Shopping for a 4 Cylinder Tacoma (MPG)

[Hadoken]

Hey all, first post here.

I'm looking into buying a Tacoma this fall and had some questions that I couldn't find answers to elsewhere.

I have decided on a 4 cyl since I'm not buying a truck for hauling; the most I'll haul is bikes, camping equipment and maybe the odd load of mulch every now and then. My main question is, does anyone have any real MPG numbers from a 4 cylinder access cab PRERUNNER? I know all of the EPA estimates are from a standard 4 cylinder and I was wondering how much the added weight of the access cab prerunner dropped the MPG.

With the current situation I just don't think I can justify buying a new vehicle that gets lower than 25 mpg with 80% hwy 20% city.

Thanks for anyone with answers!

[Al Swearengen]

i get that in my 08 double cab 6 cylinder but i drive like an old grand ma.

you should have no problems getting that kind of mpg in that vehicle.

[HardCase]

I don't think you'll have trouble getting 25mpg with a 2wd Taco doing 80/20 highway/city, assuming that you don't install the lead-foot mod.

[Turbonium]

I'm not sure if this helps you or not, but I have a 4-cylinder Access Cab, manual transmission (not a PreRunner). This is on mixed city/highway. I measured the fuel going in at the pump and did the math by marking down my mileage at the appropriate times.

I'm posting because I have an Access Cab, though the lack of it being a PreRunner may invalidate my results for you.

Keep in mind that this vehicle is new, has only 1000 miles on it (so there's no room for calculating over an extended time), is still being broken-in, and most importantly, is using California regular SUMMER GAS (read: 10% ethanol), which kills my mileage.

I drive like a regular person. I'm not lead-footed, but I'm not hypermile'ing either. I've slowed down with the gas price thing, but not so much that people stare at me.

I'm getting 21.4 mpg. :-P

I expect this to improve over time.

[concrete jedi]

Smart, glad to see someone with wallet in mind. My wife said she is going to wait for an electric car before her next purchase.

[6th toyota]

i Have 2500 miles on my pre- runner 4 cyl. I live in houston, tx. I have gotten 19.5 in the city and 22 on the highway.

Originally Posted by Hadoken

Hey all, first post here.

I'm looking into buying a Tacoma this fall and had some questions that I couldn't find answers to elsewhere.

I have decided on a 4 cyl since I'm not buying a truck for hauling; the most I'll haul is bikes, camping equipment and maybe the odd load of mulch every now and then. My main question is, does anyone have any real MPG numbers from a 4 cylinder access cab PRERUNNER? I know all of the EPA estimates are from a standard 4 cylinder and I was wondering how much the added weight of the access cab prerunner dropped the MPG.

With the current situation I just don't think I can justify buying a new vehicle that gets lower than 25 mpg with 80% hwy 20% city.

Thanks for anyone with answers!

[TexasKyle]

I bought my 2007 Prerunner Access Cab 2.7L 4-cyl for the same reasons you listed. I have been very pleased with the switch to the Taco after many years of driving 4x4 F150s (although I do miss the room in the cab sometimes, but it's still very comfortable after 56,000 miles.)

I drive probably 90% highway and average about 3,700 miles per month. I have changed my driving habits and shift a little easier (manual transmission) and accelerate a little more slowly and this seems to help. I don't have cruise control (just haven't taken the time to have it installed) but I think this would also help me with the mileage.

I kept up with my MPG over about 7,000 miles and averaged 22.4 MPG and this was mostly driving 70-75 mph. I recently took a 1500 mile trip and averaged 26 MPG with some mountain driving in lower gears getting me as high as 28.7 MPG during that trip. I recently tried to keep my speed below 70 mph during daily driving and on that particular tank, around 440 miles, I saw 24.7 MPG. I hope this helps.

[blackonwhite]

i have a 06 4 cyl 5 speed single cab 2 wheel drive... i am getting around 27 miles to the gallon in town and about 30 on the highway... Its actually pretty good for the way i drive and the pep the truck has...if i kept my foot out of it i could probably even get better .. I didnt get the truck to save money but i dont spend all that much in gas.... the only thing i do is no matter what i run premium gas which where i live the highest i can get is 93 octane.... i ran one tank of regular through it and you can definitely tell a huge difference in power and acceleration compared to the premium... and for only ten cents more a gallon it doesnt amount to that much when you fill up... i dont know where you live or how much the gas is there but if you can afford it i would definitely consider running premium at least once or twice to see if you notice a difference in mpg ... and the largest thing i have hauled on it is a 400ex fourwheeler and a bunch of camping stuff and i didnt really notice a difference in the mileage at all...far as i can tell it would handle just about whatever you wanted to throw in it

[mcollins]

Even with fuel prices skyrocketing, I would highly recommend the 4.0L. With careful driving you will see similar gas mileage, because that 4 cylinder has to work much harder to do the same work, even daily driving. And, the 4 is just underpowered. Test drive both, I think you'll really see a difference, without sacrificing fuel economy.

[phantom]

i have the 5 lug tacoma 4 cyl auto reg cab and get good millage and unless you plan on towing i think it would work for you and save you some $ look at the service interval and what you do i have the auto and no real maintenance till 100K miles ! no zerk fittings, and the 4 has a BIG oil pan ! takes 5 1/2 quarts with filter ! i think it is a nice strong engine . i use mine for a bit of hauling and had no trouble ! i amazed at the torque it has, do most of my driving in the 2K to 2300 range and quick responce

[altifron]

i have the 4.0 and unless you punch the gas the gas guage doesnt move practly been getting good miliage but no numbers yet ive been going around dirt roads the beach muddy hills so no accurate reading

[gm3bow]

Originally Posted by mcollins

Even with fuel prices skyrocketing, I would highly recommend the 4.0L. With careful driving you will see similar gas mileage, because that 4 cylinder has to work much harder to do the same work, even daily driving. And, the 4 is just underpowered. Test drive both, I think you'll really see a difference, without sacrificing fuel economy.

Enough!! Listen to me!!!!! For what you plan to haul and do with your truck, get the 4 cyl. The mpg difference between the 2.7 and 4.0 is huge. The dude with a 4.0 supposedly getting 23 mpgs would be getting 30 with a 4 cyl, anyhow, unless you'll be towing heavy frequently or carrying more than 3 passengers, go with the 4cyl. I love my i4 5lugger, NONE OF THIS TSB CRAP EITHER!!!! the i4 is not underpowered, the way it's geared you just need to step on it a bit more, but it responds when you do, and the mpg get better as you break it in. IF YOU'LL BE TOWING like a trailer or something quite often or you want to carry 4 or more passengers comfortably and frequently then by all means get the v6, if not, then it's a no brainer to get the i4!!!

[tacoskim]

if u granny it on a 4.0 with straight through upgrades u can get 25mpg. but thats really granny it it can easily be done on a 4 banger

[Roland]

Originally Posted by Hadoken

With the current situation I just don't think I can justify buying a new vehicle that gets lower than 25 mpg with 80% hwy 20% city.

If you're concerned about gas mileage the only logical answer is the 5 lug 2.7L truck. in either regular or access cab. With the good weather here I've been getting 28MPG+

[007Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Roland

If you're concerned about gas mileage the only logical answer is the 5 lug 2.7L truck. in either regular or access cab. With the good weather here I've been getting 28MPG+

I agree.

Also, do not get a 4 cylinder PreRunner for Fuel Economy. With the 4.10 rear differential the 4 cylinder PreRunner gets horrible gas mileage. I am actually getting better fuel economy out of my V6 Double Cab Long Bed PreRunner than I did out of my 4 cylinder.

If you go with the 4 cylinder and need the extra height - get the 4x4, its worth the extra money and gets about the same fuel economy.

If you are looking for fuel economy and a truck - go with the 5 lug. Trust me, you won't regret it.

[Hadoken]

Thanks for all of the great replies, I was afraid that the Prerunner wouldn't get anywhere near the gas mileage of the regular I4.

This is a great little community you guys have here, and hopefully I will be joining it properly soon!

[6th toyota]

Originally Posted by 007Tacoma

I agree.

Also, do not get a 4 cylinder PreRunner for Fuel Economy. With the 4.10 rear differential the 4 cylinder PreRunner gets horrible gas mileage. I am actually getting better fuel economy out of my V6 Double Cab Long Bed PreRunner than I did out of my 4 cylinder.

If you go with the 4 cylinder and need the extra height - get the 4x4, its worth the extra money and gets about the same fuel economy.

If you are looking for fuel economy and a truck - go with the 5 lug. Trust me, you won't regret it.

How come toyota is so far off on what the v-6 gets mileage wise ?

[WilsonTheDog]

^They aren't "off". They quote what a typical driver would obtain. There are many highs and lows in this equation. For example, I get 17-18mpg city/22-23 hwy. I believe mine was 17 city/21 hwy on the window sticker but there are others with the same truck getting much worse or even better.

[pm955]

Originally Posted by gm3bow

Enough!! Listen to me!!!!! For what you plan to haul and do with your truck, get the 4 cyl. The mpg difference between the 2.7 and 4.0 is huge...

+1

Hadoken, I've got 39,000 mile on the very same truck you are looking at, and I use it the same way you intend to do yourself except that my driving is closer to 80% city/20% hwy.

First tank I got a little over 18 mpg, but economy quickly improved with break-in. Now I regularly see 21.5 - 22.5 mpg in town and 24 - 25 on the highway. Best ever is a little over 26 mpg while cruising the backroads at @ 60-65 mph.

I've never done anything special to achieve these numbers - I usually drive 5 over the speed limit, don't granny-shift and don't pretend there are eggshells on the gas pedal.

The 2.7 is a fine motor and it works very well in the Prerunner.

[StompinStu]

Originally Posted by Hadoken

Hey all, first post here.

I'm looking into buying a Tacoma this fall and had some questions that I couldn't find answers to elsewhere.

I have decided on a 4 cyl since I'm not buying a truck for hauling; the most I'll haul is bikes, camping equipment and maybe the odd load of mulch every now and then. My main question is, does anyone have any real MPG numbers from a 4 cylinder access cab PRERUNNER? I know all of the EPA estimates are from a standard 4 cylinder and I was wondering how much the added weight of the access cab prerunner dropped the MPG.

With the current situation I just don't think I can justify buying a new vehicle that gets lower than 25 mpg with 80% hwy 20% city.

Thanks for anyone with answers!

I have a 2006 Access Cab PreRunner 4 cl 5 speed. EPA sticker said 20/27. My driving is as you describe, 80% hwy. I set the cruise at 70, coast in neutral to lights, am easy on the throttle, don't downshift. My MPG after three tanks since I bought the truck has ranged from 19.9 to 21.9. Each tank has gotten better than the last.

I just ordered an AFE dry filter, and will air up the tires to 35 PSI to see how that does. All in all, I am happy with the truck. I am, however, disappointed with the economy of it. It is better than the Jeep TJ I had though, so it's a step in the right direction.