Whereabouts Unknown: Gen6

I hope they will make exactly that so you can get what you want.

 

I thought the "E" in EV stood for overly complicated with unnecessary electronics and gimmicks.

 

Yes! Exactly this!!! The 4runner is under rated with regard to it’s combination of capability, durability, utility, and reliability, compared to anything else currently available. Took me a bit to truly realize this because I have solid axle on my mind too much lol.

Like you said…make a token attempt to recognize the faithful old guard, and then move on without them. They don’t need us buying the new 6th gens, because we have 5th gens that will do just fine until we’re done. Or when we get bored and move on to something else, or when our 5th gens get totalled.


Something tells me that eventually, the 6th gens will be in the same position the 5th gen is right now. Toyota has spent too much to not slowly improve the new architecture to perfection…at least relatively speaking compared to the competition that will exist in 15 or 20 years.

 

Here’s my take on it let’s say Toyota can and did make the almighty 3rd gen brand new today, I would argue it would NOT be as reliable even if they used everything the same (same 3.4 engine same transmission etc)

the reason is let’s look at the paint for one thing, they used lead based paint back then that’s why the paint on older Toyotas still look pretty good even to this day, the next gen (4th gen) around the early 2000s they switched to water based whether the epa made them or they did it to save money but modern Toyota paint is soft and it’s garbage. Chips easy and clear coat burns away like that.

also every Toyota and every other car manufacturer uses parts suppliers from all over the world including china India and Mexico to make the odds and ends of the thousands of parts your car is made of.

needless to say since Covid parts quality has gone to shit and the corporate mentality more than ever is to cut corners so they’ll just use shittier parts and raw materials in that factory in china or India that your 4Runner uses

look at plastics, again not sure if it’s an epa thing or Toyota cheaping out or both but the injection molded plastics are a lot shittier in modern Toyotas than from the 90s they didn’t scratch nearly as easily back then and the feel more durable

so that being said no matter how hard Toyota tries they can’t fight “progress” they tried to slow it down with the 5th gen but it’s a new era for not just Toyota but everyone in the automotive industry and reliability is no longer a thing but stories we will tell our grandchildren about one day

 

If they took a 5th gen 4Runner and just put an electric drivetrain in it would be awesome. I don’t want door handles that pop out, motorized hvac vents, power hood and hatches, giant screens, yoke steering wheel and all the other stupid BS that just adds to the MSRP and is going to be a maintenance nightmare.

 

Yup. Quality control on everything is garage these days. Speaking of plastics, the seat surrounds on the new Tundras that keep cracking are ridiculous.

 

No, it wouldn't. It would suck. Maybe as an option for people who don't travel it would be fine. But, I certainly wouldn't want one.

 

I think I’d be fine with an electric drivetrain. Just as long as it’s a diesel-electric.

 

This I can get behind.

 

I think they should.put a 4.7L gas V8 in it. That's as "electric" as I want it.

 

Indeed that 4.7 does have a fine 12V system with a pretty cool starter motor.

 

Not sure about "cool." But, the original starter on my 2UZ was still good at 257K miles.

 

I’m still puzzled how we were led to believe by Toyota that an updated, reliable, and EPA-approved V6 was no longer an option.

And this past week, we get confirmation that the 2026(!) Honda Passport will have…a DOHC V6.

Sigh.

 

Honda does not make any real trucks.

CAFE is based on the average fuel economy of the entire lineup.


Also,

The Passport's V6 makes peak torque at 4700 RPM's, which is pretty useless for towing and off-roading. Maybe Toyota wanted to give us more usable power than that.

Given the choice between a high revving V6 and a turbo 4 that has plenty of usable torque, I'll take the I4.

It's not about whether or not it's an option. It's about whether or not it was the better option.

 

I guess humans are easily led, and it takes real effort to think.

 

Yep, a high-rev V6 is not the answer, which is why the 3.5 in the Tacoma got a bad rap. Toyota certainly can engineer a legal NA V6 with a favorable torque curve. A lot of current V6 owners suspected that the 2.4T is mostly about cost-cutting & platform-sharing at Toyota, and Honda’s decision seems to vindicate them.

I’ve driven the new Tacoma. The turbo impresses down low, albeit a lot of credit should go to the extra gears. I would suspect that for a lot of current 4Runner owners, the ability to create more torque just off throttle may not be enough to overcome its inherent lack of NVH suppression, or very big questions regarding long-term reliability.

 

Toyota could have kept the 1gr 4.0 v6 for the 6th gen technically since most of their fleet is so low emissions but they said they wanted to streamline production and keep costs low that’s why all their suv and trucks (well the body on frame ones) are all on the tnga platform and that’s why the Tacoma and 4Runner will be almost 100 percent identical this time. The last gen to those who don’t know the Tacoma had the 2gr 3.5 v6 to get 1mpg better on paper

 

Show me a N/A V6 that makes over 300 LB/FT of torque below 2000 RPM's and I'll believe you.

Also, If they could have done this, why haven't they already?

Toyota has always used engines in multiple vehicles. I'm sure cost was a factor, but I'm not sure how Honda continuing to use a V6 in a completely different vehicle proves anything.

Where/when has Toyota said this? Or, is it just more speculation?

I do agree that production cost probably was a factor.

But...

Does anyone actually think that the average consumer would prefer a gas guzzling V6 with mediocre power over a fuel efficient engine that makes more power? Does anyone actually think it would have been smart for Toyota to keep using the 1GR, from a business perspective?

 

1 MPG better than what?

 

Then the 1gr that’s why while the 4th gen 4Runner and second gen Tacoma had the same 1gr the 5th gen 4Runner got the dual vvti updated 1gr and the 3rd gen Tacoma didn’t keep the 1gr but went with the sienna 2gr since it got 1mpg better and since way more Tacomas sell than 4Runners that 1mpg makes a huge difference

 

Yeah, that makes sense. But, I don't think anyone here would want the 3.5.

 

I theory it should be as reliable as a battery powered drill. Of course that will never happen because these new trucks are designed by computer geeks that love the unnecessary technology and gadgets

 

If they kept the 4.0 and mated it to a 9 speed transmission it would have gained some mpgs.
Look at what the Nissan Frontier can get out of its NA V6. 310 HP and 24 mpg.

 

It's not reliability that would concern me. It's the hours of charging it would add to longer road trips, and the overall inconvenience.

 

That would depend on how much better mpg it actually gets in the real world and how much more money it costs upfront to purchase. I’m pretty sure most people will be disappointed with both of those items.

 

I don’t think that’s much of an issue now with fast charging.

 

Until they can get me 300 miles of range in 5 minutes, they're still not there.

 

I can't argue about the cost factor. New Tacoma pricing has gotten pretty high.

As far as real world MPG, we don't really know about that yet.

The one thing we do know is that it's a massive improvement in power. And, I doubt anyone is going to mind that.

 

Check out some of the guys doing coast to coast EV races. Short charging stops staying in the middle of the battery range is key.

 

I don't care.

300 miles in 5 minutes. That's what I need.