Why are people complaining about needing an 8 speed

[mscot]

After driving to Atlanta and back last week I can see how people that don't live at altitude think the 4runner's engine and transmission are fine. It definitely performs better at around 1000 ft than it does at 5000+.

That doesn't change my opinion on the truck, though.

 

[AgentKooper]

After driving to Atlanta and back last week I can see how people that don't live at altitude think the 4runner's engine and transmission are fine. It definitely performs better at around 1000 ft than it does at 5000+.

That doesn't change my opinion on the truck, though.

There’s a lot of talk on this thread about the 4Runner being bad at altitude. That’s hard to believe. Until recently our family car was a 2007 base model Honda Pilot with a 3.5L v6, 5 speed transmission — 242 horsepower I believe. I live above 5,000 and we hauled 3 kids, a dog and all the gear we could fit in the car, on the roof, and on the hitch-mounted bike rack all over the mountains for nearly a decade in that car. I never once felt I didn’t have adequate power in that car.

Would more gears have been better? Maybe. But when we upgraded to a 2017 Pilot with a 9-speed transmission, I can’t say I really noticed much difference. I’ll report back once I pick up my 2021 4Runner in a couple weeks, but I’ll be surprised if it’s worse than a 13-year-old Honda.


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[SpeedyKevin]

There’s a lot of talk on this thread about the 4Runner being bad at altitude. That’s hard to believe. Until recently our family car was a 2007 base model Honda Pilot with a 3.5L v6, 5 speed transmission — 242 horsepower I believe. I live above 5,000 and we hauled 3 kids, a dog and all the gear we could fit in the car, on the roof, and on the hitch-mounted bike rack all over the mountains for nearly a decade in that car. I never once felt I didn’t have adequate power in that car.

Would more gears have been better? Maybe. But when we upgraded to a 2017 Pilot with a 9-speed transmission, I can’t say I really noticed much difference. I’ll report back once I pick up my 2021 4Runner in a couple weeks, but I’ll be surprised if it’s worse than a 13-year-old Honda.


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I think it also depends on how they programmed the transmission. For example, my fiancee's chevy captiva produces less hp and torque but the transmission (5-speed) feels SOO much better between 0-55mph.
Now the 4runner is definitely heavier but I feel it shifts to 4th way too quickly . In my neighborhood, its shifting to 4 around 35mph-ish

 

[mccmr89]

Only problem is that "1980s domestic garbage" isn't the competitive set for the 5th gen 4Runner.

While I understand your point, lots of people here use this logic to say "WELL my 5th gen is better than my 3rd gen, so therefore the 5th gen is the best SUV ever," or "Because my 5th gen is faster than a Pontiac Fiero, it's fast enough and anyone else who wants something faster should just buy a Ferrari," or "Because my 5th gen is more comfortable than a horse drawn carriage, it's just fine and anyone else who complains about the seats is a drama queen," and those are moot, silly comparisons.

Nobody is saying the 5th gen 4Runner isn't a great vehicle - it definitely is. But considering progress, technology and advancing competition, an 8- or 10-speed automatic in the 6th gen will be a welcome addition. Our 5-speed unit is reliable and does the job just fine, but yes, it is time for an upgrade.

THANK YOU for saying this. We shouldn't be saying a car doesn't need to change simply because it's already better than a car from 40 years ago. I don't hold myself to any other standards from 40 years ago in areas that have progressed. I don't need a lesson on 'be grateful you have a 5 speed because back in may day x, y, z.'

 

[CajunMikeR]

OK, after making a trip to Phoenix and back (Louisiana), I definitely think the 4R needs steeper gears and a better transmission. I took an around the way route, seeing various sights along the way.

Driving the first leg (to Phoenix) wasn't bad, went through a couple of mountain passes with no issues.

Driving back, I was pulling our new trailer (13ft long, 6ft wide, almost 1800lbs with the gear transferred to it from the 4Runner) and it was a dog on some passes. Pretty much had to stay in 4th gear for the majority of the nearly 2000mi return trip, seeing between 12-14mpg along the way. Now, I will say that I was also battling winds up to 40mph at various points and that didn't help. When I got back to flat land, it went up to the 15-17mpg range because I could actually use 5th gear and wasn't fighting wind anymore. For reference, my 4Runner has averaged 19.6mpg (not towing) since new over the course of 20K mi.

If I were to have input on line changes, I'd suggest 4.10 gears and a 6 to 8 speed transmission with better ratios and a tow/haul mode. After I get my lift installed, my next major mod is going to be 4.56 gears because we got the trailer to use, not look at.

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[AgentKooper]

My wife drove a 2017 Honda Pilot Elite for the past few years. Nine gears, V6. We drove it all over the Southwest, including many trips in the mountains here in Colorado and Utah. Always drove just fine.

I drove my 2021 4R into the mountains for the first time to ski last weekend. Didn’t really notice any difference at all. It drove just fine, no problem passing quickly uphill on I-70 and over Berthoud Pass. What would more gears get me? Not opposed to it, but I don’t see what I’m missing currently.


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[Nobody Special]

For me it's also perspective.
I bought the 4runner one year ago for more comfort, and to go 4-wheeling. Previous to the 4runner I've been driving a 68 F100 for the last 35 years. Before that I was a passenger in it since my Grandpa bought it new. (I've had it longer than him).
240 cu/in (3.9) engine, 1 bbl carb, points ignition, "granny-low" 4 sp top-loader manual transmission, no power steering or brakes (drum), no A/C, crank windows.
I chuckle at every complaint about the 4runner. I have zero complaints about any aspect of my 4runner. (well ok, the oil filter)
I still regularly drive the 68.

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That '68 is very "green". Not in a trash heap somewhere after a decade like some modern vehicles.

I like the story about your grandpa and the dent.

 

[Flyer]

Living in Colorado- 80 and 10 speeds are amazingly nice, and tend to give you better gas mileage. 6 speeds generally are a generation behind. Even in heavy-duty trucks, the Ford and GMC 10 speeds are simply superior in every way to the RAM Aison 6-speed. That will happen for sure- in the new Tundra and the 4R.