UPDATE: Car & Driver now says NO V-8 for 2010 4Runner

[sven]

C&D now says:

"Yet another loyal reader supplied us with some pretty concrete information concerning the next 4Runner, including a preliminary dealer order guide. It shows new options like water-repellent seats, a sliding cargo-area tray, an optional “Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System,” and 20-inch wheels. Those features notwithstanding, we expect base prices to drop from their current levels (the 2009 4Runner starts at $29,440), as the 4Runner will also be leaner and more stripped down than before.

The biggest changes for the 2010 4Runner will happen in the engine room. Whereas the current model offers a V-6 and V-8, the next-generation will eschew the V-8 and move to a choice of either an updated V-6 or a four-cylinder. The 4.0-liter V-6 will now make 268 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque—increases of 32 and 7, respectively—thanks to variable valve timing for the intake and exhaust. The four-cylinder is a 2.7-liter unit, producing 161 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque."

http://blog.caranddriver.com/2010-toyota-4runner-loses-v-8-gets-base-four-cylinder-option/

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/09q3/2010_toyota_4runner-spied

 

[Clemsonfan15]

4 cylinder in a 4runner is a terrible thing. Very underpowered for an SUV.

 

[kcnewf]

This is just a symtom of too much US government regulation in the form of CAFE standards that Toyota must meet.

So if you voted for the "Jacka$$" party currently in power, you shouldn't complain about the lack of a V-8 in your 2010 4Runner. You're getting EXACTLY what you voted for! :soapbox:

On a more serious note, at least they upgraded the V6 power and torque for the 2010 model year.:cheers:

 

[eskimochaos]

C&D now says:

"Yet another loyal reader supplied us with some pretty concrete information concerning the next 4Runner, including a preliminary dealer order guide. It shows new options like water-repellent seats, a sliding cargo-area tray, an optional “Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System,” and 20-inch wheels. Those features notwithstanding, we expect base prices to drop from their current levels (the 2009 4Runner starts at $29,440), as the 4Runner will also be leaner and more stripped down than before.

The biggest changes for the 2010 4Runner will happen in the engine room. Whereas the current model offers a V-6 and V-8, the next-generation will eschew the V-8 and move to a choice of either an updated V-6 or a four-cylinder. The 4.0-liter V-6 will now make 268 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque—increases of 32 and 7, respectively—thanks to variable valve timing for the intake and exhaust. The four-cylinder is a 2.7-liter unit, producing 161 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque."

http://blog.caranddriver.com/2010-toyota-4runner-loses-v-8-gets-base-four-cylinder-option/

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/09q3/2010_toyota_4runner-spied

Never thought I'd see the day but Toyota officially produced a legit SUV (frame) 4banger/ricer.....seems that leaked document was spot on.

 

[Scoobs]

The 2.7 4cyl in a 4Runner is a bit of a joke, especially at 161 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. Even the 2.5 4 cyl in the RAV4 has 179 HP and 172 lb-ft.

 

[eskimochaos]

The 2.7 4cyl in a 4Runner is a bit of a joke, especially at 161 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. Even the 2.5 4 cyl in the RAV4 has 179 HP and 172 lb-ft.

I bet its actually more harm than good. I feel an engine like that is going to strain to get it moving let alone keep it at 80mph. I bet it gets worse mpg than the V6.

 

[Fuzion]

F-no, Toyota is probably laughing. I bet its a prius engine that way we get that cool air conditioner feature.

 

[peter78]

I have notice that in other countries, cars have smaller engines than here. I remember seeing an old Land Cruiser from Australia with a 2.7 liter engine in it. I thought wow, that is really small. I also remember a 4th gen. 4Runner on this forum, it was from Japan and had the 3.4 V6.

My guess is back in 2006 Toyota guessed we wanted a big 4Runner with a V8 for 2010. Now they realize that might be a bit of a mistake and decided to make a last minute change. To me, I think this is a bit of a mistake. My take on this is that Toyota comes out with a new 4Runner, if they don't sell many 4 cyl and buyers really want a V8, then maybe they will go back with a V8 as an option.

 

[eskimochaos]

I have notice that in other countries, cars have smaller engines than here. I remember seeing an old Land Cruiser from Australia with a 2.7 liter engine in it. I thought wow, that is really small. I also remember a 4th gen. 4Runner on this forum, it was from Japan and had the 3.4 V6.

My guess is back in 2006 Toyota guessed we wanted a big 4Runner with a V8 for 2010. Now they realize that might be a bit of a mistake and decided to make a last minute change. To me, I think this is a bit of a mistake. My take on this is that Toyota comes out with a new 4Runner, if they don't sell many 4 cyl and buyers really want a V8, then maybe they will go back with a V8 as an option.

Its honestly no extra work for them, the engine bay is already designed for the new GX and the V8 in there, I am sure they are nearly identical sans some fancy L's. The second they decide to put the V8 in the new 4R, they will be able to.

 

[simple]

Never thought I'd see the day but Toyota officially produced a legit SUV (frame) 4banger/ricer.....seems that leaked document was spot on.

I dunno, I think the 4cyl will sell. 11 out of 10 (yup, thats legit math) 4runners I see on the street are soccer moms. I would say their number one concern is getting their kids, and groceries from point A to point B in a nice looking vehicle. And now they have that option of doing it with an engine that screams 'more MPGs!'. I would honestly say you guys are underestimating and are the minority when it comes to the culture explosion of 'green'. There have even been countless threads on here where people talk like, 'if I drive 48.6mph on the freeway, with my front tires at 36psi and my rear at 37psi, and I change all my oils to synthetic I pick up an extra mpg'. Yeah, you guys talk that the v8 only looses 1-2mpg, but thats upwards of 40mpt. And that adds up in cost over the span of a year.

I was shocked when I found out the pimped out gov't H3's that my old recruiters used are 4cyl. He said that it didn't feel underpowered at all, although they feel it a little bit when towing the trailer. My old car was a 97 accord 4cyl. And when I went home for a few weeks for Christmas I was surprised that I had to basically keep it floored to maintain 80mph on the freeway. You get used to it, and the people who buy the 4cyl probably will too.

Don't get me wrong, when I saw the hp of the new 4cyl, I was like, '... oh man, really??', but I'll wait to see how it performs.

- edit - AND, what are the total sales this year for the 4runner??? Not great from what I remember seeing... and of those, what percentage were v8s?

 

[Uneek]

I'll believe it when I see it... until then it's all hearsay. The Venza and Highlander both from the beginning were V6 only. The market changed, Toyota released a 4-cyl. I think the same thing will happen to the 5th gen, it may not initially be offered with a V8, but I wouldn't rule it out completely, unless gas is $6 a gallon.

 

[RunnerUp]

i wonder if the new 4bangers will have a super neato V4 badge on the grille....

 

[4Runner8]

So far im not likin what im seein

 

[jrs2]

I guess I was way ahead of my time when I bought my new 1990 4Runner with 22RE 4banger.

 

[Alex1911]

So much for C&R's creditability... I think Toyota is doing a huge disservice to itself by not offering a V8.

I'll wait until I drive a V6 5th gen before I pass judgment, but I am convinced they will release a V8. Just like when I got my '03 V8 and then they cam out with the VVTI V8 :-(

I'd like to buy a new ride at the end of the year... I may gab a car and keep my 4th gen, maybe give it a little lift and some ARB bumpers.

"So far im not likin what im seein"

Yeah, me either.

You know, I've always wondered... I've had mine since Dec '02, there are lot's of 4th Gen 4Runner owners out there, how come you never hear of someone getting a letter or call from Toyota NA asking what the owner would like to see in the next Gen?

 

[nighthawk]

Not interested unless it comes in manual.

 

[jmc8387]

I dunno, I think the 4cyl will sell. 11 out of 10 (yup, thats legit math) 4runners I see on the street are soccer moms. I would say their number one concern is getting their kids, and groceries from point A to point B in a nice looking vehicle. And now they have that option of doing it with an engine that screams 'more MPGs!'. I would honestly say you guys are underestimating and are the minority when it comes to the culture explosion of 'green'. There have even been countless threads on here where people talk like, 'if I drive 48.6mph on the freeway, with my front tires at 36psi and my rear at 37psi, and I change all my oils to synthetic I pick up an extra mpg'. Yeah, you guys talk that the v8 only looses 1-2mpg, but thats upwards of 40mpt. And that adds up in cost over the span of a year.

I was shocked when I found out the pimped out gov't H3's that my old recruiters used are 4cyl. He said that it didn't feel underpowered at all, although they feel it a little bit when towing the trailer. My old car was a 97 accord 4cyl. And when I went home for a few weeks for Christmas I was surprised that I had to basically keep it floored to maintain 80mph on the freeway. You get used to it, and the people who buy the 4cyl probably will too.

Don't get me wrong, when I saw the hp of the new 4cyl, I was like, '... oh man, really??', but I'll wait to see how it performs.

- edit - AND, what are the total sales this year for the 4runner??? Not great from what I remember seeing... and of those, what percentage were v8s?

Your just being plain crazy. There is no way a 4 cylinder. will be adequate in a 4Runner of this size. Especially with the stats that have supposedly been released if they happen to be true. I would think that a 4 cylinder would be way to stressed/underpowered to lug a 4Runner around with better millage than a V6. And to address your other remark, I don't believe that "11 out of 10" 4Runners are driven by women. At least in my neighborhood of Orlando, most 4Runner drivers seem to be men between 30-60 years of age. Thats my observations, what does everyone else think?

 

[G.I.G.]

I'm a little skeptical of this report. I have heard too many other reports mentioning the new 4.6L V8 that will replace the current 4.7L V8, with the 4.6L producing more power and better MPG's than the current 4.7L.

Even with gas prices where they are (which are actually pretty darn good compared to this time last year), I don't see Toyota moving backwards towards the under powered Japanese SUV's of the 90's.

 

[jmc8387]

I'm a little skeptical of this report. I have heard too many other reports mentioning the new 4.6L V8 that will replace the current 4.7L V8, with the 4.6L producing more power and better MPG's than the current 4.7L.

Even with gas prices where they are (which are actually pretty darn good compared to this time last year), I don't see Toyota moving backwards towards the under powered Japanese SUV's of the 90's.

I would love to believe that. The 4.7 V8 was engineered 6-7 years ago I would assume...I am sure that the 4.6 V8 designed today should at least be slightly better. I think Toyota would have more customers wanting V6 and V8 models than they would V6 and 4 cylinder models. 4Runner customers are a special niche now days. Just because a Highlander could support sales of a 4 cylinder doesn't mean that the 4Runner could/should as well. Ahh, the suspense is killing me!

 

[coldbivy]

4.6 gets better MPGs

Isn't the Dealer order sheet that C&D is talking about a Canadian one? Is the V-8 even available in Canada in the 4th Gen?

Toyota might leave the V-8 out to save some development and regulatory dollars, but I can't see them doing it for MPG. Take a look at the specs for the 2010 Tundra. The 4.6 V-8 is rated 15/20 and the V-6 (same as 4th gen runner) is rated 15/19. The 2009 4.7 V-8 (same as 4th gen runner) was rated 14/17. All of those numbers were from the smallest 4x2 model.