2016 Toyota Tacoma takes on the Ike Gauntlet

Looks like the tacoma got a better time than the 2015 did when it went up the ike gauntlet.

2016 tacoma: 8:05
2015 tacoma: 8:49

I havn't watched the video, but i'm about to. They better have used the ECT button though.

Also, if you read the comments it looks like the 2016 tacoma got better mpg than the canyon did up the ike.

2016 tacoma: 4.5 mpg
2015 canyon: 3.6 mpg

I'm also curious as to why they switched trucks, before they had a trd off road when they did the towing test for mpg, now it's a sport.

http://www.tfltruck.com/2016/01/can...an-the-2015-tacoma-on-the-ike-gauntlet-video/

 

Wow you hear that thing roaring, 6k rpm basically the whole time........

 

Yeah, I'm just happy they managed to use the ECT while towing this time. Also, it may have helped if they kept it out of overdrive and put it in S5 maybe.

 

Thanks for posting. Been looking forward to this!

 

I don't think it did too bad. Even the V8's you see on the Ike Gauntlet end up revving into the stratosphere to keep the speed up. That portion they test is super steep and oxygen is little. I drive the Ike Gauntlet in my 2002 Tacoma a couple of times a year and I have trouble keeping the speed limit WITHOUT a trailer.

There is no way I would tow a 5600 lb trailer with a Tacoma over the I70 summit but I think it would handle my 3,000 lb Casita just fine. That short section of the Ike Gauntlet is basically the steepest and most taxing run when you cross I70. If the 3.5 proves reliable I think it would be a fairly capable occasional hauler.

 

Those guys calling it "the i-70" makes my ear twitch

 

Yeah, I agree. The fact of the matter is that's an over sized trailer for the tacoma and most owners would not use it for such. You gotta remember the IKE is one of the worst hill climbs in the country, I think the tacoma held its own. So basically for what the majority of what people tow and where they tow it, it will be no problem like yourself.

The guy driving the truck was also limited to 60mph which I think is funny because i'm pretty sure they have done runs up the ike that were much faster than that. Therefore, the tacoma would of had a quicker time, not that it really matters. Overall, pretty impressive.

 

I re-watched the GMC Canyon Ike test and it screamed at 6k rpm during the climax of the summit as well. Another thing to note is that the 3.5L is in it's element when it revs. It was designed that way so it is not necessarily "bad" to rev it. As I mentioned 5600 lbs is a lot of weight and I wouldn't tow that much with my Tacoma but I think 4,000 lbs and less should be fairly easy for this truck.

 

Using the computer for their mpg data = fail.

 

My guess is either because it was a 4x4 DCSB TRD Sport they tested for the 2015 and they wanted an even comparison, because of the air dam, or it's just what they had access to.

Interesting test, but I'm always flabbergasted by the people who get super critical of the Tacoma's towing capabilities. Maybe it should be more capable, but if I wanted a vehicle for towing, I'd go for a full-size. I like the Tacoma for light hauling (think kayak or small toy trailer) and light off-roading. All while having a reliable vehicle with amazing residual values.

 

Ah, I think you're right. The one they tested was a Sport for 2015, but it was a DCLB not a DCSB. I agree, if you're going to be towing on a daily basis, jump up to full size.

 

Most I'll tow with my Taco is a pop-up camper, maybe a small trailer for stuff like a 4wheeler or snowmobile.

 

I tow an aluminum two horse trailer with mine, a 2015 double cab, and its no problem. The trailer is 93" tall for big sport horses so its not the most aerodynamic thing to have behind your truck either. I don't haul in the mountains, though. With one horse, its 2600 lbs (trailer) + 1000 lbs (horse) + 1000lbs (gear and me) = 4600lbs. If I was hauling horses everyday I would probably use a full size diesel truck. But for what I do, I have a cool truck to drive the other 95% of the time when its not hitched to a trailer.

 

Im gonna contact the TFL guys and ask if they can get a 2014 Tundra with the dual vvti 1gr and do an ike gauntlet. They don't come in 4wd but they should be able to get the same gcwr as the 2016 Tacoma. I bet the 4.0L and 5-speed auto will get close to similar time(not like it matters) and have better manners on the way up too.

 

They probably swapped trucks because they weren't allowed to keep them for very long. The manufactures will go to major cities with the test trucks and a bunch of publications essentially borrow them for a day and then return them. TFL probably wasn't able to knock both tests out in the same day so they had to return the truck and the sport was the only one available at the time to take out for the MPG test. I doubt the results would have been much different anyways. The extra weight the TRD OR is carrying probably takes a negligible amount of extra fuel. Rolling resistance of the OR tires vs the sport tires could also make a difference but once again it's probably a small amount.

 

Got to get that added performance bonus from the scoop...

 

Sometimes TFL doesn't get a truck from the press fleet. Local viewers who own trucks sometimes let the guys borrow them for a test.

 

I see the 2015 Canyon V6 (Gas) did the IKE in ~7:55 (http://www.tfltruck.com/2015/04/201...k-gold-hitch-award-for-midsized-trucks-video/). To put that all in perspective:

2015 Canyon: 7:55
2014 Frontier: 8:38 - slower by 43 seconds, takes 9.1% longer to finish
2015 Tacoma: 8:49 - slower by 54 seconds, takes 11.4% longer to finish
2016 Tacoma: 8:05 - slower by 10 seconds, takes 2.1% longer to finish (880 feet behind the Canyon)

2015 Canyon: 3.6 mpg
2014 Frontier: 3.9 mpg - 0.3 mpg better, or 8.3% more efficient
2015 Tacoma: not rated - n/a
2016 Tacoma: 4.5 mpg = 0.9 mpg better, or 25% more efficient

Interesting. You are only a few seconds behind your buddy towing in the Chevy, but you are burning 25% less gas. Not a bad trade-off, depending on your needs and preferences, really.

 

The Ike gauntlet is a good test, but it's the three lane I-70 uphill from Silverthorne. You have that extra passing lane.

Vail pass uphill from Vail to the Divide is a better test because there are only two lanes uphill. That's the bad one in my experience because you have to decelerate more often with a trailer to pass the 18-wheelers, then regain speed.

The 4.0 did pretty good on Vail, the 3.5 with comparable torque numbers will do well. Gonna be WOT and hog the passing lane sometimes, but f them Audi's and Mercedes. They can wait a few seconds to pretend like they're on the Autobahn.

 

Direct YouTube video here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCkBmiZV09w