Gen 6 rear seat fold, dealbreaker?

[gomiami]

Remember - a base model LC300 in Japan is $33k USD and has a pass through rear seat. Toyota does it because they don't care.

I'm beginning to believe you are correct.

I had no idea a real LC cost so little in Japan. That either speaks to how much in tariffs Toyota pays to ship vehicles over here or how badly Toyota is gouging their customer base.

 

[balong48]

I use my 20% fold down the most. I like the pass through between the passengers for skis mostly. I know I had Jeep rentals that only have the 40/60 and found it annoying. I see the Toyota beancounters ruined some good things again. Why do people with business degrees get to make engineering decisions....

As someone who thought they knew everything about their 4Runner, I just learned about this today. I was so confused while seeing it mentioned and sure enough, it’s there. I’d wager most people have no idea it’s there and don’t use it, therefore won’t miss it. I won’t cause I’ve lived without knowing about it for so long.

It does suck though when features used regularly are removed, so not discounting those who do use it. I still miss my burger tray and double sun visors (and my V8) from my 4th gen.

 

[thatoneguy]

That is insanely annoying. My 1st gen, 3rd gen, and 5th gen all fold the way I want to--rotate seat bottom forward, lay seat back flat, create flat(ish) load floor. Why screw that up? Being unable to sleep in a 6th gen, and presumably going down a bit in storage volume, is a negative. Yes, I'm sure this lowers costs for them to not have to make different rear seat types like the 2/3 row 5th gens, but still.

I'll try to reserve judgement until I check it out in person.

 

[Colorado buff]

The design aspect of the 6th gen is definitely polarizing if you forget about that for a moment:
1. The fold down rear seat is a clear fail
2. The room in the back seats also on inspection look like a fail.
3. The smaller tank so even though they improved mileage but you still only get 400 per tank is also a fail.

I’m with some of the others, I think they could improve these in later year refreshes. Not worth me buying a first year model. Will keep my gen 3 for longer and wait.

 

[_chassis_]

Ugh, this doesn't look good.

Where is a person to go in the midsize SUV segment?

6th gen 4Runner seems weird based on this thread (I loved our 4th gen)
MB GLE quality is junk
Porsche Cayenne is fun but not worth the price
BMW X5 is boring
VW Touareg no longer available in the U.S.

Explorer? I can't see it.

Q7/Q8? Maybe.

 

[Essee]

Ugh, this doesn't look good.

Where is a person to go in the midsize SUV segment?

6th gen 4Runner seems weird based on this thread (I loved our 4th gen)
MB GLE quality is junk
Porsche Cayenne is fun but not worth the price
BMW X5 is boring
VW Touareg no longer available in the U.S.

Explorer? I can't see it.

Q7/Q8? Maybe.

Been asking that question too. I'm ending up at 5th gen 4Runner as my only straightforward option. My priorities being capability, reliability, car camping.

I love the Touareg, Cayenne and Q7 but they come with reliability headache as you get up in miles and a lot of expense if you don't DIY. The one thing those cars have over the 5th gen that does bother me is great braking (and dreamy handling all-around, but braking being actually important). That's IMO the achilles heal of the 4runner which 6th gen does finally solve...

So the other option I'm thinking of is a Goosegear-type seat delete mod to the 6th gen to solve the cargo issues. But I don't want a permanent 2nd-row delete for security reasons, as that leaves anything in your cargo area visible creating a break-in motive. I'm thinking of doing a modified Goosegear type setup with a hinge that swings the forward half of the platform up and locks it like a 2nd row seatback when the platform isn't in use but I've never seen that done and it's complex to work out...

 

[02SE]

The rear seat folding style is just another thing I don't like on the 6th gen.

I've inspected them closely, driven them... I'm just unimpressed. Chintzy build quality, a bigger vehicle that manages to feel more cramped, yes, it has more power at altitude, real world MPG from a few people I know who had a 5th gen, and now a 6th gen drivng in the same day-to-day routine, is proving to be just about the same. All from an engine that sounds about as refined as the Yugo a friend drove in highschool.

I have an old Camry that I bought for my mom. I keep it for sentimental reasons. It sounds far more refined than the 6th gen 4Runner. Yes, I'm well aware the DI injectors are louder when standing next to an idling DI engine. Yes, I know the 4Runner is D4S, meaning port and direct injectors.

What I'm saying is that Toyota really cheaped out on the damping and insulation that would've made the 6th gen 4Runner a quieter, more refined, and just a nicer vehicle to drive.

 

[88Center]

The interior design language for all of the new Toyota SUVs coming out has been confusing to me. What I thought would be a one-off mistake with the Sequoia seems to be a pattern now.

There was no reason why the 4Runner design team should have settled on the rear seat/cargo area design that they did...unless they think people will buy the 6th gen no matter how they configure it.

I don't think they had much of a choice in the backseat area, thanks to Toyota building off same platform as Tacoma, and then designing the Taco first.

Here is the hybrid battery for Tacoma, which was designed before the 4Runner. Seems like a lot of crap to fit under the rear seating area.

 

[Jeff_DML]

I don't think they had much of a choice in the backseat area, thanks to Toyota building off same platform as Tacoma, and then designing the Taco first.

Here is the hybrid battery for Tacoma, which was designed before the 4Runner.

Not sure why you are blaming the tacoma, looks like the battery is in a different location in your pics. They need to put the big old battery someplace.

 

[jerlane]

Ugh, this doesn't look good.

Where is a person to go in the midsize SUV segment?

6th gen 4Runner seems weird based on this thread (I loved our 4th gen)
MB GLE quality is junk
Porsche Cayenne is fun but not worth the price
BMW X5 is boring
VW Touareg no longer available in the U.S.

Explorer? I can't see it.

Q7/Q8? Maybe.

I'm looking closely at the Passport trailsport. It may not be as off-road capable, but I'm not doing any serious off-roading these days anyways. I think they look good and seem to be well appointed.

 

[88Center]

I'll try to reserve judgement until I check it out in person.

Why wait when you can judge now? :bounce:

Hybrid with battery pack underneath

Non hybrid is more extreme in the step.

 

[Blue15]

Kept my 15 TE 7yrs, I think I’ll hold on to my 22 ORP a few years extra. Maybe they fix their mistakes on the 7th Gen.

 

[Lemming]

Any chance those rear seats come out somewhat easily for a flat area to lay on?

 

[Hungryhawk]

Maybe for daily driving obtain a smaller fuel efficient vehicle. Save the 5th gen for a long life of outings. Parts for the 5th gen should be available for a long time. Teach yourself how to wrench on it.

 

[Dario]

New ORP hybrid owner. The cargo area situation is terrible, especially with the hybrid battery. It's hard to imagine that they could not do a better job with this.

It feels worse because I'm coming from a Land Rover that has a perfectly flat cargo area over 6' long.

 

[NB-4Runner]

I really wish they wouldn't put carpet back there. The U in SUV is for utility. Had a Nissan Xterra way back, plastic cargo area and the back of the back seat. A lot cleaner.

 

[white_n_slow]

It's been a long time since I've owned a 4runner, but this is the biggest Achilles heel of the 80-series and newer Land Cruisers. I've had an 80 and a 200 Land Cruiser. You have to fully remove the rear seats in order to get a full-length cargo deck. It's sometimes a tough pill to swallow, but the other attributes of the vehicle help make up for it. Thankfully it's only 4 bolts to remove each seat. The 200 series seats are colossally heavy and a bear to get in and out, but I expect the 6g 4runner seats shouldn't be too bad.

The other common work around is a cargo drawer/platform that comes up to the level of the folded seats. You can store your tools, camping and recovery gear inside, then lay flat on the top with the rear seats folded down. But it does cut into head room.