MPG comparison 4 cyl & 6 cyl

I've searched for this comparison and either can't find what I want or I don't know what to search for, so I'm asking:
What kind of real-world (not EPA estimates) difference in MPG is there between the 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder engines (2WD & 4WD)?
Just for information: 90% of my driving is in town/stop-and-go; virtually flat road; I actually drive less than 10k per year; I pretty much drive like an old lady; and I live in Louisiana (lots of AC in the summer).
I'm trying to justify purchasing a 4WD double cab rather than a 2WD (4 cyl) access cab PreRunner.
I don't plan to go play in the mud, but I've always wanted a 4WD. I don't like the rear seats in the Access Cab, and I will probably still own this (new) truck when I start hauling around grandkids (my current truck is 11 years old).
Thanks!

 

Download cvillechopper's Tacoma MPG spreadsheet databank. There's plenty of gas mileage data in there.

 

I get 24-25 around town and 30 on the highway.
1 tank often takes me to 475 total miles before I refill.
By then I'm driving on fumes.

 

I did this yesterday, but I don't see anything about 2WD vs 4WD. Am I overlooking it?

That sounds great - I'm currently getting 13.7 (average) and my wife's '02 Trailblazer is averaging 16.5.

oh, yeah - I forgot to mention in my original post the "pep factor." How much get-up-and-go would you say your truck has?

 

It's not in the pivot table. There's a yes/no column in the spreadsheet for 4x4 on the "Data" tab.

 

I drive in some stop-n-go traffic, in the hills and if I do the speed limit and drive like an old lady I get 20 mpg with 87 octane. Driving in 4wd, 30 mph in the snow through the sierras and 2wd in some stop-n-go traffic I got 22 mpg with 89 octane.

 

2.7 with the 5 speed and I've been driving carefully in mixed city and highway

When the low fuel light came on this morning at 445 miles the scangauge showed 17.1 gallons used and a 26 MPG average so far for this tank.

 

That's about what I'm seeing too. And Steve, my driving pattern is almost identical to yours. I haven't run it with heavy summer AC yet though (just bought it in September).

Oh, yes, it's peppy! You'll get more pep out of the v6 than the 4cyl, so you're concern is probably mostly about the pep of the 4, which I can't comment on. I didn't even test drive a 4cyl because the wife insisted on double cab, which is only available in v6.

 

OK, thanks - I'll go back and look for it.

 

Filled up this morning when the low fuel warning light came on at 432 miles.
2.7L auto

 

I am through with the first 3 tanks on my V6, and I am averaging 19 MPG. Worst was 18 MPG (city), and best was 20 MPG. Guess what the other one was...

don't you hate word problems?

 

So far I'm getting just what is said on the window sticker. The Taco isn't broke in yet and I just bought a Scangauge...Maybe things will improve.

 

Wow, some people are getting some great numbers. I average 19-20 here in mostly city driving, and 22 highway. I have the reg cab 4X4 and I drive like a maniac some days. Best was 23 on a trip to Houston staying below 70 mph and worst was 18 high-revving and driving up and down the hills over here.

 

I also have two forms of envy going on:
ENVY NUMBER 1:

ENVY NUMBER 2:

I'm in between here.

 

I get about 15-16 city 18 highway. 6-speed manual is geared differently.

 

I've got a 2.7 2TR-FE PreRunner Access Cab paired to a 5-Speed manual. Mixed city and highway, I average 22 mpg. I usually get about 400 miles to a tank.

 

You forgot to mention AWESOME LOOKING 4 banger!!!