Tacoma vs 4Runner

I currently own a 2017 TACOMA SPORT 4X4 4dr with the 3.5 liter engine and a 6 speed transmission. I just returned from a 2000 mile roundtrip from western NY to St Louis and am completely frustrated with the constant upshifting and downshifting to try and maintain the speed I had set in the Cruise Control. The other problem I had was the slow response or NO response from the gas pedal while pulling into traffic from a stop. When I took the truck into the dealer for the lag in the gas pedal they said "sorry we could not duplicate the problem you are talking about". My questions are revolving around these 2 problems. Does the 4Runner have the same problem with maintaining the speed set in the CC and has anyone experienced the problem with loss or lag for the gas pedal?

 

You’re not the only one with the complaint on the taco shifting. The new technology on most trucks does it to increase mpg. No, the 4runner doesn’t have that issue. It’s a simple 5 speed.

 

No the 4Runner doesn’t have shifting issues to maintain speed. However you have the realize the 4R is 750 pounds or more pounds than the Taco so it isn’t going to be a rocket off the line. This is one of the few things I miss about about my 2nd Gen 4.0 Taco. My 2nd gen was better off the line than my 4R especially when I had my trailer hooked up. You cant be afraid to hit that skinny pedal to get going.

As far as cruise control goes...all Toyota’s suck in hilly/mountainous regions I DO mean ALL. They rev stupid high. For example I typically drive at 65 with my two kids in the 4R and on fairly small hills the rpms go to 3k and I usually have to disengage CC. And with cruise I have seen the truck rev past 70mph when I have it set at 65. My wife’s 3.5 Highlander and my 1.8 Corolla does the same exact thing. However on slight grades and flatter roads the 4R rarely shifters at all.

All in all the 4R is a better truck in terms of ride quality and passenger comfort. I am probably in the minority hear but I feel the build quality is equal to my 2nd gen. You WILL not go wrong with a 4R but understand their midsize trucks share SOME characteristics...almost like DNA in a sense.

And I never driven a 3rd gen Taco, only been a passenger in 2016 and a 2017.

 

Ive owned a few different third gen tacomas. I didnt have any problems with how any of them drove personally... But i live in Florida and its pretty flat here. Plus i never use cruise control.

I went through several of them because the first one was totaled, the 2nd one the dealership tried changing the price after several days of me having it, third one i got a really good deal on but it was 2wd.... traded in after a year for a 4wd... Then after a couple years i decided id rather have the 4runner. But i loved all my tacomas.

That being said.... I now drive a 2019 4runner, and i believe the 4runner is actually just as bad or worse when it comes to gas pedal lag, you have to really stomp on that thing if you wanna go fast... Like when passing someone or getting on the interstate, you will have to floor it. But its not built for speed....

The 4 runner is more comfortable, and rides smoother, i find it better off road and on.. But speed is not its strong suit, and gas mileage is worse than the tacoma. I knew that going in, so i am happy with the trade, but just be aware before you do it.

I miss my tacoma bed occasionally. Thats the only thing that makes me kind of regret the trade... I do have a couple trailers, but throwing trash in the bed of a truck and hauling it to the landfill is much easier than hooking up a trailer loading it and then taking that... I also miss being able to toss a kayak in the bed easily and hit the local creeks for a couple hours. Some of them dont have any room to bring a trailer, and there are no boat ramps at some.... Still, the 4runner is the better vehicle FOR ME.

 

I have one of each. The 4R doesn’t exhibit the same issue.
My Tacoma drove me nuts. I took a leap and installed a pedal commander. I wasn’t looking to ‘burn rubber’ or win street racing contests. I just wanted to take the dead-fish feel out of my accelerator pedal. It did just that.. Typically I drive in 5S. 6th gear is a total waste imo. I’m not sure how cruise control changes with the PC installed. I never have used cruise control on anything I drive. I just don’t care for it.

 

I think either one will shift a lot if you're using cruise control in the hills or at higher speeds. From what I've read, the 3rd gen Tacos are probably worse.

Go drive one! Take a long test drive and get out on the freeway. Come to the dark side

As far as the slow throttle response; many people have cured the delay with a Pedal Commander or Sprint Booster.

 

That is why I gave up on Tacoma after 10 months, suck engine/trans capabilities and awful brakes.

 

Yes, that's a good description of how a 3rd gen drives. My 4Runner does not do that. Very stable engine/trans.

 

My 2016 Tacoma TRD OR was totaled in August, I replaced it with a new TRD ORP 4RUNNER! I do not regret it at all. So sick of the tranny engine combo in the Tacoma and the shifting constantly and high Rpm's on the highway if the wind is blowing. The Tacoma is underpowered, end of story. And it is VERY ANNOYING, LOL. Love the extra power of the 4Runner. No down shifting all the time. ITs a good match for the 5sp.

I live North of you by Springfield, Il and drove the 4Runner to Buffalo, Ny for a wedding back in October. was never so happy with the experience over the Tacoma...... Thats my .2

 

I also came from a 2016 Tacoma OR. I had the TSBs done for the shifting issue but it never resolved the shifting issues even going over slight overpass roads here in Fl. Now I have a 2020 4Runner and never looking back. The 4 is so much more comfortable, handles better and the engine and trans are light years better. I was even getting better gas mileage in the 4 until I put in the lift / larger tires. Now it is about the same.

 

If you guys REALLY need power for the 3rd gen Tacoma.... https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ovtune-3-5l-tacoma-supercharger-and-twin-turbo-systems.566390/

Also they make nice tunes to fix issues on the 3rd gen and 2nd gen Tacomas. I have both 5th gen 4Runner and 2nd gen Tacoma...best of both worlds IMO. Taco for work and 4Runner for the trails.

 

Those drum brakes lol … Nissan Frontier that is in dying need of a new gen doesn't even have that and for some reason everyone bashes it. (agree the fronty would lose even more sales if it had drums)

list advantages of drum brakes:

• less expensive to produce.
• slightly lower frequency of maintenance due to better corrosion resistance compared to disks.
• built-in self energizing effect requires less input force (such as hydraulic pressure).
• wheel cylinders are somewhat simpler to recondition compared to calipers

What are the advantages of disc brakes over drum brakes?

• Fewer moving parts. ...
• Longer life due to fewer moving parts and more effective heat dissipation.
• Friction pads are easily accessible for replacement or inspection.
• Easy access to caliper for cleaning and maintenance.
• Entire caliper can be removed for maintenance without removing rotor and hub.

4Runner FTW

 

I own a 2010 Tacoma and would have bought a 3rd gen Tacoma if not for the car engine and shitty transmission they put in it. Now I own a 4runner.

 

After 11 months of ownership I switched from a 2017 Tacoma OR to a 2019 4R OR. I wanted the Tacoma to work really badly, but I finally got tired of (trying) to drive it on our mountain roads. I found it gutless. The 4Runner is great. No regrets at all.

 

I traveled I-10 this week between Jacksonville,Fl and New Orleans and finally got to use the CC in my 4Runner for extended periods. Only weird thing I noticed was coming up hills (and this is Florida, mind you, LoL!) the truck felt like I was about to launch into space as it attempted to maintain speed. Going downhill was smooth.

 

The only new Tacoma I would think about considering would be the manual trans version. Other than the manual trans version the new Tacoma sucks IMO.

 

Personally, I can't justify a new vehicle needing a OV Tune. Should be sufficient at the factory.

 

Toyota novel time.
Let’s start with cruise control. Toyota cc will keep you within 5mph of your selected speed and wait until its lost a few mph before it says, alright I guess I’ll downshift now and get back where I need to be. Then she drops down a gear, revs to 3k plus, and goes 3mph OVER the selected speed. Ive owned a 2tr tacoma, 2gr-fks avalon engine tacoma, and now a 17 4R. All were equally lousy on the CC. My first car was a crown vic police interceptor. That old gal kept EXACTLY what speed you were set on. Looks like Fords got one up on us.
For those who say the 4r is under powered, learn something. The 1gr-fe is used in the heavy, fat and bloated 200 series cruiser sold in certain african markets. Visit toyota gibralter stockholdings website and see all the barebones forbidden fruit we can’t get here.
I may be alone here but I would trade up for a land cruiser 76 wagon with the 1hz naturally aspirated diesel in a heartbeat. Still made new to this day.

 

Get a used laptop on ebay for $100-$200. Heck even a used budget tablet just for tuning is about around $100-$200. I use my tablet for navigation with Gaia app since the factory navigation is crap.

 

Same reason people pay for a 840 hp Dodge Demon Charger when a Hemi powered V8 Charger is sufficient from the factory.... it's because people can and they are offered options.

 

I loved all my 2nd gen Tacoma’s. Hated the 3rd gen for the same reason the OP stated. I liked it in town but couldn’t stand it on road trips on the highway. It was underpowered or poorly mapped. Take your pick.

Love my 4runner. It feels similar to my 2nd gen Tacoma’s as far as highway driving goes. And no dead pedal feeling. Also gets better mpg when the wind is blowing (which is most of the time).

I do prefer having a pickup bed. And I’d get another Tacoma if they made it drive like the 4runner. But as of now, it’s not even close.