V6 vs 4 cylinder

I'm looking to buy a 3rd gen. Tacoma most likely SR 4x4 manual access cab so with a budget and with those specs listed which is recommended the V6 or 4 cylinder along with experiences with each if possible? I've heard the gas mileage is about the same on each and obviously the horsepower difference, I'm not planning on using the truck for work mainly just to and from work occasionally hauling some sort of small trailer and using the bed for normal utilities, so which is recommended? Thanks.

 

V6, but what kind of budget are you talking about?

 

If you have a trailer I'd get a V6.

If it's a commuter and occasional work truck (hauling) and you don't live at elevation, 2.7 is fine.

 

Get the best of both worlds. V4 FTMFW
https://youtu.be/c7_Dq9uLiWo

 

The 2.7L I4 with VVT and a 6 speed would be best. Easy maintenance and easy to find in an SR. It will be a turtle though but will out live 200k miles. I'm almost at 300k with my 2.7L.

 

I have an access cab with the 4 cylinder and a 5 speed manual. I'm an admitted 4 cylinder (Toyota) fan. But, it's slow. I use mine for commuting (500+ miles/week), hunting and fishing, so the bed gets a lot of use, but not a lot of heavy 1000+ lb loads. Depending on how much your trailer weighs, the 4 cylinder may not meet your needs.

 

What do you mean by slow just not as much get-up as a v6? And I don't plan on using a trailer very much at all my family just has a jet ski I may want to tow occasionally

 

Under 28,000

 

I'd get a used gen 2 with 4.0.

 

Fuel mileage is the same and the V6 will have more "umpf"

I voted V6. I'd also ditch that manual trans if you like slightly better fuel mileage...

 

2nd Gen vs 3rd gen? I've found a decent amount of new 3rd gens for under that price new

 

Can you live without 4x4 if so you will be able to get the most for your buck. I believe you could get a nice SR5 PRE-RUNNER for around that price.

 

I live in the northeast so honestly if I didn't think I would need it definitely wouldn't want to spend the extra money 4x4 but unfortunately I think for the winters it may be necessary

 

I have the 4x4 SR AC 4 cyl manual trans and have no regrets at all. I get a solid 23-24 mpg and the engine is super smooth. It carries all the weight you want in the bed very well but could use some more umph when pulling a trailer. I, personally, wanted to stay away from the "trick" engine...too much to go wrong. I plan on driving this till the wheels fall off so I went for simple. Plus, I like shifting my own gears. The interior is sweet for a base model! I love the urethane steering wheel. Feels good in the hands. I was a thick oil kind of guy, but the engine with Pennzoil Platinum 0w20 is butter.

 

Neither of them are particularly powerful but I mean it lacks power. Not very much get up at all. Torque-y, but not very powerful. You should be fine towing a jet ski, but know it's gonna be even slower.

Another post said that gas mileage is the same for the v6 and i4. That may be true on paper but is not true in real life.

If you can find both, test drive them and see what you like. I have been very happy with my 4 cylinder, coming from an 88 Chevy 3/4 ton with the 5.7. The 4 cylinder is a very capable engine but has its limitations. I would not get a 4 cylinder with an automatic.

 

I had a 2015 2.7L 5spd 4x4 and I never got more than 18-19mpg. On the hwy, it was gutless, in the city it's ok. I would be almost 3000 RPM going 75mph. Once I loaded around 800 to 1,000 lbs on the truck "3 adults, a camper and tools" . It was seriously underpowered and could barely speed up to get on the hwy. After awhile I got tired of driving slowpoke. Imagine 4,000 pounds plus whatever you load on it with 159 hp or 130hp at the wheels...granted it's a great motor but it just too underpowered for me.

I traded it in for a 2016 DCSB V6 4x4 SR5 and I freaking love it way more than the 2.7L. I gotten better gas mileage with a bigger heavier truck with almost twice the horsepower. Plus people fit in the double cab better than access cab. You have better resale and more demand with the V6. 278hp is more fun than 159hp. I step on the gas with the V6 and it gets up n go on the hwy with 5 people in the cab. The 2.7L may be "bulletproof" but the V6 is still pretty darn reliable too. After having a V6, I would never get another 4 banger and I had owned three 2.7L Tacomas.

 

18-19 mpg with a 4 cylinder is terrible. If I had that experience I would not recommend that engine either.

I am getting 23-25 mpg.

 

Got mine for just over 25K.

I get anywhere from 25 to 27 mpg. Smooth running 4 cylinder!

 

Btw my Dad has an 05 DCLB V6 since new, now has 180k miles and drives great. Motor never had a problem.

 

They're both great engines, no argument there. My last piece of input will be to reiterate to drive them both, and if you have doubts about the power, go with the v6.