My Thoughts on the 4 Cyl Tacoma

I bought an 05 access cab 4x4 4cyl 5 speed brand new and put 102k miles on it. I never saw worse than 21mpg from it and when it was new with the sucky 245's it got 24mpg pretty regularly. I put 265/70/16's A/T tires on it and then I averaged about 22.5. I loved the truck but my daughter got too big and I bought a double cab. Which I love but I sure miss the mileage and the manual trans. If they put this drivetrain in a double cab 4x4 I would have bought one from the start. It sure wouldn't be quick but it would be adequate just like my access cab was.

 

Yeah, I've got a 68 Chevy C-10 that I'm doing a frame off restoration on. Right now it's still light enough to trailer with the old truck (rolling chassis), but once it gets a cab & sheetmetal on it the weight would be too much. Been toying with a boat in a year or two - one too big for the old truck to have handled.

 

'68 C10...Sweet!

 

I don't plan on towing anything that heavy cross country - but the new truck will do a fine job for running a loaded up trailer around town.

 

I drove my 2007 Access Cab 4x4 across the country fully loaded to the tonneau cover (folding aluminum sandwich) with shooting gear (rifles, targets, tools) from Barrie, ON to Vancouver, BC and back. 5000 miles each way with several stops... I'm saying miles because my Taco is a USA model and adopted here in Canada. I averaged 25 to 27 mpg (Imperial gallons, of course). I cannot complain. It's pretty consistent with your USA gallon mpg figures.

I was really impressed that I could cruise at 70 mph and 75 mph with ease in 5th gear (manual) across the prairies. Even with the AC running, the 4 cyl 2.7L engine hardly protested.

When I hit the Rockies in Alberta and the interior Mtns in BC, I found myself shifting once in a while from 70 mph during the ascent to the 4th gear and slowing down in the climb to 55 mph or so. Then the large rigs started catching up to me while chugging along in 4th gear. Most of the time I could climb the 10% to 13% (I came close to a 14% ) grades and keep it in 5th, especially if they were not a super long incline.

I'm really happy with my 5 speed 2.7L. So much so that my 26 year old son wants this truck. Yup, you fine 'Mericans shipped this bare bones Access cab north to Canada: no electronic locks, no electronic windows, no fancy stuff. My son thanks you all! ha ha ha ha

Cheers and warm regards,

Barney

 

I was worndering about this trip from the time I bought the vehicle. Was hoping I wasn't going to feel like I was rowing a boat going up the grades, the truck did not disappoint.

Don't think I mentioned that it is also an access cab.

Some of you may have to explain the tire situation, I had no idea they make a big difference. Not sure of the make but they are more of a highway type tread. Size is 245x75x16.

 

I think you drove through my home town. (Charleston WV) I have towed bass tracker on the WV turnpike many times and had no problems. I have to down shift on some of the hills but never go below 60. Also the speed limt on the turnpike.

 

Forgot to say that i have the same truck with a 2.7. I also have 265/75/16 tires.

 

Those are stock size. The highway tread is going give the best MPGs. All Terrain and Mud Terrain tread patterns will slightly decrease your MPGs. Generally speaking, if you increase the height of the tire it will decrease your MPGs. There's a tire calculator linked on the TW Home page menu; you can put in different sizes and get a visual of the change in height and width. Going from P rated tires to heavier load ratings (C/D/E) will also decrease MPGs. Tire discussions can get very deep and confusing fast. What I've posted here is my simple understanding and experience on my truck.

 

I have a V6 4x4 because I move every few years and wanted the towing capacity. However, if Toyota made a DCSB PreRunner with a 4 banger and a 5 speed standard I would have been sorely tempted. I'm a huge fan of the 4 bangers.

 

You're right about the P rated tires.
On my 4 banger 5 lug 5 speed, I went from 245/75/16 off road tires to 235/60/16 passenger car tires and now get 23-24 city and 28-29 highway.

 

I run an 08 (before that an 06) reg cab four banger 5 speed manual.

I get around 24 per gal by tank.

This is all around, mix driving. Long commute at highway speeds but lots of in-town stop and go's.

The biggest bitch for me in fuel economy is top speed. I still struggle to keep her at 70ish on the turnpike....she wants to go faster.

 

Interesting thought. I bought mine used with load range E 245s. It gets consistently over 25mpg in mountain and highway driving. Maybe it will do better with less stiff tires.

 

You must have mastered the art of a light right foot.
Best I ever got was 23.5 MPG on P rated 245/75/16 GY Wrangler SRA hwy tread tires. I average 20+ or - a little on same size LT Es AT tread (Summer) and P rated Blizzaks (Winter).

 

I have a 2011 4Cyl 5-speed 4WD. No shell, but a tonneau cover. On the factory gear lube, if I really went easy and kept it at 55, I could get 26.

I changed my trans/trans case, and diffs at 15k, and used all synthetic. Now I can get about 28mpg if I really take it easy.

My mileage plummets with speed, though. If I do 70+, I get about 21.

I don't regret the 4Cyl, and never felt limited by it. I am not an automatic guy, and I dread the day when you can no longer buy manuals. E.g. not available in the F-150s anymore.

 

That's actually the reason I got an Access Cab, to have the V6...

 

I'd hate to see them end the 5 speed option. My first Toyota was a 1985 4Runner that I bought in 2005. It came from NJ, owned by a fire dept and had 36k miles on it when I got it. Very little rust but it was a 4 cyl auto. This was the vehicle that sold me on a 5 speed with 4 cyl engines. That trans was always downshifting. Wish I still had the vehicle though.

 

Just got a 14 access cab 4 banger. First tacoma ive had. I wanted the 4 cylinder for the better gas mileage as i drive 30k a year but i was hesitant until i drove one because of my previous experience with a 4 cylinder jeep.

The 4 cylinder jeep tj was an absolute dog, had no guts at all, but the 2.7 tacoma is a great little engine. I havent felt underpowered at all with the 2.7, its perfectly suited to this truck. Im sure the v6 would make the ride a little more thrilling, but its real advantage in my opinion would be towing max loads. Other than towing i see no "need" for the v6 in the tacoma as the 4 cylinder accelerates well and cruises well at highway speeds. Merging onto a freeway is easy, and only on the steepest of hills do you need to really downshift.

I test drove both the manual and automatic tranny 4 banger tacomas and, although the auto is adequate, i do feel the manual allows you to wring more power out of the 2.7 by allowing you to shift at higher rpms. I chose the manual tranny for that reason. Overall im really impressed with the 2.7 engine.

 

Very much this.

I had the wife with me the other day and we were 'in a hurry'. Long story short, I ran the gears to haul ass...well, for a 4 banger.

Anyhow, she doesn't ride with me very often, as there's usually at least one yout and/or some other shit that won't fit in my single cab


So, she gets all round eyed once I get up to cruising speed and goes...

"Honey, what the FUCK. How fast were you going when you grabbed 5th gear?"

"uhmm...80? maybe 85ish?"

"Are you TRYING to kill her?"

At which point I gave her the Tommy Lee Jones Implied Facepalm look.

 

Got a 4-cylinder 2013 back in June, has just over 5,000 miles at this point. Two wheel drive.

It has enough power and then some. The only way I could ever see needing much more would be if I were towing large objects, and I don't tow anything.