4th gen V6 > 5th gen V6

[DocMT]

Does anyone have a link to performance numbers? I'm wondering what the 0-60 time is for the 4th gen V6 versus the 5th gen.

That should give us a way to tell if it's the extra weight or if it's just the throttle tuning.

Yes, I'm quoting myself. LOL

Since I save all of my old car magazines, I had to break out the old ones and find some test results for the 4Runner. The only tests I could find were in Car and Driver. Here’s the numbers they published for the ’05 V6 4Runner:

0-60: 7.6 seconds
¼ mile: 15.9

They got slightly better results out of the ’05 V8 4Runner:

0-60: 7.2
¼ mile: 15.7

And Motor Trend got these numbers for a 2010 4Runner:

0-60: 7.6
1/4 mile: 15.8

So I guess the new 4Runner shouldn't feel sluggish at all compared to the 4th gens.

 

[JasonCz]

Yes, I'm quoting myself. LOL

Since I save all of my old car magazines, I had to break out the old ones and find some test results for the 4Runner. The only tests I could find were in Car and Driver. Here’s the numbers they published for the ’05 V6 4Runner:

0-60: 7.6 seconds
¼ mile: 15.9

They got slightly better results out of the ’05 V8 4Runner:

0-60: 7.2
¼ mile: 15.7

And Motor Trend got these numbers for a 2010 4Runner:

0-60: 7.6
1/4 mile: 15.8

So I guess the new 4Runner shouldn't feel sluggish at all compared to the 4th gens.

Wow, thats great info. The most telling stat is the quarter mile times of the 10/11 V6 and the old V8.

It basically verifies what I already suspected, it's all down to throttle sensitivity/response. It doesn't bother me really because I know the power is there if I press down, but it encourages me to drive for efficiency if I don't really need it.

 

[aspade]

I test drove a 2011 last week and thought the engine was noisy, unresponsive and felt unrefined. It seemed to take alot of pedal action to keep things moving in traffic. On a more positive note, it did feel great when I floored it, good power wide open, also it only had 18 miles on it so probably would loosen up over time. Liked the vehicle very much otherwise but probably won't buy one due to the engine. Guess I'm spoiled by my V-8 Tundra.

+1. I was underwhelmed to the point I didn't buy it.

 

[Koz]

After my test drive the 5th gen (and I put it to it pretty hard, the salesman was locked onto the grab handles), I felt it had poor throttle response but felt about as fast as the 4th V6. I would prefer the 4th gen V6 and the 4th gen V8 is better and faster. This is the main reason I went with the GX, night and day difference! The 4.6 will crush the 5th gen V6.

Koz

 

[DocMT]

Wow, thats great info. The most telling stat is the quarter mile times of the 10/11 V6 and the old V8.

It basically verifies what I already suspected, it's all down to throttle sensitivity/response. It doesn't bother me really because I know the power is there if I press down, but it encourages me to drive for efficiency if I don't really need it.

Of course performance figures vary, but I'd say that all three 4Runners I listed would run neck and neck in a drag race. Of course racing them would be silly, but still, it does support the theory that the new V6 isn't slower than the old V6. Yes, the 5th gen is heavier, but it has more HP to offset that extra weight, so it performs about the same.

 

[DocMT]

After my test drive the 5th gen (and I put it to it pretty hard, the salesman was locked onto the grab handles), I felt it had poor throttle response but felt about as fast as the 4th V6. I would prefer the 4th gen V6 and the 4th gen V8 is better and faster. This is the main reason I went with the GX, night and day difference! The 4.6 will crush the 5th gen V6.

Koz

Seat of the pants feel is nice, but the numbers just don't support it. Sometimes torque makes you feel faster (with a nice kick in the back) when you're not actually going faster.

 

[Koz]

Yes, I'm quoting myself. LOL

Since I save all of my old car magazines, I had to break out the old ones and find some test results for the 4Runner. The only tests I could find were in Car and Driver. Here’s the numbers they published for the ’05 V6 4Runner:

0-60: 7.6 seconds
¼ mile: 15.9

They got slightly better results out of the ’05 V8 4Runner:

0-60: 7.2
¼ mile: 15.7

And Motor Trend got these numbers for a 2010 4Runner:

0-60: 7.6
1/4 mile: 15.8

So I guess the new 4Runner shouldn't feel sluggish at all compared to the 4th gens.

When I had my 05 V8 I ran a 15.39 @ 90mph with a TRD drop-in filter and a Magnflow exhaust.

Koz

 

[adoihcj]

Again, throttle response is key. Take it on a test drive and never get her up past 3,500 RPMs and you'll think this truck is very slow. However, floor it, or switch to S mode and you'll be amazed at the power.

This is where the car/truck market is going. VVTi is awesome because you're basically sitting on a powerful "V8" engine which stays in V6/I4 mode for normal everyday driving. I like VVTi better than GM's solution, where one cylinder is deactivated until you need it. I've also read somewhere (sorry, I do not have the source) that the days of the V6 are numbered as well because they are getting more power out of I4's now.

 

[CApilot78]

Imo it blows away the 4.0 in my 09 Tacoma. It tows much better and gets better gas mileage to boot.

What have you towed with your 5th gen and how much does it weigh?

 

[Koz]

Again, throttle response is key. Take it on a test drive and never get her up past 3,500 RPMs and you'll think this truck is very slow. However, floor it, or switch to S mode and you'll be amazed at the power.

This is where the car/truck market is going. VVTi is awesome because you're basically sitting on a powerful "V8" engine which stays in V6/I4 mode for normal everyday driving. I like VVTi better than GM's solution, where one cylinder is deactivated until you need it. I've also read somewhere (sorry, I do not have the source) that the days of the V6 are numbered as well because they are getting more power out of I4's now.

I do not think the sluggish throttle is intended. If that were the case the 4.6 V8 would have the same tuning and this is not the case. Also Toyota would have mentioned it as a feature.

Koz

 

[adoihcj]

I do not think the sluggish throttle is intended. If that were the case the 4.6 V8 would have the same tuning and this is not the case. Also Toyota would have mentioned it as a feature.

Koz

While I do not understand the point you are making, if I hear you correctly, you think VVTi is not a feature. It's meant to use less power until it's actually needed (making the engine run more efficiently). Toyota does mention VVTi, they just do not do a good job of explaining WHY it helps the engine run more efficiently (at least from the marketing materials I've seen).

Also, I thought this write up goes into great detail on how Dual VVTi works: VVT-i: It's All a Matter of Timing - Newsroom : Our Point of View Post / Toyota

 

[Plato1969]

While a small V8 would have been nice in the 5th gen 4Runner, I don't have a problem with the current V6... it's not a world beater, but certainly enough HP and torque to perform adequately.

 

[Koz]

While I do not understand the point you are making, if I hear you correctly, you think VVTi is not a feature. It's meant to use less power until it's actually needed (making the engine run more efficiently).

VVTi broadens the HP/torque power band. It creates more HP/Torque sooner and longer then a regular cam. The side benefit is better mileage. It has nothing to do with poor throttle response. I have dual VVTi in both my Lexus’ (3.5 V6 & 4.6 V8) and the throttle response is perfect.

Koz

 

[DocMT]

When I had my 05 V8 I ran a 15.39 @ 90mph with a TRD drop-in filter and a Magnflow exhaust.

Koz

That seems about right. You got about 3/10s of a second better than the magazine time, but you had some light mods. And you probably didn't run with a full tank of gas the way the magazines do.

 

[DocMT]

While I do not understand the point you are making, if I hear you correctly, you think VVTi is not a feature. It's meant to use less power until it's actually needed (making the engine run more efficiently). Toyota does mention VVTi, they just do not do a good job of explaining WHY it helps the engine run more efficiently (at least from the marketing materials I've seen).

Also, I thought this write up goes into great detail on how Dual VVTi works: VVT-i: It's All a Matter of Timing - Newsroom : Our Point of View Post / Toyota

VVTi has nothing to do with poor throttle response or a "sluggish" throttle tuning. If you've ever driven a 4th gen with the VVTi V6, you'd realize that it has a really responsive throttle that probably makes it feel faster than it really is.

 

[TRDSmokedU]

My biggest concern is the lack of torque. I live in Florida most of the year but my family has a house in the mountains of NC. I had a 05 Runner with the V8 and it ran up the mountains with no issues. My sister just got a limited 4Runner 2010 and her husband has the 2005 sport with the V8. They are night and day climbing steep grades. For those of us who pull and travel up steep grades, the V8 would be a nice option. I know a lot of posters tell me to go get a sequoia but I don't have that kind of money and it doesn't fit in my garage.

 

[AGW1]

Has anyone tried or looked into this:

Sprint Booster For Toyota 4Runner

2010 is not available yet

Little pricey. Doesn't give you more ponys, but better throttle response.

 

[JasonCz]

Has anyone tried or looked into this:

Sprint Booster For Toyota 4Runner

2010 is not available yet

Little pricey. Doesn't give you more ponys, but better throttle response.

That's pretty interesting. It just remaps the throttle inputs, but it seems like it would solve the perceived sluggishness of the 5th gens.

 

[Dispense]

I equate this to the guys who can feel the difference of replacing an air filter. I just don't see the numbers adding up.

Now I haven't driven both generations, but it sounds more like you were simply used to driving one way on one vehicle. Now have to learn a different way, in relation to pedal travel and engine response. The power is still there, its just applied (not sure what word to use here) differently. In my eyes, that seat of the pants feel doesn't add any value.

I tried to find a dyno sheet of stock 4th and 5th Gens but didn't come up with anything. Wouldn't that be the best way to see where the Hp and Tq appear in the RPM range and give a best comparison?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I test drove a 2011 last week and thought the engine was noisy, unresponsive and felt unrefined. It seemed to take alot of pedal action to keep things moving in traffic. On a more positive note, it did feel great when I floored it, good power wide open, also it only had 18 miles on it so probably would loosen up over time. Liked the vehicle very much otherwise but probably won't buy one due to the engine. Guess I'm spoiled by my V-8 Tundra.

I do not want my power on the top end. I want instant torque at low rpm. That is why I like a V8. I do not even want to get to 5000 rpm very often. A truck type vehicle like this should have most of its torque down low in the rpm range.