4th Gen Tacoma (2024+)

Lol!

 

How long does the battery last in a Toyota hybrid? Seems like something else to have to worry about long term. And wondering if better mpg's in a turbo Tacoma would be enough to make up for the cost of replacing that eventually.

 

Look up “Toyota Prius.”

Toyota isn’t new to it. I (me) would expect 8-10 years or north of 100k miles. Similar to said Prius.

 

I've worked on several Prius with over 300k on the original battery.

RAV4 is similar to prius hybrid design; I can get 50mpg if I drive like there is an egg under the pedal.

Bonus with the Rav4 hybrid is- they don't have a traditional transmission. Meaning it's not a pressurized hydraulic unit and it's super simple. 1 planet gear and a couple heavy duty gears. Non-pressurized and not much in it that will break.

 

That’s a good explanation. This use of a hybrid just as a power boost seems pointless to me. A more complicated and expensive system plus losing the under seat storage seems like a lot of negatives. If they made a plug-in hybrid truck where you could actually drive locally without needing gas that would be great. Especially if you have solar panels at your home.

 

As I said, it isn't simply just for power. The driving experience is better- especially acceleration.

 

Last time I checked you're not an engineer. Probably why it seems pointless to you. And furthermore I feel this is the 10th time you have complained about it

 

Where did you check? My degree and license say otherwise.
Are you in charge of what we are allowed to discuss here?

 

I wouldn't call it pointless, but I would call it a missed opportunity. Toyota has been the leader in Hybrid tech to increase fuel efficiency for over 25 years and the first time they use it in an actual pickup truck lands the fuel economy in the middle of the pack seems like it misses the mark. Sure the power numbers are impressive, but I think having a Tundra hybrid system on an SR5 trim that produced a modest 300 hp / 350 ftlb torque and got 25-30 mpg would have been huge for Toyota.

Nothing in the teasers for the Tacoma indicate improved fuel economy which is kind of a bummer.

 

That’s a negative for me, love my wife’s RAV4 but can’t stand the transmission.

 

Hybrid powertrains in Tundra/Sequoia & upcoming Tacoma emphasize greater torque and lower emissions. If it also picks up a couple mpg’s that’s a bonus but don’t expect your ‘24 Taco to compete w your neighbor’s Prius.

Toyota needs to roll this baby out already b/c the anticipation level right now has people speculating the Gen4 writing checks that the actual finished truck will never cash. It’s like if you dream it up, just post it & Toyota will magically weld it onto the new truck for you….

For now I much prefer my current reality complete w V6, drums, leafs, and missing grab handle…

 

The reasoning behind it is, Mike Sweers wanted a diesel for the Tundra (and assuming the Tacoma), Toyota said no. Hybrid boost was the compromise. While no real gains for mpg, it does give low end diesel like torque.

https://carbuzz.com/news/toyota-wont-rule-out-plug-in-hybrid-tundra

Toyota is probably right no matter how much some of us complain about never getting a diesel (other than that lack luster attempt in the 80s). Small diesels came too late, and are insanely overly complicated plus crazy expensive now. Ram and GM both tried small diesels and they mostly failed with poor sales. GM cancelled it the Colorado, think Ram is phasing them out too.

Diesels made sense when there was very little emissions and when fuel was cheap. Toyota missed that window long ago. Gotta say, living in Idaho, tons of de-smogged diesels here, following behind them sucks. Roll up the windows and close off the “fresh air” vent, otherwise you get fumed out.

 

I see no drawback to using hybrid power to fill in the gaps of an ICE. Other than cost and complexity of course. But from a sheer driving experience? Bring it on.

 

I am expecting Toyota to introduce a unibody pickup at some point like the Maverick. If they use the Rav4 platform it already has hybrid set up for MPG.

 

Aren't they working on the Stout? Or is that a rumor I have seen too many times?

 

I "think" they are, but every time I delve into the subject its hard to tell fact from fiction.

 

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...eback-to-scare-the-mavericks-away-210858.html

@Carmaker1 Have you heard anything about this?

 

I just tried looking for some info and it's all renders and inuendo lol.

 

There was the A-Bat Concept way back in 2007 or so. Seemed odd back then, but now with the Hyundai, Ridgeline and Maverick, maybe not so weird anymore. Toyotas styling as of late has been a bit off the rails. Definitely didn’t buy my Tacoma because of how it looks, the front clip/grill is awful.

https://www.motortrend.com/vehicle-genres/toyota-a-bat-concept-truck/

 

That's still weird lol. The concept is strong now though.



More like this ideally. Although some flunky background car from a failed 90's sci fi show would certainly be unique.