Not How You Start/How You Finish…

Year to date sales through August:
4Runner 83,446
Bronco 69,956

For some perspective, after Gen5 was released in 2009, for the first four years Toyota was unable to sell more than 51k in a year. Easily could’ve been cancelled, instead got refreshed. Crazy luck.

Bronco was released in 2021, and initially, people lined up to pay next-level markups. Bronco sold 117k in 2022. A few years and 17 recalls later, Bronco’s sales are sinking. And 15 years on, Toyota still sells every single 4Runner it can ship across the Pacific.

Which begs the question, do we really need a new one?

 

Great question, and I think the answer is NO. Don't change it if it ain't broke. But some people can't leave well enough alone, or think that it is broken & in need of an upgrade. The tech in the 5th gen is very old. But that's actually why I bought it. I don't want an all-digital vehicle. I want an old-school analog vehicle. The 4Runner is a perfect blend of old and sort-of new.

The look of the 6th Gen's is starting to grow on me though, but I'm very skeptical about the new drive train that's in 'em. The 5th Gen engine is very reliable, dependable & capable.

 

Sold my 23 Bronco for the “modern vintage” 24 TRD Pro. Bronco was sexy but untrustworthy. I do miss it.

 

Agree and very happy to have a '19 that additionally doesn't have the safety sensing stuff on it. I imagine it is for fleet fuel efficiency numbers even though I haven't seen what the 6th gen is supposed deliver. So much is driven by regulations now...

 

I want a 5th gen 4Runner, with a real key, and the Toyota 5.7 litre under the hood!

 

The current 4runner is old in every sense of the word for a vehicle being sold in 2024 and I am not talking about the size of the screen or the tech or the data mining features it has. Engine, gearbox, handling, NVH pretty much everything is outdated.
14 years is a long time for a manufacturer to keep selling the same old vehicle and it shows how good of a run the model had.i am not aware of any other vehicle in recent memory that has not been updated in the last 14 years. Time for an update.

 

Can't argue with any of what you've posted but I'm still glad to have my own example of old reliable in hand. It's old and so am I. Really, it's drivetrain bones go back to 2002 and still working as designed. I'll take it.

 

Probably not, as far as enthusiasts are concerned. Especially now that we know that the new one is bigger on the outside, and somehow smaller on the inside.

But, it's all about meeting new emissions and CAFE requirements.

 

We don’t need a new one like the new one that it is. But emissions and regulations left us with no choice unfortunately.

If one could dream, I would’ve loved to see an updated engine similar to the 2nd gen Tundra, either a 6 speed 4.6L V8 or 5.7L V8.

Regarding the tech, I like what we have in our 5th gen for the most part, I don’t need all digital screens for the instrument cluster. However, from the 6th gen I would definitely take the camera resolution, the factory trailer brake controller, and sway bar disconnect.

 

It would be fun to pick and choose what gadgets you did and didn't want.
We rented a new RAV4 in June. The 360 degree view was kind of useful for backing up.
The stereo was nice.
But the rest of the gizmos, I could live without.

 

Amen to this!

 

No the old ones have the same jazz. You can always add tech and electronics.

 

Shh don’t let the 4th-gen see that title!

 

I think the 6th Gen is a waiting game. We're all starting to hear the horror stories of what the changes have brought to the new Tacoma. Pretty sure I read somewhere on this forum that the 6th Gen 4R is going to be delayed because of supply issues.

Stayed tuned!

 

TNGA-F delivered wholesale improvements to Tacoma, but then the 4Runner already has coils/rear discs, a decent seating position, better torque characteristics, and better shift algorithms. What should concern current 4R owners is the QC issues affecting virtually all TNGA-F products. Given that backdrop, Toyota dragging its feet over “parts shortages” is starting to feel a little like “delayed sentencing”. And we don’t even know the price yet.

Measuring ‘24’s side by side on the dealer lots, I see a noticeable decline in build from the outgoing 4R versus early LC250’s, and especially Tacomas, which are now downright flimsy by comparison. As far as I’m concerned, just give me one-touch/3 blinks, auto headlights, and feel free to delay Gen6 another 5-10yrs.

 

I was walking through a parking lot yesterday and a car came up rolled by from behind me with a really noisy engine, almost sounded like it was a diesel. It turned out to be a brand new Tacoma (still had paper plates) with the turbo-4. It sounded terrible. Wondering if all of the turbo-4's sound this way or if this one was having problems. Didn't leave a very good first impression.