Test Drove 5-th gen today.

[beeftube]

I test drove a 5th gen SR5 4x4 earlier this year, right before I bought my 4th gen. In fact, I nearly bought the fifth, however I'm glad I didn't.

The 4th gen V8 feels awesome on the highway. It was happenstance that I ended up with a V8 in my truck, it was just a good deal - but I wouldn't trade it back on a V6 at this point. The interior doesn't look as chintsy, neither does the exterior.

IMHO, the rear of the 5th gens looks ugly, but I could get over it.

I didn't drive a Trail edition though, and after looking at some guys on the forums here who have lifted their 5th gen trails, they look pretty good, so I may consider one for my next truck when its time to move on (not for a while).

I hope realistically the 5th gen gets a V8 option again. That would be awesome. My fantasy-scenario would be it getting a version of the Hilux diesel offered everywhere else but North America, but I'll die a horrible death before that will ever happen.

When you think about it, this segment for SUVs with proper truck frames and solid rear axles is dwindling. You have the American options which, best I can tell, are all useless and full-size -- with the exception of the Jeep Grand Cherokee which apparently went through a nice re-styling, but I somehow think it's still going to be mopar-cheap.

There's the Pathfinder, which is almost a viable option but frankly gets outclassed by the 4Runner. It's not even a fair comparison now, as they haven't really updated it since 2005 and I'm not sure Nissan has any immediate plans to, at least not until after 2011 (maybe 2012). It's an "okay" vehicle, but just seems cheap compared to the 4th and 5th gen T4R's. I drove many of em.

If Nissan gives the Pathfinder/Frontier a restyling in the near future, I may be amicable to giving it a fair shake, but it's too long in the tooth right now. I had a 2006 Frontier for a while, and it was a great truck when compared to the Frontier -- it kept pace pretty well on most features, but the Pathfinder/4Runner comparison is a blowout in favor of the 4Runner.

 

[THEROK]

I test drove a 5th gen SR5 4x4 earlier this year, right before I bought my 4th gen. In fact, I nearly bought the fifth, however I'm glad I didn't.

The 4th gen V8 feels awesome on the highway. It was happenstance that I ended up with a V8 in my truck, it was just a good deal - but I wouldn't trade it back on a V6 at this point. The interior doesn't look as chintsy, neither does the exterior.

IMHO, the rear of the 5th gens looks ugly, but I could get over it.

I didn't drive a Trail edition though, and after looking at some guys on the forums here who have lifted their 5th gen trails, they look pretty good, so I may consider one for my next truck when its time to move on (not for a while).

I hope realistically the 5th gen gets a V8 option again. That would be awesome. My fantasy-scenario would be it getting a version of the Hilux diesel offered everywhere else but North America, but I'll die a horrible death before that will ever happen.

When you think about it, this segment for SUVs with proper truck frames and solid rear axles is dwindling. You have the American options which, best I can tell, are all useless and full-size -- with the exception of the Jeep Grand Cherokee which apparently went through a nice re-styling, but I somehow think it's still going to be mopar-cheap.

There's the Pathfinder, which is almost a viable option but frankly gets outclassed by the 4Runner. It's not even a fair comparison now, as they haven't really updated it since 2005 and I'm not sure Nissan has any immediate plans to, at least not until after 2011 (maybe 2012). It's an "okay" vehicle, but just seems cheap compared to the 4th and 5th gen T4R's. I drove many of em.

If Nissan gives the Pathfinder/Frontier a restyling in the near future, I may be amicable to giving it a fair shake, but it's too long in the tooth right now. I had a 2006 Frontier for a while, and it was a great truck when compared to the Frontier -- it kept pace pretty well on most features, but the Pathfinder/4Runner comparison is a blowout in favor of the 4Runner.

nissan isn't even on the same playing field.

so back to toyota

i guess i don't understand how you guys can find anything on any 4runner "ugly". that's a pretty strong word. my guess is it's based on bias and ego than anything else. it's an easy out.

so the 5th gen is "ugly" to you guys. you know what's ugly in this world? poverty. disease. greed. a car, especially a toyota, isnt ugly. none of them are. not one toyota is ugly.

sure you may not think it's well executed, but how you guys can find any part of the 5th gen ugly baffles me. i find the mini-van shape of the 4th gen to be pretty damn uninspiring in stock form. it seriously needs a lift and tire mod to make it good looking. the 5th gen can skirt by esp the limited model.

in my opinion, the 3rd gen --> skip 4th --> 5th gen is familial. the 4th gen is the red headed step child. with the v8, though, it's got the heart of a lion.

perfection would be the v8 in the 5th lifted, tires etc all black err'thang.

(ducks)

 

[Maz]

Have you driven a 4th Gen V6? If so, curious to know your thoughts on difference between the 5th Gen V6 and 4th...

I drove a 2010 Trail Edition multiple times (friend of the family is a dealer GM) and have a 2009 V6. I originally thought I'd get the new model, but ultimately got a new 2009 V6 instead.

I agree on almost all points with the original poster on the postivies and negatives, and also agree the Trail Edition is the only viable alternative. The Limited looks beautiful, but the 20" wheels and low corners on the body make it completely impossible for any real off road use. One other point I didn't see any real difference in the quality of the respectives interiors, although some others claim to dislike the plastics inside.

I found the main interior difference is there is much more head and shoulder room in the 5th Gen. From a mechanical standpoint, the new V6 has a lot of power to it, but the suspension isn't nearly as refined in respect to ride quality and feel. It's interesting that most of the time the newer generation model in any car is smoother and more refined. In the T4R it's just the opposite, as the 5th Gen seems to feel more like a pickup at times.

 

[beeftube]

so the 5th gen is "ugly" to you guys. you know what's ugly in this world? poverty. disease. greed. a car, especially a toyota, isnt ugly. none of them are. not one toyota is ugly.

...when put in perspective of automobiles, not encompassing world socio-economic issues. Silly me for assuming that was a given on a car forum.

Even still, I don't see you driving around in a Yaris.

 

[THEROK]

...when put in perspective of automobiles, not encompassing world socio-economic issues. Silly me for assuming that was a given on a car forum.

Even still, I don't see you driving around in a Yaris.

i liken it to a teenage girl saying "i hate you mom and dad" for taking her txt plan away from her.


really?
:jump:

p.s. i think yaris' and fits and the like are great... if youre into that sort of thing

 

[webby]

Some months ago, my wife and I found one Toyota dealer out of about 10 in our Metro area where we could rent a 5th Gen T4R to give one an extended test drive without a pesky sales dewd onboard, so we did rent one for a weekend trip to the mountains. We were coming from a 2004 Highlander and wanted a roomier Toyota plus a 4wd. We generally liked the 5th Gen. It had the extra room we wanted, handled well enough, and didn't "ride like a truck" (unlike my friend's 1998 T4R). The mileage was better than I expected, and only slightly less than our Highlander, which was impressive, considering the T4R was much larger and heavier than the Highlander.

Recently, I ended up buying a 2009 V6 4wd SR5 4th Gen at a bargain price. It's not so much that we preferred the 4th Gen over the 5th Gen. It's that we preferred someone else other us take that first big depreciation hit. I like both the 4th Gen and 5th Gen -- hey, they're both Toyotas, and I only buy Toyotas due to their toughness and reliability. I think the interior of the 4th Gen might have a slight edge in quality over the 5th Gen, as some have mentioned. I also prefer the Torsen Differential, which I would have had to buy a Limited in the 5th Gen to get (which I was unwilling to pay the premium for), so that was a plus for the 4th Gen. A couple of small things I didn't like on the 5th Gen (a result of Toyota cost cutting) were the mast antenna and the fact that Toyota dropped the interior release for the gas fill door. Those are kind of minor complaints though, and I may buy a 5th Gen someday, again, used, as I like to let someone else "enjoy" that first couple of years depreciation.

 

[Thai]

Matrix is ugly!

For me, i don't care about the V8 because the V6 is good enough for my uses. However, i want the multi-mode 4wd back in all the 5th gen!

 

[progress4m]

I thought about noisier V6 and wonder maybe it is not as much V6 vs. V8 issue, but aluminum vs iron block difference… maybe that is why Toyota’s all new V8 (4.6L) has iron block.. just as old 4.7 does..

 

[Thai]

I thought about noisier V6 and wonder maybe it is not as much V6 vs. V8 issue, but aluminum vs iron block difference… maybe that is why Toyota’s all new V8 (4.6L) has iron block.. just as old 4.7 does..

I never bothered to look, but the new 4.6 has iron block????!!

 

[M1911]

The Limited looks beautiful, but the 20" wheels and low corners on the body make it completely impossible for any real off road use.

While I agree with what you say here, the 20" wheels can be swapped out for 18" wheels, and there are lots of SR5 owners who want them. I can't particularly figure out why anyone would want the 20" wheels, but whatever...

 

[progress4m]

I never bothered to look, but the new 4.6 has iron block????!!

I based my words on the info I saw on the net:

The new engine has a cast-iron block, like the current 4.7, and both use 32-valve aluminum heads. (The 5.7 block is aluminum, to reduce weight, which also adds expense.

Here is a link:

2010 Toyota Tundra 4.6L V8 Engine Review - Four Wheeler Magazine

And realize that those articles may not be accurate ….

 

[Thai]

I based my words on the info I saw on the net:

The new engine has a cast-iron block, like the current 4.7, and both use 32-valve aluminum heads. (The 5.7 block is aluminum, to reduce weight, which also adds expense.

Here is a link:

2010 Toyota Tundra 4.6L V8 Engine Review - Four Wheeler Magazine

And realize that those articles may not be accurate ….

According to Lexus website, it is aluminum block, which is what i expect. Iron block is really not all that efficient in today's engines. It may be good for force-induction engines (and that is really stretching it!), but otherwise, aluminum block is far better in terms of heat dissipation and weight reduction. I don't think that you can totally blame engine noise on the use of aluminum. Mercedes has been using aluminum block on all their engines, including those with superchargers.

 

[Thai]

Just checked...Toyota website: Toyota Tundra Truck - 2011 Performance and Specifications

Tundra 4.6 uses alum heads and block.

 

[Thai]

The Limited looks beautiful, but the 20" wheels and low corners on the body make it completely impossible for any real off road use. One other point I didn't see any real difference in the quality of the respectives interiors, although some others claim to dislike the plastics inside.

I found the main interior difference is there is much more head and shoulder room in the 5th Gen. From a mechanical standpoint, the new V6 has a lot of power to it, but the suspension isn't nearly as refined in respect to ride quality and feel. It's interesting that most of the time the newer generation model in any car is smoother and more refined. In the T4R it's just the opposite, as the 5th Gen seems to feel more like a pickup at times.

My guess is that Toyota figured that most Limited owners don't take their SUVs mudding or rockclimbing. Remember, it has to compete with the other manufacturers who are making $40k+ SUVs with big rims and chrome. The most Limited owners will likely face are camping, fishing, and other related stuff. And for these activities, the Limited 4wd should easily handle it.

For the off-roading crowd, Toyota has the Trail Edition with the less bling, more black exterior plastic, cleaner angles, and more off-road toys.

IMHO, i think that Toyota did good because the TE appeals to me, while the Limited appeals to the general population who wants more luxury for their $40,000+ SUV. What other manufacturers have even tailored their models like Toyota?? Except for Jeep and maybe Nissan (with the Xterra), no one else. My ONLY beef with Toyota is the lack of Multi-mode 4wd in the TE. Toyota can keep the V8 in the GX...i want fuel economy more than speed in this day and age! And at 17/23 mpg, the 4runner is damn good!! I don't want to go back to the low teens again...i had enough of that with my G500! :crybaby:

As for the suspension, i am not sure where Toyota really downgraded it. It has the same suspension architecture, except for some repositioning of the rear shocks which supposedly improves ride & handling (according to Toyota). Maybe, you felt the Trail Edition stiffer trucky ride from the Bilstein off-road tuned shocks that came standard with it. I am sure that the Limited will be more in line with your 4th gen 4runner. (4th gens never came with off-road tuned shocks until the rare 2009 Trail Edition.)

 

[progress4m]

.....
IMHO, i think that Toyota did good because the TE appeals to me, while the Limited appeals to the general population who wants more luxury for their $40,000+ SUV. What other manufacturers have even tailored their models like Toyota?? Except for Jeep and maybe Nissan (with the Xterra), no one else. My ONLY beef with Toyota is the lack of Multi-mode 4wd in the TE. Toyota can keep the V8 in the GX...i want fuel economy more than speed in this day and age! And at 17/23 mpg, the 4runner is damn good!! I don't want to go back to the low teens again...i had enough of that with my G500! :crybaby:.....

I agree 100% with you on TE and multi-mode comments, but I do not agree with your V8 logic…
I do not want to pay Lexus price to get a capable towing and offloading SUV with smooth drive train. When 4Runner had V8 available that was a perfect option for me… and I believe there are a lot of people out there that would agree with that. I am sure you also know that real mpg deference between V6 and V8 (4 th gen) are about 1 or 1.5 mpg. Considering (hypothetically) that new V8 (4.6L) maybe offered (in 5-th gen) with 6-sp trany (just like in Tundra and GX460) you may easily see 16-21 mpg and that is only 1 mpg less than 17-22 for 4x4 5-th gen 4Runner. Just FYI: according to Lexus web site GX460 is showing with 15-20 mpg, but is around 400 lbs heavier than 5-gn 4Runner and does not have 2 wheel drive mode. So I believe my mpg with V8 is very close to what it may be in the real life. So you do not have to worry about ridiculous mpg of G500.
And I do hope that maybe in a year or two we may see V8 as an optional upgrade for 5 gen lineup.

 

[Thai]

Yeah, i can see where you're coming from...but for me, i don't particularly care for the V8. BTW, the 500lbs difference could be partly due to the engine size differences. The difference is probably around 2 mpg. And does the 4.6 use premium gas? If so, then this will add more price difference b/w the two powertrains. Maybe the smoothness that you felt is more due to the added sound insulation of the Lexus vs. the 4runner and not necessarily the powertrain itself.

In any case, i am sure that the V8 is smoother than a V6...but, i guess that i am OK with the slightly rougher V6 if it can deliver better fuel economy and has a decent torque curve. I am ok with the 5000 lbs limit. I am OK with being a bit slower. I am OK with all that...EXCEPT the lack of Multi-mode 4wd!

With the stricter government regulation on fuel economy, i doubt that a V8 will be here in the next few years if it is not already here today.

 

[2003Can4runner]

I never bothered to look, but the new 4.6 has iron block????!!

Nooo, it's all aluminum.

edit: Just read to the bottom of the 2nd page. My bad.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

Toyota can keep the V8 in the GX...i want fuel economy more than speed in this day and age! And at 17/23 mpg, the 4runner is damn good!! I don't want to go back to the low teens again...i had enough of that with my G500! :crybaby:

It's not the speed, it's the drivability. AND...this logic sucks for Toyota. Next to the 06 T4R V8 in my garage is a 11 Grand Cherokee V8. Both 4WD. Just picked it up for my wife. Just took a trip from Las Vegas to Anaheim and back. 24.3 calculated MPG. Sooo...this is SAD for Toyota if their V6 is NOT getting this and giving up a lot of ponies and drivability. The GC beats my 4R for sure. OH, and the V6 to V8 MPG difference in Toyota is only a few MPG no?

With the stricter government regulation on fuel economy, i doubt that a V8 will be here in the next few years if it is not already here today.

I do think Toyota will bring a V8 into the 4Runner, but it will be a redesign engine. It's going to have to compete in terms of MPG and they are just not there yet. They will need to achieve 19/25MPG for the V8 to return. Probably just a 4.7 refine.

 

[2003Can4runner]

It's not the speed, it's the drivability. AND...this logic sucks for Toyota. Next to the 06 T4R V8 in my garage is a 11 Grand Cherokee V8. Both 4WD. Just picked it up for my wife. Just took a trip from Las Vegas to Anaheim and back. 24.3 calculated MPG. Sooo...this is SAD for Toyota if their V6 is NOT getting this and giving up a lot of ponies and drivability. The GC beats my 4R for sure. OH, and the V6 to V8 MPG difference in Toyota is only a few MPG no?



I do think Toyota will bring a V8 into the 4Runner, but it will be a redesign engine. It's going to have to compete in terms of MPG and they are just not there yet. They will need to achieve 19/25MPG for the V8 to return. Probably just a 4.7 refine.

The 4.7 is gone. They have engineered and re-tooled to build a different motor. Its not as easy as "refining" an old engine. The V8's that Toyota offers are the 4.6 and 5.7, so it would have to be either one of those.

That being said, I agree with the V8 crowd. All I can say about the new 4runner is that I like it. That's it. I don't love it, and I actually don't want one. I love my 4th gen. with the V8, center diff, and self levelling rear air suspension. Two of those 3 things I listed aren't available on the new 4runner. Oh well...the new Grand Cherokee looks very appealing. I can't wait to see their prices on the used market in a few years.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

Oh well...the new Grand Cherokee looks very appealing. I can't wait to see their prices on the used market in a few years.

Knowing American cars, probably in the tank, prices that is. My only complaint with the GC is the drive by wire throttle response has a SERIOUS lag. When I bring it in for the free oil change I will be asking them about it. It's almost a full second between putting your foot in it and the truck going. Other than that, it's sooo much better than the previous gen.