The Toyota 4Runner & Subaru Crosstrek Take on the World's TOUGHEST Towing Test! 

These Tike Ike’s are great, love the real world tests. And it’s so nice to see you promoting safe towing.

So the 4 runner is 30 seconds quicker, same mpg and has brakes to actually tow a trailer. Looks like a solid win in my book.

That tongue angle on the 4 runner 😬

I retired a couple of years ago and bought a new Crosstrek to keep for a long time. Slowly realized the car was too small and had a low tongue weight limit. Traded it for a 4Runner TRD Pro and am living happily ever after:)

I'm liking all the recent 4runner content. A vehicle that's been on my radar for a while.

I have always found the engine-braking with my 4Runner to be pretty good when I just manually shift. Not a fantastic towing vehicle, but it gets it done for occasional towing.

I loved this tike Ike. I drove an XV Crosstrek for 8 years and 151,000 miles. The CVT just blew up on it. It was a really good car up until that point. However, it did set new standards for gutlessness. I can't believe that thing managed to get up the hill with a trailer. That little 2.0 liter can barely get the car up the hill unlaiden.

Towed 1500 lbs in my crosstrek from Pensacola Florida to San Diego. Took about 4 days but didn’t have a single issue. The crosstreks are amazing, just don’t expect to hold 60 up those steeper grades 😂 Then again mine is manual so I could downshift anytime

The 4Runner transmission might only be a 5 speed, but you can lock the torque converter to 4th and use engine braking downhill, and I bet it would stay locked at 60 most of the way up that hill without hunting for gears.

I wished these guys had a 2.5l Crosttreck. I understand it's still nothing in comparison to dedicated 4x4, I'd like to just see it in "action".

Crosstrek’s look so awesome in red! Great video, surprised it did as well as it did.

Crosstrek exceeded my expectations here.

Why not hook up a scan gauge or the like, would have been good to see AT temps. Yes, the Suburu can tow, but seriously, it would not last if you did that run regularly

The Crosstrek does have a temp gauge. It's in the center screen on the dash. Not the one in the instrument cluster :)

I've towed with my 2017 Outback a couple of times. That 1,000 pound limit without trailer brakes is there for a good reason. I need to hold the brake pedal with an 800 pound trailer down hills I would normally just use engine braking. Good call not going downhill!

My 21' 4runner seems to actually grade shift decently. I've never gone down something as steep as the ike though. Maybe its related to brake pressure or the trans learning driving style. But also, something that steep I'd have it in 4th to start.

got a 5 speed manual 2016 trek, only tow my motorcycle occasionally two bikes combined weight with trailer 1100 lbs. no issues, and in the mountains ,cuz best place for bikes and vacations imho, get the manual, get the manual, also get the manual

That Crosstrek is better than people give it credit for. I tow dirt bikes with mine and yeah, you gotta floor it at times but it’s a mini honey badger. Thanks for the video TFL.

Regardless of the mileage or the next scheduled maintenance - go get that CVT serviced NOW.

In the beginning, I thought to myself, another mismatch by TFL, but this test was actually quite informative and entertaining at the same time!

They really put that cvt through hell 🤣🤣

I love how that CVT sounds like a slipping clutch in a manual going up a steep hill

That Crosstrek has 21 HP LESS than my cheap old 2007 Impreza. This is hilarious. (Way less torque too)

I cooked my brakes on my 2019 Impreza Sport CVT going down Pikes Peak and that was even in L

Loved the video and the light-hearted moments make watching it more genuine.

suggestion, some people don’t have to watch the entire video. Timestamping the video is extremely helpful if they want to jump to the conclusion, thanks for the work 🙏

I would love to see y’all compare the old 4.7 4Runner V8 with the new 4.0 on the Ike. I have an 06 4Runner with the V8 and intentionally bought this one instead of a new one with the 4.0. The tow rating is about 7000 lbs compared to 5000 on the new one. Can you do a Super Ike @ 5000lbs???

Entertaining! I was just waiting for that small Crosstrek engine to overheat. :-) Some good engineering in it. Kind of "interesting(?)" way you have the brakes on the trailer in the US. In Europe we have a totally mechanical system in the trailer. No electricity needed to brake. When the "tow bar" pushes towards the car while breaking, it will send pressure to the trailer brakes. The electrical is lights only here. The trailer brakes by it self on the forward movement, kind of. The weight on the trailer applies force on the brakes. You can get in trouble in backing up a hill if you don't start easy, then you just need to go down to unlock the brakes and start over. :-) I'm towing with a manual XV (Crosstrek) with a torquey turbo diesel. I kind of don't notice if it's there or not. The turbo diesel can legally tow 3000 pound if it got (mechanical) brakes here in Europe. And 1500pound/750kg without brakes.

This series is AWESOME 👌 👏!!!!

That dude towing the TT with the 4Runner. 🙄 Here in AZ, you see some crazy shit being pulled between Phoenix and Flagstaff/Payson. Especially last year when everyone and their mother bought some sort of towable RV, and hooked it up to something that was marginal/max’d at the limits.

Question: are there any vehicles that will actually downshift on the downhill portion without the cruise control being used? If there is, how does the vehicle know what speed you want to maintain unless cruise control is used? This has always bothered me when watching these tests.

I'm really diggin these tike ike's.

That Crosstrek’s CVT will need repair very soon.

Its insane the 4runnner came out in 2010 then face lifted in 2014 and still sells😂😂

The brake application part is a little off. Compare it to how many brake applications it needs when not towing anything.

Thank you for completing this test ❤ You can “engine brake” with the paddle shifters or with cruise control. Also I installed a class III hitch on my Forester for $140 myself 🤦

I love these tests. These days I need to know if I'm gonna over heat. The new Fords and Chevys have problems!!! When I'm towing I expect the truck temperatures not to move at all.

As long as you are checking the owners manual, Toyota, like most other manufacturers, don't recommend towing in overdrive. That would help going down hill as well as reduce hunting gears.

Still like to see a base model shootout between all the big names in the half ton segment. GM's V6 (probably a turbo 4 now) vs dodge's Pentastar V6 and Ford N/A V6... Just came back from a weekend trip from cottage country (Ontario Canada) with the wife kids, dog and a 5600lb 5th wheel camper. With no issues.

Hi TFL you should try the Ike Gauntlet with the Nissan Nv200 compact cargo van SV model with maxed out cargo weight

We recently purchased a 2021 Crosstrek and I've been curious about towing a small boat with it. I think I'll leave the towing to my Ford truck haha. Thanks for the videos!

i wouldnt tow ANYTHING with a CVT, especially on a underpowered vehicle

I'm a little surprised the Subaru lived haha

How stupid to compare the towing power of a small Subaru vs a 4runner?

I wouldn’t compare the 4Runner with the Crosstrek, maybe the Ascent vs 4Runner. The CVT is definitely going to be the limiting factor in my experience.

I sold my lifted crosstrek on ko2s so that I can buy a Tacoma. Now it’s been 3 months and still can’t find a Tacoma.

I'd love to see the CVT oil temps during that climb :)

I wish they did a wrangler vs 4Runner towing test. Plus bronco for good measure. We have a 5th gen and have towed several times and right as it’s 5k limit. Fantastic tow vehicle! I think it would be informative. But with the platform seemingly coming to an end I don’t think it will ever happened.

I'll be interested too see a test like this on the Forester wilderness with 3,000 lbs towing and trailer assist. Still has a low power engine and transmission, but can it overcome it?

That's the 2.0l crosstrek, 2.5l has much more performance.

Yeah I think that 5 speed was used in the 2008 Highlander. It definitely hunts for gears when going up steep grades but on the other hand Toyota programmed it in the 2nd gen Highlander it seems to transmission brake even when it senses your going downhill and touch the brakes. It’ll downshift sometimes to 3.5k RPMs. I’m not sure why they didn’t put that in the 4Runner. So yes it’s very dated but it is also very reliable!

When getting a hitch on go to U-haul. Just put one on my wife’s ‘21 diesel wrangler (no wiring, just for a bike rack) and it was

Would like to see with a manual trans crosstrek

The new Crosstrek Wilderness is rated for 3500lbs with the naturally aspirated 2.5L. I can only imagine it being substantially slower than this for anyone brave enough to max it out. Looking at getting a Crosstrek, only time it will tow would be 3 miles down the road at 25mph pulling my snowmobile. Based on this vid it would handle that easily.

Very entertaining. Well done!

I bought a Red Arc Tow Elite brake controller for my 2020 4Runner. Things are very simple to install. I'm going to get a Magnuson Supercharger installed around the first of March. Should improve it's towing capability

I wonder if my 2009 Civic SI coupe in Orange Pearl can make it up the tike ike faster than the Subie with that trailer?

Interesting that your TRD Pro didn't apply the breaks for you. When I took my 2020 4Runner Limited through the Northwestern Ontario this summer, I was towing my boat that had a towed weight of 1800lbs, and the 4Runner, with cruise control set, would apply breaks for me on down hill slopes as I could literally feel myself being pushed forward in the seat. Maybe the TRD's don't have that feature.

Can you do a playful review of the little tikes as pictured in this video. Lol

On the cross trek.... the top number reading is instant MPG.... The bottom number was average MPG......8 mpg average ..... Keep up the good work guys

I just installed a class 3 on my outback. Cost me $200 for the hitch and wiring kit, shop wanted to charge me 3 hours to install when the guide said 45 mins. Ended up doing it myself in less then an hour.

Please do the forester wilderness and outback wilderness tow test!

The 4Runner has a harness connector socket for the after market trailer brake controller to plug into. Must use the transmission going down hill. Our 2021 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4 x4 is gutless even with 2 people here in Colorado Springs, CO. Going up mountain passes even without towing nor a heavy load with 2 people the 4Runner is still gutless.

I own the 17' model yr Crosstrek, and the only reason it has a tow hitch that I installed is for my hualing my Mt. Bike to the trails, and maybe a carrier but nothing else. When I haul, its with my 02' Tundra sr5 4.7l 4wd.

You should test using the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness. At least that can handle 3500 pounds and a 350 pound hitch weight. The 2.5 liter engine would work better too.

I love how much hate the cvt gets in the subaru yet it did great holding the engine speed at peak power. Torque converter probably locked, probably not even running hot fluid compared to low speed off road

Would love to see you repeat with the crosstrek and a 1000 lbs load; to see the difference.

Remember the 4Runner comes with a 2.8ltr turbo diesel 6spd manual/ 6spd auto in other parts of the world . This engine would be far better for towing

Funny I sold my 21 4Runner ORP and bought a 24 Crosstrek Limited. I didn't need the 4Runner and the gas mileage was killing me. I did tow a camper with my 4Runner but that is going too. I ain't towing anything with the Crosstrek but am getting 35 MPGs on the highway, double the range with half the fuel costs.

That looked like fun. But I think that little Subaru was stressed to the max. I think you could do that all day long with the 4Runner and never hurt that engine & tranny. It's a real truck.

The Crosstrek needs a 2.4 FA It's their hottest seller. Just phase out the 2.0.

Awesome video. Looking forward to more. How about testing with the new Rav 4? Has 1500 lb tow rating.

hard core subaru fan here, owned 5. The dumbest thing you can do with a subi is tow, this trashes the symetrical awd, there weren't designed to tow and never were. wish you would show that crosstek 30,000 miles later after a couple of tows like that, and the explain the cost to repair. Bikes and lite stuff no problem. If I am looking at a used subaru and even see a tow hitch on it I walk away.

it's good message to most of people, do not overload with down hill, brakes busted.

@TFLCar Do you use a GPS speedometer for your up-mountain tests? My 4Runner's speedometer is off. Relying on the factory speedo will give you inaccurate results. Idea for a future TFL episode -- why do automobile manufacturers NOT make speedometers accurate? This also affects the computers estimated MPG numbers. This is not rocket science. They can do better.

Would love to see TFL implement two runs. One to see if the vehicle will downshift with just applying breaks and one with the driver downshifting. It would be great to see how well each vehicle can engine break when the driver downshifts manually as I believe it is safer for the drive to grade-shift even if the car won't do it by itself.

Any chance you’re going to put a set of ATs on the Crosstreck and check if that makes any difference/sense at all?

You guys seriously stressed me out! Watching the rpms climb was insane! Not sure I’d push it like that but I get it for the video.

Wish I were in Colorado so I could lend you my v10 TDI Touareg to test this challenge and show up the half ton pickups.

I plan to get a 13ft scamp camper. I think my 2020 4runner will have no problem towing 1200 across country.

Roman didn't completely trash the Subi,is the Sky falling in? For such a small car it didn't do to bad. That I will agree with. I suspect with the bigger motor it would have been a perfect run. I can also understand their concern with the brakes. Seems like nowadays I pay more attention to safety than I used to. Weird. I need to get at least a good 8 or more years younger. I'm starting to feel old. And I'm not even 50 yet. Please tell me you get young again when you hit 50.

I had a chance to test the towing capability of the 2021 4Runner Limited and the 2021 Jeep GC V6 with my ~2,500 pound boat/trailer. I bought the Jeep… The 4Runner felt unsafe and felt like an antique…

Watch the oil temp. In our 2018 Crosstrek with just a rooftop basket, and not towing anything, when floored for several minutes it got to the red.

Mostly flat roads, empty 14' aluminum single axle trailer that weighs 950 lbs, my 2007 Xterra SE gets 12 mpg. Add my 1750 lb Honda Talon to the trailer and the X gets 11.5 mpg.

This is a mismatch task comparison . The 4 runner is a Carabau . The Crosstrek is a Mule. Both are capable of pulling a load burden. The 4 Runner Carabau can pull more , do it quicker and all day long. The point of this demonstration is that Old Man hates Subaru all day long 365 days a year. Hate does not belong in comparison testing.

Real world 🌎 testing😉

Wondering if you will do a Bike Ike to test motorcycles ability to pull bike trailers

Great information and you two are funny as hell.

You guys must stay awake all night dreaming up ways to test Subarus with scenarios they were never intended for.

Reving the nuts out of that 2.0 boxer. 😅 good endurance test.

What are they referencing when talking about "brake applications "?

Yeah i have the same crosstrek. I installed a class 3 hitch and trailer light wiring for 180 dollars for parts and did it myself, it was simple. They paid too much for the shity hitch from a dealer. Plus they are going way too fast up that hill, you should never almost redline it for a long period of time. Just slow down and follow the semi's up hill. Its simple. They had a point on going downhill and the brakes though. Not that I would ever overload it. Doesnt make too much sense to test uphill but not downhill on the crosstrek, you were not over weight, you would have been fine going down hill i imagine.

I'd appreciate yalls opinion fellas, we got a 22 4runner that's 2wd. We need to tow a 5x8 uhaul over i70 to Denver from glenwood. Would yall suggest not doing it? It'll maybe be 1500 pounds as well

I've driven that road many times, I'm surprised the Crosstrek did as well as it did. I don't think it'd doo so we'll starting from golden to Silverthorne.

The few RU-vid comping vlogger i seen towing with a small hatch buy the 6 speed Stick as they can hold gears better control when towing yes they tow teardrops the one i seen was a older gen Mazda 3 5 door 5 speed stick towing a little guy silver shadow 5x10

Thanks to TFL I want to tow something with my Toyota yaris

Curt class 3 hitch Cost me 150 and an hour of labor on my trek

You can't even trust a guy to review a vehicle when they can't even install their own hitch.

Makes me wonder how the Crosstrek would fair differently with the 2.5l engine instead of the 2.0l in this towing test? Makes no sense that the 2.5l isn't offered with a manual transmission.

Did you ever do a video on the 4runner pulling 5000?