In the market for a Tacoma: I4 vs V6

Hi, names Ret new to the forum but have been a reader for a while.

So I'm currently searching for a Tacoma as my new DD; I drive a f150 that will eventully be handed over to my 16 yr old brother. I'm in college, have a part time job, so a brand new one is not much of an option. I have found a I4 2012 DC prerunner at a local dealer. It's nice and I liked it. Good mpg and in my price range. I don't tow, race, or off road but like a somewhat aggressive look/stance. But don't need a 6" lift with fox coilovers and 35's haha. What I'm worried about is if I put on a larger tire 265 75 16 specifically, and maybe some 5100's for looks, can that I4 handle it? I do know it has 4.10 gears compared to the v6 3.73

I have test drove both the v6 and I4, of course I can fell a power difference 236 vs 159 lol. But for what I'll be using the truck for, do I truly need the v6? Like I said, we have a f150 so any towing that needs to be done will be performed by that truck.

Just mainly looking for some opinions with experienced toyota tacoma owners. Thanks

 

I had a 2.7 in my 2012 reg cab and had 265s on and it sucked on the highway way underpowered without gears. Great motors dont get me wrong but a dbsb 4 banger I wouldnt do, get the V6

 

Of course not. For what you have in mind, the I4 will do the job for less money.

The V6 won't get any better fuel mileage than the F150 and the Ford will haul more stuff. So if someone convinces you that you need the V6, you'd be better off just keeping the F150.

 

Yeah I understand there are guys that are gonna say v6 no matter what. But the reason I wanted a tacoma was for better mileage than my f150. After researching the v6 gets literally no better mpg; maybe 1 or 2 mpg. Even if the 265 75 16 are too big, I'd could always add the 265 70 16 which is stock on TRD off road package.

 

Not saying the 2.7 is bad but the DCSB is too much for it. If you were looking for just a reg cab Id say do it.

 

Ret, I owned a 2010 single cab I4 and my currrent 2012 DCSB V6 for about two years at the same time. The I4 with the same size tires as my V6 (265/75r16) got no better MPGs than my V6 (ever and only as good if I was lucky). The I4 was a 5 speed manual and the V6 is a 5 speed automatic. The I4 was really slow and really didn't provide any advantage. Still a good truck but, switching between the two was not something I looked forward to doing.

 

Just go with the V6, there's a few guys that can get 20+mpg. I used to be one of them.

 

75% of the time I get within 5% of 20mpg.

Really, I get right around 20mpg almost all year long in my V6.

 

We're so price sensitive to gasoline that we're always worrying about 5,6 or 7 mpg difference. Over the course of a year you're looking at a few hundred dollars of gas difference. I've had three toyota pickups. First two were 4 bangers. Reliable, economical, but GUTLESS!! Opted for the V6 on the third. Being able to demand power when I push the pedal more than compensates for the cost of fuel. Drive a V6 and you'll see.

 

i get 17 right now, 18 with a tailwind. It all started when I joined this site....


My tires are LT265/75/16 on stock rims. so that killed my mileage a lot. I'm eventually going to get some P-rated tires in the same size, see how that goes, then if its still bad, or if i dont feel it has enough power, i'll save up for a regear to 4.56. But I'm kinda saving my money for a bumper LOL. so thats going to kill it more.

 

It depends on how much driving you do.

5mpg costs me an extra $3500 per year. I need to wake up at 4am a lot of days to gather up that much scratch...

 

My truck is 07 4x4 Access Cab SR5 4cyl with 5 speed manual. It's not a rocket, but it does what I ask it to do to include towing my flatbed with wheelers @ 2500lbs or my enclosed 6x10 enclosed trailer @ 3200lbs. On Blizzak P245/75/16 in Winter and GY Wrangler Silent Armors LT245/75/16 in Summer I average 20MPG relatively consistently. Sometimes 19.5MPG ... sometimes as high as 21.5. And again it's 4x4 and you're looking at a Pre-Runner (less drivetrain/weight).

Strictly my humble opinion ... If you go 4cyl only do it with the manual trans. If I was going auto trans, I'd want the 6cyl.

Don't know it that helps, but that's my experience FWIW.

EDIT: Towing the trailers drops 3 to 5 MPG.

 

I bought the I4 because it was less expensive, but at the time I never planned to lift the truck or move up in tire size. Doing both of those things robbed me of a lot of power and 33"s are not very MPG friendly in that configuration.

I would say if MPG is your concern, the I4 with upgraded tires is going to take more of a performance hit than the V6 in the same setup, essentially undoing any MPG advantage the I4 has.

 

You might find some useful information in this thread to help with your question/decision. Didn't read it all, so can't say for sure.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/4-cylinder/110564-4-cylinder-double-cab-review-prerunner-3.html

 

Well mpg isn't my huge deciding factor. I drive a f150 now an it's not killing me. Just the byproduct of a tacoma, especially the I4, was a little better mpg.

But I think I read on a specs sheet that the access cab 4x4 weighs more than this prerunner dcsb. From reviews I've read the I4 in the access cab does fine the only complaint is power.

I guess I can't let my "want factor" get in the way of reality.

 

Let us know what you pick

 

going from an f150 to a 4cly with stock gearing will bother you...

 

I4 for local flat terrain city driving. V6 for hilly and highway driving.

 

My f150 is a 1997 4.6 with bigger tires and stock 3.55 gears...it's not fast haha and I don't drive fast anyway.

I live in Augusta, GA I'd say the terrain isn't too terrible; not overly hilly but not flat either. Most of my driving with be done locally in the city. Unless I go on vacation which is only in the summer. But when I test drove the I4 it got up to 77 easily on I-20. Most the time I follow interstate speed limit.

 

I'll second that...at $3.299 a gallon it's $3,100.69 for me or about $260 a month.