01:09 29-12-2025

Why Toyota is phasing out V6 engines for turbo hybrids

The downsizing trend has reached Toyota. Naturally aspirated V6 engines are turning into rarities across the lineup, and in some models they have already disappeared. At first glance it may look like a pursuit of fuel savings, but the real driver is often stricter emissions rules that make large engines cumbersome to certify and costly under tax regimes in many markets.

Over the past few years the V6 has exited several popular nameplates. The Camry and Sienna have moved to hybrid powertrains, while the Highlander and Tacoma swapped their former six-cylinders for 2.4-liter turbocharged fours, sometimes paired with a hybrid system to make up the torque.

In the United States, the V6 effectively survives in just the Tundra and Sequoia, where a 3.4-liter twin-turbo unit replaced the old V8. Yet that engine has taken a reputational hit: there have been mentions of serious reliability concerns, and more than 120,000 of these engines were recalled due to a manufacturing defect.

Toyota, meanwhile, is not chasing an all-electric lineup at any cost and is doubling down on hybrids. The company has announced roughly 900 million dollars in investment to expand hybrid production in the U.S. The trade-off is clear: efficiency improves, while outright acceleration takes a step back. For example, the Camry with the former 3.5 V6 (301 hp) gave way to a 2.5 hybrid at 232 hp, and the run to 97 km/h got slower. The direction is unmistakable—smaller displacement, more electrification, and ever less room for classic V6s. For drivers who value response and character, the change is noticeable, but the strategy comes across as consistent and pragmatic.