Despite AWD’s typical speed advantage, these two (Toyota Hybrids) are quicker in RWD
At a testing hub, we rigorously evaluate vehicle performance to provide objective data alongside our subjective reviews. Our testing team constantly seeks to maximize every vehicle’s potential, from fine-tuning launch RPMs to experimenting with manual shifts in automatics. Typically, testing four-wheel-drive pickups involves a straightforward brake-and-throttle launch in four-wheel drive. However, Toyota’s new 4Runner and Tacoma, equipped with optional hybrid turbo-four powertrains, presented an unexpected finding.
Our initial acceleration tests of the 323-hp Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter were conducted in four-wheel drive, as is standard for trucks and SUVs. Monitoring the turbo boost and electric motor output on the digital display, we performed a brake-torque launch, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 7.3 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 15.7 seconds at 88 mph.
Interestingly, we observed that the electric motor’s gauge rarely reached its peak during these runs. On a whim, we switched the transfer case to rear-wheel drive and conducted two more acceleration tests. This revealed two key differences: the need to manage significant wheelspin due to the combined 465 lb-ft of torque directed to a single axle, and a more substantial contribution from the electric motor. Surprisingly, the rear-wheel-drive configuration yielded a quicker 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds and a faster quarter-mile of 15.3 seconds at 88 mph.
Toyota’s engineering department confirmed our findings, explaining that they intentionally limit the available torque in four-wheel drive to protect the front differential. This detuning results in the 4Runner Trailhunter being about half a second slower to 60 mph and four-tenths of a second slower in the quarter-mile in four-wheel drive. They also noted that the electric motor’s assistance is limited to 10-second intervals.
Applying this knowledge to the similarly powered 2025 Tacoma Trailhunter (with a six-foot bed), the difference in 0-60 mph times between four-wheel and rear-wheel drive widened to nearly a full second. Ultimately, the lighter 4Runner (5441 pounds) was 0.4 seconds quicker to 60 mph than the heavier Tacoma Trailhunter (5561 pounds), likely due to its lower mass and greater weight distribution over the rear axle, allowing for a more effective brake-torque launch.
While we doesn’t anticipate 4Runner and Tacoma owners frequently engaging in drag-strip launches, these tests reveal the quickest acceleration method for these hybrid trucks.
