My Third Tacoma

Pretty happy with my new truck. Liking it more than I thought I would. Wasn’t a big fan of the 4th gen at first but I started to come around. Coming from a ‘20 SR5 5’ bed, this truck feels bigger. I did get the long bed but it feels bigger inside as well. Driver’s seat feels better. Seems a lot more comfortable. That may just be the seating position is a little different. Tons of improvements all around. The automatic high beams work. They sucked on my ‘20. I like how the rear seats flip up and can be held in place. Way more storage too. Lots more safety features than the other truck. Gonna be a while before I have it all figured out. One thing I found peculiar was the fuel gauge. Dealer filled it. Showed 296 miles to empty. Waited till it went to one bar on the gauge. Said I had 35 miles left but only took a little over 14.5 gallons. Went 342 so average 23.5ish. But with a 18.2 gallon tank it seems I had more left. Probably twice what it was indicating. Would have been okay with a slightly bigger tank but not at all upset about it. I started out with a ‘17 SR, traded it in for my ‘20 and now this ‘25. By far the best one yet. Never had a minutes trouble with the first two. Hopefully that trend continues. As far as mods goes I’ve added mud guards, a bed mat, a try fold soft bed cover and have window vent shades on the way. That just started today. Headed across country with it at the end of the month. (Delaware to Arizona). I may post a few pics from the trip. So far I’m very pleased with my decision.

 

Congrats!
I'm on my first Tacoma and I feel like I shouldn't have waited so long.

 

Nice ride, and congrats!

 

Nice..please take the Airdam off

 

I had some weird MPG/DTE readings on my first tank or two of gas, as well. I figured it would sort itself out eventually. It did.

 

It takes a bit for the algorithm to settle in. I tracked mine with Fulio app for a while until things seemed to match up.

 

Congrats

 

Congrats.

 

I’ll have to see one with it off. I kinda like it so it’ll probably stay.

 

I took mine off for a little while and put it back on. I drive mostly highway and it made a difference in a negative way, noisier and affected gas mileage a little. But, I’m an old man, what do I know?

 

I get why it bothers some but it doesn't bother me. I kept mine - at least for now.

 

It's your truck...to each his own.

 

So you’re saying it was noisy without it? Gas mileage got worse without it as well? Appreciate your comment.

 

I like the look of it.

 

I figured out that with the DTE, they seemed to have calibrated it to not recognize the three gallon or so "reserve" that they don't want you to drop below for the sake of the fuel pump cooling since this tank is very flat. So it reads as if you have a 15 gallon tank for the DTE purposes. After a few thousand miles my mpg average has leveled out at about 27 mpg and my DTE at fillup is 400 miles. So that bears out my theory since 27 mpg x 15 gallons is 405 miles.

 

Yes that’s true in my case with mostly highway driving. Though I will say that the truck did look better without it…

 

FWIW, I saw a YouTube video where two guys tested the mileage both with and without the chin strap on an all stock 2024 Taco OR. They did a 50 mi loop to test each configuration. Each time started with a full tank at the station and filled it up again upon finishing to get most accurate gas useage. When they calculated the difference in gas mileage it came out to 0.3 mpg.

 

TFL did that and several other Tacoma reviews including the infamous front axle breakage. Also the Car Care Nut reviews are good for all the technical aspects. He loved the SR5 but didn't think the TRD Pro was worth the money.