Toyota Almost Ditched the Roll-Down Rear Window on the New 4Runner

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snootchiebootchie94@reddit

My tundra has one and it is one of my favorite features of the truck.

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RaphaTlr@reddit

Is it an option on Tundras? Looking at 07-17 models

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bojangles006@reddit

I think all 1st gen full 4 doors have it, and all 2nd gen crew max have it.

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snootchiebootchie94@reddit

I have a 2015 and it has it. I am not sure about other models. All the Crewmax have it.

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YummyWizard@reddit

Roll down windows are great but nothing beats a tail gate like the Landcruisers used to have

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Strider755@reddit

The first two 4Runner generations had that as well. It was a great feature overall; the only downside was that if the power window was disabled for whatever reason, the tailgate was too.

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mason_sol@reddit

No it’s where the bottom roughly 18” of the hatch is split and opens like a tailgate on a truck while the rest of the hatch goes up like normal

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AwesomeBantha@reddit

if I had a zillion dollars I would start a business that converts/makes split tailgates for the 300

I can’t believe they took it away from us

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CLS4L@reddit

They got rid of pop up window in Highlander couldn't believe it

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CampinHiker@reddit

That’s why i got a 2017 model

Only issue now is this car is just me dumping money into it :/

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land8844@reddit

4th gen doesn't have the glass hatch anymore? Fuck, I use that all the time on our 3rd gen.

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Drzhivago138@reddit

TIL that any gen of Highlander has an opening hatch window. You can hardly tell from the outside.

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BadMantaRay@reddit

Seriously, this has to be one of the coolest and appealing, yet most practical feature that is hidden on SUCH a common vehicle.

Highlanders have been everywhere for years and I had no idea they had this feature—now it will be all I see when I look at one 😅

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It was my wife's before we got married. I discovered it and showed her. I think she was more amused by my excitement over it than the actual feature. It has a power hatch, so being able to just pop the window makes it quicker to toss something in the back instead of waiting for the hatch to do its thing.

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puddud4@reddit

Why don't more companies offer this? It's brilliant

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Satanic-mechanic_666@reddit

You have to put a lot of effort into the aerodynamics of the vehicle if the rear window rolls down. Otherwise it’s just an exhaust inlet.

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Odd-Refrigerator-425@reddit

Sounds to me like we just need side exit exhausts 😃

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Satanic-mechanic_666@reddit

It doesn’t work. I have sidepipes on my van and can’t drive with the rear windows open.

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trickedx5@reddit

this is the reason why they didn't do this. Makes sense

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animealt46@reddit

Are 4Runners generally immune to the exhause gas intake problem?

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iansvt@reddit

5th gen isn’t either to my knowledge. You can smell it in the cabin. Cracking the rear windows to get air flow seems to resolve it.

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dkviper11@reddit

"Convertible mode" where I have all 5 windows down and the sunroof open.

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animealt46@reddit

I guess this is where the hybrid can help at least. No exhaust fumes to ingest if the car is stopped or driving really slowly.

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nova46@reddit

Lol absolutely not. Our 2004 had a check engine light for most of the time we owned it (insane story on that one) and probably failing cats too. Rolling the rear window down turned it into Auschwitz on wheels.

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OK_Compooper@reddit

I’ve learned to never let that back window be the only one down.

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Snazzy21@reddit

I never had the problem

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AE_Racer@reddit

My 3rd gen is definitely not. I never roll it down because all ill smell is diesel.

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Drzhivago138@reddit

It used to be common (or at least, not rare) for station wagons and SUVs to have a roll-down rear window and a tailgate. They were mostly eliminated in the '90s in favor of hatches with or without separate opening glass.

Switching to a hatch with fixed glass loses some of the functionality, but it's cheaper to produce, has fewer moving parts/things to go wrong, and is quieter and better insulated. I always remember my Tribute having a thin layer of dust in the cargo area from the imperfect seal.

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Captain_Alaska@reddit

BMW still does seperate opening glass on their wagons, albeit they lift up like a mini hatchback.

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Odd-Refrigerator-425@reddit

Definitely one of my favorite features of my E91. So convenient to just throw a backpack in there and not have to open the whole ass hatch

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blerglemon@reddit

The new 5 series touring loses this and it makes me unhappy

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hero47@reddit

Also the 3 series facelift lost it (G20 LCI)

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Drzhivago138@reddit

I was pleased to see the Bronco Sport also brought it back like the older Escapes had.

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MaroonIsBestColor@reddit

The Bronco Sport is essentially what the Escape used to be.

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AyrtonSennaz@reddit

At the same time also being a MASSIVE pile of shit by comparison

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ZephyrStudios686@reddit

+1 that shits job security

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b6passat@reddit

New lexus GX has it too

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rconn1469@reddit

The new 5 Touring lost this though 😢

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aerostatic9000@reddit

Blew my mind when I had a 3 series touring in Europe as a rental. Used it every time I needed anything in the tailgate. So much easier than waiting for an electric hatch .

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Car-face@reddit

Also air quality. Station wagons with rear roll down windows used to suck exhaust into the cabin.

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Fish_bob@reddit

So does the 4Runner unfortunately

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04limited@reddit

I’ve come across some old 4Rs in the salt belt that have issues with their sliding rear glass. A lot of people let salt cake up the tailgate all winter salt gets behind the seal and it creates a mess after a handful of years. Not uncommon to see tailgates rot out on them. it’s less of an issue with the Tundras because there’s a bed between it and the rear of the vehicle.

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SnowmanJPS@reddit

I would die if I could have gotten my Tacoma with a slidey rear window (the whole thing goes down, not the centre )

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Jay_Diamond_WWE@reddit

The WK1 Grand Cherokee and prior had it. But for the WK2 model, they ditched it in favor of a windshield mounted wiper and automatic lift gate controls. They felt it would be too heavy for the automatic lifter to have a powered window.

Terrible decision. I'd trade my sunroof for a open back window anyway.

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bionicbeatlab@reddit

Broncos used to have it

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LC-Dookmarriot@reddit

It costs money

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SeeIfItLasts@reddit

I work at a supplier on a new program that will have a roll down rear window on the higher trim. Figuring out the packaging for just our component was a nightmare. The space for the window is in the way of everything. The power mechanism also added a few kgs versus the version with a fixed window. Most OEMs aren't willing to put in the cost and time it takes for features like this.

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alwaysrecession@reddit

Because there’s additional parts required, motor, etc and companies are looking at reducing costs.

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Drzhivago138@reddit

You can definitely make an angled design, even a curve. On GM's "clamshell" wagons the rear glass rolled up into the roof.

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mulletstation@reddit

How to reduce the expected operational time from 50,000 hours to 500 hours speed run.

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CrimsonFlam3s@reddit

That's cool as hell. Love how many manufacturers put some innovation on many of these older cars

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Drzhivago138@reddit

In GM's case, they wanted to be different from Ford, who had introduced the "Magic Doorgate" (dual-action tailgate) in the mid-'60s, a useful design that everyone else copied. The clamshell was neat to see in action, but it did take up a fair amount of space in an already-big car, and its complexity meant it would typically not function if you were rear-ended. GM reverted to the simpler dual-action tailgate with the downsized '77s to save weight, space, and money, and later downsized wagons like the Malibu or Celebrity would have even simpler hatch or tailgate designs.

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DeathCabForYeezus@reddit

The old jellybean Ford Taurus wagon rear glass hinged on its own. The early 2000s Ford Explorers and Jeep Liberty also did this

It really is a nice, useful feature.

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jimbobzz9@reddit

The answer to every “why don’t car manufacturers do this thing“ question: it’s cheaper

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SalviniX@reddit

man i love purpose built cars

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4score-7@reddit

I won’t even consider another SUV just because of that roll down back window. It gets USED by us. Combined with the sunroof, on nice days, all windows down gives the same vibes as any Jeep or convertible type of vehicle. Plus, the golden retriever loves it. Is it worth a small additional cost? Absolutely.

Not worth a $10k MSRP mark up at the dealer.

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SkylineRSR@reddit

What specifically do you use it for

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Odd-Refrigerator-425@reddit

I don't have a 4Runner, but on my E91 wagon you can lift the rear glass separately from the whole trunk.

I love it when I just want to get my gym bag out of the back or other smaller items like that. It's much easier/faster to get into.

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4score-7@reddit

The dog likes the air back there when driving. Slight crack while moving. I’ve loaded one paddle board on the roof, a second one out the back window with the seats down for trips down to the Gulf of MEXICO, which I live 2 miles from. I’ve used it when hauling boards for home projects. The Taliban likes it for installing a shooter out the back of the vehicle. But I don’t let those guys use my truck. It’s smelly inside afterwards. Anyone over there ever hear of “beard wash”? 😂

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NYPuppers@reddit

Sorry I know not which of this gulf you speak. Hamburgers. Fireworks. Eagles. Anyways.

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LC-Dookmarriot@reddit

As the other commenter said it’s like having a convertible when you put all of the windows down and open the sunroof

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DieselDray@reddit

I folded the back seats and loaded a gazebo with the box sticking out the window once. If someone needs to put something like groceries in the back I can roll the window down instead of having to open the hatch. My dog likes it

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WOOKIExCOOKIES@reddit

I use it for hauling 2x4s.

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penguinchem13@reddit

It's amazing how quiet it is on the highway with all windows down

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RaphaTlr@reddit

Upcoming Rivian R2 has rear window roll down feature. Huge bonus points imo

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rutlander@reddit

The reason they considered it from the article is due to the more complicated rear gate. Why make it more complicated?

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Fish_bob@reddit

Article says mainly that it’s a lot of weight on the rear hatch, which makes it complicated for the new auto-lift system because depending on where the window is rolled down, the correct pressure must be applied to lift.

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rutlander@reddit

I was more making a point as to why does the 4R need an auto lift gate but I guess at the price point and trim level that’s what consumers want

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04limited@reddit

I like the Tundras full roll down rear window option but my F150 has a sliding rear that I barely use. Really only for when I’m hauling long stuff. But now that I’m used to it I don’t want to buy a truck without. It just makes hauling stuff that much easier.

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Jay_Diamond_WWE@reddit

They already ditched the V6. What's another legendary feature that defines the brand? Lol

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AwesomeBantha@reddit

the 4R didn’t have a V6 until 1988, when it first came out there was a very rare option for the 22RE-T

so a turbo 4 cylinder is nothing new… I hope they make a trim with some retro style turbo decals

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Jay_Diamond_WWE@reddit

37 years ago. It's been a V6 for as long as I've been alive...

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lolstebbo@reddit

It's been offered with an I4 up until 2010.

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land8844@reddit

22R-ET

22nd variant of the R engine family, with EFI and Turbocharged

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Yangervis@reddit

There's nothing legendary about the 3VZ-E

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KetchupOnThaMeatHo@reddit

I still think it's bullshit they did away with it on the sequoia.

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Neither-Scheme-2251@reddit

They decided to ditch reliability instead.

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land8844@reddit

The first ones literally just arrived from the factory less than a week ago. From Japan. Where they've always been built.

Sit down and shut up for a while.

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roske1@reddit

The new “Land Cruiser” is built in Japan and it’s an overpriced shiny plastic turd. It’s okay to criticize a brand for losing its way.

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handymanshandle@reddit

Has the Prado had any big issues here in North America? I really haven’t heard too much about it. Do I think they’re overpriced? Yeah, but that’s a different ramble, but given that I see them quite a bit for a relatively low-volume SUV, seems that people do like them to some degree.

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land8844@reddit

No issues to note. People just getting worked up because it's a Prado and not the "real" Land Cruiser... Despite the fact that GX owners love to brag about how it's actually a Land Cruiser under the badges.

Haters just want what they can't have.

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land8844@reddit

Those same arguments have been made about every new Land Cruiser generation. I know, I was there when the 200 came out for 2008, and I saw remnants of those same arguments against the 100 as well. And yet, strangely, when the 200 came out, those same people were heaping praise on the 100 for being "the last real Land Cruiser".

On the same line, were you aware that the 60 series was called a "mom wagon" when it came out?

So like I told the other guy, sit down and shut the actual fuck up.

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Kavani18@reddit

You are personally offended that someone dared criticize Daddy Toyota and it’s funny

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land8844@reddit

No, I'm calling out disingenuous arguments. The 6th gen 4Runner has been in the states for less than a week. The Tacoma is the one having reliability issues, the criticism of which is rightly deserved.

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animealt46@reddit

The purists can't even get the reliability issues right. They keep shouting about how the turbo engine has proven horrible and fragile when it's the transmission that's causing recalls.

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Kavani18@reddit

While true, telling people to “shut the fuck up and sit down” over a comment about a 4Runner is a bit extreme.

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land8844@reddit

Over a disingenuous argument, yes.

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Drzhivago138@reddit

Same with traditional Jeeps since at least the '80s.

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land8844@reddit

Yep. "Real jeeps have round headlights", "real jeeps have inline 6" (despite the fact that an inline 6 wasn't offered until AMC ownership), "real jeeps have a frame" etc etc.

Fucking gatekeepers. And purists. Fuck them both.

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ZaheerAlGhul@reddit

Funny, people were saying this about the 5th gen 4runner when it first came out.

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land8844@reddit

And the 4th gen! People said it was too big and lamented the lack of a 4-cylinder option.

Pretty fucking funny now that Toyota is offering a 4-cylinder again. Can't please everybody.

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