Delivered! HYBRID 2025 Off-Road Premium - First Impressions Review, Photos & Plans

[et2041]

My understanding is that TRD Pro and Trailhunter will not have the start/stop feature. Anyone hear differently?

Or, is it all Hybrid runners?

 

[KTRAN]

My understanding is that TRD Pro and Trailhunter will not have the start/stop feature. Anyone hear differently?

Or, is it all Hybrid runners?

See this recent thread about which trims have the Auto Start Stop feature...

https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...to-start-stop-but-do-not-see-the-button.2787/

@Kroney70 found that only the non-hybrid Limited trim is listed with Auto Start Stop feature on the Toyota website.

 

[Jpr18]

Thanks for the review and photos. As far as the parking sensors, I think there's "standard" mode (i.e. progressively faster beeps as you approach objects relative to front or rear bumper sensors), and a mode in addition to that called PA with AB. So I think you just don't have that PA /AB mode. I'm not really sure what that mode does but based on the name, I presume it automatically applies your brakes if it thinks you're going to hit something/someone while you're parking. It's possible it's one of those nannies that you'd turn off if you did have it.

I read the manual and I think Toyota's spec sheet online is just wrong. I have the rear auto braking and pedestrian detection, it's an option to turn off or on in the gauge cluster. And I think they're wrong about traffic jam assist as there's no mention of that in the manual at all.

 

[Jpr18]

My understanding is that TRD Pro and Trailhunter will not have the start/stop feature. Anyone hear differently?

Or, is it all Hybrid runners?

As we've seen, the online specs aren't very accurate. I imagine all the hybrids have stop/start. The manual makes reference to this as well.

However, I found a spot in the manual where they spelled "does" as "dose", so

 

[Undisputed_0369]

How’s the backseat space ? I’ve seen reports on FB Groups were people are saying that there no space at all.

I’m coming from a model y and it’s pretty nice in the back seat area for the family so I’m hoping it’s not super cramped with a car seat and stuff.

 

[Miawang]

Congrats!

 

[qtb007]

Serious late 90s/early 00s Toyota vibes with the color and the bronze badges. It feels like tons of Toyotas came in green with gold badges back then. Looks great. Enjoy.

 

[kekecarioca]

Looks fantastic @Jpr18 !! That's the model I am waiting for. In Texas Region, they are not being allocated yet, but very soon.
Thank you for the detailed descriptions and impressions! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[grapemustard]

does the hybrid 4runner have a tow/haul switch? i have a 2025 landcruiser 250 with the same powertrain and if you push the tow/haul switch you can disable auto start stop. it will hold gears a bit longer and won't shift to 8th on the freeway (maybe 7th too)... i just turn it back to normal on the freeway since it won't kill the engine on the freeway anyway. around town i don't mind the holding of the gears a little longer. i don't use it all of the time but in heavy city traffic i do because at times the auto start stop, gas to electric transition can be a bit jarring and sometimes it kills the gas motor when you're just about to accelerate or other random niggles.

on the landcruiser you can run full electric mode below 11mph and a very light throttle application around a parking lot or something. i've see it go full electric up to 63mph coasting down a hill with no throttle application.


if you guys want to look around the landcruiser forum to see what you're getting into with the hybrid powertrain there's two years of user experience over there since all landcruisers come with this motor.

https://www.landcruiserforum.com/


i will say, having had 3 5th gen 4runners, the new hybrid powertrain is MILES ahead in drivability/power/torque/mpgs... don't let any of the "it's only a 4cylinder" naysayers dissuade you. they clearly haven't driven it.

 

[Dphotos]

Nope. I don't know why people think implementing Auto Start-stop (ASS) was just a simple matter of adding a 0 mph detector and shutting off the engine and calling it done. There's way more to it than that. It required some degree of redesign of the starter system, the voltage regulation, the battery, the HVAC system on both the heating and cooling sides, the automatic transmission, the brakes, and cam/crank timing to make restart instantaneous. And a lot of computer monitoring of various sensors for all the situations where the ASS system will either not be enabled (intentionally) or will automatically start the engine if sensor readings drop below a threshold.

Anything that requires pumps, hydraulic pressure, or vacuum relies on engine power (i.e. power brakes, transmission, heater, AC, but not power steering since that is electric now) and it takes a second or two after restarting a non-ASS system for those to build up again. That's too long and it needs to be instantaneous for ASS.

Specific to the starter, it had to be re-engineered for much higher longevity** and to account for the scenario where you're rolling to a stop at a red light at just the instant the engine is about to stop, the light turns green and you hit the gas (if you've ever turned the key on while a car was already running and heard that awful noise, that's essentially the scenario). For this they designed a new tandem starter with 2 solenoids vs conventional starter. It's more complicated than that but that's the main idea.

** Specific to Toyota (this is taken from a video by Car Care Nut, a long-time Toyota mechanic, explaining Toyota's ASS), the new starter for ASS systems is designed for 384,000 stop-start events (to put that into perspective, 365 days per year x 20 years x 50 start/stops per day = 365,000 so it ought to last over 20 years even under pretty intensive daily driving). Also, the computer counts all start-stop events over time and displays a message to replace the starter when it hits the longevity threshold and it disables start-stop until that is done. With non-ASS cars, it's just a crap shoot. So you don't have to guess at when it's time to replace it.

Long story short, there's no justifiable worry about the starter.

This product has been working for the Tacoma which is the same engine. It's made by BodenLA https://a.co/d/55ZErMA

 

[beungood]

I would disable that auto stop/start. I'm sure it'll wear out the starter prematurely/unnecessarily...

Your going to deprive Toyota of revenue charging for and replacing them.

 

[Nodak]

or just dont mash the brake so hard. start/stop wont engage unless you press the brake pedal hard or more than 1/3 of the way down. gentle application of the brake will bypass start stop .

as noted in the manual and emphasized by me, if you dont depress the brake firmly or more than 1/3 of way down it wont engage (from my observations)

Operating conditions
●The Stop & Start system is operational
when all of the following
conditions are met:
• The vehicle has been driven a certain
amount of time.
• The brake pedal is being
depressed firmly. (Except when
the vehicle is stopped by the
dynamic radar cruise control when
in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode)
• The D shift position is selected.
• The driver’s seat belt is fastened.
• The driver’s door is closed.
• The selected driving mode is not
“4H” or “4L” mode. (part-time 4WD
models)
• The selected driving mode is not
“H4F” or “L4L” mode. (full-time
4WD models)
• The Multi-terrain Select is not
operated (if equipped)
• The selected driving mode is not
rear differential lock mode. (if
equipped)
• The windshield defogger is off.
• The accelerator pedal is not being
depressed.
• The engine is adequately warmed
up.
• The hood is closed. (P.312)
• “TOW HAUL” mode is not operated
(if equipped

 

[Hacksaw]

This product has been working for the Tacoma which is the same engine. It's made by BodenLA https://a.co/d/55ZErMA

There's a legality question on these products since you're effectively tampering with the operation of an emissions device, which is illegal. Start/stop is primarily for emissions reduction; any mileage improvement is secondary. I don't know if anyone has ever been prosecuted for it; just putting it out there for consideration.

 

[Jpr18]

or just dont mash the brake so hard. start/stop wont engage unless you press the brake pedal hard or more than 1/3 of the way down. gentle application of the brake will bypass start stop .

as noted in the manual and emphasized by me, if you dont depress the brake firmly or more than 1/3 of way down it wont engage (from my observations)

Not so in the hybrid. As mentioned, if you are coasting or braking the engine will turn off while you're moving and also while at a stop -- doesn't matter how lightly you hit the brake. What you quoted from the manual sounds like it was written for the gas engine. I can see if Tow/Haul turns it off -- but because the electric motor provides power while the gas engine is turning on, it's really not a big deal. Just a little vibration as the engine kicks on.

Regarding EV mode up to 11mph like in the LC -- I haven't experienced that yet, but maybe the circumstances haven't been right.

 

[Hacksaw]

It's not clear whether the equivalent of start-stop when you come to a stop in the hybrid is exactly the same as the Auto Start Stop (ASS) system for certain gas engine models. On the Tacoma, I believe several people confirmed that putting it into Sport mode blocks ASS from engaging. Undoing the driver seat belt or opening the driver door also apparently will block it from engaging. Plus a whole bunch of other factors, like engine or transmission not up to temperature yet, or outside temperature too low (or too high), block it from engaging too. People really ought to take some time to learn about all the engineering behind ASS before getting too worked up about it and taking preventive action to block it before you even know if it is really an impediment to driving. There are quite a lot of conditions where the car itself decides not to engage it.