2017 Tacoma and Consumer Reports

Yes. Mpg is shit and I keep getting told by the technicians that the transmission update would fix this problem. I may be exaggerating a little bit about the 65 mile an hour 3000 RPMs, but I know for a fact that I'm pushing 2700-2800 rpm's at highway cruising speed of 65 to 70 which is way too much for a truck this heavy

 

It gets better mileage than previous generations.... it's more efficient. That being said, the idea that the transmission is the problem and will learn and fix your complaint is just wrong. I'm sorry people felt the need to defend the truck and come up with this kind of baloney. Transmission can't change what is clearly an engine power band issue..... gearing changes (which is what a transmission does) can only keep it in a higher power band which won't change the fact power is made about 1000 rpms higher than the 4.0.

I drive like a paw paw, it doesn't bother me. I really feel the truck has quite adequate power. If you grew up driving cars from the mid-late 70s until the mid 90s then this truck makes plenty of power as those were real dogs.


Overall, this truck is a big improvement over the one it replaces. It just doesn't have the low RPM torque. Ok, I'm just going to the deer camp, I've got tunes playing, I can deal with it.

 

Hmm, strange for sure man. 2800 and you are in 6th gear? On my 4L I would have to be going 80Mph plus to rev that high, and I have one less gear.

 

The engine could be improved if it were designed for more torque. Toyota was trying to keep up with GM's HP numbers and apparently, that was more important. If they redesigned this engine to get more torque down low, they'd have to sacrifice Horse Power numbers to get there. I'd been okay with it, but sales brochures wouldn't.

They will be hit..... they will be hit because you are going up hill in any configuration. The engine turns something like 1500 rpms at 65 mph (not exact but close) on flat land.

The other thing is, with a larger displacement engine, each RPM is pulling in more fuel.... the smaller engine does the same thing by spinning more RPMs. It's not necessarily 1:1, but about the same idea.

 

I don't know what the final drive in each truck is, but you can have a 6 speed and a 4 speed end up at the same final drive ratio. The bigger engine just has the power at low RPMs to pull the taller gear. But you can also think that all other things being equal (besides displacement), a 4L engine needs fewer RPMs to move the same amount of air/fuel as a 3.5L engine. The 3.5L needs more RPMs to make up the displacement difference.

 

I like your perspective Woodrow. While I don't like the truck at least I respect the way you explain things I don't like about it. It just isn't the right ride for me

 

Woodrow hit it out of the park when he mentioned that they were worried about a peak HP number to keep up with GM instead of giving it a more useful powerband.

 

I can understand. If this truck just isn't right for someone, they should have something different. I'm really okay with that.

I do get tired of some posters that really just want to troll about what's generally a pretty nice truck. Many of the complaints are just about something that people just don't understand. The engine is the issue in the fact it makes power in a place that's different for most.

I've built and owned hot rods a high strung 383 SBC Monte Carlo SS with a loose torque converter and a LS1 Z28. I've also had cars that were slap wore out. I had a LT-1 95 Caprice Wagon that would stomp a mud hole in this truck as far as giddy up was concerned, but I needed to overhaul the front suspension and interior. This truck, cranks up, takes me to work and back in comfort with nice entertainment, and doesn't get stuck at the deer camp. If I need it to go, I stomp the gas and it scoots plenty fast. I just need to get a shell on it, maybe a lift and go on some adventures. It's plenty for my needs otherwise.

That MCSS didn't have low end torque! It's power band was a little high and the torque converter was loose and cheap.

 

Thanks, I do think your driving experience could be completely different with a smaller cam (less duration, more split) and smaller exhaust. It would really pick up low RPM torque, but you'd loose high rpm HP. I don't really care if my truck redlines at 6000 rpms. Stick a valve train that stops making power at 5000 RPM and it would feel much more truck like. I never redline my truck anyways. I just drive around and pull an ATV trailer.

 

Yeah. You see, I don't understand any of that stuff and I have the at most respect for people that do. All I know is what it feels like, what it sounds like, and how it makes me feel when I drive it. I don't pretend to understand any of the nuts and bolts stuff underneath the hood

 

I can still see satisfying customers and review EVERYWHERE! So who care about the CR while all they care about is money! I don't think I need to pay for their "Professional" review.

 

My experience has been the same with the '17 M/T truck. So far, it's my favorite vehicle I've owned. The only issue in 6k miles was a dash rattle when hitting bumps that was caused by the plastic on the A-Pillar rubbing together with the speaker grate. Dealer fixed it no questions asked at the 5k mile service.

 

Same

 

MPG at 3k rpm isn't too bad, I routinely cruise around 2500-3000 RPM regardless of gear. Most of my commute to work on the highway is either 5th gear at 3k rpm or 6th gear at 2500-2800 RPM (or so). I usually get about 20 mpg over a 30 mile commute. If I absolutely baby it and drive 65 mph as much as I can in 6th gear, I can get it to almost 22 mpg. So really you don't take too much of a hit for a massive increase in driveability.

 

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...^^^... true ... not too many red circles this time ...
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I just love my truck with each day I drive it now ...

PS ... Not happy with dealer service at Sandy Springs Toyota though ... so I will go back to World Toyota or Atlanta Toyota for service in the future.

 

I did not read through all of the above. So it may have been already said.... the CR's #1 small "truck" is the Ridgeline. That speaks volumes for its self.

 

That Honda made a better truck than Toyota for once?

 

CR and all the Car Mags have been in love with Ridgeline since they dropped. Get out the salt.

 

Are we shooting tequila or throwing it in our wounds?

 

Both.