Tacoma Hybrid Acceleration is Quickest in RWD Mode (Tested by Car and Driver)

[BigDan]

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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[TacoFreak]

This is not really a surprise to me. The 4WD system in these trucks is designed for off road traction, and not for on road acceleration. That is not a bad 0-60 time btw - most testers must be doing their runs in 4WD because the numbers are often in the low 7 second range.

 

[WKTJR1]

Too bad that's not an option for me.

 

[TacoFreak]

Too bad that's not an option for me.

I should have said the 4wd system in all the 4th gens except the Limited is not designed for on road performance.

It would be interesting to see the numbers for the full time 4wd Limited hybrid. That is a totally different system and I would expect it to perform much better than the part time system. Since your truck is always in 4wd they must not limit the torque, which I assume is rated the same as all the other hybrids.

 

[Gear_yyc]

I don't understand why the torque output would need to be limited in 4Hi. If it can't handle full torque in 4Hi, how can it hold up in 4Lo? Or are they limiting the torque by a lot more in 4Lo?

 

[Rubi2Trailhunter]

the electric motor can only lend assistance for 10 seconds at a time.

That, is interesting. And, in context of towing, disappointing. That means, if you're expecting 465 ft/lb heading up a long grade, you're going to be seriously disappointed. You're no better off than driving a standard non-hybrid.

Seems contradictory to some of the reviews about 'tons of power, towing, and passing a semi up a grade.' That process can frequently take a bit more than 10 seconds to accomplish .

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