Gas Mileage

I had 2005 (or 2004?) for about 10 years. Traded it in for a 2014 4Runner. My older 4Runner routinely got 21-22 mpg overall. The 5th generation that I purchased got 13 mpg overall, which was NOT ACCEPTABLE. Kept it for a year, then sold it and got a Highlander. I think I had a lemon b/c I haven’t talked to anyone with such atrocious gas mileage. I would LOVE to purchase another 4Runner and hope the mpg on the 6th gen will be better.

 

Did you check your self for the problem? Things like;
1) Alignment?
2) Weight of the tire?
3) Type of the tire (like M/Ts)?
4) Any added weight (steel skids, sliders, bumpers, aggressive bumper cuts, drawers)?
5) Changed gearing for offroad that potential killed the highway mpg?
6) Engine tune mods, intake, exhaust mods for performance that could kill the factory tune optimized for better mpg & longevity?
7) No user error, like staying in 4H all the time as 5th gen doesn't have a center diff lock like 2004/2005 has with 4H to stay in center diff free mode? (Unless it's a Limited that has H4F like 2004/2005 V8 which doesn't have a 2H)

**I think we have some members here with heavy 4runners with drawers, MTs, etc that give lower mpgs.

 

Nothing was added / modded. This was 13 mpg from day 1.

 

Do you have lead in your feet?

 

My late wife did. Was always getting speeding tickets.

 

I average 20 mpg in my 2019. probably a 70/30 split between driving in-town (very small town) and hwy trips ~ 80 mph avg

 

I'm on my 2nd week of owning a 2023 Anniversary Special Edition (I've been told it's a glorified SR5). It does not have stock tires on it, but does have stock wheels on it.

The setup: Falken Wild Peak, 265/70 R17's. They weigh about 6lbs more per tire than the stock Bridgestone Duelers. I live in North Central Texas, aka...Flat Land Country. There are no hills or high elevations. My SloRunner is my daily driver and I use it primarily to commute to/from work. Everything else is stock, the suspension, lift, etc. I don't plan on changing that either. I know the higher the lift, the more it fucks with the aerodynamics of the truck. (lifted trucks always get shitting mileage)

95% of my driving is highway driving, and when I do, I am able to set the cruise control for almost the entire commute. My first week of driving to/from work I was doing 70MPH (not any higher) and I averaged 19MPG. Now, the overall MPG for the tank was lower, but that was because I did a lot of city driving and idling during the first 3 days I owned it. But I got over 410 miles out of the tank before refilling it.

I filled up on Sunday and the big red-head aka 4Runner needed all 23 gallons. The experiment this week is to drive 65MPH. Today I got 22.9MPG driving to work today and 20.8 driving home.

Things to keep in mind that helped me achieve this number and to keep this number high:

1) Don't take off fast. It's a big ass SUV, not a Corvette.
2) Speeding is your enemy. If you try to go faster than 70mph your MPG's will fall off a cliff.
3) City driving and idling also kills the MPG's. I sat a light and saw it drop from 21.0 to 20.3 before the light turned green.
4) Get rid of any and all unnecessary weight. Sure, your roof top tent and 37 inch tires look cool, but those things are slowing you down and impacting your MPG's.
5) Hills are another enemy of the 4Runner, and of any truck. Keep the RPM's under 2,000.
6) If you plan on doing any towing, don't even look at the display screen. If you do, you'll cry when you see you only got 9MPG towing your boat/camper . Trust me, just don't....

I'm pretty confident that I can achieve the MPG numbers in my 4Runner that I got in my Tacoma. I could easily average 20 - 21. Now, that number may sound horrible to some people, but when it's a lifted (factory lift that is) SUV that weighs 6,100lbs with big ass offroad tires......that number sounds pretty great to me!

My MPG's today (10/10/2023)

 

Yeah, if you were getting 13 stock, that's super low. Unless it all city, and you are a leadfoot, or all highway and you cruise at like 90 MPH, it sounds like there was an issue.

 

I'm trying to figure out why this is in the 6th Gen forum...

 

Good point!

Edit: actually, maybe because the OP seems to be considering holding out for a 6th gen.

 

My completely stock 21' 4R, that just turned 19,000 miles, has averaged 19-20 MPG since day one.

 

If the 6th gen holds true to rumors, the mpgs will definitely be there. Turbos are dependant on your own foot for mpgs. And hybrid are inherently better because of the battery use.

But as every mpg post on here has suggested, every vehicle really depends on driver and outside conditions.

Edit: i wouldn't expect anything in the prius range out of a 4runner probably ever.

 

In this gender confused world we live in, my 4Runner now identifies as A PRIUS!

 

LMAO

 

Bro, thanks for the idea. I've been trying to think up a witty title or phrase for under my avatar. Now I have one!

 

Not if you're James Bond.

 

I watched this just to see a 2000GT in action.

 

This was my fuel economy on Sunday on a ~340 mile road trip, towing a pop-up, loaded down with camping gear, tools, and recovery gear, with full armor and LT285/70/17 Toyo AT3's.

60-65 MPH, and toggling between S4 and S5 depending on the grade.

I'm all for driving until the light is on, and even until the "miles to empty" reads 0. But, if you're driving until it says 0 miles to empty, and then driving another 60 or 80 miles, you are asking for trouble.

If you are keeping it stock, how does it weigh 6100 lbs? Mine weighed in at 5500 and change with full armor front bumper winch, roof rack, loaded down with tools and recovery gear.

However, if you are actually keeping it bone stock, and conscientious about how you drive, I would agree that 20 to 21 MPG is easily achievable.

 

The curb weight is around 4750 on a TRD off road, IIRC. GVWR is The maximum weight rating of the vehicle with all passengers and cargo.

Edit: I see you actually have curb weight highlighted. So, 4675 is your actual weight, not 6100.

 

My TRD with stock size A/Ts, full skids, sliders weighing at 5000lbs vs my Limited (with 3rd row) lifted with Ironman FCP + 285/70R17 Falkens weighing at 5060lbs.

Haven't weigh my TRD after 285/70R17 Toyo OC, but I bet it won't be much of a difference since 265 Duratrac are 45lbs/tire vs my new 285 Toyo OC are 47lbs/tire

 

Yeah, none of them way even close to 6100 stock was my point. It sounds like the limited with the third row seat is probably the heaviest trim.

 

no freaking way! clearly you were pushing that vehicle

 

Now see, I have always found strong winds to severely impact my MPG's. If I have a strong head wind, then the MPG's take a nose dive. The truck acts like I'm driving 99MPH up hill!

 

It was a joke, which obviously didnt land.

 

what app is that?

 

Those are great numbers. the most I've gotten is 19 mpg.

 

I know it's not hard to get over 20 in ideal conditions. But, I have a hard time believing anyone is getting over 20 driving into the wind at 80 MPH.

 

I traded in my 4 Runner and bought a Highlander, put 103K miles on it and just traded it in for a 4 Runner which I missed.

 

I live outside of Boston. My commute is 9.5 miles on slow back roads. I go though no less than 15 stop signs and signal lights each way and it takes me 20-25min am and more like 35min PM for an average speed well under 30mph.

In those conditions my mileage is abysmal.. typically 16.5ish, high 15s if Im grumpy and gun it everytime I get out from behind the slowpoke doing 25 in a 40.

On highway road trips I see 18-19mpg. Unless there is heavy traffic you better stay in the right lane around here at any speed under 75 on the turnpike.