In our testing, we found that the 2025 Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma hybrids perform fastest when operating in rear-wheel-drive mode. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are generally fastest when distributing torque to all four wheels. Why is that, you might ask? Toyota caps the torque in four-wheel drive mode to prevent damage to the front differential. The people who test cars for Invoice Pricing are always looking for ways to get the most out of each one. To get a few more tenths, we change the launch rpms, keep an eye on the boost gauges, and sometimes try to shift an automatic transmission by hand. One of the most careless items we check is pickups. Put them in a four-wheel drive, set the gas and stop, and let them eat. We were surprised by Toyota’s new 4Runner and Tacoma, which come with hybrid turbo-four engines as a choice. As with any other four-wheel-drive truck or SUV, we put torque on all four wheels of the 323-hp Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter to start our straight-line acceleration test. The digital instrument cluster can be set up to have a turbo boost gauge and a screen that shows the electric motor’s power. We saw that both gauges got close to their recommended peaks when we pressed the gas and stop pedals at the same time. After letting off the brakes, it took the 4Runner 7.3 seconds to reach 60 mph. At 88 mph, it also took 15.7 seconds to go the quarter-mile distance. During the acceleration test, however, we saw that the electric motor’s gauge didn’t stay at the top of its value for long. After switching the transfer case to the rear-wheel drive without thinking, we did two more tests. First, the wheelspin needs to be controlled since the system’s full 465 pound-feet of torque only goes to one tire. For the second, the electric motor’s muscles can move more freely. It took 15.3 ticks to go 1/4 mile at 88 mph, and we were shocked that it only took 6.7 seconds to go 60 mph. When we called Toyota, they confirmed what we already knew. Its engineering staff says that the manufacturer limits the torque when in four-wheel drive to protect the front differential. Because of this, it took the Trailhunter SUV four-tenths of a second longer to go 1320 feet and almost half a second longer to hit 60 miles per hour. One more thing: the electric motor can only help for ten seconds at a time. When we applied what we knew about the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter to a 25-inch Tacoma Trailhunter with a six-foot bed and similar power, the difference in 0–60 mph times between four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive increased to nearly a full second. In general, it took the 5561-pound Tacoma Trailhunter 0.4 seconds longer than the 5441-pound 4Runner to reach 60 mph. A stronger braking assist works better right away on the 4Runner because it has less mass but more weight on its back axle. Should owners of Tacos and 4Runners speed up the road to 60 mph? Not at all. But it’s helpful to know the best way to do something.
