5th gen 4Runner to a 3rd gen Tacoma (if anyone cares)

I just thought I'd throw my $0.02 out there for those looking for a driving comparison between the 5th gen 4R and the 3rd gen Tacoma. I had a 4R with 122k miles that had the Eibach Pro Truck lift and got myself into a Tacoma TRD BRO PRO. I enjoyed the build (a shop did it), but it's complicated, and takes time I don't have, so I opted for the lesser built, but already built Pro.

I read the numerous threads about the complaints on the 3rd gen drivability. I've been a Toyota owner for a long time, so I get it and I knew what I was getting into, and I hope this comes out as a fair perspective. I'll also preface this by saying I'm aware the 2020 version had some adjustments made to the transmission responsiveness/throttle mapping or whatever it was.

I loved the 4R. Great truck, for sure, and I'll miss it a lot, but it was a bit of a pig. I live in a hilly area in West Virginia, so when operating the antiquated 5 speed transmission, manual select mode was almost imperative for 3rd and 4th gears. There was definitely a tendency to upshift way too soon and would bog down in the higher gear, hesitating to downshift. I just got used to running it in that mode fairly soon after purchase, so after 122k miles, it was second nature.

From my very limited new Tacoma experience, I think there are many similarities. You can feel Toyota squeezing out the mpgs. ECT mode helps, and may almost be a necessity if you live in hills. I'm already getting the feel of when I need to use manual shift mode to hold the gear I need after only 450 miles of driving this truck. I feel a little acceleration lag in 2nd gear that I don't love, but it's not horrendous. 3rd and 4th are good.

For the interstate, I was prepared to hate 6th based on the threads on here. I found that not to be the case, at all. I realized quickly, though, that holding speed on an interstate hill requires 4th every now and then, but it doesn't really bother me knowing the peak power curves are at higher RPMs for this engine. It was never screaming, and 6th held just fine and better than I expected.

I would almost argue the 5th gear and highway driving is worse in the 4R. The number of times the torque converter unlocks (or is it locks -- I can never remember which one it is) in 5th on an average interstate drive is frustrating, and it is almost worthless when it does so. And if necessary, the downshift to 4th over 65mph is pretty harsh, driving that engine over 3k rpm without much gusto. I'll take the 6th to 5th downshift in the Tacoma any day, even the one to 4th as well at interstate speeds.

And just to note: the lift didn't change the performance of the 4R all that much, only slightly.

I'll miss that 4R. There's a reason why people love them, and I'm in that group. But, after doing gobs of research on here, I find that despite some complaints out there, the Tacoma drives pretty well. It's not perfect, by any means, and I blame CAFE. It's almost like Toyota is *this close* to making as perfect of a production daily driving vehicle as can be made, but they feel like they have to do something weird in the design/build process that makes us scratch our heads just to mess with us.

Anyways, I loved my 4R and will miss it terribly, but definitely love the Tacoma. Got an off-roading day planned this weekend, and will be doing some towing in the next month. Hopefully the opinion stays the same!

edit: One of the things I forgot to add... the suspension setup in the Pro is a lot more pavement friendly than the Eibach lift. I have nothing but good things to say about that Eibach lift, and it did very, very well off the pavement, and I would recommend it assuming it's got a similar feel in the Tacomas. But at the same time, it was starting to bounce my fillings out on my commute to work. Could have been the tires, too... Wildpeaks (but I though those were good, too).

 

Congrats on the new truck.

I love 4Runners too, but it really is hard to believe how antiquated they still are. I mean, what other new vehicle in 2020 still comes with a 5 speed? Then again, what other vehicle still comes with rear drum brakes (Taco). lol

 

was in the same boat for about 2yrs. bought a fresh 2016 (ie oct-2015) build date i think, tacoma dcab v6 sport. traded in a 2012 tacoma dcab v6 4.0L. never really had any issues with the transmission but again we didnt tow much (1-2 times in 2yrs). any slight incline and it would jump down to 5th or even 4th. cruise control would be extra finicky with holding 6th with any incline or head wind. i would just compensate with manually shifting down to 5th or 4th. compared to the 2014 4R limited, the mpg was the same on the highway, city was about the same maybe 1 mpg better than the 4R. the 4R engine i never noticed but then again, i would use sport mode alot or ensure i pushed the pedal past 1/2 way to get the engine to move. comfort wise i think the 2012 seats were better than the 2016 model but otherwise the 2016 was an overall improvement over the 2012 tacoma but not compared to the 4R (the 4R was my daily driver and the tacoma was the wife's).

we eventually got rid of the tacoma due to the back seat room for the 2 GSP hunting dogs. back seat is too cramped for anything besides 2 people and for teen's it still was cramped.

i wouldnt trade my 4R for a tacoma but thats just me for my situation. i drive to work at 5am before the plows are out so i need the FT 4WD of the 4R Limited for the 15 miles (1-way) to get to work.

looking forward to the 5th gen 4R when it comes out in fall of 21? or 22 i think.

edit: forgot to add, traded the 2016 tacoma for a 2018 Tundra Platinum, looking forward to see what the 3rd gen Tundra looks and feels like.

 

you dont know pig till you running a 4.5" icon lift with some heavy ass 20" fuel kranks coupled with some e-rated bfg ko2s. truck was an absolute slug going up any kind of hill. i really cant fault the truck though. hell, if it was the taco it would be the same damn way. sold that and ended up getting a sport sequoia. oddly enough, im headed back into a 4runner again. 2021 nightshade this time. what can i say. i love my runners.

 

Do you still have your 3rd gen tacoma? any thoughts on upgrading to 4th gen

 

I love both the Tacoma and 4Runner