New Tacoma - Engine recommendation

I'm looking to buy a new Tacoma 2WD Access cab which must have an automatic transmission and air. My question is should I get the I4 or the V6?

Some background. I'm a senior and will not be modifying the truck in any way. I use my current truck for the occasional trip to the local home improvement stores, to pickup an occasional furniture purchase, occasionally to help someone move and a few trips to the dump. I won't be driving it off road, in the snow but maybe an occasional (1 or 2 times a year) trip to Tahoe or the north coast which means mountains. I won't be towing anything. Mostly I drive it when I'm alone as my wife and I have a SUV which she drives when she is alone.

I've driven both and the the I4 seems to have all the power I need. But my son in law says the I4 has to work harder and I tend to agree.

I've had a truck since the early 70s. My first was a used Ford, then two new small Toyotas which I had for 13 and 12 years respectively and then a Ranger which I've had for 11 years. The Toyotas were great trucks. I got rid of the first because the air went out and the second because of the load tie down. Basically I got tired of after loading up the truck having to fight to reach the tie downs. The Ranger doesn't have this problem because I added tie downs to the holes along the top of the bed which the Tacoma doesn't have. But the new Tacoma has tie downs that are more accessible. There is nothing wrong with the Ranger but I'm tired of shifting thus the automatic. That and after 11 years and 80K miles I suspect major problems are likely to happen sooner rather than later.

 

V6
The power is always there when you need it not when you wish you had it.​

 

I4 would be fine for your uses. They are very strong and durable engines.

 

i have to agree

 

x3 And a solid first post. Welcome to TW.

 

V6! Access cab prerunner SR5.

 

V6 if you can shell out the $$$, it's worth it. Plus if you get the V6 you could take on some trips and give your wife's SUV a break!!

 

You didn't mention whether price or gas mileage were concerns of yours, so I'm guessing not. The difference in mileage is not that great, and having never looked at a 4 cyl. myself, I don't know what the price difference is.

Those things aside, you will be glad for the power when you do make a trip to the mountains if you get the V6. I have never been a fan of an auto tranny and a 4 cyl. combination, that's just me. You'll hear plenty of votes probably on here for that particular combination of engine and transmission; it never worked for me, especially in a truck. Standard transmission and 4 cyl. I could live with all day long; auto, not. I've had plenty of 4 cyl. vehicles, including trucks in my life, and there is no comparison to the driveability and sense of adequate power of the V6, in relation to the 4 cyl. Take it for what it's worth.

Welcome to TW.

 

to me, comes down to the mpg difference. either would do you fine.

 

I love my 4-cylinder for its fuel economy (23+ mpg) and quiet smoothness, plus I rarely haul anything serious. A few times each year I wish for more power, usually that's when hauling dirt bikes and camping gear in the mountains. Going up toward Tahoe sometimes I have to drop into 2nd gear and spin up the revs to maintain speed, but she does so without complaint.

So in higher altitudes or on hills, the 4-cylinder tends to struggle. On your yearly trips you have both altitude and hills, so I recommend the V6... especially for your wife's security, comfort and peace of mind.

 

The family car use to be a 91 Explorer V6 which couldn't maintain the speed limit going up to Tahoe on the steeper hills. I said I would never again buy another car that couldn't maintain the speed limit going up to Tahoe. So it starting to look like the V6.

With gas at $4/gal and expected to hit $5 in the not to distant future mileage is a concern. My V6 Ranger averages around 20 mpg. So I'll check a website I know where users post their actual mileage and see what a Tacoma does.

 

For your uses, the I4 will be more than adequate.

The truck is somewhat bigger than the older generations, but the current 2.7 I4 has more horsepower than the old V6 engines did.

 

If you really really want to maintain 65mph all the way over Donner Pass, (at least until that RV up ahead decides to try and pass the semis) then I suppose the V6 will be necessary.

For everything else you described, sounds like the I4 would be plenty. FWIW It's the least gutless of all the gutless 4-bangers I've ever had.

 

Is there a dealer up in Auburn, Placerville or Grass Valley you can go check out? Then you can drive an I4 up some hills on I-80 or Hwy 50 and get a better idea of whether or not it will work for you.

The advantages of the I4 are better gas mileage (of course) and also less maintenance. The V6 requires tuneup at 30k miles. The I4 at 100k miles. That's nice. And like any Toyota engine, you should see 200k easy whether V6 or I4.

 

Get the V6 forget the 4 banger

 

For every day driving, I would expect a 2wd access cab with the V6 would push 20 mpg, maybe even a little better, depending on your driving habits. It will suck gas if you try to hold the speed limit through mountain roads though...

 

save some $ go with the 4 banger and spend a couple hundred on small upgrades to gain a little more power....for those times when you wish you had a little more power going up the sierra passes, you'll make it through fine and the other 97% of your driving you'll have adequate power for your needs...

 

I wish my truck had more power the v6 is gutless to me. I can not imagine passing people in a 4cyl its bad enough with the v6.

 

I'd vote V6 especially if you ever plan to tow anything.

 

If you have to cross Mtn passes like I do, get the v6. The I4 gets worse gas mileage around here in the Tetons crossing passes because it has to work so much harder to get up....With my v6 4x4 I never get below 19MPG, and average 21-23, even in the winter. And it gets below zero often here.

I know someone that bought the I4 to save on gas, she totally regrets not getting the v6 because I get better or the same Mpg than her on average and have much more power....and I dont get passed crossing Teton/Pine creek/Togowotee pass by old beater cars

This is also an access cab I4 truck she has, 4x4, which I think is a little too big of truck for the 4 banger...I cant imagine a double cab long bed I4's power, ESPECIALLY with 4-5 people in it, and at 7-9000ft elevation.

A regular cab 4x4 with the I4 is a sweet rig though...IMO