Worth buying a 4 cylinder?

I traded a 16 TRD OFFROAD auto trans for my 17 SR access cab I4 5-speed and have no regrets. I wanted a simpler truck that I could trust for many years. Yes the power difference is huge, but it has plenty of power for what it is. I live in North Alabama which is where the Appalachian Mountains begin and it has no issues going up them as long as you keep the rpms at 3k or above. I actually live about midway up Monte Sano Mountain so I do this at least once a day.

Plus, it may be just me, but it seems like my little SR has more character than the V6 double cab had
I don’t tow anything though, just haul my kayaks, etc on a regular basis.

 

Mega durability.
My previous Tacoma was an '05 base model.
Wrecked at 750k miles !
I only wanted another 2TR FE.
Very happy at 50k miles...on a 2018 MY.
Yeah, I get around.
Gonna catch you 100k mile dudes sooner.

 

If they offered a V8 Manual combo I would have bought it too.

 

there's no replacement for displacement...or so they say.

 

I *think* if I were still single, no kids, or had the desire to buy a 3rd car/truck, the SR 2.7 5MT would be a nice little truck. I live at 5k ft, and found the power to be adequate enough to go over the steepest passes here. I won't be passing anyone, but I'd be able to keep up with traffic just fine.

Actually, if they made it, an SR single cab would be awesome.

 

Nice! They aint fast but man its nice knowing that freakin engine last pretty much forever. Its the vehicle you turn to to get you to work when that bmw or mercedes dash is lit up like a christmas tree lol

 

I had my 09 access cab 4x4 5 speed for about 9 years. Definitely did the job ok. I have a V6 now, but mostly because I needed the crew cab.

 

Yes, a lot more character. It’s the Rudy Reuttiger of truck engines.

 

The 3rd gen 2.7L have the same displacement and horsepower as six cylinder trucks (i.e. Ford, Chevy, etc) from the early 2000 generations. And the 3rd generation 2.7's get 20-23 mpg versus 18-20 mpg from the aforementioned 6 cylinder trucks from yesteryear.

Also people have reported getting significantly worse gas mileage after they got their 3rd gen 6 cylinder Taco's reflashed/updated or whatever it's called due to gear shifting problems, etc.

Just reporting the facts...

 

It blows my mind people still don’t get the connection between the Atkinson and the power/mpg surplus/deficit, let alone the differences between that and the 4 cyl. They just think the extra 2 cyl grants them magical hp and unicorn MPG’s from nowhereland.



“I have tons of power but shitty gas mileage”

“I have no power, but look, I got 25 mpg today!”

 

Exactly. It's my understanding that the Atkinson came from the Lexus, but my technical understanding of this is only a millimeter deep. It's a technical marvel for sure but not magical.

The fact that these newer 4 banger engines can do what the older 6 cylinder engines could do but more efficiently is a technological feat in and of itself.

 

Anyone comparing our 2gr to one in a lexus has never driven a lexus 2gr. My 14is350 was a major reason I bought my truck. They shouldn't share the same engine family, one was amazing, the other just works. That being said the least reliable engines today will last longer than the car and computers that run it with proper maintenance.

 

Are you sure on that? I did a quick Google search and it looks like the Ranger 4.0 and S-10 4.3 made more than the current Taco 2.7 but I just quickly glanced.

 

In the snow-belt you would have to race the frame rust to make 750k, but it's great to know the motor can make it. If Toyota still made a 4cyl reg cab 4x4 I'd buy it.

 

I have had the 4 cyl. First off it is slow the mpg is maybe 1-2 better. Not worth it at all

 

Might have considered a 4cyl if they had a factory rear locker option.

 

I'm never sure on anything LOL.

My 2001 Ford Ranger had a 6 cylinder engine and the horsepower was similar to my 2016 Taco 4 banger. The Taco was a step up in every way. I guess the point I was trying to make is that the current 2.7 seems to be comparable to some of the 6 cylinder engines from the early 2000's.

Here's the comparison:

2001 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0 V6 = 150 hp @ 5,000 rpm 16-21mpg

2016 Taco 2.7L =
159 hp 19-24mpg

2001 Taco 2.7L =
150 hp 19-21 mpg


Based on my experience with owning both trucks that were bought new off the lot, the Ranger didn't have the power that the Taco does. My wife always said that my "pickup has no pickup". We've both noticed a performance difference and the improvement in gas mileage with the Taco. I always seemed to get only about 18 mpg on the Ford.

Also, the 2016 Taco makes my 2001 Ranger look like a mini truck.

Anyhoo that's about the extent of what I know. Maybe the Ranger 3.0 V6 was an itty bitty anemic baby 6 cylinder motor and not a good basis for comparison?

 

Yeah 3.0 V6s are pretty weak, the Toyota 3.0 was a dog too, think it was around 140 - 150 HP. Today's vehicles make more power and use less fuel than years ago which is pretty cool for sure.

 

I once had to do a 1000 mile day in the '08 2.5 with no cruise. Most of it was on interstate highways, in the West and Midwest. Not being able to move my right leg/foot around periodically got downright miserable. I will never buy another vehicle without cruise control. Fortunately, that is standard in most anymore.