Why does Cruise Control in Toyotas suck?

I have a 2006 PreRunner AC V6 auto. The GF has a 2013 Camry SE 4cyl. Obviously her cruise control is worse on hills than my truck since it lacks torque. The Camry is horrible. But it's hard for both vehicles to maintain the set speed on even the slightest hills. It speeds up by about 5 mph (or more) going downhill then loses about 3-4 mph going uphill and has to downshift several gears to make it up. It finally stops accelerating when it gets about 2-3 mph above what you set it at and then settles down. I had a 2000 GS300 that stayed pretty much dead on all the time regardless of hills. It had maybe a +1/-1 mph deviation. That was a heavy car with less power than the truck. I'm sure nothing can be done so this is probably more of a rant.

 

OK. Noted.

 

First World problems.

 

Gets way worse with bigger than stock tires. Joy.

 

Pretty sure using cruise control on hills murders your tranny thays not what cruise control was intended for cruise control is for use on long road trips on flat lands once you hit hills it should be turned off and the skinny pedal should be applied

 

Come on. The slight grade that the hi-way has going over a road here in flat ass Florida makes the converter unlock.

 

I agree!This is how i've done it in the past and present and i actually don't even use my cruise control very much anymore.

 

I can only speak for the Tacoma, 4Runner, and Highlander since those are the only Toyotas I remember driving with the cruise and they have been just fine. I like the location of the cruise in Toyotas.

Cruise is not to be used in really hilly areas anyways.

I think it has more to do with it being a 4cyl than it being cruise. My mom has a 4cyl Outback. It does just fine in the midwest, in the mountains it fucking blows. So I guess it just depends on what kind of hills we are talking. I've never driven a 4cyl that I like.

 

Yea never been a big fan of it only turn it on to stretch my legs a little then it's back off

 

I would be lost without my cruise. I use it all the time.

 

Same here, and Toyota's cruise is not good....

 

Well then never drive a Honda Ridgeline. That's what I traded in for my Taco. On paper the Honda has more HP and TQ, but its power is all way up in the rpm band. It would see a hill in the distance and need to down shift. Drove me crazy on highway runs with it. When it did downshift, it would rocket fowaed pinning you in the seats for a sec. The Taco seems way better than that to me, so I have no complaints.

 

Yep. If all you have driven or know is Toyotas than you will think it is just fine. I am quite surprised the "It's a truck what do you expect" statement has not been used yet. I have a large family and a hodge podge of vehicle manufactures and I have not drank the Tacoma Kool aide yet.

I agree Toyota's cruise control sucks. Reminds me of my 1985 truck back in the day.

 

I'm probably in the minority here, and I've only driven Toyota products for the past 8 years, but I've driven cars by just about every manufacturer out there and I don't see a nickel's worth of difference in the cruise control of any of them...and I use cruise control a lot....flat lands, hilly, and yes, in the mountains. The all work the same way. Smaller engines downshift in hilly terrain. Has nothing to do with the cruise control itself. It's a result of the final drive ratios that are chosen to get the very best mileage and smaller engines with no torque.

 

Just when I thought I have heard it all.

 

My V6 2006 Taco cruise control sucks also. A slight FL overpass grade causes a downshift into third gear and a variation of three to four MPH up and down the grade.

Occasionally I chauffer a Lexus LS460L for a family friend. The Lexus eight speed is rock solid in MPH variation over the same grades.

 

No problem there.

 

Every single Toyota and Lexus I've driven has whacky cruise control. It does not, however, murder your transmission.

 

Because at least half of Tacomas owners are high maintenance. #koolaid

 

Thanks for the feedback. Now that it's been mentioned, I drive a 2015 RX350 recently (I work at a Lexus dealership) and it's cruise sucked too. At least going downhill, it couldn't hold it's speed. I don't live in a hilly area. They're slight hills. Lol. I guess I was spoiled by the GS300 and my previous car, a 1992 BMW 525I. Both cars' cruise control worked great.