You remember when you were a little kid & your mom/dad said you couldn’t leave the dinner table until you ate your broccoli? So you schemed to eat the smallest amount possible to satisfy their demands? Well – that’s basically what’s going on here. Kind of. See, some years ago, legislating bodies really started pushing EVs. But they can’t technically ‘force it’ on consumer, right? So they wrote the rules in a way that carmakers would be funneled to go electric. Hybrids fall under ‘electric’ according to the rulebook. So what Toyota is doing with the 4Runner & with all of their new 4x4s… is working the rulebook. Putting cheese on the broccoli – so to speak.
Toyota has been proficient with hybrids for decades…
Heck – Toyota pioneered ‘em with the Prius. They were doing it before it was in vogue. But back to the rulebook: It doesn’t specify ‘how big’ a battery has to be. So Toyota’s iForce Max strategy essentially uses a smaller battery to fill-in for boost lag. If you don’t know – turbocharged vehicles usually lag in power/boost in the lower RPMs… before the turbo has enough exhaust flow (oomph) to really start spooling. Think of the turbo as a fan (or a big whistle), and it uses exhaust pressure to blow in that fan/whistle to start spinning it. So in other words, it takes a second to start blowing & building momentum. Cue the hybrid.
What Toyota’s iForce Max hybrid system does…
Is utilize the immediate torque that comes from electric propulsion… to fill in that boost lag. So when you accelerate, iForceMax gives you a surge of electric torque… and then the turbo seamlessly ‘takes it from there’ with boost. It’s a brilliant setup honestly. And personally, I don’t think hybrid is even the best word for it anymore… because of the dorky stigma for some of us. In my opinion…
It’s important to get your head around this:
Toyota’s iForce Max isn’t a ‘hybrid’ in quite the same way that a Prius is. Meaning, it’s not meant to squeeze-out every last MPG. Rather, it’s meant 1) To boost performance. and 2) To check the ‘electric box’ on Toyota’s new vehicles. With the new generation 4Runners & Tacomas, they don’t really get any measurable/noteworthy miles-per-gallon improvement over the previous generation. But – they DO get noticeably better performance, while keeping roughly the same MPG (right there around 18-20mpg).
Behind the wheel of the new Toyota 4Runner…
It feels considerably more sporty, spritely, and responsive than previous generations. It’s a whole different animal. We owned a previous 5th generation 4Runner TRD Pro – and no doubt – we loved it! But you gotta admit… they’re kind of heavier-driving vehicles. Whereas this new 6th generation 4Runner is a better blend of comfort meeting sport meeting efficiency meeting utility.
Don’t get me wrong…
I DO understand where some of the Toyota Nation is coming from… saying that they don’t want 4-bangers & hybrids in their 4x4s. It’s more complication. But to them I would say – don’t knock it until you drive it. And not just around the block… really put a few miles on it. Because it is a better driving experience (IMO). You’ve always trusted Toyota to make great cars right?? Well then trust them to make great cars! At some point you’ve gotta have a lil faith that Toyota knows what they’re doing. They’ve historically done right by their customers. Plus – the good news with the 4Runner is – unlike the Land Cruiser – you don’t have to get the hybrid in the 4Runner if you don’t want to. It’s optional. Although – Toyota does funnel you into the hybrid as you move into the premium trims.
In short, the new Toyota 4Runner is Goldilocks…
Meaning – it fits just right… and it’s a vehicle you’ll probably love to live with. You’ll probably end up liking it more… the longer you own it. The 4Runner offers pretty extreme versatility in a legitimate 4×4 vehicle… without gimmicks. In a right-sized package that you can drive, maneuver, and park everyday without it feeling like a cargo ship. Additionally…
The 4Runner blends modern design & amenities, with old school ’90s-kid vibes…
I hope that makes sense, because I don’t know how else to describe it – other than – it’s a breath of fresh air against a sea of modern indistinguishable, vanilla crossovers. The 4Runner is constructed around quality & authenticity over gimmicks. And the interior has big, grabby, hard-to-miss knobs that don’t require taking your eyes off the road.
Plus – and this is important if you value soul/expression – in a world where new cars feel more & more isolated from the outside world, the back window still rolls down in the 4Runner. The Toyota 4Runner has a way of bringing the outside – in! For some of us – that’s natural therapy. And…
The Toyota 4Runner feels more like a companion than another sanitized, forgettable appliance…
4Runner offers the kind of vehicle that real memories can be made with. In a vehicle that will hold value better than most. Sometimes a few extra dollars at the pump is well worth it when it comes to longevity, resale value, and/or repair expenses.
Plus if you let it – 4Runner has the capability to open up a side of yourself you might never knew was there. Memories aren’t made from isolation. They’re made from experiences. From ‘letting the outside in’! That’s the Toyota 4Runner. Go test-drive on. Veer off the mall boulevard, and drive a couple winding roads free from congestion. Roll all the windows down (including the back one). Then go drive some of the other iphoney crossover variants. And tell me which one feels more like your favorite sweatshirt.
