Test drove 16 TE...seems sluggish

C

cheeser

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I was out looking at the Trail Editions today although I wanted the Pro but cant accept the markup.

While doing the test drive this afternoon, it seems somewhat sluggish in comparison to the 06 Tundra double-cab I currently have. I was a bit surprised as the Tundra is a bit heavier. I am in the Denver area, so we do take a hit due to altitude.

I don't know if I am just being too picky in coming from another vehicle, but curious as to what others think. We also have an 02 4runner and 13 Mustang GT 5.0 so we are spanning the performance spectrum.
 
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i mean, it's not quick by any means, but a lot of that is the programming. if you need the power though and kick it there is enough power there


i'm also coming from owning quicker cars but i don't really even notice it because trucks aren't supposed to be driven fast.
 
e60ral said:
i mean, it's not quick by any means, but a lot of that is the programming. if you need the power though and kick it there is enough power there


i'm also coming from owning quicker cars but i don't really even notice it because trucks aren't supposed to be driven fast.
Click to expand...

I don't have a problem in pushing the go pedal when needed....just need to get used to the different method of driving it.
 
Your 06 Tundra has the same 4.7 V8 engine I had in my 03 4runner. They are silky smooth and have instant strong low end torque not to mention a very nice sound. It just moved effortlessly with very little throttle applied. The 4.0 4runner can never equal this but runs about the same once the engine gets to 3000 rpm or so. I still miss the old V8. The new 4runner will never match it no matter how hard everyone will tell you to push on the gas pedal farther. If you can not get used to the sluggish low end power then the new 4runner will never satisfy you. It is one of my few grips with my 14 4runner and I miss the V8 every time I drive it. Since you live in Denver if you try to accelerate from a stop on a steep road in the mountains the new 4runner will almost act like it does not want to move and wishes you would stop asking it to try so hard. Just learn to know when it is safe to pull out onto the road and do not expect to much.
 
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Once you get about 5000-10,000 miles on it, two things happen. 1. You sort of get used to it. 2. It does seem to wake up a little bit. It's no V8 and it's not fast but they do seem to run better after some miles are put on.
 
Remember the Tundra has a 6 speed transmission, which will make a difference. Hopefully Toyota will put a 6 speed in their 4Runners like the new Tacoma has. I definelty found that my '14 4Runner performs a lot better now that it is broken in than when I first bought it. It will keep up to my 14' F150 with the 5.0 Liter (don't judge, it's a company truck) which to me is quick enough. IMO, we buy these 4Runners for 'where' they can go, not how fast they can get there, and they can definitely go where most vehicles can't!!
 
It's not sluggish, it's "Economical" and "Fuel Efficient." Basically that's how Toyota thinks a vehicle should drive to maximize fuel economy vs. performance... ALL our vehicles seem to follow that "dead pedal from a stop" ideology, except for the 5.7L V8 equipped vehicles. In those cases the accelerator pedal seems to be a bit sensitive.

It's not that the engine isn't powerful, it's that the throttle sensitivity and transmission shifting is just that retarded.
 
not fast or quick by any means (my background is more performance oriented cars, M3's Yvette's ext) but it is perfectly adequate for DD duties even with lift and larger tires. My only gripe is the programming for the shifts of the trans. I know they do it to attempt to increase the efficiency but it shifts way to early. Other than that no gripes. You can solve the shifting thing by getting into the skinny pedal a little harder. :rockon: :rockon:
 
Sprint Booster Power Converter. Assuming this is on your 2014 -do you just leave it in sport mode? Is the racing mode not really a program that you would use for a 4runner? Did your mileage drop simply to to a more fun drive and happy pedal response? Any other observations?
 
The tundra has less peak hp, but the curve is entirely different. The Tundra probably is in the ball park of 50-75% more power between 2-4000rpms where you normally would be driving so it should feel a lot more powerful. Even the old 1FZ-FE i-6 that peaks at just over 200hp has more power at 2500rpms than the 1GR. All of the power gains in the 1GR are at higher rpms.

It'll move at higher rpms, but feels kind anemic at normal driving rpms. I think some lower diff gears would make a big difference. I wish there were something available between 3.73 and 4.56 for those of us wanting better driveability but not adding 1500lbs of accessories. The 4.10 tacoma with a manual is significantly quicker than the 3.73 version with the auto.

The transmission shift mapping in 4L is much better, not that you can drive around much that way, but it gives an idea of what it should feel like if the transmission stayed in the right gear to live at 2500rpms instead of 1500rpms. If you're going 25mph in 4L and step on the skinny pedal - it hauls ass.
 
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To be honest the 4Runner seems adequate to me.

I also have a 2015 Infiniti Q60 Convertible and a 2012 FX35. Both are much quicker.

The only add on that I did with the 4Runner is add a drop-in KN air filter.

I went nuts when I had my 2008 Mustang GT.
Tuner, exhaust, etc.

The 4Runner is more for comfort and utility.
Great daily commuter too.
Power seems fine, guess there are some mods that can be done. If one is so inclined.
 
It's not fast by any means, for sure. When I first got mine it took some getting used to the gearing, as I felt it was extra slow from a dead stop. It just felt very poky.

But with that said, there are a few times I have cut into traffic a bit later than I should have, and have had to mash the gas to get moving, and the acceleration surprises me every time. In my opinion it has a lot more hustle on standby than might be apparent when driving normally.

It still isn't fast, but with the pedal to the floor I don't consider it to be slow either. Certainly I have driven a lot slower vehicles than this. You just have to tell it with the gas pedal that you want to get up and go.
 
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