Post your mpg

I've got the stock tires on a TRD OR and if I drive interstate at 70-80 mph, I won't cross 18-19 MPG. If I drive less than 60 I'll be over 20 mpg. It has improved as I've put more miles on it. The first few tanks I was getting 15-16 on the interstate now I'm around 18-19

 

Slow down if you want better mileage. Driving 70-80 miles an hour in a truck or any other vehicle is going to get you good mileage. What is the speed limit where you live and do the local police bother to enforce it? Doesn't sound like they do. As a daily commuter the Tacoma would be a poor choice in my mind. The best md size truck on the market though.

Back in the day I pulled a trailer down to L.A. to visit a cousin and got 10 mpg Imperial driving a 400cu in V8 Pontiac. I made the same trip pulling that trailer to Vancouver with a Dodge 3/4 ton V8 and got 10 mpg Imperial. I took a 28' Motorhome all through the Canadian Rockies and averages 10MPG Imperial. The lesson I learned back then was it took so much energy to move so much mass no matter what vehicle you use, Just saying.

 

The speed limits on the roads around my neck of the woods are mostly 60 mph. I generally try to drive 3 mph over the limit. The land is gently rolling hills. I have found I can improve my mileage to over 20 mpg if I throw it into neutral on the down hills to keep the auto tranny from down shifting. That is a pain to do continually though.

 

In the Midwest the speed limit on the interstate is anywhere from 65-80 with most places are 70 or higher. South Dakota is 80.

 

Drive slower. Drag increase exponentially with velocity increase. I assume you are also driving on the highway with cruise control on. Turn it off when going up hills and it won't down shift as much.

Your high speed is killing your gas mileage. Don't blame Toyota. Truck bodies create a lot of drag.

 

The truck should not be down shifting going down Hills unless you have the cruise control on or if you are hitting the brakes. If it's not holding its speed in Drive, going to neutral could help.

We don't have many Hills around around here to speed up the truck, so I don't do this very often

 

Speed limits are an upper bound. You do not need to drive at them. You will not be ticketed for driving on the right at a slower speed

 

There are lower bounds on the speed limit, typically between 45 and 65. If you don't go relatively close to the speed limit, you'll be rear ended by someone who's doing 5-10 mph over and not paying attention. It happens all the time. I could drive 45 mph all day and get better gas mileage but that's not realistic, especially if you have a 300 mile or longer drive. You would almost double the travel time.

In my 2005, I drove the same roads at the same speeds and had better gas mileage. I'd expect at least the same if not better mileage from a truck that is 11 years newer. It's that simple.

 

I drive 60 on 75 mph interstate frequently and never feel in danger, lot of trucks traveling the same speed as me too. Can't recall even getting honked at, the fear the you'll get run off the road or rear ended is BS.

 

You can say it's BS all you want but I've seen it happen multiple times.

If there are many other vehicles traveling at the same speed as you that's much different than you being the one guy out there doing 20 mph less than everyone else.

Everyone's solution seems to be "drive slower". If I drove my second gen slower I could get better mpg too. Driving both at the same speed my 3rd gen has not seen any better mpg than my 2nd gen achieved in the same locations, same conditions, same speed.

 

At those speeds you are never going to get decent mileage just get to where you are going a few minutes faster and increase your chances of an accident. Life is full of choices.

 

Drive the autobahn, there are huge differentials in speed on 2 lane interstate type roads and it works. Terrible drivers here might rear end others I guess.

 

Simple physics, nothing new there. Want great gas mileage buy a Corolla for a commute vehicle and a truck to play with.

 

1000 miles 18.0

 

Agree that the advertisement of a better motor for fuel efficiency was a sham. Would have been better off leaving the 4.0L in there as far as I'm concerned. Love my truck but it is what it is

 

Sell it and buy a second gen, it's got the 4.slow that you crave

 

That 4.slow beats your truck off the line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbmOYTMirrw

 

My fiancée has a 2016 4runner SR5 premium. The throttle response and acceleration is just more pleasing IMO. I love the 2016 Tacoma but I wish they could mimic the power band in the 4Runner. It is a very different feel. For +1 mpg average difference....swing and a miss.

 

I like the 3.5. More efficient

 

In CA where the speed limit is 60 it might be but in many other states the speed limit is 65+ on highways and interstates. Driving under the speed limit can be dangerous and poses unnecessary risks to oneself and other motorists.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016721/Slow-drivers-dangerous-roads-cause-crashes.html

https://www.esurance.com/info/car/the-dangers-of-driving-too-slowly

Keeping with the flow of traffic is best. In many states that means driving outside of the 3.5 liter fuel efficiency sweet spot