2016 i4 a solid choice?

I'm going to buy a new Tacoma and this will be my first truck, so I could use some solid advice. I'd been looking exclusively at the V6, but I'm reading more posts with people saying the i4 is a solid choice. I will be using this as a commuting vehicle and a hobby vehicle to do backyard stuff, i.e. get a bed full of compost, buy a little stack of lumber, nothing too crazy. I don't expect to do much hauling, and if I do, I live in a relatively flat area, i.e. I wouldn't be hauling anything through the Rockies. I don't see a huge difference in gas mileage. Is there a good reason I should pay that much more for the V6 If I'm not doing any heavy-duty towing or off-roading? Have any of you guys with an i4 ever thought you really needed more power? I could use some advice from actual owners on this one. Thanks guys.

 

You'll be hard pressed to find owners opinion because the V6 crowd yells louder.

For your description you'll be fine with the 2.7.

Ask here.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-16-4-banger-owners-thread.397277/

 

The i4 is fine for your uses. I would test drive both engines to make your mind up though.

 

The 2.7 is an okay engine but I love the v6 for the powahhhhh

 

I don't have any problems with my 13 I4. Plenty of power for driving and hauling the few things I need. I don't tow anything, so can't comment there. I have driven my friends V6 and it's nice but 70 MPH is 70 MPH. My biggest issue was the crappy little wheels, but they have taken care of that so I would go I4 again personally.

 

you should be fine with the i4. just as long as your expectations are inline,
even if you occasionally need to tow with it. I pulled an extended ford van with 8
people in it up a long hill in second gear, fortunately the speed limit was 25.

 

Ya man for what you said your using it for the 4 cylinder is an awesome truck, trust me you may think its a little wimpy 4 cylinder but its a great motor and im sure it will amaze you!!!! The damn thing is bullet proof!!!! I own a 2016 SR 4 cylinder 5 speed for about 3 weeks now and love it!!!!!!!!! I also have a bigger set of tires on it, it comes stock with 245 75 16's and i upgraded to a 265 75 16 and you cant tell the difference between the tire size when it comes to power!!!!

 

If ya got any questions man just hit me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I haven't driven the I4, but I own a 2016 with the V6. If you want to avoid the cost of the V6 and won't be towing, 159 hp should be fine for this small truck. In fact, the V6 takes some real getting used to with its Atkinson cycle. I think the V6 is in the Atkinson cycle when starting from a stop, or at least it seems to engage that cycle soon after. And when in Atkinson mode, the torque is probably less than the I4 delivers from the get-go.

 

Get the v6 itll be more fun

 

OP, essentially it comes to cost. 2.7 4 cyl is plenty for your needs. If you want the 3.5 for additional power, then that's for you to decide if the additional cost is worth it.

But in no way is the power something that makes driving it worth $1,000's more on an everyday basis. It's not going to transform it into a sports car. Nor will it make it haul substantial more in the bed.

 

The people on here that say the v6 is more fun, blah blah are buying the truck thinking its a race car.

People that buy the truck for the use of a truck get what they need.

Buying a v6 when you really just need the 4 cyl is like me buying all this off road equipment for my TRD Sport when it is never going to see more dirt than the parking lot at the bottom of the hill when I mountain bike. Useless.

If the 4 cyl works for your needs, get it. If you have the money to blow and the v6 will make you happier, get the v6. Both are strong trucks and you wont be disappointed with either of them.

 

AMEN TO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ill add a little more insight for the OP. We have a 2015 4 cyl double cab short bed Chevy Colorado in our loan fleet. It replaced a 2013 double cab short bed Frontier V6 and we don't miss the V6. The 4 cyl is more than plenty of power. Its not like driving a 2000 Honda civic, its like driving any normal 4 cyl truck/sedan on the market. Has enough torque to get the job done but we aren't feeling like we need more power.

 

That's what you have to decide, go drive both...
The V6 is nicer but do you need it for the extra $, that's up to you......

 

The fuel economy is about the same but you get more power with the 6. I think you're going to be waiting a while for an i4 unless you're getting a base model. Where it will really hurt you is when it's time to trade or sell.

 

The 4 cylinder is a proven engine. The v6 still needs to be tested out further before I'd consider it.

 

If you keep vehicles for any length of time, the 4cyl is obviously bulletproof, extremely easy to do regular maintenance on and one of the most reliable engines out there. But again drive both and its ultimately your decision.

 

I'm not sure it really "hurts" you, might be a little harder to sell private but trade won't hurt you, you will get less than you would for a V6 but it's because you PAID less for it too. It is not depreciating any faster.

 

This.

How many hundreds of times has it been posted that a 2.7 will murder your trade in value? Talk about being spoon fed information and then repeating it like it's your religious belief.