Write up for local paper about the 2010 4Runner

[peter78]

I found this article in my Oct. 31st Atlanta Journal car section.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/columnists/Toyota_adds_4-cylinder_4Runner.html

It talks about the new 4Runner. It is one of those rosey articles, nothing bad is really said. One thing I didn't know, the 2.7 cyl. will only be available in 2WD only.

If this is in the paper, maybe they will have them on the lot.

 

[nighthawk]

What I find funny is this:

First they say: " bringing back a four-cylinder engine to help attract buyers who want better fuel economy."

BUT:
for the 4 cylinder: EPA ratings are 18 mpg city/23 highway.
And for the V6:
V-6 engine that cranks out 270 horsepower and 278 foot-pounds of torque. It's connected to a five-speed automatic transmission, which allows it to have the same highway fuel economy as the four-cylinder: 23 mpg. The city mileage rating is almost as good as that of the four-cylinder model — 17 mpg.

What's the point of the 4 cylinder model then? It obviously doesn't save enough fuel to justify the huge loss of power compared to the V6. The only reason I thought they would bring the 4 cylinder was to offer a manual for the weaker engine. So stupid. I would get the 4 cylinder over the V6 if it were the only way to get a manual tranny though.

 

[M1911]

The point of the 4-cylinder engine is for Toyota to be able to say that it starts at the low, low price of $25, 705. It isn't going to have an impact on CAFE, since the EPA mileage estimates are almost the same as for the V6, and no one is going to buy them anyways.

 

[qs933]

The point of the 4-cylinder engine is for Toyota to be able to say that it starts at the low, low price of $25, 705. It isn't going to have an impact on CAFE, since the EPA mileage estimates are almost the same as for the V6, and no one is going to buy them anyways.

And it feeds the media the perception that Toyota is "in touch" with consumers and aligned to the changing market. If they had released the new 4Runner with a V8, the reviews would have all commented on the poor timing of such an engine choice. Similarly, none of the articles comment about the real lack of any fuel economy benefit of the 4-cylinder model over the V6.

I can just see all the generic bylines -- "Toyota's introduction of a redesigned 4Runner comes at a difficult time for SUVs powered by a fuel-hungry V8 engine..." Read any Kia Borrego review and you'll see some sort of variant of that line.

 

[pahns51]

I found this article in my Oct. 31st Atlanta Journal car section.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/columnists/Toyota_adds_4-cylinder_4Runner.html

It talks about the new 4Runner. It is one of those rosey articles, nothing bad is really said. One thing I didn't know, the 2.7 cyl. will only be available in 2WD only.

If this is in the paper, maybe they will have them on the lot.

My dealer said the 2.7 would be available base 2wd or 4wd and the HP is 185. My taco has the 2.7 but has 159hp and you can get it in 2wd or 4wd. The Venza's 2.7 has 182 hp and I think the Highlander has the 2.7 option. I will tell you the 2.7 is a nice engine, smooth and quiet at speed.

 

[M1911]

My dealer said the 2.7 would be available base 2wd or 4wd and the HP is 185. My taco has the 2.7 but has 159hp and you can get it in 2wd or 4wd. The Venza's 2.7 has 182 hp and I think the Highlander has the 2.7 option. I will tell you the 2.7 is a nice engine, smooth and quiet at speed.

Your dealer is wrong. The 2010 4Runner with the 4-cylinder will only be available in 2wd. Also, the 4Runner is heavier than a taco -- 4600 lbs. Too heavy for the 4 cylinder, and you only get 1 measly mpg better than the 6.

 

[pahns51]

Your dealer is wrong. The 2010 4Runner with the 4-cylinder will only be available in 2wd. Also, the 4Runner is heavier than a taco -- 4600 lbs. Too heavy for the 4 cylinder, and you only get 1 measly mpg better than the 6.

Thanks, I thought it would be to heavy with thr 4 banger. Besides the Trail whats the base 4wd model? SR5? Any pics of that model?

 

[M1911]

Thanks, I thought it would be to heavy with thr 4 banger. Besides the Trail whats the base 4wd model? SR5? Any pics of that model?

SR5 is the base model. Plenty of pics over at toyota.com

 

[peter78]

My dealer said the 2.7 would be available base 2wd or 4wd and the HP is 185. My taco has the 2.7 but has 159hp and you can get it in 2wd or 4wd. The Venza's 2.7 has 182 hp and I think the Highlander has the 2.7 option. I will tell you the 2.7 is a nice engine, smooth and quiet at speed.

The article I saw, said this:

"The base engine is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder, but unfortunately, it's available only on the two-wheel-drive SR5 model. It has 157 horsepower and 178 foot-pounds of torque, and is connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. EPA ratings are 18 mpg city/23 highway."

From everything I read, the power is down from the Venza, not up. So, it looks like it will be 159 HP not 182 HP. As far as 2WD, this is the first time I have heard that, but it makes sense.

I have a large car with a 4 cyl. I have a 1991 Toyota Previa and two 4Runners. The Previa does OK, but it feels like work to drive the car, always underpowered. Intestesting is that I get 16.2 mpg overall in the Previa and 18.6 mpg and 18.3 mpg overall for my two 4Runners. The 4Runners mileage includes towing. I found that the Previa was considered a "clunker" during the "Clunker" program. If you get around the same mileage according to EPA, I think the real world mileage will be worse for the 4 cyl. (IMHO)