Downsizing from a v-6 to 4-cylinder?

Do it, do it!

 

I have a 2019 4cyl. In real world there is not much difference with MPG vs the 6, around town it is great, on the highway going 70 and wanting to pass a car,,,,, I have to plan the pass. Going up steep hills it is at a much higher RPM, seems to be looking for another gear. Without using the ACT button. I got it because it was in my budget and I don't pull much with it.

 

I test drove a 2014 4 banger with the 4 speed auto. What a gutless turd.

Ended up with the 6 cylinder, would *never* consider a 4 banger again.

 

That's 50% of the reason that Toyota offers the 4. The other 50% is that it raises the CAFE a bit for the Tacoma.....if only on paper.

 

In the 1st and 2nd gen RC 2WDs it was perfectly fine. I never had any complaints. Rather liked it. But I grew up in the age of the 22r and 3.slow. So power was never a big deal to me.

The 4.0 in my current rig is nice. It's smooth and torquey. But I don't care. That just happened to be the engine it came with. I don’t use half it's power most of the time anyway.

 

Lol I grew up in the same era! That's why I had V6 (4.0 not the trash 3.0) Rangers and not the 4 cylinder slug of any manufacturer. (Ranger at the time had a twin plug variant of the abominable Pinto motor!)

So OP don't make the mistake of spending your hard earned cash on 4 cylinders! Trust me on that one.

 

A 4cyl Tacoma has the same towing capacity as a 2WD Ridgeline (don't blame me)

 

FWIW. I cut my teeth on big V-8s from the 60s and 70s. 350 cu. in. was common. One of the biggest engines I owned was in a '71 Buick Electra 225 powered by a 455. My last pickup had a 6L. All were torquey, crap mpg. Couldn't go past a gas station.

I'm currently feeding a 4.0L V-6. Quite happy with the power and mpg. Passing is easy, hills no issue, plenty oomph to haul 1200 lbs of construction debris in the bed and will give me 20 mpg running at 70 mph setting in front of an automatic tranny.

The wife's '19 Honda CR-V has a 4 popper with a turbo.........don't like the lag, really hate the ECON mode.

I doubt if I'd be happy with a 4 popper in the truck.

I would suggest you try an extended test drive. Some dealers will let you have a vehicle for an overnight or weekend. The typical 20-30 minute test drive isn't enough time to get a good feel for the "performance" of the vehicle. You can always ask. The worst they will do is say No.

 

You will never pass another vehicle, again. Ever

 

Its deff Saturday yall

 

It's fine around town but freeway driving or hilly driving, you will be taking your time. To me the legendary reliability was worth the trade-off as this truck will be an "Overlander" of some sort for me, when I need to haul ass I take the car in my avatar.

 

The cartels load the beds of these 4 banger Tacomas with Tons of cocaine and haul them everywhere around South America. So if a Billion dollar industry finds them reliable enough then they must be reliable.

 

Do you really need a truck? Most sedans and compact SUVs can tow 1500lbs, and will get much better MPG. If your concern is better MPG, just get a car or SUV. It will also offer much better performance as 2.7 on Tacoma produces embarrassingly low power.

 

If you want a 4cyl get a new bronco 2.3 turbo, or wait til the 4th gen Tacoma is released.










While you're waiting for one of those get an '06 Tundra with a V8.

 

I have the 6 speed auto so it's programmed for mpg, I also had the base 245 street tires and I hypermile. Used to always average 23 to 24 for a full tank with 1/2 local half highway. Now it's all local with heavy tires so only 20ish.

When I was shopping trucks all the posts of the 3.5 claimed around 16 to 17mpg so to me I wanted the few mpg as my old Ranger was 17. Hated filling the tank every 280 miles.

 

If they still offered the 5 spd manual. I would say go for it.

 

My first gen was a 2.7 4cyl and my 2017 is a 3.5 v6. I don't think the v6 has enough power. You can forget about freeway on ramps or passing anyone with the 2.7. The 3.5 v6 can at least pretend to keep up with traffic. Also, the 3rd gen auto trans has a lot different shifting characteristics than the 2nd gen you're used to. I prefer the 2nd gen transmission with the v6. Maybe I should have opted for the manual.

 

2.7 easy too maintaine AND repair,go for it O.P. best engine Toyota ever made.

 

ive had a 2015 with the 4.0 and honestly on the highway its a bit more of a slug than the 3.5