Shift points

This is our first Toyota and we took the 4R on a road trip this weekend. 2021 ORP 4Runner.

I noticed that the shift points seemed somewhat abrupt at times. We were traveling through the mountains and had fairly large elevation changes.

I have experiences with past vehicles that when making this same drive I have these abrupt shifts when changing altitude rapidly. Is this normal with Toyota also?

It was nothing concerning, just curious ….

 

I just came back from a trip to our mountain cabin with a fairly heavy load of tools and camp food. Most of the elevation change happens in the last hour of this drive, and on pretty windy roads. Due to the road conditions, there were plenty of down shifts as I navigated the switch-backs. But, I would not have described any of them as abrupt. I know, that is a pretty subjective evaluation. I've made this trip for several years in prior Tacoma's, the last being a 2018 automatic, and felt it handled the turns and elevation change very similarly. I often am pulling a utility trailer with a couple Dual Sport motorcycles, though I haven't done that yet with my 4Runner. On the Tacoma's there are even more shifts, though again, none are what I would call abrupt. I hope to get back up pulling that trailer with the 4Runner soon. Several years I was making the trip with a manual transmission 2.7l Tacoma - now there was some shifting. Good luck with your 4Runner.

 

Sounds like 'downhill assist'. When going down steep/steeper hills, and you step on the brake, it activates downhill assist.

For going up and down hills, I like to shift into 'S' mode. Keeps it in the chosen gear which reduces unwanted gear hunting.

 

My truck holds gears and "hunts" when traveling up steep grades, that's normal for these trucks as far as I know. Added weight and any wind resistance will exacerbate the feeling. The abrupt shifting you're mentioning may just be the minimum RPM needed to change gears, mine does that occasionally as well.

 

It's part of the charm!

It's alarming for certain, but I've gotten used to it. I actually get a sore right leg when driving out West through elevations because I'm trying to feather the throttle so that it doesn't kick down 17 times when going up a 1-degree incline.......part of the deal. Uptown 1st world problems.

 

I appreciate the feedback.

again, I have had other vehicles behave similarly so wasn’t concerned. On those, and probably similar with the Toyota, it was mainly when there were rapid changes in altitude.

 

If mine even sees a slight increase, it pretty much immediately kicks down at least once, and then if I do nothing on cruise, it will kick down again and scream at 3500rpm's for however long is needed.
Sometimes downhill runs kick down also and I have to engage to make it better.
Like I said, part of a 5th gen....