Tested: 4Runner Hybrid Acceleration is Quickest in RWD Mode (Reason - to Protect Front Differential)

[Trailhunter4R]

Car and Driver test results:

• During our testing, we discovered that the 2025 Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma hybrids are quickest in their rear-wheel-drive modes.
• Typically, four-wheel-drive vehicles are quickest when sending torque to all four wheels.
• But why, you ask? Toyota limits the torque output in four-wheel drive to protect the front differential.

Acceleration results:

4WD
0-60: 7.3 seconds
Quarter-mile: 15.7 seconds at 88 mph

RWD
0-60: 6.7 seconds
Quarter-mile: 15.3 seconds at 88 mph


Reason:
We reached out to Toyota, and they confirmed our observations. According to its engineering department, the manufacturer reels in the available torque when in four-wheel drive in order to protect the front differential. This detuning means the Trailhunter SUV needs about a half-second more to reach the mile-per-minute mark and an extra four-tenths of a second to cover 1320 feet. Other worthy intel: the electric motor can only lend assistance for 10 seconds at a time.


Full report:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...-tacoma-hybrid-quicker-rear-wheel-drive-test/

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[kekecarioca]

That's some pretty cool intel!

 

[Nodak]

usa suv/trucks woud send it

to hell with longevity

 

[mars001]

Why does the front differential needs to be "protected"?

 

[Fishing]

6.7 is quick!

 

[beungood]

usa suv/trucks woud send it

to hell with longevity

Or their front axles and differentials are stout enough to take a full send.

 

[Nodak]

actually i like how the ford auto hubs are. they have auto, unlocked, locked positions.

works great in auto as long as the engagement solenoid works. if it dies you can still manually unlock/lock the hubs.

 

[nubbins_]

This is more noteworthy to me:

Other worthy intel: the electric motor can only lend assistance for 10 seconds at a time.

Might at least partly explain why the T24A-based iForce Max in real performance performs worse than one would expect from, say, a twin turbo V6 with the same on-paper pw/tq ratings. i.e. reviewers complaining how much a dog the LC is vs GX.

Something never felt right about those hybrid rated numbers from the start. Maybe it would have painted a more honest picture if Toyota did its usual split gas/electric ratings like on its other hybrids

 

[Nodak]

well the way the electric boost is applied on the new tundra/tree and now the taco and 4R, its mostly to get the vehicle/load moving initially. once you get all the mass moving you really dont need all that torque to keep it moving or when you are at speed a quick boost to get you over your hump temporarily.

toyota never touted the electric part of the new BoF hybrid system as a mpg booster or full time boost but mostly as an assist.

and i am fine with it. i really dont need the hybrid on our tundra since we rarely tow/pull/haul anything in it. i mean in the last 10 yrs, i've pulled maybe 1 or 2 times a 6x12 uhual trailer with it and we have yet to load the bed with anything except grass clippings to the compost site.

and when i get my HV Plat, i will only need the HV boost during a merge city/highway or need a quick boost in town to get onto a main road or something.

or dealing with ATL traffic when i go visit my mom

 

[nubbins_]

toyota never touted the electric part of the new BoF hybrid system as a mpg booster or full time boost but mostly as an assist.

I don't disagree as to the function of 1MHV, I personally don't have anything against it and think it in the 4R strikes a nice balance as to weight.

But from its launch till now I don't think I have heard any Toyota employee or reviewer in any media describe it as an assist. They've always touted it as added performance - the most I've seen is a rare admission here or there from a reviewer that it doesn't work so great at speed/at higher rpm. Mild hybrids are assists, and not marketed with combined figures

 

[Nodak]

I don't disagree as to the function of 1MHV, I personally don't have anything against it and think it in the 4R strikes a nice balance as to weight.

But from its launch till now I don't think I have heard any Toyota employee or reviewer in any media describe it as an assist. They've always touted it as added performance - the most I've seen is a rare admission here or there from a reviewer that it doesn't work so great at speed/at higher rpm. Mild hybrids are assists, and not marketed with combined figures

i see is as an assist since the electric boost is coming from a ... hybrid power train that is sandwiched between the engine and transmission instead of the traditional electric motor at the wheel or feeding a wheel.

 

[LLL1990]

usa suv/trucks woud send it

to hell with longevity

Ford limits power in the SuperDuty Powerstroke Diesel in 4WD for the same reason.

 

[LLL1990]

This is more noteworthy to me:



Might at least partly explain why the T24A-based iForce Max in real performance performs worse than one would expect from, say, a twin turbo V6 with the same on-paper pw/tq ratings. i.e. reviewers complaining how much a dog the LC is vs GX.

Something never felt right about those hybrid rated numbers from the start. Maybe it would have painted a more honest picture if Toyota did its usual split gas/electric ratings like on its other hybrids

Or it could be that the twin turbo V6 has two more cylinders and an additional turbo that gives it an advantage. Also the GX has two more gears in it's transmission.

 

[nubbins_]

Or it could be that the twin turbo V6 has two more cylinders and an additional turbo that gives it an advantage. Also the GX has two more gears in it's transmission.

I mean, that's really not the point I was making. My point was about the way Toyota combined the pw/tq ratings like it's a truly, simply a performance adder like they say it is. The actual performance and now the C&D testing suggests otherwise.

 

[Joey_Midnight]

I want to see comparison of hybrid vs non hybrid but it seems every tester is avoiding it. Wheni test drove a land cruiser it felt substantially slower then a non hybrid 4r or Tacoma

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