3rd Gen Shifting & MPG SR vs OR

After driving my new Tacoma for a few days I have noticed some odd things about my 23 TRDOR compared to my 21 SR.

When I got the SR I noticed absolutely no weird shifting or lack of power like everyone talks about. It averaged around 19 MPG combined, I drive around 70-75 mph on the highway and about 2500 miles/month.

On a trip over the weekend from STL to Peoria the 23 stayed in 5th gear for almost the whole drive ~75 mph and we averaged about 15.5 mpg on a pretty flat highway. Everyday average is around 17mpg.

The 23 also seems to have a hard time holding 6th on a normal highway drive and the shift to 5th gear is slow.

Not sure if this is just difference in tires/tire size, or if there is some gearing differences between the two, everything I can find says its the same.

Not really a major complaint although not being able to hold 6th is strange. I've read most of the shifting issue threads but didn't see anyone comparing the different models.

Curious if anyone else has had a similar experience with different 3rd gen years/trims. Also if anyone else has the same situation with 6th gear.

 

If your sr was 2wd and the new off-road is 4wd, then that explains it. 2wd vehicles of the same model usually drives lighter than 4wd counterparts.

 

Should have noted that, both were DCSB 4x4 3.5 AT

 

a small constant headwind can play a huge roll here, in either model

 

That would make sense, it was dark for most of the trip so I had nothing to gauge the wind.

 

I’d be curious what the difference in curb weight is between the SR and TRD OR. The SR has a heck of a lot less stuff…not even door emblems!

 

If both 4x4s, makes no difference.

 

I'll play.

I have a '21 TRDOR 4x4 and the shifting was total crap until I got it tuned. Did the OTT tune and that is all fine and dandy. The truck won't get above 15.5 mpg no matter what I do...full of tools/empty, canopy/no canopy. 15.5mpg with my 265/75R16 tires.

I also have a '23 SR AC 2wd with the 4-cyl and for some reason I like this truck significantly more. It shifts better, feels peppier, just drives better. I know it won't get me places that the TRDOR will...but as an everyday driver it's 10x better. And, it gets 22.6mpg stock.

 

At least it’s consistent, that’s how my 1st gen was. 17mpg in the wind, with the wind, with 245’s, with 33’s, didn’t seem to matter it just was where it liked to be.

The more I drive it the more I’m getting used its quirkiness. I had an outback prior to the 21 SR and that had a seriously strange transmission and was absolutely gutless so I was probably just happy to have more power with the Tacoma last time around.

 

I can assure just a few MPH of headwind, if steady, makes a difference. I’ve done it several times heading dead west on the interstate for 160 miles to a match, and 4 hours later turning back. Usually West in to the wind and east with. Of course weather changes, but it was repeatable. West was about 2-2.5 MPGs less, and then it picks up on the way home.

 

I usually throw it into S6 on the highways. It’s the “eco mode” as i call it since it’ll try to stay in 6th gear at all times. might be slightly sluggish but one will gain the fuel economy in return.

 

Has your 23 even gotten past the break in period yet?

The SR will also come with tires more oriented to highway driving and have less rolling resistance.

 

S6 does not hold the truck in 6th. S-mode only limits the maximum gear the truck will go into. So S6 is the same as normal Drive. If you stop at a red light and select S2 to try and start in second, you're not actually in 2nd. You'll still be in 1st.

 

you’re correct, it will not hold it in 6th indefinitely. however the truck will do its best to get to 6th when possible. i have experimented with this plenty of times before.. lol

 

I have a 2017 Trd Sport. Recently it was at the dealership for service for a week. The dealership gave me a 2023 Sr5 to drive. It held 6th gear on the highway much better than my truck, shifted less than my truck. Only real difference in the trucks was tire size and a few hundred pounds. Minor difference in trucks, big difference in driving manors.

 

I have a 23 sport
After the OTT tune, I regular to get 19.5-21.5. I do run ethanol free fuel. When running gas with ethanol, I normally lose about 1-1.5

 

i recently did a 2000-mile trip. on the way, i averaged 20.5 mpg. i was surprised it was that good because i was often going 70-80 MPH. on the return, fuel mileage was about 18ish. i followed the same route both directions and actually drove a bit slower on the return.

i had a head wind on the return which had some effect. also, it was much colder on the return. i noticed when the temperature drops below 30F, my fuel mileage drops by about 1 mpg.

 

My 2020 holds 6th gear like it should. Not sure what you are experiencing.
2020 OR DCSB V6 Auto 4X4. Stock configuration.

 

Yup. They do shift funky shifters

 

This was my assumption, good to hear someone else with a similar experience.