Anyone else have issues accelerating?

[PierceVonCloud]

I have a '25 OR hybrid. There were several strange things it did early on that made the driving experience unpleasant. Jerkiness with low throttle acceleration. Big clunky gear changes with heavy acceleration and even jerkiness when coming off throttle and applying the brakes. It was near impossible to drive smoothly and it was very frustrating. I switched to driving in Tow/Haul mode all the time and all of that disappeared. Completely normal and pleasant driving experience and easy to drive smoothly.

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[Oldhoosier]

So I have had it happen a few times in my 2026 ORP Hybrid. I have let off the throttle and then quickly gotten back on but I get very little to no power. Most instances are when I get cut off in traffic and I let off but don't need to brake and then need to get back on the gas. The first time I thought it was something I did but it seems to happen pretty often.

The only times I've noticed it (twice now) is when the system screams BREAK NOW (someone cuts me off or I get too close to someone) and then applies the brakes for me (thanks a lot for something I don't want) and then I try to get moving. There's about 1-2 seconds of nothing. Sucks.

 

[Nodak]

Mode Comparison Chart

Feature	ECO	NORMAL	SPORT	TOW/HAUL
Throttle Response	Dulled / Lazy	Balanced	Sharp / Aggressive	Enhanced for load
Upshift Points	Early (low RPM)	Standard	Late (high RPM)	Elevated under load
Downshift Logic	Reluctant	Standard	Eager / aggressive	More aggressive, grade-aware
Gear Holding	Minimal — shifts up ASAP	Moderate	Holds gears longer	Holds lower gears under load
Transmission Hunting	Low	Low	Low	Actively suppressed
Engine Braking	Minimal	Standard	Moderate	Enhanced on descents
Fuel Economy Impact	Best (~22–23 mpg)	Average (~21–22 mpg)	Worst (~16–18 mpg)	Reduced (load-dependent)
HVAC Adjustment	Yes (reduced output)	Standard	Standard	Standard
Best Used For	City/stop-and-go, fuel savings	Daily all-around driving	Spirited driving, passing, winding roads	Towing, hauling, steep grades

🟢 ECO Mode

• Throttle input is intentionally dampened — the pedal feels "soft"
• Transmission upshifts as early as possible to keep RPMs low
• The turbo is kept out of its aggressive boost range
• HVAC output is reduced to lower engine load
• Noticeably sluggish off the line — not ideal in traffic that requires quick reactions
• Best for flat, slow, stop-and-go driving where fuel economy is the priority

NORMAL Mode

• The baseline behavior of the vehicle
• Throttle mapping is linear and predictable
• Shift points are calibrated for a balance of efficiency and response
• Most practical for everyday driving — commuting, highway cruising, errands

SPORT Mode

• Throttle mapping becomes much more sensitive — small pedal inputs produce big responses
• The 8-speed transmission holds gears longer before upshifting, keeping the 2.4T in its power band
• Downshifts happen more eagerly and earlier when decelerating or when more power is requested
• Shifts feel firmer and more deliberate
• The turbo stays spooled up longer, making highway passing and acceleration feel more confident
• Fuel economy takes a noticeable hit

🟠 TOW/HAUL Mode

• Upshift RPM thresholds are raised so the engine doesn't upshift prematurely under load
• Gear hunting is actively suppressed — the transmission avoids unnecessary up/down shifts when pulling weight
• On downhill grades, the transmission holds a lower gear for engine braking, reducing brake fade
• Downshifts are more aggressive and predictive when climbing grades
• Throttle response is tuned for smooth, controlled power delivery rather than snappy response
• Optimized for loads up to the 4Runner's 6,000 lb tow rating

1. Toyota does NOT publish exact RPM shift points for any mode. The ECT-i transmission's shift logic is dynamic — it adjusts based on throttle position, vehicle speed, load, and even transmission temperature. There is no static "shifts at X RPM" figure.
2. Non-hybrid vs. hybrid: The shift differences between modes are more pronounced in the i-FORCE MAX hybrid version because the electric motor fills in throttle response gaps instantly. On the non-hybrid SR5, the differences are still clearly noticeable but slightly less dramatic.
3. Owner's Manual Reference: The Drive Mode Select section in the 4Runner owner's manual covers this on approximately pages 414–417 if you want to cross-reference Toyota's official (though general) language.

too bad they dont publish a table for the custom mode for shocks and other things that are adjusted (ie: steering input being harder/softer)

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