4th Gen Tacoma (2024+)

I expected a more fuel efficient 4Runner to be shipping by now. Shipping is a feature.

 

The feature is having an old school powertrain that will last 500k miles with $50 oil changes every 10k miles and an occasional air filter.


Most other suvs don’t have that feature which is why the 4runner is selling more units now than it ever has

 

The anniversary edition is dope. I tried to get wife to sell/trade her 21 lunar PRO for one. She said and I quote "are you fucking nuts, if you like it so much trade in your fucking lime taco"

Lol.. that's a real toyota loving family right their.

 

And it wasn't different in the truck segment? They went from utility vehicles to lifestyle and family vehicles that were actually pretty fuel efficient. The Tundra was still largely operating on the 2007 platform with a big, inefficient and underpowered (compared to much of the segment) V8 until their 2022 remodel. The 4Runner is a pretty specialized vehicle in terms of SUVs. You're not buying it simply because you need a grocery getter. You're buying it on the name, or the off-road/adventure aesthetic, or because you'll actually use it for adventure/off-road and you don't need a full-sized SUV. If not, get a Chevrolet Blazer or Ford Explorer or something.

 

I miss my lunar rock taco occasionally it’s a very unique color. Not many 4R around in that

 

I don't see the 2.4L turbo outperforming my 4.0L 1GR-FE by that much. Not enough to get excited about, anyway.

 

More hp and more low end torque, has the numbers, but would have to wait for real world testing when and if it comes to the tacoma.

 

I'm thinking the same thing, if that happens toyota take my money!

 

Certainly not wrong...

It appears that Toyota has begun to phase out its tried-and-true 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The 2023 Highlander three-row SUV swaps out that naturally aspirated motor for a new turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four that produces 265 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque—a drop of 30 hp from the V-6 but an increase of 46 pound-feet of torque. Toyota claims that the four-cylinder will achieve the same 24 mpg combined as the V-6 in terms of its EPA ratings.

 

Power = Air + Spark + Fuel
More power, less MPGs. That’s how ICE work.

 

they can also sacrifice longevity and get better MPG
such as using light weight parts that save weight but don't last as long.

 

Well, there is a heck of a lot more to it than that. Splitting a hair here, but the air to fuel ratio, fuel atomization, timing of the spark event, compression ratio, cylinder swirl, cylinder scavenging, spark plug count and location, valve count and location, combustion chamber and piston head design, thermal cooling, ..., and the list goes on. The fact is, take any two engines, provide them with the same amount of air and one will almost assuredly produce more power from less fuel than the other.

 

The move to the 2.4L / turbo 2.4L in multiple applications is the preview of what is to come from Toyota.

As others have said a PHEV Tacoma would really be appealing. I like the turbo/PHEV combo because it will still have full performance at altitude and return ~25+MPG in town or on the highway.

My 4.0 is a wheezer of a motor, sucks gas like a V8 and performs even worse above 6,000 feet.

In the Rav4 Prime the 2.4L (non-turbo) is 302 system HP and the recently announced 2023 RX500 power train looks like it rips. 366HP and 406lb-ft of torque. Just as interesting is the RX application has a real 6-speed transmission. Toyota clearly thinks the combination of Turbo and electrification and geared transmissions has a future.

I fully expect Toyota would derate the turbo/PHEV power train for Tacoma/4Runner/GX applications. But even with de-rating it will be >300HP (just due to competition in the segment with the GM/Ford/Nissan power trains) and with the electrification/boost should have great torque.

Toyota likes their Hybrid/PHEV. I’m keen to see what they bring in the next 2 years.

 

If the hybrid Tacoma is anything like the hybrid Tundra, you probably won't be too keen as it's only a 1 MPG overall difference.

 

Since I’m comparing to my 4.0L I’m pretty confident it will easily outperform my low power V6 and it’s stellar 14mpg in day-to-day use.

I’ll let the 3G team weigh in on their thoughts on the 3.5L. My limited experience with my buddy’s 3G/3.5L is it is weak off the bottom. My anticipation is much better torque for drivability 4G.

So, for me I’m anticipating much better drivability than any generation and better MPG.

 

Put a 2.0L 4-cylinder Turbo and a 4.0L 6-Cylinder NA motor on engine dynos. Run both at peak power and load making the same HP and Torque, using the same fuel, and they will both use about the same amount of air and fuel during the duration of the test. There are other variables but most don’t even understand the fundamentals of an engine yet alone air/fuel mixture, differences in torque curves or how a spark plug works.

 

Negative, that's why there is such a thing as the BSHP test; the above two engines will use very different amounts of fuel to generate each horsepower hour.

 

I see you have a manual, which is no doubt good to drive. Unfortunately I don’t see Toyota carrying the MT forward.

I hope they do. But off hand I can’t think of any 2.4L + manual transmission in the current line up. Welcome thoughts if I’m missing one.

 

BSHP? Bullshit Horsepower Test? Enlighten me so I can learn.