Is your power sufficient?

2015 Spec:
TORQUE 266 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm
HORSEPOWER 236 hp @ 5200 rpm

2016 Spec:
VALVE TIMING Variable TORQUE 265 ft-lbs. @ 4600 rpm
HORSEPOWER 278 hp @ 6000 rpm

Takes the 2016 a little more time to squeeze that peak HP and ft/lbs out. That could skew the metrics between the two different models and I think that is the main concern for us 3rd gen guys.

 

If your going to tow it is not the ideal truck. Like was mentioned the low RPM 's are a little weak.
It will keep down shifting. My 1500 Sierra with the 5.3 gets better MPG is much stronger and tows more and outruns my taco easy. 3 times as quiet in the inside. Waiting for the lawyer to hear from Toyota about taking my truck back for a refund.
Toyota measured the sound in the cab of my 2016 Tacoma.
Then they messed up and put it on my service ticket they put down that they measured 89 db's average in the cab. Lawnmower level is 90 db.

The truck was then professionaly measured at 109.9 db peak and 88.9
average OHSA limit is 85. Truck is hurting my ears and ear plugs must worn.
To Toyota!
Thanks in advance returning my purchase price back for my Tacoma!

 

true but when you look at the chart when the 2016 is at 5200rpm what is the HP? You might still beat the 2nd gen there as well? Even with my lower power I think its a good amount. Also tire size and gears can play into that as well. I'm running 285/70R17

 

OP is towing 2500 lbs. I get that towing 4500 lbs + regularly with a Tacoma isn't ideal but 2500-3500 should be easy enough.

 

I hope u get to register your cars in AZ and not CA

 

i'd like more power - I would not complain. If they have a V8 option - that would be great - Put that on your roadmap Toyota!

 

My utility trailer is 1200 pounds and I would not pull it very far with the Tacoma.
The gen 2 with the 4.0 was the better tow vehicle over the gen 3. Plus your mpg will 12.
My 5.3 Sierra is twice the truck and was a lot less money. Not as fancy and the Taco phone changer never worked anyway but it is real pickup getting 22 mpg plus at 80
my Tacoma couldn't better 19 at 80mph,

 

Toyota won't be getting a V8. Especially now with a required CAFE fleet score of 54 mpg by 2025.

Then why do you not just drive a new Sierra and not a Tacoma?

 

ah yes the V8 my 5.3 Sierra has 355 hp 378 tq and weighs 4600 pounds. The taco weighs 4300 with 278 and 232.
Funny thing is the V8 MPG in a bigger truck is better by at least 3 miles per gallon.
Power difference is huge. Then I added a K&N panel filter to the 5.3

 

I do! The 2016 Tacoma is waiting on a tow truck from Toyota to get it.

 

I agree that mid-size trucks get the shaft on MPG. All the fancy tech that improves MPG goes into full size trucks first because they are more profitable and they sell in bigger volume. Everyone knows an aluminum Tacoma with cylinder deactivation could get killer MPG but Toyota is too conservative for that. On the flip side, less expensive tech generally equates to better reliability.

 

I registered my jeep in AZ since it was bought there and my taco was in CA where I bought it. When I register in AZ its nice but a pain because then I have to set up insurance out there and everything. I spend most of the year there but most likely wont get my residency there.

 

Too bad Cali is so expensive with that sort of thing and I hear AZ is a fraction of the cost

 

Yeah my truck was like 300ish to register IIRC and my jeep was like 30 for 1 1/2 years LOL

 

Ford's boosted motor is not as reliable as NA Toyota's 3.5 engine if you look at the internals. Ford uses a hypereutectic rods and crank which is a higher alloy with more silicon while toyota uses forged rods and crank. While Ford 3.5 TT engines are nice on power and torque the Toyota 3.5 NA will last a lot longer. Just wait for a few year when superchargers and turbo's are installed on the new 3.5 engines. They will be able to punch out more power with the forged internals.

 

So being that you live here you already know how much power we lose at altitude. The truck is not fast, but does have decent passing power in the highway. It gets over the gauntlet, but needed 3rd a couple times while on cruise.

 

I highly doubt we'll get FI considering they stopped half way through the 2nd gen. That and Toyota is very guarded with their ecu's.

 

Toyota has already stated that they are moving away from the TRD forced induction parts. They don't want to deal with the complications of warrantying their work on a less-than-reliable Toyota engineering choice.

That being said, it really bums me out. I would love to run some low boost especially at altitude. With forged parts I can't see a couple pounds of boost doing much harm or affecting reliability; but then again, I'm not an automotive engineer.

 

I just put 4.88's in mine...glad I did it makes the driving experience much more enjoyable and practical...tons of torque and my mileage increased by almost 2.5 mpg!

I highly recommend doing it!

 

What did it run you? More torque in all gears? Why wouldn't they do this from the factory?