Have Toyota’s Engineers Ever Driven at Night Before?

My WRX has steering-responsive LED headlights, honestly the best headlights of any vehicle I’ve driven.

So am I just spoiled by that fantastic technology, or are these 4th Gen headlights as abysmal as my eyes tell me:




The sharp headlight cutoff and extremely narrow high-beams leave you trying to peer into the equivalent luminescence of a black hole when looking into the corner.

Edit: (Also worth noting: there is a funky stripe pattern that the lights throw on the road. You can't see it in the photos)

 

My Forester has the same headlights that respond to steering wheel input...they're pretty awesome.

 

Which Tacoma do you have?

 

This is a 2024 TRD OR base that I rented to truly test drive. I don't believe there is a difference in any of the trim's headlights besides Limited and up getting sequential LED turn signals/DRLs

 

I was wondering when someone was going to assess the lights. The stock LEDS on my 2021 OR are very bright, but they aren’t adaptive or cornering lights.

I’ve been eyeing those enclosures since the press releases and YouTuber reviews. Nobody has bothered to measure the lights.

The Pro looks like it has a different LED configuration.

 

And people wonder why their new taco costs 55 grand.................

 

I've never seen the 3rd gen LED setup at night, but you have the array of reflectors in your housings vs one single reflector/projector in these new lights. Dare I say yours are superior?

Based on some output photos on the 3rd gen forum, they do look to have a wider spread.

 

I’m not surprised, they went with “standard” LEDs which, with every truck receiving them and all getting the same ones, means they probably aren’t so great. Especially since all the light comes from one projector now too instead of separate high and low beam. Honestly, I think they super cheaped out on the lighting for the 4th gen. I like the rest of the truck but both the tail lights and headlights are super disappointing to me.

the sequential led thing on the upper trims looks goofy as hell, and the incandescent blinkers of the lower trims are just kind of cheap compared to the old OEM LEDs the 3rd gen had. Then they went with shared turn signals and brake lights in the rear which is the exact opposite of the direction they should have gone (Amber separate signal).

 

I really do like the taillights on this truck, reverse lights seemed to work well enough in the dark. I do prefer the look of your LED headlights, I think you may be right about them cheaping out a little.

The reason this is a big issue for me is that deer like to hunt us down in these sticks, they prey on cars with their eagerness to die and being able to see them first is crucial. I'd have to install ditch lights if I got one of these.

 

To get Abysmal Headlights???

 

I think the new truck’s tail lights look great, but I don’t like that they’re all red in operation and that the blinker and brake are combined. Personally I think an amber turn signal should be mandated by law, but whatever I guess.

As for the visibility of the front headlights, the photos don’t look great that’s for sure. I’d probably do to that truck what I did to mine, an SAE light bar in the bumper that is triggered by the high beam circuit. Even with the 3rd gen LEDs I wanted more.

 

This is what I was thinking about. With the Pro/TH getting that grill-mounted light bar on a high beam circuit, I wonder if all of the harnesses have an open lead for that circuit.

I would tie into that and one of the aux buttons to get some better high beam lighting. Those stock high beams should not be that narrow.

 

My Gen 2 Lexus RX (2008) has steering adaptive HID headlamps. The lights are pretty good. The adaptive aiming is next to useless.

My 1985 and 1990 Saab 900 Turbos had the excellent cornering lights all Saabs had in those days. A bright, close-in light that came on when the the turn signals were actuated.

I’ve never had anything better. (There were a number of things on those Saabs that I’ve missed on every car since then.)

 

I don't think people really understand how headlights used to be for literally decades. What they complain about now is almost always overdriving their lights because they are driving faster then they probably should. Hop into a 80's or 90's ride at night, then jump into pretty much everything made today and you'd shut up really quickly.

If anything, a huge portion of headlights today are TOO bright and focused and most people don't understand how lenses work or are aimed or the cutoff. Older lights just kind of put some light out front of the vehicle, the cutoff was very gradual, now you get a sharp delineation which is what people gripe about but you HAVE to have that to keep from blinding everyone on the road around you because the actual lumen output is so much higher then it used to be.

 

That's the nature of projector lights. Camry has the same sharp cutoff (LED's). Had a Subaru with halogen projectors that too had a cutoff line, not as bright though. Honestly I feel they are still better than the old style halogens. Have a '16 Jetta with regular halogen lights and I swear I have to squint to see anything even with the high beams.

The 3rd gen LED's were better as they didn't have that cutoff. However, I would get flashed at least a couple times a week.

 

I had a buick with the steering projector lights, bright as heck, but I hated them. The sharp cut-off kept the light too focused on just what's ahead. I like to see bambi before she jumps on the hood. lol

 

I’m well aware of how bad headlights used to be, my truck had sealed beams which were dimmer than a keychain flashlight. That’s why I bought projector retrofits (currently in the basement)

The materials cost is already in these new headlights, I’m complaining about the ultra narrow high beam. My base model 2016 Corolla for $16k had LED headlights. A wider throw on the high beam would not have resulted in a pricier truck

 

The cutoff is fine, my gripe is how narrowly focused the high beams are. My car has a cutoff, but the shroud flips up with high beams on and entirely gets rid of the cutoff. I’ll have to get a pic when I take it out.

 

I didn't like that there wasn't a separate lamp for the high beam. LED is much better when it's adaptive. The Tacoma lights don't have auto leveling either. The lights will probably be something that gets refreshed sooner than later, but that will cost more money. The majority of trucks with LED headlights aren't adaptive.

 

Auto leveling in fine without, you get the scroll wheel on this.

Interesting note: the 2025 4Runner has two projectors in each housing. Guarantee those are better at night, I bet you’re right about a redesign a few years down the road