Car and Driver Comparison: 2016 Tacoma v. 2016 Colorado

True. You can get a full size truck with more everything with same the MPG. And in the case of the Limited, at a cheaper cost. It's not apples to oranges, it's value for value.

 

Tell us how you really feel!

Haha jk. Good for you man. A son of a friend jumped on a 2015 Sport last week and got a few thou off because the 16s just showed up. He isn't impressed with 16 either. Me... I'll wear that new front end loud and proud!

 

Yes......as far as sustained stopping power is concerned. Toyota does make the good point, as far as off road, the drums have a big advantage on a solid rear axle. Drums require less power to activate and having both discs and drum parking brakes in the back of an off road vehicals made with a price point in mind, is not the best choice. There are no 23,000 land cruisers and 4 Runners to worry about which has the best stopping power. They are not the best brakes but are the best for the money and type vehicle to be used. The brake tests back that up. Heat build up is not an issue with a vehicle with a light rear end which the land cruiser and 4 Runner are not. It's pretty much like the C channel frame back issue. If it's an SUV with people and cargo together in the back, it's probably a box frame and disc brakes. I see it still doesn't keep the Corolla from being a popular and safe compact car that sellers a plethora every year.

 

Discs actually make more sense for off road since any dirt, sand ect will fall right off and not get gunked up inside of the drum. Also the argument that the tacoma is light in the back is a terrible argument if you actually plan to use it as a truck and put stuff in the bed. The one and only reason it has drums is cost, which I would be willing the pay the extra couple hundred or what ever it would have cost them.

 

Agree...I have a 2015
I personally don't mind a motor that very seldom spins much over 2000 rpm all the way up to 70 in normal driving. The 3.5 is al, over the map. The mileage figures have to be a big disappointment for buyers when we had conjectures of 27 mpg highway for 2 wd and 25 for 4 wd. To be honest, under 70 mph, my OR 4 wd highway will easily get 22 mpg with the 4.0.
I like many things given about the 2016 including handling, quite and appointments. But I sure wouldn't buy it for the freak'n motor alone.

 

I can tell you from experience, that driving through mud in my 4 Runner meant more, not fewer brake jobs on the rear which you would not expect, then I ever had with my Taco drums. There was no comparison in maintenance between the two on the back. Sorry...the drum is much better protected. I even bent brake shields that I had to cut off off roading with disc brakes...never a problem like that with drums. What seems to make sense to you does not happen in practice. I have also yet to drive a dump truck with rear discs....the environment is so hostile, drums are the order of the day.

 

I have a 2014 Sport 4x4 and I rarely ever see 20mpg on all highway driving. Cruise control or no cruise control. My best MPG ever was 21 and hasnt been back since

 

I have a 2007 Civic EX coupe. The seats are fantastic.

 

Now...you and I can debate about having discs on the rear or not till the cows come home. But, the new Taco will have drums like the Old one and will not have issues and will still outsell the Colorado/Gmc by a wide margin for a big reaso, they work.

 

Have you been in an Si? The most cushioned seats I have ever sat on, but not like Grandmas old couch cushioned where it swallows you up.

 

I almost exclusively use the cruise control and 22 mpg on highways at sane speeds is routine. At 55 mph, this same motor driving 200 plus miles in my 4 Runner, averaged 25 mpg. You cannot drive fast...it kills mileage. When I say Under, that includes passing speeds. You need to be willing to drive in the slow lane and just never drive over 70 ...like said. I do it all the freak'n' time. You cannot be one of these guys who spends his time in the passing lane 10 mph over and jumping back and forth over 80 to pass. You can easily loose several mpg. Do not under estimate the speed limit and lower and cruise.

 

I'm not going to be that guy driving 55mph on a 70mph road lol. But on the trips where I am holding about 60 I only ever saw 20-21 at best. I dont pass, I just cruise

 

I love how everyone defends inferior technology that they use to save money but if it had discs on it no one would be begging for the discs back. No other truck is still using drums. The frontier, the gms, the fords, the dodges, all have discs.

 

Not that I think your story is BS but let me put here exhibit A




Disc brakes all around and this thing came with solid axle and two lockers. Build for offroad.
So if Toyota Eng in Japan had decided the best thing for offroad is discs why would you think you know better ..?
Not to mention if Disc brakes were a problem, you would be swapping often fronts which you use more, and they the ones that get buried in mud first and deeper than rear. Logically what you wrote makes no sense.

 

I would have preferred an Si, but it's mainly my wife's car and she wanted an auto. I have sat in one and those seats are awesome.

 

I don't know why, and I've mentioned it elsewhere, but my '13 TRD Sport DCSB 5a 4x4 got 19 overall average with best tank of 21mpg and worst tank of 17mpg.

My exact same '15 gets 21.3 overall average, best tank of 23.6 and (excluding a tank of 93 octane it just didn't like at 18.5mpg) worst tank of 19.1mpg.

 

Tire inflation/type? who knows but that is quite odd

 

Using TRD sport would have made even bigger difference. TRD sport comes with air dam so there goes the clearance, than you have no assisted braking so it would lose out in braking test. Struts are probably softer on sport (just like had been before) so more boat like feel. OR was the best choice.
Than again when it comes to offroad ability, SR5 is better choice than TRD OR. For the price of TRD OR package you can have front/rear lockers and onboard air and still plenty money left for OME suspension.

 

In my case the biggest advantage of the 15 is the aftermarket support specially in the engine department (TRD S/C kit).
Is the best tacoma you can get to date with all the issues solved from the previous years.

 

I had a 4Runner with disc all around. I drove through mud. I have the experience with both vehicles. You had a land Cruiser and a 4Runner with discs ? These vehicles are much heavier then a Taco so I u destined they using discs, plus, they are more expensive and having two brakes on the rear two wheels is not the issue.
You some how get them impression you may think I would choose drums over disks....I would not necessarily...as I am only concerned with performance. But the truth is, I have had fewer brake repair issues with my trucks with drums in the real then my cars and SUVs with all disks. None of them had issues towing. I would bet that I tow much more the average of the majority of posters here. The braking distNces re competitive with all other trucks. The Corolla with drums on the rear is competitive with all other compacts. The facts are out there....don't deny them. Please, check the brakes on commercial vehicles. Check the brakes on HD vehicles...it isn't like drums don't work as well as discs in all situations. They are matched to the vehicle.i guess me saying that "price point" in the Taco was important in choosing a cheaper workable situation.