No power compared to 2004 Gen4 V6

I have to say I first thought the same thing when the 5th Gen came out and I test drove one. Years later when I bought one my experience was different as I actually used the skinny pedal.

I personally don't mind this as it seem to me that it is good thing when off Road and you don't want to just take off on the trail but just move at a slower pace over an obstacle etc. There is no "jump" (very technical) in the initial power delivery but is there when I wan/need it.
 
I see what he OP is saying but, as noted, I feel incredibly comfortable and confident when passing vehicles on single lane highways. This thing hauls ass when you push the pedal for a V6 in a vehicle of this size.
 
GSPRunner said:
All I know is my 14 feels like a sports car compared to my lifted 3rd Gen
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So true!! My 3rd gen is a slow pig and it's not even lifted, though it does have larger a/t LT tires. I feel my '14 is fast enough when I need it and otherwise keeps me out of trouble. My 3rd gen just felt plain slow in comparison.
 
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My 5th is way more quick to accel than my 3rd was. Not to mention a local freeway canyon road around here, 3rd gen mashed with just me and my dog 70mph tops with a tail wind, 5th happily motors at 90~ with a little more room to go. YMMV
 
Intruder said:
I think that might be due to the dual VVT-i. I'm a former Acura VTEC owner (Integra and TSX) so I'm used to having the power band a little higher in the rpm spectrum. The VTECs feel sluggish too if you shift lower than 5k, but if you get it closer to redline you're in for a fun ride. I don't expect the 4Runner to have the same acceleration, but VVT-i has pretty much the same characteristics as VTEC.
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If this is the case, then how come the Single VVT-i the 4th gen doesn't feel sluggish. If all of the power is at the top end, then it seems pretty stupid of Toyota to create a shift map to keep it out of its powerband, and what seems like all costs. If their shift points are designed to save fuel (at the cost of drive ability) then it seems that their efforts are negated by the fact you have to floor it, whenever you need to get anywhere. It also hangs onto high gears way too long, so you can be going up a moderate hill, and be using 50% throttle, but in 5th gear, so not only are you getting nowhere, but you are dumping a bunch of extra fuel.

I much rather not save the .01 MPGs that these fuel saving shift maps save us, and have the improved drive ability. Or atleast they could give us a real "Sport" mode that holds on gears a little longer, and downshifts without needing 75%+ throttle input to downshift.
 
Whiplash Willy said:
If this is the case, then how come the Single VVT-i the 4th gen doesn't feel sluggish.
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Butt dyno or real dyno? Pretty sure the 5th gen also outweighs the 4th gen.

Whiplash Willy said:
If all of the power is at the top end, then it seems pretty stupid of Toyota to create a shift map to keep it out of its powerband, and what seems like all costs. If their shift points are designed to save fuel (at the cost of drive ability) then it seems that their efforts are negated by the fact you have to floor it, whenever you need to get anywhere. It also hangs onto high gears way too long, so you can be going up a moderate hill, and be using 50% throttle, but in 5th gear, so not only are you getting nowhere, but you are dumping a bunch of extra fuel.

I much rather not save the .01 MPGs that these fuel saving shift maps save us, and have the improved drive ability. Or atleast they could give us a real "Sport" mode that holds on gears a little longer, and downshifts without needing 75%+ throttle input to downshift.
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CAFE regulations.
 
I traded my 04' Sport V6 for a 14' Limited a couple months back and have to agree with the sentiments that the 04' felt much stronger. This is however very unscientific! I also felt that the 04' did a better job towing!!! And yes, like everyone else my 04' also got better gas mileage...and felt stronger. Anyone know where I can find a 0 mileage 04' Sport that won't have a rusted tailgate and headgasket issue at 130k?
 
1engineer said:
No, they are just a bunch of whiners. Push the gas hard. It will go.
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I agree. For a 4.0L V6 with an ancient 5 speed, I think it has pretty good power. When you get on it it will give you all the power you need! Going to make a lot of noise doing it....but every bit as quick* as my old 4.7 and 5.7 POS Jeeps**

*Quick for a 4wd SUV
**Unibody junkwagons
 
I think my experience has to do with the rpm ranges that I like to stay in. I have a habit of keeping rpms below 2500 on my 3rd gen (I like to be easy on the engine and trans). In that same range in my 5th gen i feel I get less power than my 3rd gen.

Taco04 said:
My 2004 3.4l Tacoma is a dog on the hwy in comparison to my 2014 especially in the hills. Did they gear the 3rd gen 4runner different?
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My 14 is still just days old and yesterday I went for a 30 mile drive on the freeway to just work on getting it broke in and to play with the manual shift option.

I think that Toyota has done a pretty good job of setting up the engine management on this truck. When in 'D' and ECO mode is running they are surely trying to get to the sweet spot on economy.

But just switching over to manual mode turns off the 'ECO' mode and the engine does respond better. Although I have not seen a dyno chart on this motor with the dual cams, the VVT and peak TQ at 4400 you will need to spin it to get the power.
 
I think it is set up fine. I could do without hearing all the noise of a Japanese V6 truck motor but I actually appreciate the ancient 5 speed trans! Having owned BMWs, every gen Jeep GC, 3rd, 4th, 5th Gen T4R...I have come to appreciate something tried and true and enjoy the simplicity. A good combo of new tech with old school BOF truck stuff. That's just my useless opinion. :D
 
RAWTAZ said:
My 14 is still just days old and yesterday I went for a 30 mile drive on the freeway to just work on getting it broke in and to play with the manual shift option.

I think that Toyota has done a pretty good job of setting up the engine management on this truck. When in 'D' and ECO mode is running they are surely trying to get to the sweet spot on economy.

But just switching over to manual mode turns off the 'ECO' mode and the engine does respond better. Although I have not seen a dyno chart on this motor with the dual cams, the VVT and peak TQ at 4400 you will need to spin it to get the power.
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Unless Toyota changed something on the 2014, there is not "ECO Mode" on the 4Runner. It's just a light that indicates when your acceleration is environmentally friendly or "ECO" friendly.

The manual mode you speak of does not turn anything off, it allows you to hold a gear in a certain rev limit so you can gear up or down when you want. This of course could very unECO like. For example lots of guys will use it to stay in 4th gear while towing.

From reading this forum it seems sales people are misleading consumers, even my sales person misrepresented the truth, or just did not know. Thankfully I read up on the truck prior to my purchase so I was not disappointed by the deception.
 
RAWTAZ said:
Hi Jim, so you have tested this on a dyno or a tuner and know this for fact?
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No tuners, no testing, just the fact as supplied my the Owners Manual. Like I said initially, unless they changed something for the 2014, I can speak for my 2010 even the owners manual just states Eco Driving Indicator Light, no mode.

However, if you or anyone else conducts some kind of testing, I'd love to see if the Eco Driving Indicator Light produced a response to the vehicle other than the green light turning on or off.

Not to sound like a smart a$$, but does your manual state Eco Mode, if so what does it list as the benefit of this mode? Maybe your 2014 is different from my 2010 engine?
 
The dealer pushed me to Helm for the 2014 Service Manual and it is not published yet at Helm, the Owners manual is not going to cover the technical aspects of what is going on with electronics internally. I have only had my 2014 for a week at this point but will be making some upgrades as they come available.

Looking forward to learning more about what is really going on. Worked with some guys on a Lotus Elise engine and the VVT was brutal until the ecm was hacked to increase the boost from a super charger.

Personally have never seen a manufacture add costs to a vehicle without some sort of benefit or return on investment.

Seems odd that if you put the vehicle into 5th gear in manual mode and set the cruise they would not turn on the 'idiot' light again, seems to me that they are using the light to properly indicate that you are not running in 'ECO' mode when it is available.

Will be interesting to see who may know from imperial testing and review of the engine and systems.

TAZ
 
I have a 2012, had a 2011 and have driven a 2014. Every one I have owned or been in has an ECO LIGHT ONLY. No ECO mode. The idiot light just lights up when certain drive train parameters are met as it actually does nothing else. My wife's new CR-V has much prettier eco lights (they turn green-er) but just lights all the same. No mode.
 
If I scroll through the display switch button aka trip meter reset button and scroll through the different display options, I come to a tach type display known as the "Eco driving zone indicator" that shows me how nice to be on the throttle so I can make sure my "idiot" light is always on OR if I consistently mash the accelerator I can manage to keep the "idiot" light off ;): :biggrin1: :thumb:
 
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