From SR5 to Hybrid Limited

just an impressions post, mostly waste of time except for those with time to waste and/or considering “upgrading”

So my truck is in service for a few things, nothing major.

-Front spoiler fix
-Cracked seat plastic
-Oil change
-2nd key programming
-Tire rotation

I have a 23 Army Green 4x4 CM nonTRD SR5. So a basic trimmed SR5. Nothing special or extra.

my truck is going to be in shop overnight so they gave me a 24 silver Limited 4x4 Hybrid to drive. They definitely are trying to get me to upgrade. They are hurting where I’m at. And have tons on the lot.

My immediate impressions were:
-hell yea bed lights
-hell yea motorized side mirrors
-hell yea blind spot monitoring
-hell yea adjustable seat FOLLOWED by leather then FOLLOWED by ventilated seats. I specify that because that’s what was important to me in that order.
-they def beefed up the seat plastic. It feels like more material is there. Also being able to lower the seat, allows me to step onto the side steps easier. I’m only 5’10” :-(
-hell yea I can get way better gas mileage. Did y’all know the hybrid goes up to 60mpg on the mpg monitoring page? Non hybrid only goes to 30. Or maybe it’s a 12in screen vs small screen? Idk. This one goes up to 60
-sunroof is much cooler than I thought it would be. I genuinely told people I didn’t care for it, but it is pretty sweet.
-the big monitor, super awesome. I’ve decided I’m swapping mine out for one asap. It’s so badass.
-cameras and 360 view is so great

Negative-ish
-feels like there’s less power? Like obviously I know that is factually wrong, but it feels sluggish. Maybe that’s the hybrid system? Taking off from a light a couple times and it barely moved. I even stepped harder on the gas and it didn’t accelerate like I thought it should. Again idk why, but I like how my non hybrid feels power wise. I didn’t go into tow mode where I’ve heard the hybrid power kicks in, but I never go in tow mode on my truck either. So regular drive mode and sport mode, my truck feels better and more responsive.
-that electric motor sound? Jesus Christ. So terrible. It’s there even at idle lol. If Toyota is in here, please just turn that off or give the driver the option. It sucks.
-JBL system/ audio system in general is dog water. I come from car audio so I knew it would be shit but I did not expect it to be this much worse than mine. I can only turn the radio up to 28-35 depending on the song until the sub sounds like it’s peaked out and the distortion get really bad. My sr5 I can turn up to 48-52 and it’s much louder before the distortion gets to be too much.

to summarize, the reasons I’d upgrade would be the upgraded seats, screen, and foldable side mirrors, and parking cameras.

hybrid system kinda sucked. JBL system is so so so bad.

side note, I fell in love with my army green color even more and saw many Supersonic Reds at the dealership and they are awesome. I’m sure silver looks a lot better w limo tint and bigger wheel tire combo

if I do upgrade at this point, no Army Green available now, I’d get a Red Platinum or Limited OR blackout edition non hybrid

 

Interesting, I also have SR5 and feel like it’s a great value of a truck (I do have BSM and power seats though). I am astonished at how fast it is and so I dream of a hybrid power system to have even more. Disappointed to hear it feels like that. Wonder if that particular truck is one of the trucks that has the big acceleration lag?

 

They need to have the sound at low speeds when the engine is off. It’s a regulation, can’t turn it off. The sluggishness you’re feeling is probably the engine turning on. If you put it in Sport mode the engine stays on which lets you use both engine and electric motor together immediately.

 

I’ve wanted ventilated seats for a loooong time and they are worth every penny.

 

The JBL is not that bad, sure it doesn't have hundreds of watts of power, wouldn't you agree @pwpblue ?

 

Thanks for this. I know you mentioned the display and differing MPGs but have you had the hybrid long enough to get a good idea on fuel savings and real miles per gallon?

Sounds like a Limited gasser is the way to go!

 

What I will also say, is it does feel smoother? Idk if it’s the regular street tires vs the ATs that came stock on mine? But this one does feel smoother but just not as much punch. Someone after you commented it’s maybe the motor turning on? So maybe? I’m gonna go out in sport mode for a while with less people on the road and test it. Also test the tow mode on it.
I don’t wanna shit on the system as a whole because I’m sure it shines in towing, but I don’t tow. Ever. Most people don’t. Ever. So idk if it’s all that imo thus far. Maybe I’ll be shocked in a few hours lol

 

Thanks for the feedback! I’m gonna test that out asap here in a bit.

 

Bro tbh, they definitely felt like more air flow than my moms limited 4Runner and more air flow than my buddy’s gx460.

 

Yea I feel that but from my experience, sometimes less is more. The acoustics of a system even basic paper cones, can sound better than something pushed too hard. That’s all Bose systems are for example. AC Delco speakers with great acoustics and an amp.

A better way to describe what I felt, was the JBL system left me wanting more volume. Like, it crapped out before my ears crapped out. Figuratively that is.

my own non JBL system sounds decent for what it is. the quality of the speakers craps out but the volume is nice. Dude I jam out. I got my buddies in the truck we heading to the beach or to a bachelor party with some roadies or going to ACL (a festival) windows down jamming. I can tell, that the JBL system wouldn’t hold up as well as the non JBL system has so far. It leaves so much to be desired.

 

Not a great example if I’m being honest. City driving definitely it’s gonna be way better.

based on how I read the meter it doesn’t use gas at all while stopped at stop signs or red lights. I’m gonna be driving it around a bit today because they are just now taking down the fuel tank for the fuel line fix and idk how long that’ll take.

I’ll drive how I normally do and see how it does.

my truck gets 15ish mpg how I normally drive.

 

Was the surround sound on? Makes a big difference. My 2023 JBL is much better than the 2022 SR5 Premium I previously owned.

 

Second this for surround sound. Sounds like dookie. Would be interested in hearing comparison with it turned off.