Current-gen 4Runner owners: what would you change about the driver’s display? (3-minute survey)

[jaglowskip]

Hey y'all!

I drive a current-gen 4Runner and work as a product designer in Austin. For a personal portfolio project, I’m redesigning the driver’s display, the gauge cluster behind the wheel. I want the redesign built on how owners actually use it, not only on my own habits.

If you drive a 2025 or newer 4Runner, I’d be grateful for 3 minutes on this survey. It asks what you look at commuting, on road trips and on the trail, what’s hard to find or change, and what you’d do differently.

Google Forms Survey Link

I’m not affiliated with Toyota and there’s no sales pitch. Answers are anonymous unless you leave an email for a follow-up chat. I’ll post what I learn back here when it’s done.

Thanks, PJ

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Not comfortable clicking a link? Reply here with your answers to these questions instead:

• What do you look at most on your display, and what do you wish was there?
• Is there anything you have to dig through menus to find or change?
• Do you find any system warnings or pop-ups annoying or obstructive?
• If you could change one thing, what would it be?

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[Nodak]

yeah i will holding off on that request. no established history on the forums and only 1 post to a know scam vector.

not saying you are but gotta keep vigilant.

good luck on your survey

now if you asked for posts in this thread i might be more willing to give feedback

edit : also, i dont know of any 3rd party that is willing to dig into changing the oem digital display. too much security and hoops to jump thru to be able to modify that much of a critical system.

 

[jaglowskip]

yeah i will holding off on that request. no established history on the forums and only 1 post to a know scam vector.

not saying you are but gotta keep vigilant.

good luck on your survey

now if you asked for posts in this thread i might be more willing to give feedback

edit : also, i dont know of any 3rd party that is willing to dig into changing the oem digital display. too much security and hoops to jump thru to be able to modify that much of a critical system.

I understand the optics of a day one account posting an external link, haha. If you don't feel comfortable clicking the link, you could answer these questions instead:

1. What do you look at most on your display, and what do you wish was there?
2. Is there anything you have to dig through menus to find or change?
3. Do you find any system warnings or pop-ups annoying or obstructive?
4. If you could change one thing, what would it be?

This is for a portfolio project, so the working prototype will be a web app built with React and Three.js running on its own screen.

Updates to the OEM display have to be digitally signed by Toyota and only install through dealer tools IIRC, and circumventing that is not something I'm looking to do at this time.

 

[josiahg52]

6/2026 Trailhunter, 14" JBL

1. I listen to the radio mostly.
2. I want to tune to a radio station or satellite channel without going back a menu, pushing tune and then typing in the frequency or channel number. Why can't I just scan through all of the stations? Why can't I go through the Sirius/XM stations? Then there's a limit on favorites, too, so you can't save all your stations, can't cycle through them sequentially, have to enter them manually. You can only cycle/scan through the favorites.
3. All of the popups confirming adding or deleting a favorites radio station, HD radio station coming in and out, Qi charging, ALL of them stay up too long, are superfluous, and prevent interacting with the screen behind them when they're up.
4. The radio/tuner function is annoying.

 

[MikeD]

I filled out the survey which was as expected - focus on the MID. But man do I agree with Josiah regarding radio controls being annoying. What I want there is a one button seek or scan instead of having to press the big screen 5 (non-intuitive) times to get to that function. UGGH

 

[Nodak]

@jaglowskip

What do you look at most on your display, and what do you wish was there?
what is offered in the side pods for left/right are more than enough (as long as you turn on all the options for either side)

Is there anything you have to dig through menus to find or change?
with the ability to have 3 unique screens and having all the options turned on for both side pods, its only a matter of switching between preset screens

Do you find any system warnings or pop-ups annoying or obstructive?
if you turn off some nannies, they are persistent warning icons, but i think the only annoying one is the PKSB, you can see the icon of the vehicle in a circle, see below)

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
the center display ability to make the speed display larger even when you it as the only thing being displayed

to give you and idea from the above question, here are my 3 displays, 1st (main always default screen shows ev usage and mpg for current tank), 2nd (tire psi) and 3rd (oil and trans temp) screen that i can switch between for quick access to different gauges

 

[ThatSickRIp]

@jaglowskip

What do you look at most on your display, and what do you wish was there?
what is offered in the side pods for left/right are more than enough (as long as you turn on all the options for either side)

Is there anything you have to dig through menus to find or change?
with the ability to have 3 unique screens and having all the options turned on for both side pods, its only a matter of switching between preset screens

Do you find any system warnings or pop-ups annoying or obstructive?
if you turn off some nannies, they are persistent warning icons, but i think the only annoying one is the PKSB, you can see the icon of the vehicle in a circle, see below)

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
the center display ability to make the speed display larger even when you it as the only thing being displayed

to give you and idea from the above question, here are my 3 displays, 1st (main always default screen shows ev usage and mpg for current tank), 2nd (tire psi) and 3rd (oil and trans temp) screen that i can switch between for quick access to different gauges

After seeing that, and how the Old Ladys LC has all that, there was no reason Toyota couldnt have had that in the SR5, even at the base price. Keep the larger screen suspension, heated stuff, etc. for the higher trims, I get that. Every trim above SR5 has it, correct? Seems like it would even be a cost saver (knowing how they love that now) to make it the same for all less production cost for 1 trim level

 

[jaglowskip]

After seeing that, and how the Old Ladys LC has all that, there was no reason Toyota couldnt have had that in the SR5, even at the base price. Keep the larger screen suspension, heated stuff, etc. for the higher trims, I get that. Every trim above SR5 has it, correct? Seems like it would even be a cost saver (knowing how they love that now) to make it the same for all less production cost for 1 trim level

I agree, and that is my understanding as well. What does your 7-inch screen show now, and what would you add first?

 

[Dead Horse]

Wasn't aware this was a hackable item.

 

[MikeD]

After seeing that, and how the Old Ladys LC has all that, there was no reason Toyota couldnt have had that in the SR5, even at the base price. Keep the larger screen suspension, heated stuff, etc. for the higher trims, I get that. Every trim above SR5 has it, correct? Seems like it would even be a cost saver (knowing how they love that now) to make it the same for all less production cost for 1 trim level

I’m almost certain that everything Nodak described is in every trim - only differences is that the non-Hybrids don’t get the blue MAX battery meter and motor use meter. I’m curious why you think SR5 doesn't have these things. Does the manual say “if available” and I missed it? Or is there a unique manual for SR5?

There is a thread here from last summer that details all the instrument cluster and Multi-information display (MID) choices and how folks have theirs configured. (I think those photos Nodak posted were from one of those threads). This forum is FILLED with info on how to use the MID here are a couple of them:
Full Tutorial - customizing gauges
Reference Placard for MID settings

The OP should take a look at those threads and others where forum members have discussed his topic for his research. Searching MID and my user name for a number of threads that might be useful for your research.

Lastly, I generally agree with Nodak’s observations, but I want ALL the available data choices to be available through screen toggle. Not limited to 6 (3 screens of 2) of the 15ish choices (Depending on how you count). In fact, additional real-time sensor data (more choices for MID settings) would be good. (like info discussed here: App

 

[127.0.0.1]

you know what is needed ?

4 physical buttons that you can assign to any function
or page in any menu. driver has something they always
need to access or switch between, BAM, instant tactile press

 

[Nodak]

SR5 is the only model that doesnt get the full digital MID screen

its to make that trim as cheap as possible

the base msrp of a SR5 is 42k vs the next cheapest trim at 48k ( you have to realize, a full digital MID screen is going to cost a few thousand dollars to have installed in a vehicle)

its funny how i look back at my 14 limited and it was 44k msrp vs the newest SR5 starting at 42k


also if you want to see the thread where we were discussing everyones setup of the MID screen

https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...ok-like-post-pics-of-your-configuration.8754/

 

[Joestac]

1. I mostly look at the speedometer.
2. No
3. No
4. Only change I'd like is an exact inclinometer.

 

[ThatSickRIp]

I agree, and that is my understanding as well. What does your 7-inch screen show now, and what would you add first?

Nothing compared to the large ones

Speedo in the middle, MPG or TPMs under the speedo, and engine temp to the left, fuel gauge on the right. The only way to see the items the larger screens have is to scroll through with the menu button

 

[ThatSickRIp]

I’m almost certain that everything Nodak described is in every trim - only differences is that the non-Hybrids don’t get the blue MAX battery meter and motor use meter. I’m curious why you think SR5 doesn't have these things. Does the manual say “if available” and I missed it? Or is there a unique manual for SR5?

There is a thread here from last summer that details all the instrument cluster and Multi-information display (MID) choices and how folks have theirs configured. (I think those photos Nodak posted were from one of those threads). This forum is FILLED with info on how to use the MID here are a couple of them:
Full Tutorial - customizing gauges
Reference Placard for MID settings

The OP should take a look at those threads and others where forum members have discussed his topic for his research. Searching MID and my user name for a number of threads that might be useful for your research.

Lastly, I generally agree with Nodak’s observations, but I want ALL the available data choices to be available through screen toggle. Not limited to 6 (3 screens of 2) of the 15ish choices (Depending on how you count). In fact, additional real-time sensor data (more choices for MID settings) would be good. (like info discussed here: App

Nope, not even close. Speedo, engine temp on left, fuel on right and can scroll through the menu button to see MPG, TPMS, and the other options on the bottom under the speedo. Cant have them all up full time on the left and right like the larger screen
The reason I think the SR5 doesnt have them is because I have one and have gone through the threads here to set it up
I can scroll and see the different items (temps, guages, etc) but I cant have the full HUD on the screen and see them all at once like any of the higher trim models

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