Likes and Dislikes of 4th Gen

You need to test drive a couple different models. I’ve have the OR for 9 months and 17K miles. It’s exceeded my expectations. And honestly the only real complaint is the noisy DS4 injection system. It’s not terrible just that Toyota could have easily made it quieter? Ordered sound deadening for the hood so it’ll probably be better? I had a 2013 Tundra 5.7 and at times do miss the larger box, and the V8 rumble, but knew that and was an acceptable trade off for me. Power is actually pretty similar! Definitely handles and drives far better than the Tundra did though! Wireless CarPlay has been great with zero issues, except when using auto start you have to turn off the radio, when it comes back on it will pick up the phone.

 

First, the 4th gen and new 4Runner are the same vehicle mechanically, basic interior and electronically so your decision would be which, truck or SUV, is of more use to you. I can't compare the 3rd gen with the 4th, this is my first Tacoma. It's an SR5 2WD so the trim you want would be a bit different. My opinions are, the engine is surprisingly good. I have confidence in it after my research and I like that it has dual injection. It does, however hit a brick wall at higher RPM when flooring it to pass on a highway. My engine is quiet but another one I test drove sounded like a box of rocks. The trans started out that I couldn't feel it shift it was so smooth. After 1000 miles I feel the shifts but it's not a problem and it shifts at good points. I'm getting excellent mileage. The seat is far more comfortable that the Grand Cherokee's I traded in. The ride is firm but smooth and not choppy like the Sport I test drove. The interior which I thought from pictures I wouldn't be a fan of is another nice surprise. It feels much more roomy and bright than the dungeon Ranger I test drove. I'm not a techie so all the big brother nanny systems had me initially regretting my purchase. But after finding the myriad of ways to shut off the multitude of buzzers, chimes, sirens ,whistles and beeps they felt a need to incorporate, I'm much more comfortable with it now. They did however over complicate some things. For example if you want normal cruise control you have to push one button twice than another once. An on the infotainment screen or whatever they call it, it makes you go through a couple screens to get to the radio station layout you had when you shut off the vehicle. Just in general having the driver doing too much button pushing that is unnecessary. And my favorite "who's dumb idea was that" system is on the instrument cluster (or as I call it the instrument cluster F**k), why would they have the cluster illuminating speed limit signs, no U-turn signs, traffic signs of all sorts to distract the driver's attention? You should be noticing the real traffic signs outside as you're paying attention to the traffic itself not looking down to see what the speed limit is. One good thing for 2WD owners is that the stop/start nanny system will not engage unless you press harder than normal at a stop. So if you forget to spend yet more button pushing time deactivating it, you'll probably not have the engine die on you on most stops. Accessories such as tube steps, mud flaps, body side molding were easy to install and that ridiculous front air dam was easy to remove. The only other thing I noticed is that the paint is very, very thin. Don't sneeze on it. It may chip. I found a dealer with a couple grand discount, no preloads at all and I got a really good offer for my trade in.

 

zero need for a jacked up station (4/5 runner) wagon....jmho

 

Sheesh… another one of these threads moaning about the 4G? This type of content needs its own sub-forum.

 

is the knob for drive mode supposed to rotate a complete 360? it only takes 3 clicks (that cover maybe 1/3 of a full rotation) to go through the 3 drive modes.

 

Gen4 Tacoma drives better than the Gen5 4R and Gen3 Taco under all conditions. New Taco’s electric steering is easier to throw into a corner than the hydraulic rack. Brakes are more linear, 8-speed is much less intrusive. Merging & left-lane passing on the highway is effortless in the new Taco.

Tacoma’s interior materials are cheaper, but you’re sitting in a clean and modern truck space, the seats are long-drive comfortable, there’s actually a place for your iPhone (!), and you can say goodbye to stupid cables. Exterior panel fit, build & paint quality on my Tacoma (late ‘24, Guanajuato) matches my ‘24 Tahara-born Runner.

New Tacoma prices get flak, but used 4Runner prices run high for what is a charming but seriously old vehicle.

 

Is it worse than a DCLB?

 

100%, the new truck chassis is a bear to park. I can one shot a tacoma limo into my hoist, I cannot one shot any of the new trucks.

But they dont rub with 35s

 

Good

Another reason to keep my 10 year old POS

 

Enjoy driving it on and off hoists all day!

 

I hate the small tank it’s really hard for me to keep getting gas even at 24MPG.
Then the steering in my double cab long box in non existent! I had a 99 f350 with a 13’ utility box on it that could turn inside my Tacoma turning circle! the piped in V8 noise drones in cab to point I thought it had broken down first time I heard it. come on it a 4 cylinder not a v8! The seat belt chimes come on and don’t stop for what seems like a hour, or you put the belt on for your lunch box. what torcher nut designed this needs a good butt kicking! Infotainment screen is more complicated than it needs to be, why not have a knob for power one to tune, so your not trying to surf the web just to change Chanel. Glove box rattles going down a dirt road so I bought inserts to stop the rattling and remove the gap it had. Rear glass has a gap where it meats the bed and looks like it could snap if you bump it to hard. Truck locked it’s self when I am working out of it, unless I leave Kiley in it then it beeps every 15 seconds for 30 seconds to tell you you left key in it. When getting out to grab my mail it beeps non stop till I get back in when I have key in my pocket,
the rear of the front seats set way to low and I feel like I am dragging my but like a dog cleaning his but on carpet! Back seat leg room is a joke I can’t put my four year old back there because he complained it hurts his feet and force him to turn his feet in or out. The reverse lights or lack of light is a joke the slot is a 1/4 inch tall and I am being generous with my guess of its size! Front turn signals are not led but every other bulb on the truck is? Why just why? The paint is soft and it scratches if the wind blows a lief across it! Side view With out side steps is of a glassy frame hanging under the body looks unfinished. No wheel well skirts in the back loos unfinished! The spare tire is a little doughnut I can’t imagine how it will hold up towing if I get a flat! The tailgate is so soft I loaded 60 lbs bags of concrete and I am super scared I was going through the gate every time my son set a bag on it. Lumber rack, decked drawers, and camper all need same bed boult to support it’s weight but they don’t work together! Bed sides in back buy tail gate need support to keep from breaking and flopping out with any options that set on bed rails or if your on bumpy roads a lot. Tow hitch need a longer pin not a stranded normal pin it’s not a supper duty why do we need such a long pin. The fenders get chips from flying rocks off of the tires regardless if you have mud flaps or not! That’s all my dislikes now what do I like about this truck? Well it’s only medium size truck I was able to find with a 6’ bed, Nissan didn’t have any in stock and no one else has a 6 foot bed in the mid size truck segment. I am sure there’s more stuff I like but I can’t think of anything else!

 

Your not very smart, you could have checked many of these things before you purchased the truck. My glove box has never rattled no matter what type of road,can hardly hear the engine in my 24 OR premium, never ever noticed seat belt chimes, my truck never locks when I am out of it unless I lock it.I have zero rock chips on my truck, you need the running boards and mud flaps to prevent the chips, never have issues with reverse lights,they are bright enough for any situation.

 

We have few dislikes - small fuel tank is maybe it.

We tried all sorts of vehicles before our decision and if not really needing a truck, I'd consider some of what we tested. If I didn't have true truck needs I'd choose more comfortable and nicer riding vehicles. For a mid-sized pickup the Tacoma is great.

 

I had this 2024 Limited for a Loaner last week/Thursday.

I've got no major complaints...the hood vibration on driver's side was noticeable on highway speeds but other than that, VERY Nice Ride!

The HUGE center display is sweet...as is the instrumentation panel and surprise...Heads Up Display on the windshield!

Of course, I use TSS and DRCC and the vehicles merging into view are displayed on the windshield.

Power on demand! The i-FORCE MAX indicator would activate as I accelerated from a standstill/on the highway--no complaints in that department.

Overall a nice upgrade. Sadly, I have 15 payments remaining on my 2021 TRD Sport and not leaning towards a newer vehicle.

EDIT: The Limited comes with automatic side steps!

 

Top speedhow fast will it go?

 

I've read it has more torque with the 4-banger than my V6.

Even with my OTT Tune, this 2024 was a bit more responsive without using its own ECT.

 

I don't want to take it up to top speed. Around 90ish it feels a little bit too floaty for my liking. Not that I've ever done such

 

Gen4 gripes center around price and perceived turbo reliability concerns. I was on that early list of skeptics, but since release, we’ve seen serious discounts and very few complaints specific to the 2.4T. Compared to the front timing cover leak & coolant pipe issues that we stressed over back in ‘16-‘17, it’s been noticeably quiet so far.

Structurally, a Gen4 Tacoma shares a platform with a $115k LX700h. Crawl underneath and you’ll find a slightly scaled down Tundra. Most would argue that’s the definition of “over-built”.

 

Recently purchased a '25 TRDOR 4x4 LB.

I have owned three 2nd gen Tacoma's (2011, 2008, 2012 - 2008/2012 w/4.0L, 2011 w/2.7L, all 4x4), one 3rd gen Tacoma (2020 TRDOR 4x4 SB 6MT), as well as a 4th gen 4Runner (2003 4x4 4.0L), 5th gen 4Runner (2011 Trail Edition, 4x4 w/v2 4.0L), two 2nd gen Tundra's (2012 TRDOR, 2013 TRDRW), a 2002 Sequoia (4.7L limited, sport 4x4), and my wife's had a few 3rd gen highlanders, as well as a Camry SEV6. My all-time favorite Toyota (that I've owned) prior to a few months ago, was the 5th gen 4Runner Trail; it was perfect in almost every way, never had a problem, and was arguably the best looking - followed by the 1st gen sequoia as a VERY CLOSE 2nd. I bought that 4Runner, put 100k miles on it in like three years, and sold it for more than I bought it for (purchased from a Ford dealership, and then sold it to a Subaru dealership via KBB cash offer).

That all changed with the purchase of the 4th gen Tacoma; easily my all-time favorite, and it's not particularly close. I really do love mostly everything about the truck - it's effortless power (non-hybrid), comfortable ride, steering is perfect, mileage is great, interior doesn't feel like the typical outdated/basic Toyota offering, and tech seems to have finally made it into the 2020s. The only thing I don't like is the smaller gas tank... Some of the minor complaints I've seen can be overcome relatively easily: parking sensors go nuts in the car wash - they can be set to be deactivated when the truck is in neutral, fake engine noise can easily be turned off. My favorite thing about the truck is the engine/drivetrain. It has a ton of power for the platform, the 8spd auto always seems to be in the very best gear for whatever you're doing, and there has never been a time where I've felt like I needed more - all of that with 22+ mpg while setting cruise @ 82mph on the highway 36mi one way to work each day...

I know this is all super subjective, and the 2nd/3rd gen dudes LOVE to act like you figuratively spit in their faces when they hear you saying you like the 4th gen, but it's been an all-around great truck for me and has quickly become my favorite. Hearing the turbo whistle all the time is awesome too!

 

I really dont like how theres 7 cup holders I can reach from the driver seat and none of them can fit a 5 gallon bucket. I hate that my gearshift knob isnt heated also. At 90 MPH my hood flutters. Where'd the quality go Toyota? And the range! I want to go 1000 miles between fill ups. It makes me nervous to go off road. Dont get me started on the JBL upgrade, I'm an audiophile and would probably replace anything that doesnt shake my neighbors house, but I'll go ahead and complain anyway. Then theres those awful fog lights that just arent bright enough. I'll be replacing those with the cheapest lights they have on Amazon because those are better. I also need to mention the super loud turbo noise- like who was in charge here? How is this truck going to have 1 million trouble free miles on 85 octane with this annoying turbo? I liked the anemic v6 and crappy transmission on my 3G so much more! Oh and my 4.0 that couldnt make 300 hp with a supercharger and got the mpg's of a v8 while still being slow was waaaay better too. And towing capacity is waaay under an F350! I need my tacoma to pull n 80 foot trailer up the appalacians twice a week. And no memory seats! God I hate pushing buttons after my wife drives the truck, why can't she just get taller? Then theres the headrests- Ghod! I like to sit straight up when I drive and now I cant take a sip from my 5 gallon Yeti barrel without moving my head! Lets just mention those recalls too! Like why cant they just do it perfect the first time like Nissan? Oh and rock chips! I mean, I bought this truck because I liked how it looks but did they not think about this? How is this going to work with my wheels spacers and my Wescott leveling kit? How come the manual doesnt say the largest tires I can fit with out rubbing? Will 38's fit? I dont want to buy a real lift. Why do I got to buy the premium package to get premium options? I want a base model that has everything. Why is the rubber so hard on these floormats!?

Worst truck ever! Give me a minute, I'm just getting started.