Tacoma Reg. Cab 4x4 2.7L MPG?

Can anyone comment on real world MPG of the regular cab 4x4 2.7L Tacomas? I am particularly interested in the difference between 4x2 and 4x4. Toyota has 4x2 manual listed as 21/25 mpg and 4x4 manual as only 18/20 mpg. For the EPA testing do they have to run in 4wd or does the 4x4 really get 20% less mpg even with 4wd disengaged? If so that is really bad.

My father just sold his 05 Toyota Tacoma Dbl Cab 4x4 4.0L V6 Auto Off-Road after putting about 275,000 miles on it. He commutes between 4,000 - 5,000 miles per month! He was planning on purchasing a high mpg car (Prius, Insight, etc) but now all of a sudden he is concerned about winter driving...I think he misses his Tacoma! Now he is thinking Reg. Cab 4x4 2.7L Tacoma.

Any comments regarding mpg appreciated.

 

I have no constructive input on the MPG question.
but...
275K on an 05!? Awesome. Any chance of an ODO pic?

 

I'm seeing an average of 25 MPG's on my 2011 2.7l 4x2. that being said, the 4x4 will always decrease your gas mileage even when not engaged. The 4x4 adds extra weight and drag. if you father is really concerned with gas mileage, he should opt for the 4x2 or get something like a CRV or Rav4.

 

Ive got almost 35k on my 09 reg cab 5spd 4x4, best ive got was 24 (all highway ac on 75 mph) and the worst has been 17 (winter, messing around in 4wd). Normally i average 22-23 with combined city/highway, usually with the windows down, and somewhat of a heavy foot. Last week I installed 265 firestone destination a/t's on 17inch fj steelies, so im curious as to how much of a hit ill take with my mpg.

 

Everyone that has added bigger tires on a 5 lug that I've seen has taken a huge hit on MPG's. You will now be getting the same gas mileage as the 4.0 V6 crowd.

 

4x2...26.8 lifetime average for my truck (Every single tank that has been run through the truck). Usually 24-25 during winter but it goes up to 28-31 all summer long.

 

Just started pulling 21.6 average on last few tanks of mostly highway. On average with heavy foot, I do 19-20. Should do better in the lighter reg. cab

 

Me FTL. Had an odometer shot but deleted once the vehicle was out the door. The worst part about it is it was still running strong (needed AC service, that's about it). He probably should have just kept it and bought a high mpg car for non-winter weather. Now he will likely need to acquire 2 vehicles.

 

I understand that even with 4WD not engaged mpg will go down. But 5 mpg? That is really bad. I was under the impression that most new vehicles would only lose 1-2 mpg if 4x4 (but not engaged). That appears to be the case with F-150's anyway.

He thinks he requires 4x4, and in actuality he probably does 1-3% of the days of the year. He works at Honda Marysville but commutes from NE Ohio. There are days in the winter (just a few per year though) where there might be 6" snow down and he still has to get there (and is traveling at about 3 am). 4x4 is a plus; ground clearance though could be necessary some days.

The CRV is an ok idea. 27 mpg highway in 4x4 variant. But man is it ugly. Also the Honda 4WD system is kind of weak looking (comments made by the line workers that produce them).

 

The one thing he has going for him is that he drives SSLLLOOOWWW!!! Speed limit or even a few under.

I think he needs to get a dedicated winter beater truck and something really high mpg for the rest of the year. I wish they still made those 1st gen Insights. EPA rated 70 mpg highway and a decade later Prius/Insight don't even make that (or perhaps barely do if adjust for EPA revision). I don't understand what happened there.

 

i took my milage on the last cpl highway trips i took . i avgd 25.3 mpg and 25 mpg on both. that being said i have an undercover tonneau on my truck which emilinates the tailgate drag and it did boost my mileage i think its quite respectable #'s for a truck.id get the 4x4 if i was him just because of where you live. the first time he gets stuck someplace beacuse he doesnt have it hell be cusssin and wishin he did.

 

I should also add that I drive a comfortable 80-85 on the highway, but that's just keeping up with traffic.

 

You're comparing 5 lug to 4x4.

5 lug has lighter tires and lower ride height, both of which factor in to less resistance and are not drivetrain losses.

If you want "apples to apples" comparison, compare 4x4 to prerunner - they're sitting at same ride height and using same size tires.

 

Adding weight or resistance (as in the form of 4WD) will have a much greater effect on a smaller motor as compared to a larger motor. Larger motors make more than enough power to overcome added weight.

 

This is an excellent point. I owned a 2007 Prerunner Access Cab 2.7 Manual. I purchased the truck because I drive 40,000+ miles a year for work and the window sticker promised 27MPG highway. Well, after a little over 20,000 miles I realized that my best mileage was 23MPG highway. I took it back to the dealer and had them test the truck. The answer I received was that my truck was getting the exact mileage it was supposed to. Apparently, the 2.7 Prerunner (and 2.7 4x4) has a different rearend ratio than the 5 lug truck. I was told that is in large part responsible for the difference in fuel economy (27MPG vs 23MPG). It was quite a disappointment...

 

Ford Escape Hybrid 4x4? Just axin.

 

20 mpg (on a good tank ) with mixed city/hwy driving. I have 33 inch tires with 4.88 gears.

 

Yet toyota knowingly gets away with it because the rules let the pre-runner fall under the same rating as a standard cab 5-lug.

Add bigger tires, extra weight and 4 inch height difference along with the gear difference.

 

I would buy the 4x4 in the regular cab. He may not need it all the time, but it sounds like when he does need it, it willy pay for itself and then some.

With the sheer amount of driving he does, he could also justify adding LCE headers, perhaps a quieter exhaust like a Borla or similar, and maybe and an intake. These mods would obviously enhance power, but also enhance fuel efficiency, and with the driving he does, the mileage difference from these mods would probably pay for themselves overtime. Also he could consider going with a nice Synthetic like Amsoil 0w20 Signature Series.

Overall, I think he will be pleased with the mileage of the 2.7 regular cab 4x4 compared to his previous truck. I'd speculate at least 2 MPG better, but more in the 3-5 range. The trucks in question are about 450-500 pounds in curb weight difference, plus the smaller motor is more efficient, period. That all adds up overtime.

 

2010 2.7L 5sp 4x4 Access Cab. I have 20k miles on it, and the average for the entire 20k is 22mpg. I don't do much highway driving, but neither do I do much 4 wheeling. I get close to 23 in the summer, and under 21 in the winter. Here in PA the winter mix is terrible for milage, and the gas distributors charge more / gallon to make it, so $$/mile really sucks in the winter (relatively speaking).