Moving from 2nd Gen to 3rd...what to know

Every 3rd Gen owner on here has stated at some point that the Gen3 will tow as much as the Gen2 albiet at a higher rpm. The specs of the engine says the same thing regarding peak torque. If the numbers for torque that you have just stated were true, then I would have assuredly bought a Gen3 back in '16. You are saying that by using less displacement and a shorter stroke, we've managed to produce more torque at low rpm. I call bull on these number.

 

I hope Toyota goes all in on a hybrid taco.

 

I don’t doubt that the tranny has a lot to do with it . After all, my tractor can pull 10000 lbs with 40 hp and 60 lbs of torque. But, the rpms per mile are astronomical. Same idea at work here.

 

These trucks are selling at record levels so Toyota did something right, CR is a joke.

 

I drive with the ECT (Electronic Controlled Transmission) button on all the time. In my non-professional humble opinion it regulates the shifting to higher in the rpms especially 1st thru 3rd. Personally my taco drives much more to my liking with it on...the gas mileage is very close. I average 20-21.

 

Yeah it would be interesting to find two equally packaged trucks and run them. The times I quoted were from separate C&D tests. That said, Toyota's official times for the 4.0L vary by as much as 0.6s depending on truck options (7.7 and 7.1).

Would be very interesting to see them back to back, same tires, same day, etc.

The ECM logic definitely seems to keep the 2GR at a higher RPM than the 1GR.

As for the numbers, there's more to the torque produced than just the stroke length. I think everyone agrees that the 3.5L can output more peak torque than the 1GR (280 lbf-ft for the FR version 2GR at 4800rpm, and 266 lbf-ft for the 1GR at 4000rpm).

Ignoring any potentially erroneous plots, the 1GR makes peak 266 lbf-ft at 4000 rpm, that means that at 4800 rpm it is definitely making less than 280 lbf-ft. So you have two engines at the same RPM, the engine with the shorter stroke is pushing more torque. The illustration here is that there is a lot of variables that determine the output of an engine beyond stroke and displacement. What applies at 4800rpm still applies at 2000rpm.

There are older 4.0L and larger engines that make less torque than the 1GR. Design, technology, and tuning methods can make big changes between two engines.

Again, I'm not saying my numbers are right, they're just what Toyota has provided. If we're looking to make direct comparisons, again, strap a 2015 and a 2016 onto the same dyno on the same day and see how they actually compare. The info from Toyota is at least done on an engine dyno to SAE's test guidelines, so can be reasonably compared I would think.

It's all bench racing in the end though. People will feel what they feel, and there's a lot to how a vehicle "feels" when it's pulling beyond the numbers being put to the ground. Height, seating position, throttle response, shift logic, noise, vibrations, etc., etc. all add so much to how a vehicle feels that small differences in actual torque output can be almost completely overshadowed. It can be quite incredible.

Jeff

 

Well said, but those are the numbers comparing two motors in a range trucks don’t normally spend their life working in. Find for the Venza which normally doesn’t make slow runs off road or pulling a trailer, not for a truck. The ideal motor is electric. Anything that comes closer to approximating it’s power out put over a working range, is better for work. That’s the point we 4.0 drivers make.

It doesn’t go un noticed. CR says the powerful and smooth 4.0 is the best thing about the Tacoma in 2015.

After that year, it’s all about excuses why it underperforms comparably and there are few accolades compared to others in its class.

In the hylander, it’s a very well regarded motor. IMO, it’s misplaced for the sake of 2 mpg.

There are two solutions in making this 3.5 a viable truck motor with better low end torque; adding a turbo or adding ( an) electric motor(s). One compromises it’s reliability, the other enhances it. Let’s hope Toyota chooses one. Otherwise, it remains a less competitive truck motor.

 

Toyota sells well for one primary reason. Everyone who actually uses a truck to work, values reliability and durability. That’s reflected in every review CR makes. They are spot on in their reviews. Just because they don’t print what one wants them to, doesn’t make them false. Aamof, pissing off at least a small segment of the population is more often a sign of honesty in their reviews.

 

Get a 2015 TRD Sport 4x4 with low miles

 

Yah, it’s like the fastest car/truck Toyota is making after the Supra....which is a bmw derivative. Toyota makes hybrids well.

 

There are a boatload of safety enhancements do you'll be mush better protected if you're ever in an accident. That is reason enough to get a 3rd gen. They are still solid trucks that perform like you would expect. I've definitely put mine through it's paces and it's never let me down. The interior is obviously much nicer. My only suggestion would be to get an MGM sport do a hood swap with me.

 

I think the only way we're going to settle the real torque question is hook up both trucks, put them in 4H and see which one moves forward. Maybe this seems a bit childish but aren't we all just big boys with big toys anyway?

 

Can’t argue with that. The safety enhancements are preventative in nature. This is where Toyota leads the industry in making so much standard. You’re absolutely right. There is a great reason to buy new Tacos ( and other Toyota’s ), safety features.

 

It’s been settled in every review and head to head test. The 3.5 is a pussy, compared to the 4.0. My toy is bigger.... and better and it gets worse mileage to prove it.

 

If I'm not mistaken (and I might be) there are more airbags in the third gens than the second gens as well.

 

Could very well be. If I had to bet, I’m betting on that. At least, They have to be better engineered too. but, Toyota has always improved safety every year regardless of model change. So, I’d buy a 2020 over a 2017 for that reason too. Much more is standard.

 

I purchased a '16. I have always heard never purchase the first year of a newly redesigned vehicle but I have been very happy. No issues with anything. Maybe the newer generation reached a more sensitive bunch that tend to whine alot, who knows. I am glad I didn't start reading online posts prior to purchased my '16 or I might not have purchased it.

 

Go to TFL on YouTube and look at the towing tests, the 3.5 Tacoma sucks the doors off the 4.0 while achieving better MPG. It also beats the Frontier by over 40 seconds and is only about 3 seconds behind the Ranger which was supposed to be the quickest of the class.

 

No! No! No! No! No!

Waah! It's a minivan motor! Waah!

I must defend the honor of the amazing 4.0 truck engine at all costs! It's a real TWUCK motor dammit!

Waah! Waah!