Toyota’s modern lineup is powered almost exclusively by four-cylinder engines. Even the Tacoma’s most potent trim level features a four-cylinder as its primary source of power. This isn’t an uncommon sight for most mainstream automakers, but there is still some variety within Toyota’s powertrain lineup.

Aside from a host of four-cylinder engines, Toyota has four models that are still powered by six-cylinder engines. However, that number will soon drop to three as one model will soon lose its six-cylinder engine. These are the last four models powered by six-cylinder engines.

All the figures and information provided in this article have been sourced directly from Toyota. For the tables included in this article, the specs of the most powerful versions of each model will be used.

The Bastions Of The Six-Cylinder Engine

Toyota has implemented various six-cylinder engines in the past. The tuner subculture has long since praised its 2JZ-GTE inline-six. However, whether it be because of emissions regulations becoming ever stricter or just a consensus by the masterminds of Toyota’s round table, large engines with multiple engines are going out of style. We’ve already seen the abandonment of the V8 engine platform (more on that later) and now there remains only a handful of six-cylinder engines.

Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra is motivated by a powerful twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which is configured either to power the Tundra model under its efforts or alongside a hybrid drive system. The non-hybrid twin-turbocharged V6 engine is designated with the i-Force badge and is characterized as a DOHC engine with 24-valve cylinder heads that has a much lower output than the hybrid model. The standard i-FORCE V6 has an output of 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque that allows derivatives like the Limited model, capable of towing up to 11,130 lbs and lugging a payload of up to 1,740 lbs. The hybrid version of the Tundra’s V6 engine is the most powerful power plant offered in the entire Tundra range.

This engine is designated with the i-FORCE MAX badge, signaling it as a hybrid-assisted V6. It features the same architecture as the standard twin-turbocharged V6 engine, but is distinguished by the addition of a motor generator with a clutch which is positioned within the transmission bell housing. This motor offers additional energy through the transmission. The hybrid system is used for engine start-up, all-electric driving modes, an electric assist feature, and energy regeneration. The i-FORCE MAX V6 affords the top-ranking Tundra models an output of 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque.

Toyota Sequoia

The seven-seater Toyota Sequoia SUV is built on the same body-on-frame chassis as the Toyota Tundra with some slight differences in architecture. These models share multiple components but one of the most notable shared components is the twin-turbocharged V6 engine. Unlike the Tundra, the Toyota Sequoia range is only powered by a single derivative of the twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which is the hybrid variation of the i-Force V6 engine, subscribing to the i-Force Max naming convention. From the Tundra to the Sequoia, there are no changes that are made to the V6 engine.

It follows the same DOHC all-aluminum engine configuration featuring Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing system and a bore x stroke of 85.5 mm and 100 mm respectively. Its 10.4:1 compression ratio and 3445 cc design are some of the reasons it’s capable of mustering close to 450 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. The i-FORCE MAX configuration also employs a 288V Nickel-Metal hybrid battery that offers the Sequoia a capacity of 1.87 kWh. There are no official plans to discontinue the twin-turbocharged V6 engine in the Tundra and Sequoia range as both have recently undergone updates to design and specification, with minimal changes to their powertrain.

Toyota Supra

The Toyota GR Supra‘s engine is probably one of the most widely discussed powertrains in Toyota’s modern-day lineup. The reason for this is that it is not an engine built by Toyota, but it is sourced from BMW. Not only that, the GR Supra is also mechanically similar to BMW’s Z4 and founded on the same platform. The 3.0-liter inline-six is accompanied by a twin-scroll single turbocharger whose efforts are resonated through a dual-exit exhaust manifold.

One of the distinguishing aspects of the GR Supra’s all-aluminum B58 engine is the exhaust note, which comes by way of the exhaust manifold that features six ports instead of two. Another characteristic of the Supra’s engine is the revisions made to manage heat that allow it to fully utilize its 10.2:1 compression ratio without incurring abnormal and detrimental combustion because of its high boost pressures.

While one version of the 3.0-liter inline-six engine is offered in the GR Supra range, two configurations exist and are distinguished by their transmissions. One is a six-speed manual and another is equipped with an eight-speed automatic. The variant with the do-it-yourself transmission reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 4.2 seconds, whereas the variant with the automatic transmission can complete the same sprint in 3.9 seconds.

Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner, as we know, is outdated, especially its powertrain. This off-road inclined SUV has long since employed a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine, sometimes alongside a much larger 4.7-liter V8 engine or smaller 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. Toyota has been offering the 5th generation since 2014, which has seen very little change over the years. The 2024 model debuted with almost nothing changed compared to the model year it superseded.

In its current state, only an all-aluminum DOHC 24-valve V6 engine powers the 4Runner model. It is a competent engine, albeit with some flaws like an almost lackluster acceleration and what might be considered an inconsistent delivery of power. Regardless, it is still capable of towing up to 5,000 lbs, which trumps some of its major competitors. However, the 4Runner’s V6 engine, which has been present in some form or another for more than two decades, is living on borrowed time. The new 2025 model year Toyota 4Runner will debut with an all-new engine.

What Will Replace The 4Runner’s V6 Engine?

A four-cylinder engine. That’s what will replace the outgoing 4.0-liter V6 engine. The 2025 model will arrive in the United States at the end of the year and, alongside being founded on a new platform, will have its range powered by two different engine configurations. The 4Runner will gain two new 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines, one utilizing Toyota’s i-FORCE technology and the other being a hybrid variant featuring the i-FORCE MAX nomenclature. These engines are utilized by the Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Toyota Highlander models.

The non-hybrid V6 engine is rated for an output of 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, powering the lower half of the new 4Runner range, which includes grades like the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and the Limited. The hybrid four-cylinder features a 48 hp electric motor integrated into its eight-speed transmission and sources power from a 1.87 kWh battery pack similar to the other configurations like the Tundra and Sequoia.

The most powerful iteration of the new 4runner will have an output of 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, which will be the most powerful engine configuration ever utilized in a 4Runner model.

Four-cylinder engines have become nearly omnipresent within Toyota’s range, although there are two distinct versions of four-cylinder engines. Going into 2025, only three six-cylinder models will exist in Toyota’s ranks. However, with the number of six-cylinder powered vehicles dwindling, the V8 subspecies has disappeared entirely.

What Happened To Toyota’s V8 Engines?

The Toyota Land Cruiser was the final bastion of Toyota’s V8 engine. Three versions of the v8 engine existed for the J200 generation Land Cruiser before the introduction of the latest generation Land Cruiser model, which is powered by a 2.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The previous generation models featured two gasoline V8 engines and one diesel V8 engine. After the introduction of the latest generation Land Cruiser, the V8 engine was laid to rest.

It is unlikely that another V8 engine will be introduced to Toyota’s ranks and the four-cylinder engine that is already used in a good portion of the automaker’s ranks will become the mainstay.