I've got a DCLB Colorado diesel to test along side my Taco this weekend.......

comparing a full size to mid? thats like comparing pizza to egg rolls or pizza rolls

 

The Silverado certainly more capable for hauling/towing, but I would choose the Tacoma as the Silverado is simply overkill for my needs. It's more of everything that I don't need.

 

It's just for shits and giggles, that's all. Interesting that from a dimensional perspective the Silverado in a double cab is not that much larger than the DCLB Taco, but cargo volume is 61 cu/ft vs. 43.4 cu/ft and payload is basically doubled.

 

around here you never know, so many compare the taco to all these other classes, it just gets old. I do like to see the MPG compared, to me thats valid.

 

Honestly the only advantages for the Tacoma (performance wise) is better off road capability. Pretty much everything else the 1/2 ton does better and it's only marginally larger than the DCLB. MPG, in my mind- is a wash..

 

Just comparing what I have to what I'm getting, that's all.

More than likely I would have kept the Tacoma, however we had a recent change-up in family vehicles.

Originally my son (who is going off to college next fall) was going to take our 1998 Jeep Cherokee, which is my dedicated trail rig. That led me to lean towards a 'do all' replacement for my old 3/4 ton Dodge, and I settled on the Tacoma to turn that into my hunting/hauling/towing/dedicated trail rig. Obviously it does one of those duties really well, and the others marginally well. That's how I fell into that "It'll make do" trap..

Here's the monkey wrench (a good one). My mother in law told us a few months ago she is buying a new Audi, and she is giving my son her 2007 Subaru Outback, which only has 35,000 miles on it and in perfect shape... So I'm keeping the Jeep. So I can buy a full size truck for regular old hunting/hauling/towing, and keep my trail beater Jeep for the mountains and real off roading. If the Jeep were to ever die a horrible death- I'd bet I'd look into a Taco extended cab long bed as a replacement.

 

I just bought my 2009 DCLB trd sport tacoma a month ago. Before that I had a 2004 silverado crew cab 4x4. fully loaded. leather, heated power seats, the works. It was at 211,000 miles. Never had a problem with it, everything worked great. I drove it to work everyday, 30 mile round trip. City and highway. The best i could muster when i really tried was a combined 14mpg. When i didn't care to watch the ODO, i got 12.8 consistently. Trip to lake havasu with 2 adults, 2 kids, and a couple bags of luggage, ice chest i got 16.2 mpg average. Havasu is 380 miles from my house. At around 200000 miles, the 5.3 just felt tired. It could no longer chirp the tires, unless I was turning. Felt sluggish all around. I decided to sell this truck. It was in good condition, no accidents or damage. paint was nice. small lift with almost new 33's. I got 6,300 for the truck. embarrasing.

I decided I wanted another truck and a buddy at work told me to look into a tacoma. Thats when I saw mine for sale and bought it. Never owned anything other than full size GM trucks. So far, the tacoma has been great. the same commute I got 12.8 mpg on, im now getting 16.6 combined. Easy to drive. feels light. turns great. fun. out accelerates the full size trucks. the list goes on. I like my tacoma because its simple and fun to drive. I dont buy a truck for mpg. if you live in the city like i do, the mpg goes to shit anyway. Idle time kills anything as far as mpg goes. that includes 4 cylinders. We have a 2014 ford fusion that gets 17 mpg right now. 180 horse 4 cylinder!

I do have a 2016 dodge durango r/t to handle the kids and towing. 360 horse hemi, will tow 7400 pounds. 8 speed auto with cylinder deactivation. city mpg in the r/t? haha 11 mpg. my wife drives it everyday about 10 miles, strictly stop and go, transporting the kids and going to work. It gets 23mpg on the way to havasu with speeds of 80-90mph.

Not sure why i wrote all of this haha

 

No worries- write away. It was a vehicle to vehicle comparison thread gone to the dogs, lol.

Did you trade your old truck in or sell it outright?

 

i sold the truck outright. I bought my tacoma from a dealer. When i bought the tacoma which was around 20k, i also had the option of a 2010 crew cab 4x4 gmc sierra. Pretty basic truck in white. In the past i would have bought the gmc. decided it was time for a change and i am glad i made the jump to TW. No regrets

 

Sierras are considered fuel efficient in your neck of the woods?

At least it doesn't say "Clean Air Vehicles" only like we have in Kalifornia!

 

Still on my first tank of fuel. 26 gal tank was topped off with about 25 miles on the ODO. So 235 miles on 1/2 tank- that's not bad! I can average 475 miles on a tank (18mpg) I'd call that impressed for a full size truck with a 6.2L in Montana!




I can say that the driving experience is very, very good. The engine is powerful, the tranny shifts are unnoticeable. I have to watch the tach to tell when it shifts. I can only detect a slight 'warble' when the engine modulates from V4 to V8, but it is nothing unpleasant.

Basically I paid about the same for this truck as anyone would a Tacoma Limited.

 

Nice truck for sure. I bet that 6.2L engine feels awesome. I still would not buy a full size though. I prefer the smaller size of the Tacoma, the rugged off-road looks/ability, and the fact that I can get it in a manual transmission. I previously owned a RAM 1500 and a Silverado. I liked both trucks and had no major issues with either, but there is just something different about my Tacoma. I LOVE the Tacoma vs. the full size trucks I had. It's strange because the full-size trucks had more technology and features, got around the same gas mileage, and objectively should have beat out the Tacoma. But that's just not the case for me. I love the simplicity and size of my Taco. I can't see myself ever going back to a full-size.

 

Wow, this dude needs Xanax.

 

Here's a link for others to see what has been reported by other owners:
2014 Chevy Silverado, 5.3l auto, 2wd: 19 mpg combined, city 16, highway 23 (but only 2 people reported!)
There was no data for the 2015 or 2016 at that link. The 2013 numbers were about 10% worse with that same 5.3l V8. But only 3 people reported.

2014 & 2015 Tacoma (note this is the older 4.0l engine, AT, 2wd, didn't see the newer engine listed):
19 mpg combined, city 17, highway 21. But again this is a small sample of just a few people.

Not much data for some reason on two very popular trucks? Perhaps there is a better source?

So I think the best that can be said is the mileage is "similar". It's amazing to me that you and others are getting such good highway mileage with that big truck and big engine. If I were on the fence about which truck to get, and could fit a full sized truck into my garage and life style, I'd be very tempted by the Silverado. But then I've owned around 4 of them and I'm probably biased anyway. <g>

But in any event, since I plan to only drive whatever mid-sized truck I finally get, the mileage is not close to the top of my needs and wants. Much more important is drive-ability, comfort and reliability. It's a tough choice as the Tacoma and GM mid-sized twins both seem very good, overal.

 

I'm getting some really good mpg figures. We had a long road trip over Christmas and I was getting 19 mpg in some pretty snotty comditions.

Overall I'm very satisfied with the Silverado. Roomy, comfortable, great power, smooth delivery of the power (really, really smooth). The fit and finish is great.

It's certainly a full size though. It doesn't handle as well as the Tacoma does, and it's pretty evident not as 'trail' capable in stock form.

 

Do you miss your Tacoma yet?

 

Certain aspects of it, for sure. But I really needed a bigger truck. Hauling 2 hunting dogs and my gear over the distances I drive it became pretty evident I tried to compromise too much.

Plus- the Tacoma is not a very comfortable long trip truck. The Silverado has it beat by leaps and bounds in that department. And with similar or better MPG's.

Hard to knock that.

 

True.

I like my Tacoma as an overall truck better than I liked my Ram, but in terms of power and long ride comfort, the Ram was the clear winner.

 

I lost this post somehow. Glad you enjoy your truck! @Threerun

I wish I still have the pic I took of my best MPG in my 2016 z71 crew cab. 26.1!
There are certain aspects I miss about the Sierra, but I am really enjoying the Taco.

 

It's simple, I see a mid-size truck with a V6 and expect better MPG than a full size with a V8. No one expects amazing mileage, but we don't expect WORSE than a full size truck, with more power, more cylinders and is heavier to boot.