What was the design intent of the 2GR-FE?

That makes zero sense. The 2.7 gets better mpg on paper. Believe it or not people shit on the prius but the prius has allowed toyota to keep the v8 and 4.0 as long as they have

 

Rest assured....there will be a turbo 4 in the Taco in the near future. Toyota will begin to phase out the 2GR in transverse front/AWD configurations in favor of a 2.4 turbo soon. It will be a forced induction version of the 2.5 Dynamic Force A25 mill. I'm guessing the reduction in displacement is do to thicker cylinder walls which reduces the bore....thus displacement. Some version of this engine is likely to find it's way to the Taco.

Once this happens, it's only a matter of time before longitudinal 2GR configurations....which there are only 2 in N. America.....that being the Tacoma and the Lexus IS will be gone as well.

 

My guess is it was designed based on how the marketing showed owners were actually using a mid size truck and also to consolidate the engine lineup. I'm convinced there was also a material efficiency improvement cruising at 65. I consistently got 21-22 mpg commuting to work and I don't think the 2nd gen could match that. Overall there's really very little difference across the entire power band. Both suck pretty bad for interstate type driving. JMO

 

Not sure if you guys have noticed, but Toyota USA seems to be willing to spend little to nothing on research and design. 10+ year old designs and badge engineered vehicles are most of what they sell. Without a doubt the modifications made to the GR series engine is Toyota USA piggybacking off of the Japanese design (not necessarily a bad thing) to try to make something "new" out of something that was 13 years old.

 

Agree with you. When you say both suck for interstate driving, you mean because it feels like the truck is struggling to keep up? Maybe it’s psychological but it just seems the truck is running out of breath although it can maintain any reasonable speed and for me doesn’t even “gear hunt” that much — for me it’s not hunting, it’s simply downshifting Bc it needs more power… there’s no hunt just give me more. When I drive my 5.5 liter Mercedes, I can set it to 90 MPH on cruise it’s under 2k RPM and it’s like barely breaking a sweat.

 

The fact that the 3rd gen V6 is a couple hundred pounds heavier than a comparable 2nd gen V6, has indistinguishable top end power (won't deny that the 1GR bottom end is far superior) and still gets 1-1.5 mpg (+6-9%, see the data for yourself of fuelly.com) better fuel efficiency tells me everything I need to know.

Links to make it easier:
2GR Tacomas:
Toyota Tacoma MPG - Actual MPG from 2,326 Toyota Tacoma owners (fuelly.com)
1GR Tacomas:
Toyota Tacoma MPG - Actual MPG from 2,340 Toyota Tacoma owners (fuelly.com)

 

I suppose. Still a pretty feeble motor. I cannot imagine how weak the 4 banger is. I want to get a tune on my 3.5, but am worried it will stress the engine / trans.

 

Pro should of gotten the 5.7 V8…
Then lower trims have 3.5, 2.7, and 3.0 diesel options. With available manual trans.

 

In the Tacoma forum it seems some shit on every change made, every color, every year and everything they dont personally like. It's like high school all over again. A dystopian forum or just cliques I guess.

 

Not intending to be a smart ass, but think about what you are saying here, comparing a 5 liter Mercedes to a Tacoma. You probably should have bought a twin turbo Ford if that was your concept of a truck.

 

At 70+ mph they are both highly inefficient and the ride and handling and comfort are not great. In fairness I haven't driven other mid size trucks to compare. It really comes down to how you use your truck.

 

Mine doesn’t feel like it is running out of breath, feels like has plenty of untapped power. Of course I don’t drive more than 70 mph on the interstate….didn’t buy the truck to be an interstate cruiser. Bought it to plunk around on back country roads.

If I wanted an interstate cruiser, would of bought a BMW Alpina B8…

5.5L Merc? As they say, no replacement for displacement.

 

V8 would have been nice. I was looking at something that said the 3.5 got close to the same mpgs as the 4cyl.

Lets say the 3.5 was that much more efficient than the 4.0 keeping both the 3.5 and 4.0 could net the same gain in CAFE, standards If those were the only two options. And the lower number of Pros produced there wouldn't be an abundance of 4.0 Tacomas each year.

None of that sounds all that reasonable to me, why keep both the 4.0 and 3.5 or two similar V6s for the same model?

The 4Runner keeps the 4.0 for good reason, it's built in Japan for the world market. It makes no sense to change that, and it's an older design compared to the the 3rd gen, with the 3.5.

Would the 4Runner 4.0 work in the Tacoma, and take care of what Toyota has to do to meat EPA regs? Probably

Was it more cost effective to build the 3.5 for the Tacoma and achieve the same EPA regs? Probably

Yeah 5.7 would have been cool for the Pro. I wouldn't mind seeing the same 3.5 TT out of the 3rd gen Tundra go in the next gen Tacoma Pro.

 

The 4 cylinder is perfectly fine the vast majority of the time, but it needs to be revved out when you need to merge, climb a hill, and it needs a quarter mile to pass anything. It's barely adequate, but it's such a reliable motor and it's cheaper than the V6, so it's perfect for me. It gets up I-70's hills, but it puts up a fight - https://studio.youtube.com/video/j6k9E1wWBM0/edit

If you want a tune on your 3.5, go for it and don't look back. The 2GR and AC60 are very durable and they will tolerate a lot of stress. They don't break unless they're abused, neglected, or allowed to get low on fluids.

 

I test drove a 2nd gen 4 cyl and got on an inclined freeway on ramp and felt like jumping out to push.

 

Think the diesel would cure most peoples woes. Lots of torque down low, great mpgs. They do have DPF version now, “should” pass epa regs.

https://global.toyota/en/detail/8348091


Though might not have enough steam for those guys like to blast 90 mph on the interstate. Need a new slang term for those guys who mod the hell out of their trucks to blast the freeways and interstate. Freeway Blaster Crawlers, Interstate Overlander Cruisers, Highway Bros…

 

I'd drive a Hilux with a standard key if Toyota sold them in the US.

I'd also drive a LC70 standard cab with a V8 manual transmission manual transfer case utility tray, and standard key. If I could afford it. The only complaint I could even come up with is it's 5lug and not 6, and maybe you can't get LED headlights. Neither of those things would be a deal breaker. I'm sure I would hate it on the interstate and wouldn't like the milage.

 

I believe the 4Runner is now only available in the Americas, surprising how it isn't just built in the US or Mexico. I wonder if the next gen 4Runner will still be built in Japan.

 

It's built in San Antoio Texas.

I don't think there wil be 6th gen 4Runner. The Sequioa has taken its place. BOF SUVs, are losing popularity. They aren't going away, but there are enough on the market. Tahoe/Yukon Expedition/Navigator Sequioa.

There is no other midsize BOF SUV sold in the US. Everything 4R competes against, is a unidody CUV. Hook up the 4Runner to the tow bar behind the FJ Cruiser as it's going the same direction.

4Runner might live on as a large cabin, up market 4dr Tacoma, maybe even available with a removeable hard top. I'd like to see a 2dr 4R with a removeable hard top, like the 1st gen Hilux Surf. If this gets enough traction. Toyota may reintroduce a complete steel body 4Runner like we are use to seeing.

Worst case, a new unibody 4Runner based of what will probably be the next gen Highlander.

 

I suspect the next gen 4Runner will be built in Mexico or the USA - but I could be wrong…… it happens from time to time