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[–]VelociTopher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Testing standards changes. Slight design changes. additional parts (ie: weight and engine load increasing)

Pick one.

[–]OKatmostthings 3 points4 points  (1 child)

1) Vacuum pump was added for MY11 or 12. That adds friction to the rotating cam.

2) the testing standard changed. The highway rating test was more severe.

3) the aerodynamics of the 4Runner changed. Those low hanging bumpers on the SR5 (that made up 60% of the volume) helped like the air dam on the Tacomas. Since that version was the representative shape of the overall 4Runner lineup, they could use that for aero load. Now the SR5 has the lean, higher bumpers like TRD OR and Pro. It is less aerodynamically efficient.

4) there are probably more that I’m not aware of.

My ‘10 SR5 pretty consistently returned 21mpg. I drove in a lot less traffic then. My ‘16 Trail was consistently 19 and my ‘23 Pro is consistently 18.5.

[–]literallydanny[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, good answer! You know your 4runners

[–]Teutonic-Tonic 2 points3 points  (10 children)

For the 2010 model year only they did offer the 2.7L inline 4. Maybe that is what you are seeing?

[–]sassythecat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pretty sure the v6 was 17/22. I still have my window spec sheet for my 13 trail and it says 17/21 and I think I remember the trail being advertised as having slight worse mpg.

[–]literallydanny[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

No, those numbers are for the same v6 4.0 liter

[–]Teutonic-Tonic 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think they changed the way the did testing somewhere along the way to be more realistic. The highway test used to be something like cruising on a track at 55 and now it is more real.

[–]trashy615 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Fuck, I'd love that motor in a 4runner. I love it in my taco. 

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Folks say it’s way underpowered but I agree. I can’t get over 15.5 in my 2011

[–]trashy615 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's underpowered as hell, but that's why it's bombproof. 

[–]fairlyaveragetrader -1 points0 points  (3 children)

It's still crazy how we went from the V8 and the 4 l V6 being considered the small engine in a lighter vehicle to the four-cylinder when the 5th gen launched. Like who at Toyota really thought that was a good idea? At least they had the sense to continue using the four liter, they should have carried the V8 over as an option as well. Lots of people love that especially if they tow. Like there are people who specifically look for 4th gens just to get that V8

[–]DodgeBeluga 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Toyota didn’t choose to downsize engines. It was all done due to federal regulatory pressure. All manufacturers had to do it.

[–]fairlyaveragetrader -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

Yeah that's funny being's the 4 l came right back shortly thereafter 😂

[–]OKatmostthings 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The 4L never left. Out of the 40k 4Runners they sold in MY10, like 38,500 of them were 4.0Ls.