“Toyota themselves also didn’t communicate well to the real enthusiast” is the common unfortunate reality across all their new products. Great review Kai 👌🏼
You consistently catch (and explain!) the small details other miss or gloss over. "Updated, quieter MTS" is one thing, but to see it work sooner and smoother is impressive. Absolutely top-notch content, as always!
I love these videos where Toyota fans marvel at a traction control system that is nearly as good as a 20 year old land rover. Still antiquated and now way overpriced
@@chameofrierson7628 I am glad you noticed them, friend of mine saw someone posted on fb market near boston, so I had to ask him to buy them for me and then picked them up from him. cheers!
This guy is amazing. Best informative truck channel on UA-cam. Would love to see him break down the new Tacoma vs the New Colorado ZR2, that would be must watch for me
@@TinkerersAdventurewe are a Toyota family with a 4runner venture, a Rav4, a corolla cross and until September there was also a ‘10 tacoma. I literally worked it hard often on our land, the frame was starting to rust out. When I saw the new taco I was not impressed and got a frontier pro4x. I miss my taco, it ran like a champ and love our other Toyota’s but no turbo’s for us. No way. Especially for my farm truck. Even the cross hybrid has brake problems. Thank goodness we got the regular 2.0. For some of us basic ICE power plants with no frills is what we will buy.
For anybody who's going to offroad the 4th gen, make sure you armor that frame mount for the rear lower control arm. We in the FJ Cruiser / 4Runner community learned years ago that any significant offroading will bend the steel on this mount and cause issues with removing / upgrading lower control arms later. So it's way cheaper / better to armor it up front than to fix it later. Loving the powertrain on my '24 Tacoma, I'm getting mid 20's highway consistently.
@@J.Young808 75 MPH speed limits here in Colorado, I'm setting the cruise to 83. Got 27 MPG from Denver to Durango and back (about 700 miles) a couple of months ago. I've owned several Toyota trucks: '99 Tacoma, '06 Tundra, '11 FJ, '18 4Runner and now '24 Tacoma. Old Tacoma and Tundra had good power but not enough gears. FJ and 4Runner don't have enough of either (again, I live at 6100 elevation and regularly drive to 11K). The '24 Tacoma is the first of all of them that has enough power and enough gears for this elevation.
Thanks Kai for going through all the work to make this comparison. Aside from the cost, I'm glad to see the 4th Gen upgraded with all these new features. I'm sticking with my supercharged 2nd Gen for now as it's more than capable for all the off-roading I do in Hawaii.
Speaking as a modded 3rd gen owner, the factory upgrades are also great for those of us that don't have nearly as much time on our hands anymore and just want something we don't need to mod. There's something to be said about not having to tear the truck apart, even if it costs a little more out of the box (which, feature for feature, as you proved, it doesn't).
That's where I am in life. I have more money than time so I'm willing to go the route of a fully built out from the factory truck. Trail hunter/raptor/zr2 bison. Prices all suck but I don't want to wrench unless something's broken. I spend enough time fucking with motorcycle mods I don't have time for truck too. Plus factory warranty? Yes please.
10 out 10 video, thank you very much for the detailed information! Don’t get fooled by the 45k price tag, they’re saving money on engine and transmission! Hopefully they will not ban you for scraping their truck though 🥴
Thanks for breaking this down so thoroughly. It's easy to criticize a new truck based on emotions, or get too focused on bells and whistles. Great job focusing us back on the basics, and finding some positive new features on the new model.
Toyota should come out with a barebones enthusiast oriented trail model. They'll never do it, but they should. Give me vinyl seats and vinyl floor and I'll move heaven and earth to get that thing. Like a 70 series ute for the US.
Your way of breaking this stuff down is truly exceptional man. Bravo. You’re far better explaining this kind of stuff than anyone else. I hope Toyota takes notice. I’m still sad we didn’t end up being Trailhunter bros 😢😆
Idgaf what they changed. They got rid of bump stops in favor of a self deleting tophat. TFL had their front transfer case self delete on a mild obstacle and there is already a service bulletin for a failed transmission. The price went up and the quality went down. A midsize truck is not worth 50,000+ dollars.
Tbh the biggest turnoff to me was the lack of front bumpstops. I couldn’t believe that somehow Toyota engineers looked at Off-roading in general and decided bumpstops weren’t necessary. I’ve recovered 2 current gen tacos that have blown the top hat of the shock clean out. For the enthusiast who isn’t brand tied. The Gladiator has all the pluses of both gen tacos, a solid front axle, able to fit 37s with no mods or few mods (depends on trim) and it can be had for cheaper than both. When I bought my gladiator I got it fully loaded custom factory ordered. The window sticker even had my name. 50k flat out the door. At the time, Toyota couldn’t even get me a 4x4 SR5 in the color I wanted, and 45k was the lowest I could find. The Gladiator I have compares directly to a TRD Pro/ Offroad Premium. And it was 20k cheaper. I put 40k on my truck in a year of ownership and not one single failure despite heavy off-roading, towing and turning 37s. If you must have a taco; I’m glad your video is here to help split the hairs. But if you’re not set on a taco, get a frontier, ranger , or gladiator. One of em will have all of what you’re looking for, if you can let the Toyota badge go. But I understand if some can’t, hell I couldn’t get over Toyota for years. My first truck was with em. I’ve owned 5 Toyota pickups before I finally realized they couldn’t do what I needed without serious custom work. And throwing out Toyota reliability for the sake of making it do stuff other trucks already do factory just didn’t make any sense. Don’t get me wrong. Toyota makes a fantastic 4x4, easily one of the best. But make sure your taking into consideration your actual use case and needs. No vehicle is truly a do it all rig for anyone.
Great video but I wish you would have addressed long terms reliability concerns with the turbo. Which is a contributing factor to why people don't want to upgrade yet.
Seems like a lot of reviewers are not talking about that and also the issues with the front bump stop shocks, transmission issues, and transfer case parts breaking. Gonna wait to see what fixes they make for 2025 or get a Ranger Raptor instead.
No mention of the engine? Any thoughts on a more stressed v4? I'll stick with my v8 4runner on skinny 33's (2uz-fe. The same engine you mentioned in your last video)
To add to the prtson above. The ranger has been using a turbo 4 for decades (including overseas usage) and having proven to be a very stout and reliable engine
Totally understand that Kai's videos take a ton of time and effort to record and edit, but I can't help selfishly wishing for more content because they're so good! 😂 Keep up the amazing work!
Always great seeing the technical information you bring to these videos man. Love your knowledge and patience in digging into what really matters and bypassing all the wild speculation the automotive community is so full of.
@kevinfitzpatrick5949 I think is worth it knowing that it is just bit more juice and that's it. It won't transformed the truck but make a little more enjoyable.
Great video! And the intricate detail is what I've been missing in every other review or comparison I've seen. Thank you for taking the time and effort.
That exhaust crossover is super easy and inexpensive to reroute on the 2nd and 3rd Gen … it’s a must-do mod, then get skid plates made without the exhaust bump-out. All works like a dream. 👍
I’ve always said the open C Chanel frame in the 3rd gen was a benefit in articulation. Thanks for confirming. Also, I can’t believe Toyota has gone to front plastic skid plate on the 4th gens.
My local dealer had an off-road premium hybrid for the same price as a ranger raptor. Reliability can be debated between the two models but what you get with the raptor makes it a serious competitor, I’d probably try one before the taco honestly
Btw, thank you so much for making these awesome videos. I don’t own a Toyota anymore, but I am the primary wrench turner in my Offroad group and we are primarily comprised of GXs and 4Runners. Your videos really helped me understand Toyota IFS to a degree that l never thought I would. With your videos I’ve managed to get most of our rigs on 35s with proper articulation and clearance. Something I thought would be impossible. S tier content sir.
It would be epic if you made a video comparing the mechanical differences between a late model Rubicon, TRD 4Runner, and Bronco. Obviously, when they are all available. I'm sure your customer base would be willing to help out and supply some vehicles if you made a comment in one of your videos asking people to contact you if they own one of these models. These mechanical breakdowns are far superior to other videos about overlanding vehicles.
@ Not only that. They focusing too much on tourqe, Horsepower and turbo. Thats why Toyotas fall in love with their sweet voice. They dont really want to own it, they just want to feel it taste it and see it just for a test drive. I hate those guys.
Amazing video, like he said, these things don't come in a spread sheet and he's doing the enthusiasts a solid by debunking ignorance. Kudos to you man! New subscriber
Not sure that sorry about the green trail was sincere 😎. Really like the way you break down information and statistics, and look at the whole subject, not just one “gotcha” criteria.
I went from a 3rd Gen to a Gladiator about a year ago, and it can easily fit 38s with a 2-inch lift. The Gladiator wheelbase is really long at 137 inches, but with 38-inch tires, it is not a problem. The haters like to come out of the woodwork over Jeeps reliability. Well, compared to these new Tundras and Tacomas... I guess we will see. So far the Jeep is holding up better than these new generation Toyotas, I've had zero problems, and the Gladiator goes to places my 3rd Gen couldn't muster.
Great video! I think starting in 2020 there started being all these reports of issues with crawl control not being able to climb over ledges. It seemed to be some update Toyota did that never was resolved. The third gen’s before then don’t have that issue, though it still is super loud and sounds like something is breaking!! 😂
This video is very helpful about Tacoma, lot of time and dedication. I grew up having in the family Toyotas since late 1970's... from Celicas and Corollas to Tercel, 4Runners back to Corolla, and RAV4. I am deciding to buy between a RAV4, Tacoma or 4Runner, because I want to go camping. Would you be kind to do a thorough analysis of both RAV4 and 4Runner's new gens with previous ones? Keep up the good work. Thank you!
Great video, glad you touched on the price. People are stuck on the price tag of fully loaded models with every option possible. My 24 TRD off-road was 45k, didn’t see the need for the 8k premium package, hybrid powertrain, etc. It’s still better equipped than my fully loaded 3rd gen was and the powertrain, comfort and fuel economy are vastly better.
@@m.687 Every issue has a tsb now just like every truck before. They're still the best at addressing first gen issues and are still the most reliable brand. Even with the tundras 100,000 engine recalls they still have the least recalls of any other manufacture. The 4th gen is just new so people will hate on it. So far absolutely loving mine.
Thank you for making me so much happier about choosing my new 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X over the 2024 TRD Tacoma. I can 35” tires with no suspension mods, flex more with no challenge and have locking front and rear diffs. I own 5 Toyotas, loved them, but Toyota scared me off with new Tundra issues and the new Tacoma transmission issues. Owned a Jeep JKUR for 14 years: ZERO ISSUES. Jeep Gladiator is making me very happy.
Id pick a Gladiator too. I almost picked up a Ecodiesel JTR earlier this year but read too many horror stories about cooling issues while towing and decided not to get it since I have a 5500 lb trailer.
Never to disappoint us.. you have the best in depth compares anywhere !! My '22 4Runner crawl control is loud but seems to work smoother / less abruptly than that 3rg gen Tacoma.. is this possible or is it in my head / have you experienced same ?
The SDM is basically unobtainable due to the way Toyota bundles options. You're forced into buying either a lot of crap you don't want to get a package that has it, or waiting an eternity for an allocation. These are not common. The "build your Toyota" thing is just a toy. I waited for months to find a base TRD OR with SDM. Zero. It was basically only available with so many bolt on port options that it pushed the price into the mid 50k. The engine is the real gem. It's so much more responsive and the torque so much more useable than the 3rd Gen. The 3rd Gen looks a lot better though. It really is a much nicer looking truck.
I’m in the same boat as you. The way Toyota allocates cars is beyond stupid for vehicles beyond mass market corollas or rav 4s that have barely any options and every single combination available at every dealership. I was first in line at my dealership for the GR Corolla, waited over a year, and when they finally got one, it had no heated seats or LSDs, in a market that has snow on the ground for over half the year. Now I’m in the market for a small truck, would love a Tacoma with the manual, but they only made 6 for my region for an entire month, and even the autos they have are ridiculous $55k+ MSRP.
So $14k gets you completely next gen MTS capabilities, better and sturdier frame, better flex, a suite of cameras, ventilated seats, tech that brings you from 2010 to 2024, a powertrain that is heads and shoulders better, better transmission, much more comfortable interior, much quieter interior with acoustic glass, and tons more I’m leaving out. Seems okay to me?
I know the tire upgrade for the third gen was an "equalizer" but you could also make an argument it would be "equal" to allow the 4th gen to max out its tire option as well. What is the tallest tire that reasonably fits on each?
@Tinkerer'sAdventure Since you are very good with suspension tech, I would love to know your thoughts of the lack of front bump stops on both the Tacoma and upcoming 6th gen 4Runner? Thanks for the comparison video!
@@daywalker4029 I've seen that. It just seems like a really weak system for the application compared to traditional bump stops. Why the LC250 and Tundra have them and the Tacoma and new 4R don't is weird. I'm not knocking it just doesn't seem as reassuring as the old way.
I was surprised to see they went with internal bump stops. BUT, that piece of the top hat breaking is NOT because of the internal bump stop. This is a big misconception getting blown up.
@@TinkerersAdventure Was/is it in your opinion just an engineering defect? I would imagine a bump stop on the control arm would have prevented that. But by no means a suspension expert.
Great video with loads of considerations to drive decision. One thing, I would be ionterested in, is a comparison of complications that are encountered when attempting to lift each truck. From the footage of the 2024, it looks like rear driveshaft clearance to exhaust and angle would be a potential problem area when lifting. The potential interference I'm talking about is shown @4:15 where you can see the driveshaft on 2024 looks to be pretty tight the the exhaust pipe and if lifted, would these two components have interference?
Great detailed video man! Thanks for making this. I'm a 2nd gen owner and no offense to crawl control it's a great system for beginners but if you REALLY wanna offroad you gotta go old school and feel your truck and trail manually and go for it lol
I love this channel, and i'm glad I subscribed. I understand this is a largely toyota/lexus based channel, but would a ranger raptor or even a ZR2 comparison not be a great addition to this video? I think it would be really cool to see.
Always a very thorough video. On the new Tacoma there is no bumpstops in front and customers have been blowing the shocks through the shock tower. Anything you can figure out as to why no bumpstops and what changed in the design of the shock towers?
What an amazing comparison! I'd love to see this comparison but for the GX550/LC250 vs GX460/5th 4R. I've seen a handful of LC250s running 35x12.5s. I wonder if their wheel well is also greatly improved. Like the SDM comparison in this video, would love to see a E-KDSS vs KDSS.
@ inflation is a thing but 20k in 5 years is wild. its also more money than arguably superior vehicles , well at least superior in terms of bells and whistle, and horsepower
The US dollar has lost 18% of its purchasing power since 2020 look at the CPI index. 20k in 5 years is not crazy thanks to Biden financial administration and the pandemic
I've been trying to tell people this for months. I paid 44k for a 24 TRD Offroad with the full digital dash and a few other small add-ons like extra floormats, but pretty much stock everything else. The premium package is what makes these things so expensive. Only things I maybe wanted but didn't get were the upgraded sound system which I've heard isn't that great, and a sunroof.
And thats great if you are the person who considers Toyota as the only option. But you could also walk across the street to the Chevy dealer and get a ZR2 with front/rear lockers, amazing suspension, factory 285/70's and stronger engine for 48k. That's the ultimate problem. No one cares if its a few grand more than the 3rd gen Tacoma
@@Jay-me7gw I grew up in a Chevy family. My first car was a K5. But I have never owned a Toyota for less than 10 years that needed anything other than expected maintenance. My dad's last Silverado needed a transmission at 120,000 miles. On top of that, people knock the interiors on these new toyotas for the plastics, but you can drive one for 10 years and the interior holds up. Chevys always feel old after a few years.
@@saywhatnow57 And you know this how? This 4th gen Tacoma has not even been out a year. And, honestly, I dont buy it. I have owned several Toyota trucks built since 2010 and all of them had common issues that needed to be fixed well before 10 years. Even the holy grail 200 series has issues. Radiators failing, cam tower leaks, valley cover plate leaks, secondary air injection pump failures, timing chain tensioner failures, head gasket failures.
@@Jay-me7gw I've owned two 4runners a tundra, and now the tacoma. 10-11 years on all of them except the Tacoma, and no repairs up to 200-210k miles. And my mechanic told me that's common and the reason he drives a 4runner.
This is probably the first video I've seen on youtube that did this kind of analysis. Great job! What are your thoughts on the new drivetrain and the switch to 4 cylinder turbo. It does add a little more torque to the 2024 Tacoma, so does that add more value in your opinion? Thanks!
Hands down best detailed video on the 3rd gen vs 4th. Great comparisons catching stuff like frame flex. As someone that owned both a 3rd gen and 4th gen at the same time, the choice on what to drive is simple…Ford Ranger Raptor. Not putting a locker in the front was a huge miss on the 4th gen. The other comment I have on the 4th gen is they missed the mark on the exhaust placement and the choice to go with a monster aluminum paper thin one piece driveshaft is going to be a problem for anyone who takes it into rocks.
Thanks! Even though I'm a Toyota guy. I have to say Ford is far more in-tuned with the enthusiasts and knows how to have fun. If the Ranger raptor has the bronco's swaybar disconnect and the dealerships are not doing crazy markups, I might have gotten one. And yes, that drive shaft is not ideal at all. It's funny that a lot of non-off-road car reviews were super impressed by how massive it looks
Jesus I just posted this video on the Toyota Tacoma subreddit and it is getting flamed to oblivion. That forum is full of boomers who hate an objective analysis. Thanks for the video
This is the best video hands-down about the subject Brother you did such a crazy good job on this video. Honestly, if I was in the market and if I wanted to buy a 2023 Tacoma versus a 2025 I think it’s a clear choice on what to pick I’d get the new one
Amazing video. I know this took a TON of time and effort. Thank you for doing these!! I’ve got a 2018 GX460 with the off road package. Put on a 4Runner TRD pro set of wheels and a 265/70r17 tire. Any other mods you’d recommend? Maybe sliders and a bumper cut?
these quite "technical" reviews are priceless, I love your style Kai. My question is if all of these suspension / body design upgrades are also valid in the case of the 4Runner? I suppose yes, but it would be nice to have a comparison video. 😉
Well I bought a 24... in manual and since it may be my last truck (with a manual, at least) I went all out and got the premium package. Thanks Toyota for still offering the manual.
One thing that could be overlooked, at least in the hybrid model, is the low speed crawling control with the electric motor Having instant 150lb-ft of torque in tap is pretty nice from that motor
@@TinkerersAdventure oh that's interesting. On the 'driving sports tv' channel, he was crawling with his LC250 and the engine was turned off while he was going about so wonder if it's a Land Cruiser thing
Yep, traction/crawl control was so prehistoric in this generation of Toyota 4WD's compared to what was on the market on other 4WD's. Why it took so long is unbelievable, its like the engineers just moved on until called up to improve it for this new generation, including 300 series in Australia.
Interesting! I already bought a new Nissan Frontier, I like simple trucks and I don’t do off road stuff, but I’m still curious to see how much difference between two trucks.
4th gen. first year growing pains: transmission problems! And, a turbo instead of 2 more cylinders means the engine is running at higher pressure, which means diminished life span.
We will just look back 15 years from now and see all the models that are gonna have issues. Y☺️used to work at Volkswagen with seeing so many turbo problems I don’t know how or what Toyota did with this magic wand where they are going to last but TIME WILL TELL🙈🤷♂️ we will look back 15 years to see how long they go
As always, well done video. Bought 2023 3rd gen TRD. The reason, I have a 1997 4 run V-6 with 360,000 miles & still runs great. Bought 3rd gen for the engine. Time will tell on new turbo, but there is no replacement for displacement & reliability. Toyota should have stuck with a bulletproof V-6. Many other manufacturers are still doing V-6.
I like this guy :) Yes, both inner and outer fits into the older gen front diff and wheel bearing. I already tried. The driver side axle is pretty much the same length as the older gen. The passer side is like 4 inches longer. (Too long for even my +3.5 long travel) The only hassle is the wheel bearing seal is different. You cannot pop the old gen outer joint seal onto the new axle either.
Super informative video! And someone ..."you"...finally convinced me to subscribe to On X Offroad! Personally...I didn't buy a 3rd gen and wouldn't even consider it over a 4th gen if it were half the price...
Nobody does breakdowns like this. I can’t imagine how long these types of videos take to make. This channel is amazing
Agreed. Great content.
Indeed. It's fabulous.
Exactly!!
Amazing video
“Toyota themselves also didn’t communicate well to the real enthusiast” is the common unfortunate reality across all their new products. Great review Kai 👌🏼
I mean, a lot of enthusiasts WANTED to hate the truck and went out of their way to find reasons to justify their predisposition.
Yeah I agree. Most people have made up their mind before doing any homework. Car community shouldn’t be like US politics lol
Real enthusiasts go for solid axle trucks.
You consistently catch (and explain!) the small details other miss or gloss over. "Updated, quieter MTS" is one thing, but to see it work sooner and smoother is impressive. Absolutely top-notch content, as always!
I love these videos where Toyota fans marvel at a traction control system that is nearly as good as a 20 year old land rover. Still antiquated and now way overpriced
THAT IS ONE CLEAN 3RD GEN! Men of culture, here we meet again, I love my truck btw lol
where did you find these 6 lug Rock Warriors lol. IM the only one who notices this thing LMAO
@@chameofrierson7628 I am glad you noticed them, friend of mine saw someone posted on fb market near boston, so I had to ask him to buy them for me and then picked them up from him. cheers!
I'm not even a Toyota guy, but these vids are great. Thank you for making such informational content
I’m a jeep guy but as an enthusiast I really like these videos. Love how in depth they get. Excellent work
I’m not even in the market for a Taco, but yet I still watch and learn from your videos.
Solid work, Kai.
This was just a superlative review. Fantastic original research and testing. So called automotive journalists manage to miss all of these details
automotive stenographers*
This is the best review of the new 2024 Tacoma and the best comparison between the 3rd and 4th generation. Great job
I cannot say how much I appreciate the attention to detail on the camera work, having these visual A:B comparisons is so helpful!
The thinking man's review channel.
This guy is amazing. Best informative truck channel on UA-cam. Would love to see him break down the new Tacoma vs the New Colorado ZR2, that would be must watch for me
But then people would see that Chevy is better than Toyota for less money.
That doesn't fit the narrative
Would a new frontier v Tacoma be a good video idea? I really like your in depth analysis on both trucks.
I’ve always been curious about the Nissan platform!
@@TinkerersAdventure would love to see your opinion of it. It’s by far the most detailed on UA-cam.
@@TinkerersAdventurewe are a Toyota family with a 4runner venture, a Rav4, a corolla cross and until September there was also a ‘10 tacoma. I literally worked it hard often on our land, the frame was starting to rust out. When I saw the new taco I was not impressed and got a frontier pro4x. I miss my taco, it ran like a champ and love our other Toyota’s but no turbo’s for us. No way. Especially for my farm truck. Even the cross hybrid has brake problems. Thank goodness we got the regular 2.0. For some of us basic ICE power plants with no frills is what we will buy.
Please look at the frontier unless you get paid by Toyota;)
Let’s see the gen 3 vs frontier please
Still in love with my army green 2021 Tacoma.
Drive nice, excellent off road abilities
Who else is still waiting for the FJ vs LC250 vid. Still a great and enjoyable video though!
It is coming!
@@TinkerersAdventure is it not a complete walk by the LC? that would shock me
For anybody who's going to offroad the 4th gen, make sure you armor that frame mount for the rear lower control arm. We in the FJ Cruiser / 4Runner community learned years ago that any significant offroading will bend the steel on this mount and cause issues with removing / upgrading lower control arms later. So it's way cheaper / better to armor it up front than to fix it later.
Loving the powertrain on my '24 Tacoma, I'm getting mid 20's highway consistently.
I get 20-25mpg on my 2023 Tacoma TRDOR 4x4 ACLB since my commute to work is 26 miles one way and Honolulu freeway speed limits are 45-60 mph.
Makes me wonder if I should get the new LC since they basically have the same powertrain.
@@J.Young808 75 MPH speed limits here in Colorado, I'm setting the cruise to 83. Got 27 MPG from Denver to Durango and back (about 700 miles) a couple of months ago.
I've owned several Toyota trucks: '99 Tacoma, '06 Tundra, '11 FJ, '18 4Runner and now '24 Tacoma. Old Tacoma and Tundra had good power but not enough gears. FJ and 4Runner don't have enough of either (again, I live at 6100 elevation and regularly drive to 11K). The '24 Tacoma is the first of all of them that has enough power and enough gears for this elevation.
@@jimmy-buffettbecause of electrification and turbos?
@@NickHolum mine is the non-hybrid version. But the turbocharger makes a huge difference up here at elevation.
Thanks Kai for going through all the work to make this comparison. Aside from the cost, I'm glad to see the 4th Gen upgraded with all these new features. I'm sticking with my supercharged 2nd Gen for now as it's more than capable for all the off-roading I do in Hawaii.
Speaking as a modded 3rd gen owner, the factory upgrades are also great for those of us that don't have nearly as much time on our hands anymore and just want something we don't need to mod. There's something to be said about not having to tear the truck apart, even if it costs a little more out of the box (which, feature for feature, as you proved, it doesn't).
That's where I am in life. I have more money than time so I'm willing to go the route of a fully built out from the factory truck. Trail hunter/raptor/zr2 bison. Prices all suck but I don't want to wrench unless something's broken. I spend enough time fucking with motorcycle mods I don't have time for truck too. Plus factory warranty? Yes please.
10 out 10 video, thank you very much for the detailed information!
Don’t get fooled by the 45k price tag, they’re saving money on engine and transmission! Hopefully they will not ban you for scraping their truck though 🥴
I'm a Jeep owner and engineer. I love and appreciate the work you do!!
Thanks for breaking this down so thoroughly. It's easy to criticize a new truck based on emotions, or get too focused on bells and whistles. Great job focusing us back on the basics, and finding some positive new features on the new model.
Toyota should come out with a barebones enthusiast oriented trail model. They'll never do it, but they should. Give me vinyl seats and vinyl floor and I'll move heaven and earth to get that thing. Like a 70 series ute for the US.
With a single cab short bed 🥴
why not just sell us 70-series finally
Your way of breaking this stuff down is truly exceptional man. Bravo. You’re far better explaining this kind of stuff than anyone else. I hope Toyota takes notice.
I’m still sad we didn’t end up being Trailhunter bros 😢😆
Thanks! I know :( I almost got one
Idgaf what they changed. They got rid of bump stops in favor of a self deleting tophat. TFL had their front transfer case self delete on a mild obstacle and there is already a service bulletin for a failed transmission. The price went up and the quality went down. A midsize truck is not worth 50,000+ dollars.
Tbh the biggest turnoff to me was the lack of front bumpstops. I couldn’t believe that somehow Toyota engineers looked at Off-roading in general and decided bumpstops weren’t necessary. I’ve recovered 2 current gen tacos that have blown the top hat of the shock clean out. For the enthusiast who isn’t brand tied. The Gladiator has all the pluses of both gen tacos, a solid front axle, able to fit 37s with no mods or few mods (depends on trim) and it can be had for cheaper than both. When I bought my gladiator I got it fully loaded custom factory ordered. The window sticker even had my name. 50k flat out the door. At the time, Toyota couldn’t even get me a 4x4 SR5 in the color I wanted, and 45k was the lowest I could find. The Gladiator I have compares directly to a TRD Pro/ Offroad Premium. And it was 20k cheaper. I put 40k on my truck in a year of ownership and not one single failure despite heavy off-roading, towing and turning 37s. If you must have a taco; I’m glad your video is here to help split the hairs. But if you’re not set on a taco, get a frontier, ranger , or gladiator. One of em will have all of what you’re looking for, if you can let the Toyota badge go. But I understand if some can’t, hell I couldn’t get over Toyota for years. My first truck was with em. I’ve owned 5 Toyota pickups before I finally realized they couldn’t do what I needed without serious custom work. And throwing out Toyota reliability for the sake of making it do stuff other trucks already do factory just didn’t make any sense. Don’t get me wrong. Toyota makes a fantastic 4x4, easily one of the best. But make sure your taking into consideration your actual use case and needs. No vehicle is truly a do it all rig for anyone.
gladiators cant go over washboards
@@dalton-at-workyou’ve never driven a Mojave have you? Or literally any gladiator with a simple shock upgrade?
@@cortlundtowell5252 lol no. why would i, i own a land cruiser
@@dalton-at-work that’s fair. LCs are peak
Great video but I wish you would have addressed long terms reliability concerns with the turbo. Which is a contributing factor to why people don't want to upgrade yet.
Seems like a lot of reviewers are not talking about that and also the issues with the front bump stop shocks, transmission issues, and transfer case parts breaking. Gonna wait to see what fixes they make for 2025 or get a Ranger Raptor instead.
Another GREAT video that shows the attention to detail and thorough job Kai and his friends do each time! I love it!
Woah! The quality of this breakdown is super impressive. Hats off well done!
No mention of the engine? Any thoughts on a more stressed v4? I'll stick with my v8 4runner on skinny 33's (2uz-fe. The same engine you mentioned in your last video)
Turbo spools up at low RPM. I've never gone over 2500rpm merging onto a freeway or passing anyone. So is it really a high stress engine?
To add to the prtson above. The ranger has been using a turbo 4 for decades (including overseas usage) and having proven to be a very stout and reliable engine
Totally understand that Kai's videos take a ton of time and effort to record and edit, but I can't help selfishly wishing for more content because they're so good! 😂 Keep up the amazing work!
Always great seeing the technical information you bring to these videos man. Love your knowledge and patience in digging into what really matters and bypassing all the wild speculation the automotive community is so full of.
I ended up regearing to 488s and putting a supercharger on my 3rd Gen. So far so good and will be a forever truck for me.
How do you like the supercharger? Worth 8k? That's my only complaint wity my 3rd gen
@kevinfitzpatrick5949 I think is worth it knowing that it is just bit more juice and that's it. It won't transformed the truck but make a little more enjoyable.
Great video! And the intricate detail is what I've been missing in every other review or comparison I've seen.
Thank you for taking the time and effort.
That exhaust crossover is super easy and inexpensive to reroute on the 2nd and 3rd Gen … it’s a must-do mod, then get skid plates made without the exhaust bump-out. All works like a dream. 👍
what about the transfer case
Totally dig your in depth explanations and presentation. Appreciate all of your hard work!
Great Video! Trying to hold an unbiased view while being sponsored is hard. You nailed it!
I’ve always said the open C Chanel frame in the 3rd gen was a benefit in articulation. Thanks for confirming.
Also, I can’t believe Toyota has gone to front plastic skid plate on the 4th gens.
I am highly impressed with your presentation format. You've earned yourself a long term subscriber.
My local dealer had an off-road premium hybrid for the same price as a ranger raptor. Reliability can be debated between the two models but what you get with the raptor makes it a serious competitor, I’d probably try one before the taco honestly
Btw, thank you so much for making these awesome videos. I don’t own a Toyota anymore, but I am the primary wrench turner in my Offroad group and we are primarily comprised of GXs and 4Runners. Your videos really helped me understand Toyota IFS to a degree that l never thought I would. With your videos I’ve managed to get most of our rigs on 35s with proper articulation and clearance. Something I thought would be impossible. S tier content sir.
It would be epic if you made a video comparing the mechanical differences between a late model Rubicon, TRD 4Runner, and Bronco. Obviously, when they are all available. I'm sure your customer base would be willing to help out and supply some vehicles if you made a comment in one of your videos asking people to contact you if they own one of these models. These mechanical breakdowns are far superior to other videos about overlanding vehicles.
Just wow. This is the best truck review iv ever seen.
Most of them just focus on exterior, interior and driving.
Yeah and others are even worst by doing 1/4 mile comparison 🤣🤦
@ Not only that. They focusing too much on tourqe, Horsepower and turbo. Thats why Toyotas fall in love with their sweet voice. They dont really want to own it, they just want to feel it taste it and see it just for a test drive. I hate those guys.
Amazing video, like he said, these things don't come in a spread sheet and he's doing the enthusiasts a solid by debunking ignorance. Kudos to you man! New subscriber
Please let's make creators like these famous
Not sure that sorry about the green trail was sincere 😎. Really like the way you break down information and statistics, and look at the whole subject, not just one “gotcha” criteria.
Absolutely superb breakdown and review. No one does this sort of objective empirical testing better.
I went from a 3rd Gen to a Gladiator about a year ago, and it can easily fit 38s with a 2-inch lift. The Gladiator wheelbase is really long at 137 inches, but with 38-inch tires, it is not a problem. The haters like to come out of the woodwork over Jeeps reliability. Well, compared to these new Tundras and Tacomas... I guess we will see. So far the Jeep is holding up better than these new generation Toyotas, I've had zero problems, and the Gladiator goes to places my 3rd Gen couldn't muster.
Jeeps are already proven to be the most unreliable vehicle so good luck with your experiment.
Great video! I think starting in 2020 there started being all these reports of issues with crawl control not being able to climb over ledges. It seemed to be some update Toyota did that never was resolved. The third gen’s before then don’t have that issue, though it still is super loud and sounds like something is breaking!! 😂
This video is very helpful about Tacoma, lot of time and dedication.
I grew up having in the family Toyotas since late 1970's... from Celicas and Corollas to Tercel, 4Runners back to Corolla, and RAV4.
I am deciding to buy between a RAV4, Tacoma or 4Runner, because I want to go camping.
Would you be kind to do a thorough analysis of both RAV4 and 4Runner's new gens with previous ones?
Keep up the good work. Thank you!
Great video, glad you touched on the price. People are stuck on the price tag of fully loaded models with every option possible. My 24 TRD off-road was 45k, didn’t see the need for the 8k premium package, hybrid powertrain, etc. It’s still better equipped than my fully loaded 3rd gen was and the powertrain, comfort and fuel economy are vastly better.
I waited a month for your video and per usual, always worth it !!!! Thanks so much for all the hard work you put into all the videos
Too many recalls and transmission issues, $55k price not justified at all. Do better Toyota.
There's no recalls on the 24
3rd gen had more recalls in its first 6 months and was essentially the same price when adjusted for inflation. Don’t ride the hate train. Do better.
Funny how people are so arrogant. Every gen had problems when they first debuted. Here's another fact, they are both built at the same damn factory
@@m.687think again...
@@m.687 Every issue has a tsb now just like every truck before. They're still the best at addressing first gen issues and are still the most reliable brand. Even with the tundras 100,000 engine recalls they still have the least recalls of any other manufacture. The 4th gen is just new so people will hate on it. So far absolutely loving mine.
This video is nuts. You made me see stuff that isn’t even near my radar.
Thank you for making me so much happier about choosing my new 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X over the 2024 TRD Tacoma.
I can 35” tires with no suspension mods, flex more with no challenge and have locking front and rear diffs.
I own 5 Toyotas, loved them, but Toyota scared me off with new Tundra issues and the new Tacoma transmission issues.
Owned a Jeep JKUR for 14 years: ZERO ISSUES. Jeep Gladiator is making me very happy.
Id pick a Gladiator too. I almost picked up a Ecodiesel JTR earlier this year but read too many horror stories about cooling issues while towing and decided not to get it since I have a 5500 lb trailer.
Did you forget to cover the issues with the new internal bump stops?
What's wrong with them? Do they explode
I learn a lot from these videos. I don't even have or plan on buying a truck
Never to disappoint us.. you have the best in depth compares anywhere !! My '22 4Runner crawl control is loud but seems to work smoother / less abruptly than that 3rg gen Tacoma.. is this possible or is it in my head / have you experienced same ?
It seemed to triggered some control loop thing at certain conditions (pitch of the slope and etc). It’s not always like that, but definitely happens
The SDM is basically unobtainable due to the way Toyota bundles options. You're forced into buying either a lot of crap you don't want to get a package that has it, or waiting an eternity for an allocation. These are not common. The "build your Toyota" thing is just a toy.
I waited for months to find a base TRD OR with SDM. Zero. It was basically only available with so many bolt on port options that it pushed the price into the mid 50k.
The engine is the real gem. It's so much more responsive and the torque so much more useable than the 3rd Gen.
The 3rd Gen looks a lot better though. It really is a much nicer looking truck.
I’m in the same boat as you. The way Toyota allocates cars is beyond stupid for vehicles beyond mass market corollas or rav 4s that have barely any options and every single combination available at every dealership. I was first in line at my dealership for the GR Corolla, waited over a year, and when they finally got one, it had no heated seats or LSDs, in a market that has snow on the ground for over half the year. Now I’m in the market for a small truck, would love a Tacoma with the manual, but they only made 6 for my region for an entire month, and even the autos they have are ridiculous $55k+ MSRP.
When I'm done with my 2nd Gen I'll see how the 4th gen is looking. Thanks for the review!;
So $14k gets you completely next gen MTS capabilities, better and sturdier frame, better flex, a suite of cameras, ventilated seats, tech that brings you from 2010 to 2024, a powertrain that is heads and shoulders better, better transmission, much more comfortable interior, much quieter interior with acoustic glass, and tons more I’m leaving out. Seems okay to me?
Incorrect
my 2020 shifts pretty good and unless you have one of the earlier models the tech on the later 3rds gens where not bad
Historically, you wouldn’t see that 14k increase from 10-20 years LOL. Will you be ok with another 14k increase in 5 years?
what a cool video. While I don't want a mid size truck at all, I really enjoyed watching this video!
I know the tire upgrade for the third gen was an "equalizer" but you could also make an argument it would be "equal" to allow the 4th gen to max out its tire option as well. What is the tallest tire that reasonably fits on each?
You can fit a 35 on the 4th gen with the right wheel offset. You can only really fit a 33 on the 3rd gen, and even then, it involves some trimming.
@Tinkerer'sAdventure Since you are very good with suspension tech, I would love to know your thoughts of the lack of front bump stops on both the Tacoma and upcoming 6th gen 4Runner? Thanks for the comparison video!
the shocks have 2 stages built into the bilstein shocks so it's essentially a built in bump stop from what we've seen.
@@daywalker4029 I've seen that. It just seems like a really weak system for the application compared to traditional bump stops. Why the LC250 and Tundra have them and the Tacoma and new
4R don't is weird. I'm not knocking it just doesn't seem as reassuring as the old way.
Just plan on buying the reinforced shock top hat if you leave in stock up front
I was surprised to see they went with internal bump stops. BUT, that piece of the top hat breaking is NOT because of the internal bump stop. This is a big misconception getting blown up.
@@TinkerersAdventure Was/is it in your opinion just an engineering defect? I would imagine a bump stop on the control arm would have prevented that. But by no means a suspension expert.
Great video with loads of considerations to drive decision. One thing, I would be ionterested in, is a comparison of complications that are encountered when attempting to lift each truck. From the footage of the 2024, it looks like rear driveshaft clearance to exhaust and angle would be a potential problem area when lifting. The potential interference I'm talking about is shown @4:15 where you can see the driveshaft on 2024 looks to be pretty tight the the exhaust pipe and if lifted, would these two components have interference?
Great detailed video man! Thanks for making this. I'm a 2nd gen owner and no offense to crawl control it's a great system for beginners but if you REALLY wanna offroad you gotta go old school and feel your truck and trail manually and go for it lol
2023 TRD-OR for life! I will add a 4th gen if I have to but only after another 3-4 years when the kinks are worked out.
I doubt I will never buy this garbage. Massive transmission issues, and recalls on tundra... Toyota has killed themselves with these new trucks
I love this channel, and i'm glad I subscribed. I understand this is a largely toyota/lexus based channel, but would a ranger raptor or even a ZR2 comparison not be a great addition to this video? I think it would be really cool to see.
The ZR2 and Ranger raptor offers a ton more value than the TRD Pro. I’d love to deep dive on those eventually
Always a very thorough video. On the new Tacoma there is no bumpstops in front and customers have been blowing the shocks through the shock tower. Anything you can figure out as to why no bumpstops and what changed in the design of the shock towers?
What an amazing comparison! I'd love to see this comparison but for the GX550/LC250 vs GX460/5th 4R. I've seen a handful of LC250s running 35x12.5s. I wonder if their wheel well is also greatly improved. Like the SDM comparison in this video, would love to see a E-KDSS vs KDSS.
aftermarket high clearance steel front bumper on the 4th gen sounds like the move for those owners
I paid 36 for my offroad 5 years ago , thats almost 20k difference in price !!!
I paid $22K for my first house, the one I live in now cost me $200K 12 years ago.
@yername31 I guess inflation is not a thing
@@j0rg.3 It is, but some things inflate but don't equate.
@
inflation is a thing but 20k in 5 years is wild.
its also more money than arguably superior vehicles ,
well at least superior in terms of bells and whistle, and horsepower
The US dollar has lost 18% of its purchasing power since 2020 look at the CPI index. 20k in 5 years is not crazy thanks to Biden financial administration and the pandemic
wowowow! One of the best comparison videos I've ever come across! I cant wait to see more content from you.
Hi Sir which one for a family of 4 Gx460 or???
And what Exactly would you mod to moderate technical off-roading.
Thank you
Very thorough as always! Keep up the great work friend! 👍👍👍
The motor option is the main reason I would not even think about purchasing the new taco.
Can you make a video on kdss vs e-kdss, on-road, off-road, flex, body roll etc? (Gx 460 vs Gx 550)
I'd be interested in this too. It'd be even better if the new gx550 non e-kdss trim comparison included in the mix.
Yes sir. We’ve already filmed all the testing footages when I had the press vehicle. Just haven’t got around making the video yet
I own a 3rd gen tacoma and 5th gen 4runner. My issue with trading either of them for the newer counter parts is 4 cylinder. That one i can't abide by.
I've been trying to tell people this for months. I paid 44k for a 24 TRD Offroad with the full digital dash and a few other small add-ons like extra floormats, but pretty much stock everything else. The premium package is what makes these things so expensive. Only things I maybe wanted but didn't get were the upgraded sound system which I've heard isn't that great, and a sunroof.
And thats great if you are the person who considers Toyota as the only option. But you could also walk across the street to the Chevy dealer and get a ZR2 with front/rear lockers, amazing suspension, factory 285/70's and stronger engine for 48k. That's the ultimate problem. No one cares if its a few grand more than the 3rd gen Tacoma
@@Jay-me7gw I grew up in a Chevy family. My first car was a K5. But I have never owned a Toyota for less than 10 years that needed anything other than expected maintenance. My dad's last Silverado needed a transmission at 120,000 miles. On top of that, people knock the interiors on these new toyotas for the plastics, but you can drive one for 10 years and the interior holds up. Chevys always feel old after a few years.
@@saywhatnow57 And you know this how? This 4th gen Tacoma has not even been out a year.
And, honestly, I dont buy it. I have owned several Toyota trucks built since 2010 and all of them had common issues that needed to be fixed well before 10 years. Even the holy grail 200 series has issues. Radiators failing, cam tower leaks, valley cover plate leaks, secondary air injection pump failures, timing chain tensioner failures, head gasket failures.
@@Jay-me7gw I've owned two 4runners a tundra, and now the tacoma. 10-11 years on all of them except the Tacoma, and no repairs up to 200-210k miles. And my mechanic told me that's common and the reason he drives a 4runner.
Great review. Talked about details that other UA-cam reviewers completely gloss over. Very good technical breakdown excellent.
This is probably the first video I've seen on youtube that did this kind of analysis. Great job! What are your thoughts on the new drivetrain and the switch to 4 cylinder turbo. It does add a little more torque to the 2024 Tacoma, so does that add more value in your opinion? Thanks!
Thanks!
Thank you for your support!
Do you suppose the hybrid motor played into the ability to crawl in a more controlled manner?
Hands down best detailed video on the 3rd gen vs 4th. Great comparisons catching stuff like frame flex. As someone that owned both a 3rd gen and 4th gen at the same time, the choice on what to drive is simple…Ford Ranger Raptor. Not putting a locker in the front was a huge miss on the 4th gen. The other comment I have on the 4th gen is they missed the mark on the exhaust placement and the choice to go with a monster aluminum paper thin one piece driveshaft is going to be a problem for anyone who takes it into rocks.
Thanks! Even though I'm a Toyota guy. I have to say Ford is far more in-tuned with the enthusiasts and knows how to have fun. If the Ranger raptor has the bronco's swaybar disconnect and the dealerships are not doing crazy markups, I might have gotten one. And yes, that drive shaft is not ideal at all. It's funny that a lot of non-off-road car reviews were super impressed by how massive it looks
Would you say same thing about lc250? SDM system etc.
Jesus I just posted this video on the Toyota Tacoma subreddit and it is getting flamed to oblivion. That forum is full of boomers who hate an objective analysis. Thanks for the video
This is the best video hands-down about the subject Brother you did such a crazy good job on this video. Honestly, if I was in the market and if I wanted to buy a 2023 Tacoma versus a 2025 I think it’s a clear choice on what to pick I’d get the new one
Amazing video. I know this took a TON of time and effort. Thank you for doing these!!
I’ve got a 2018 GX460 with the off road package. Put on a 4Runner TRD pro set of wheels and a 265/70r17 tire. Any other mods you’d recommend? Maybe sliders and a bumper cut?
these quite "technical" reviews are priceless, I love your style Kai. My question is if all of these suspension / body design upgrades are also valid in the case of the 4Runner? I suppose yes, but it would be nice to have a comparison video. 😉
Well I bought a 24... in manual and since it may be my last truck (with a manual, at least) I went all out and got the premium package. Thanks Toyota for still offering the manual.
F&F intro is gold, nice work.
One thing that could be overlooked, at least in the hybrid model, is the low speed crawling control with the electric motor
Having instant 150lb-ft of torque in tap is pretty nice from that motor
Good thinking, but the iforcemax electric motor is disabled in 4Lo. Currently for Toyota, only the Lexus LX700h uses the hybrid system in 4Lo.
@@TinkerersAdventure oh that's interesting. On the 'driving sports tv' channel, he was crawling with his LC250 and the engine was turned off while he was going about so wonder if it's a Land Cruiser thing
Yep, traction/crawl control was so prehistoric in this generation of Toyota 4WD's compared to what was on the market on other 4WD's. Why it took so long is unbelievable, its like the engineers just moved on until called up to improve it for this new generation, including 300 series in Australia.
All things considered, I’d go 3rd gen for so many reasons.
Fabulous video. 🍻
Some of the new LC 250's have sway bar disconnect in Australia, is that true for the US models?
Yes
Interesting! I already bought a new Nissan Frontier, I like simple trucks and I don’t do off road stuff, but I’m still curious to see how much difference between two trucks.
4th gen. first year growing pains: transmission problems! And, a turbo instead of 2 more cylinders means the engine is running at higher pressure, which means diminished life span.
We will just look back 15 years from now and see all the models that are gonna have issues. Y☺️used to work at Volkswagen with seeing so many turbo problems I don’t know how or what Toyota did with this magic wand where they are going to last but TIME WILL TELL🙈🤷♂️ we will look back 15 years to see how long they go
Where did you buy the bumper guard for the 3rd gen tacoma?
As always, well done video. Bought 2023 3rd gen TRD. The reason, I have a 1997 4 run V-6 with 360,000 miles & still runs great. Bought 3rd gen for the engine. Time will tell on new turbo, but there is no replacement for displacement & reliability. Toyota should have stuck with a bulletproof V-6. Many other manufacturers are still doing V-6.
Name the “many other manufacturers”. Only one I know of is Nissan. (Frontier).
Great video Tinkerer. But question 🙋🏻♂️ Does the spline count/diameter of 4th gen., fit into 3rd gen? Asking for a friend
I like this guy :) Yes, both inner and outer fits into the older gen front diff and wheel bearing. I already tried. The driver side axle is pretty much the same length as the older gen. The passer side is like 4 inches longer. (Too long for even my +3.5 long travel) The only hassle is the wheel bearing seal is different. You cannot pop the old gen outer joint seal onto the new axle either.
Been waiting a long while for this review.
Super informative video! And someone ..."you"...finally convinced me to subscribe to On X Offroad! Personally...I didn't buy a 3rd gen and wouldn't even consider it over a 4th gen if it were half the price...