4.0 vs 3.5 (2nd gen vs 3rd gen)

I see both sides of the coin:

On the one hand, the 3.5l v6 is a faster (and more powerful) engine (if you rev it up) and can get slightly better mpg's (though the auto's shifting strategies have a lot to do with that). It certainly isn’t a bad engine, as it has seen use across a wide variety of applications. It’s direct + port injection and part-time use of the Atkinson cycle also demonstrates innovation on Toyota’s part (I’m not aware of any other OEM’s putting that kind of engine into a truck). The engine response (and low-end torque) is acceptable if you get the manual with the 4.30 gearing. It’s no torque monster, so its unsuited to heavy towing or hauling, but then again the Tacoma’s overall GVWR doesn’t lend itself to such duties either. It offers very good horsepower delivery once you get high into the RPM band and wring it out (though some would argue that is the opposite of what you want in a truck engine). I see the engine working well for someone who wants a truck he/she can daily drive to work and go have fun on the weekends.

On the other hand, the 3.5l v6 is most definitely derived from a car-focused design (where top-end power is prioritized over low-end torque), whereas the 4.0l v6 was designed/built from the ground-up as a truck engine. The 4.0l isn’t anything special by comparison, but it does have somewhat better low-end torque, which is more relevant for 4x4 and truck applications. The 3.5l, even with the manual, just feels a bit more gutless at the low to mid range of RPM’s, which is a range everyone has to drive through at some point as they accelerate, tow, go uphill, ect. The 4.0l provides a bit more grunt in that low to mid range of the RPM band, even if it is a bit out of breath on the top end. Toyota obviously acknowledges the truck heritage of its 4.0l v6; they use that engine, not the new 3.5l v6, as gasoline alternatives to their diesels in overseas platforms (hilux, prado)….though diesel powerplants are far more preferred for trucks in pretty much every region outside of North America.


Having driven both engines back-to-back, I definitely prefer the 4.0l v6 even though it is a bit less efficient. However, if I was going to get a new midsized truck, I would pick the Tacoma hands-down over anything else on the market (including the new Jeep and Ranger). I like the diesel powerplant of the Colorado, but I don’t trust the overall platform it’s been put in. The Tacoma, for all its faults, is a proven platform and arguably a bit overbuilt compared to just about everything else in the segment.

And for all the people pointing to TFL’s Ike Gauntlet tow trials as proof that the new 3.5l v6 is “better” than the 4.0lv6, or even the 2.8l Duramax, I question how much towing experience you really have. The 3.5l is a more powerful engine compared to the latter 2, especially on the top-end, so of course its going to be faster going uphill, or in general. However, speed is only a small part of the towing equation. NVH, engine response, fuel consumption all factor into a buying decision for people who tow on a regular basis. The 3.5l ecoboost F-150 can tow 5klbs faster up a hill than a 6.7l Cummins or 6.7l Powerstroke; the latter 2 diesel engines are still widely preferred (for dedicated towing) over the ecoboost because they offer better low-end grunt, better fuel consumption and are less stressed out in such applications. The 3.5l v6 Tacoma might tow faster, but its working hard and screaming loud as hell when doing so (arguably losing all of its efficiency advantage at that RPM range)….ultimately there are better tow engines out there, even in the midsized segment.

 

I own a 2nd gen, so I have no first-hand knowledge of the 3.5l. I will say the 3rd gen engine choice was a disappointment to me and why I bought a 2015 vs a 2016. Not knocking the 3.5l, I was just expecting something more after waiting 10 years for an update. The power output, mpg, and towing differences are negligible. With modern technology and advancements made in the past 10 years, the hp should be closer to 300 and mpg should be closer to 25 (for a midsize,ccsb 4x4, v6 truck)

 

Rated peak hp numbers are used solely for marketing purposes. Robbing power from the bottom of an engine and putting it on top to make the hp number larger is totally backward with respect to engine performance and efficiency. The day when marketing stops deigning engine performance and its given back to competent engineers will be the day we start getting better performing and more fuel efficient engines.
To me... the ideal motor for this truck has 200 hp @4000 rpm and 300 lb/ft of torque @ 2500 rpm. maybe on paper it's not very exciting but in reality it will perform very well. It would have plenty of torque down low for towing as well cruising at low rpm without a lot of shifting. The downfall is that its quarter mile performance will suffer... because that's important... right? I recently read an article on future engines where they were talking about making petrol engines more like diesel engines in regards to performance. somewhere in between.

 

Did someone say Diesel???

 

I was looking at the BT-50 from Mazda on the Australian site, they make a 3.2l oil burner.

 

The Ford 300ci inline 6 was close to my ideal small/midsize pickup motor:
150 hp @ 3,400 rpm
265 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm

...and legendary reliability.

 

3.5L needs an additional 20-30 ft-lb of torque below 3,000rpm. Thats it. The rest could be left alone.

I think Openflash is coming to the table with an 87-Octane torque tune or tow tune for $399. Its a no brainer.

 

They did the test with a 2019 in their Ranger comparison video and it seemed to do better than the 2016 original test. Would have liked to see numbers on that. ECU updates since 2016 have made a pretty significant difference in driving experience, wonder how / if they make a difference in towing...

 

@commbubba19

https://www.openflashtablet.com/sho...yota-tacoma-3rd-generation-all-variants-2016/

 

Yup, the more the merrier. I wonder how it compares to the gold standard OVtune. https://www.openflashtablet.com/sho...yota-tacoma-3rd-generation-all-variants-2016/

 

Interesting. When is the anticipated availability date?

 

@Kamille.bidan It looks like you won $100 dollars. Youtube - 2020 Tacoma. TFL posted a video this week of reviewing the new 2020 Tacoma. The Toyota engineer said the refreshed Tacoma has better gear shifting and tuning and that the next 4runner will have the same 3.5 liter engine.

 

That tune is probably OVTune

 

He mentioned the tune was also on the 19s. Makes me believe it was the tsb