Hybrids only thread.

Ok, I can confirm that the engine start stop can also be bypassed by keeping it in normal mode, but still moving the shifter to the left and up to S8.

If you are on the fence, I'd recommend finding a dealership that has a hybrid and non hybrid and do a back to back test drive. You'll get a sense of the difference in available torque pretty well. Also I was coming from a 2005 with 300k, so anything would have probably felt amazing comparatively, except a third gen, those blow.

 

Just get hybrid

 

Start stop would drive me crazy. Sport mode should override it.

 

Sport mode alone doesn't override it; only moving the shifter to the left and selecting S8 bypasses it. This works in normal and sport mode.

 

Thank god something does. I could live with that.

I thought there was an override button?

 

the hybrids don't have the override button unfortunately.

 

doesnt bother me at all when my music is blasting.

 

Weird. I love the Sport button in our BMW X5. Changes the interior lights, stops start/stop, tightens up steering, suspension, gearing, and growls at you.

The Taco Hybrid needs to get some balls and do the same.

 

Fair enough…I think once I drive it I will be amazed too, as I also will be coming from a 2005 with 280k and original owner!

 

I'm not certain anything anyone says here is going to sway you one way or another, but could be wrong. The best advice has already been given - try to go test drive one and be realistic on the pedal to how you drive.

For me, I was first drawn in by the body styling, which put it on my comparison and research radar. I then compared features, abilities, reliability, comfort to stretch it up against my (then current) vehicle as well as the others on my short list. I was determined to lose a little versatility as possible outside of the intentional changes that come with a move from an SUV to a pickup. I then went to a car show to be able to get up close and confirm or refute what I was seeing online visually (this is before the first ones hit lots). From here, I narrowed down which trim, and what exterior and interior color I wanted (sorry, I'm patient and wasn't settling for a salesman push, a few dollars over the decades (plural) I keep the last vehicle is pennies). Then I hunted down to test drive that specific trim, bc each trim has too many things different that person to ride and comfort. I drove to the different dealerships (bad online postings) before finding a dealer 40min away that had a Ltd non-hybrid. The sales rep begrudgingly let me test drive it (I was very direct up front I would not be buying that truck - wrong color and not hybrid). From the test drive I confirmed that the seating and the road handling were satisfactory enough for me to make the move. Then I hunted the nation for my extract trim/color setup because non were available nor allocated locally. Found the only one slated for production and allocated in the country 950mi away and worked with the dealer remotely for the entire process, including private transport to me.

Hybrid vs non: I knew I would miss having the under bench storage, as the truck is whoafully lacking in hidden/closed storage options. All these tiny open trays are worthless. I'd rather have a deep door pocket and not a single one can hold a standard 1 liter bottle.

For me, I know how BEVs drive and Toyota was the pioneer in the hybrid space, so full confidence in their setup. After watching the video they did explaining how the hybrid in the truck works and is intended - to supplement the ups and downs of the ICE and make it a stronger, more linear slope of power output, I was sold on that route.


Have I batttled for how to store things where? Yup, no getting around it. But do I think the tradeoff of that space + ~$3200 was worth how smooth it drives and the lack of any hesitation to go or to not notice any struggle under load? And a small boost (2-3mpg) in fuel efficiency?
Absolutely.

 

I’m in the same boat, 2005 with 279000 miles. And waiting for delivery. New vehicles feel like spaceships to me sometimes.

 

Last saturday put deposit on a 2025, im at 200,000 miles on 2014 4 runner , there will be some learning curve on new truck, im not a tech guy, there seems like a lot of things to learn , lol

 

Same for me....I could usually get the truck into electric mode by accelerating to about 55kms/hr then get off the throttle and it will go all electric, but tricky to keep it there. However for some reason i'm finding it harder and harder to get the truck into electric only mode after 6000kms on it.

Also when I first start the truck for about the first minute it drives with electric and gas at the same time when gently accelerating. It never used to do this.

 

Exactly the same for me!

 

I have had a few Toyota hybrids and they are all the same. Toyota is very conservative and keep the battery levels between about 80% and 50% charge for the most part. Heavy drain and overcharging weaken the HV battery and they have a long warranty that has to be covered. If you are pulling hard up a hill for a long distance, you can see the battery hit lower levels and the same with long down hills will allow the battery to hit some higher levels than the norm.

 

SPORT+ !

 

The auto stop-start also does not function with tow/haul activated.

I have about 12000km/7500miles on my Trailhunter now and still loving it. Still always impressed that it has tons of power. I find the frequency at which the electric motor engages is underwhelming; i often find myself accelerating with a full battery but gas only, even when starting slowly or moderately slowly. The little gas engine in this truck sure delivers good power.

I’ve done some trail driving with a few steeper hills and loose terrain. Putting the truck in the various hill/crawl modes or driving it myself yields great results. It runs on gas only pretty much in these cases but delivers really smooth power.

I’m not getting the mileage some folks are reporting but it’s certainly the same or better than my 3rd gen with a heavier truck and far more power and that’s enough to satisfy me. A bit less smooth than I would excpect with some of the downshifting or disengaging of the throttle/electric motor on decel than I would expect. Maybe I should try driving a different new hybrid to compare.


Further, I have recently towed my RV home for the winter (I park it out of town several hours away as a place to stay for work). The RV is ~29ft and weighs 5200lbs empty (i haul it with tanks empty and almost nothing in there), maybe at the 5400-5500lb mark. Resulting tongue weight is ~550lbs. I am really really impressed with how smoothly the truck tows this trailer and the excellent control. There is no shortage of power and in fact I got 28.5L/100km on my last trip with a ~10-15km/hr headwind; that’s better than I would do with my 3/4 ton 5.7L ram hemi. Super pleased with the results of that. Photo attached. Unfortunately I decided to take the photo before adjusting my WD hitch; truck didn’t squat much with it adjusted. I had hooked it up in an angled position before the photo and pulled on to the driveway to re-adjust everything and set up the brakes.

 

Lasfit liners for the hybrid delivered yesterday and just in time for multiple days of lake effect.
Few comparison pic’s between the Lasfit and OEM liners to show the difference in coverage.
Bonus is the full rear seat coverage where as the OEM’s are two small individual mats.