I took my first road trip this weekend with our new 2013 SR5 and to be quite honest I think it is a dog, I had my wife and two of my kids with me with just bags for a weekend stay. I had a 2007 sport edition before this and I think that it would run circles around the 2013, I have searched and read about what others think and some are happy and some are not, sure it will run if you get on it and I understand Toyota's strategy for mileage but I think they just killed it when they wrote that flash file for the throttle, not enough torque, its just a mid to high rpm motor and on our way back we had bought some Christmas stuff and it downshifted to fourth on an uphill and then it downshifted into third and I thought it was going to float the valves. I really like some things about it but the powertrain I think is a step back. Your thoughts?
No power
- Thread starter sc5
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
NJshadow93
New member
Unless your '07 was a V8, your 2013 should blow it away. I believe people have had their 5th gens geared to maximize low end torque.
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
This is why I do not have a 5th gen. I have driven 5 of them and I do not like having to rev the engine so high to get any power out of it. A heavy suv needs strong power at lower rpm. A big fail for Toyota in my opinion. Also the 5th gen is around 400 lbs. heavier than the 4th gen. The 5th gen engine would be better if they made it 400 lbs. lighter than the 4th gen. This engine is a dog until the rpm is unrealistically high. Add bigger tires and the problem is amplified.
BigredTEX
New member
I have to agree that it feels underpowered, but only at highway speeds. Around town it's pretty peppy. I feel it is geared too high (numerically low) for the torque curve. With 285/70's it only gets worse. As has already been pointed out, if you spin it up it has plenty of power. I've learned to anticipate hills by manually downshifting to 4th before hitting the hill, which tends to reduce the unexpected auto downshifts to 3rd. The also makes the cruise control worthless. If I'm cruising on anything other than table top flat highways I'll just leave it in 4th.
adio3x
New member
I think its fine. My 5th gen is probably 1000 lbs heavier than a stock 4th gen. Does it feel sluggish sometimes? Yes. Deal with it. If you noticed how it drove when you first got it and didn't like it, why did you get it then? There's no need to bash on the 5th gens, if you need something faster, build yourself a rocket ship and get off this forum.
Was that too mean? Sorry lol.
Was that too mean? Sorry lol.
harper7
Senior Member
At least you were keen enough to test drive one and decide it wasn't what you wanted rather then buy one and then find out later as I guess some people do!They allow us to test drive them around here too before we buy them and I knew what it was like before I bought it. I was real surprised it wasn't as fast as the M3 I sold to get it!
Brakes weren't as good either!The 5th Gens were set up to get good gas mileage,since that's all the rage these days for the majority of consumers, and still have plenty of power in reserve if you floor it. There are people on here getting 22+ mpg if you baby it which isn't bad for a 2 1/2 ton full framed truck with the aerodynamics of a cement block. If you think its slow on the highway just drive it in 4th rather then OD and there's plenty of pep. Then they'll whine about the gas mileage!
I regeared mine with 4:56's and it's way faster off the line with more low end torque then the 4th Gen V8's and gets about the same gas mileage. The power is there.Just wait til the 5th Gen Supercharger is out and they will really scream if that's what your in to.
We're looking for a 4th Gen for my daughter and I/we just test drove a 2005 2WD Sport V8 last weekend so I do have a fresh reference.4th Gens sure do hold their value still as I'm finding out.She wanted a Exterra but I talked her out of it considering Dad was the one financing it for her and will be maintaining it!
Last edited:
Lolrax
New member
I have about 10,000 miles now and I kind of feel like the car has "loosened up" a bit and allowed me to feel more powerful than it felt when it was new. I have gone from total dissatisfaction to feeling that its not too bad now. Give it some time and see if it helps. With that being said, I will have a supercharger as soon as its available.
For such a bad-ass looking truck, it should be a little bit better in the power dept. the vehicle exceeds my expectations in every other way though and I couldn't think of another one I would want.
For such a bad-ass looking truck, it should be a little bit better in the power dept. the vehicle exceeds my expectations in every other way though and I couldn't think of another one I would want.
Last edited:
Bourbonator
New member
My first vehicle was an '03 v8 Tundra. No, it wasn't a f-150 lightning, but it was quick to rev and torquy. I live on top of a giant friggin hill, about a mile and a half from the ocean. I drive approximately 1.8 miles from sea level to my home at 900 feet above sea level. If anything, my 4r handles the hill much more smoothly than my Tundra ever could. I cruise up at 60 mph at a nice 2.3k rpm. I never have to jam the peddle - I just ease it down a little, and maintain speed. Plus, I don't have to watch the fuel guage literally drop an eighth a tank every time I drive up the hill! Please, once and for all, stop trolling the 5th gen.
harper7
Senior Member
Question......I'm curious to know where you think the extra 400 lbs went on a 5th Gen and where you think they could have cut 800 lbs to make it 400 less then a 4th?
I've owned a 4th Gen and a 5th Gen and I know it's not in the exterior sheet metal was thinner to try to save weight.
Pretty sure I know where it went and they don't advertise it much and is worth every penny.Curious to hear where you think it got added on.
Last edited:
crunchcity
New member
It does seem soft on the low end, and lots of pedal play.
I'm still getting used to it, coming from both a V6 Rav4 and V6 Highlander over the past two years.
Before the test drive I assumed the power would be somewhat similar to my Highlander since the Highlander was only a few hundred pounds lighter with similar numbers but shouldn't have made that assumption lol I should have known better there's more to it than that.
I mashed it on the test drive down a straight road and it seemed good enough but didn't realize how much play they put in the pedal since I had the pedal down for the majority of the test drive.
I still love the truck though. I know any information coming from a salesman is suspect but he told me they will probably update the engine with direct injection at some point, although that would probably only help fuel economy? Nevertheless I would strongly be tempted to trade up especially if they remapped the throttle or had a button that changed it.
I'm still getting used to it, coming from both a V6 Rav4 and V6 Highlander over the past two years.
Before the test drive I assumed the power would be somewhat similar to my Highlander since the Highlander was only a few hundred pounds lighter with similar numbers but shouldn't have made that assumption lol I should have known better there's more to it than that.
I mashed it on the test drive down a straight road and it seemed good enough but didn't realize how much play they put in the pedal since I had the pedal down for the majority of the test drive.
I still love the truck though. I know any information coming from a salesman is suspect but he told me they will probably update the engine with direct injection at some point, although that would probably only help fuel economy? Nevertheless I would strongly be tempted to trade up especially if they remapped the throttle or had a button that changed it.
*sigh* ... Petition Toyota for a V6 TDI and quit whining about diesel smoke/environment/lack of availability.
Great mileage, lots of low end torque, longer lasting engine (less moving parts) and generally speaking cheaper mpg compared to gas.
--- my 2 cent rant over--- :boink:
Okki
Great mileage, lots of low end torque, longer lasting engine (less moving parts) and generally speaking cheaper mpg compared to gas.
--- my 2 cent rant over--- :boink:
Okki
what I find comical is all these people saying "that's why I bought a 4th GEN blah blah blah" sooner or later your 4th GEN is gonna bite the dust.... this is the way ALL vehicles are headed.... you are just delaying the inevitable! the 5the GEN is plenty powerful if you take the skirt off and use the skinny pedal!
Greg_Canada
New member
And it will be slower.... the v8 TT diesels have a higher 0-60 than the 1gr 4runners... and people complain about the 1gr being slow, what would they say about the diesel?
???
More torque = better potential acceleration (depending on gearing). Not sure what vehicles you are comparing in that to my knowledge there are no diesel 4runners available.
Granted, the top end is not there, but if you are buying a 4Runner for top speed, you are probably shopping for the wrong vehicle anyway. To each their own, but I'll gladly take my 5th gen in a V6 Turbo Direct Injection diesel. And I think most of us would even be suitably happy with the 3 Liter I4 1KD-FTV intercooled VN turbo diesel from the Hilux.
It's kind of hard to find reputable sources listing the acceleration for both vehicles, but considering the extra displacement in the 4runner engine, I think the difference in acceleration would likely be in the Hilux favor if it had 2 extra cylinders (the number is for the 4 cyl 3 liter)
2012 Toyota Hilux 3.0 double cab: 11.0 sec
2010 4Runner: 8.2 sec
Either way, as Stifler mentioned; ALL engines will get smaller. Ford is sticking a 3 cylinder as an option in the new Fiesta. It was brought to SEMA as carry on luggage. get used to higher revving engines and put your foot down. :hungry:
Okki
