty has expired.
I do not know but I think Toyota is not going to have a new version of the 4Runner for a little while for whatever reason and with the Bronco coming out and the ever-present Jeep line out there, they want to get whatever sales are possible from the market. Adding little dodads here and there cost next to nothing and might entice people planing to essentially drive back and forth from the mall, work and to head out to the local state park for a weekend picnic.
I am curious other the people here who recently purchase TRD in a special color would not have made that purchase if they would have known then that a Trail Edition was going to be released that offered the same color.

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

The new Land Rover Defender may be an option at some point as well. I have heard the range Rover sport is all kinds of awful in terms of reliability, tho makes me nervous.

The reliability thing is kind of challenging for me. I've spent almost as many days in a loaner as I have my own car so far this year (18 in a loaner and counting). I was cross-shopping the 4R with a few German SUV's and one Italian. I let practicality win this time.

Edit: I also look at the Defender 90s-130s daily on BaT.

 

[Matze]

Only 4,000 hotcakes.

Sure just 4000, there would be no “run” when they would produce 50k


It’s like these salesguy: “sign now, I can’t hold that offer”!

 

[Mikey2020]

The reliability thing is kind of challenging for me. I've spent almost as many days in a loaner as I have my own car so far this year (18 in a loaner and counting). I was cross-shopping the 4R with a few German SUV's and one Italian. I let practicality win this time.

Edit: I also look at the Defender 90s-130s daily on BaT.

What vehicle are you driving that has had all the issues? Is it a 4runner?

A unreliable car is super stressful, I feel your pain.

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

How else can millennials get into some sweet ass overloading if they don’t have a roof rack and a toyeti cooler in back? Jeesh. You guys are so near sighted.
Prepare to be impressed as it seems they will come with duelers on them as well. Best tire for the trail!