MPG Estimates for 2016?

It's a pretty safe bet the mileage will be within 1 or 2 mpg of the Colorado. Toyota will only go as far as they need to compete in the class. Currently the bar is set at ~24-25 mpg highway with the Colorado. Toyota won't likely go beyond that because they don't have to.

 

They advertised higher mpgs than they could get? That's comforting since Toyota doesn't have fuel efficient trucks in the first place, but they are at least accurate.

So you wanted two Tacomas? For what? Sounds like my kind of driveway! But I have to say I think it may be best to get something really fuel efficient for your other car since you have a truck already. But in the end, get the vehicle that will make you happiest as your third vehicle.

(So get 3 tacomas)

 

According reports fuelly, on line testing the Colorado isn't doing 24-25 hwy. 21-22 max seems like it.

http://www.fuelly.com/car/chevrolet/colorado/2015

I don't put much faith into EPA numbers.

We moved from AZ to Idaho last summer, my SUV is RWD (which is doable in the snow and ice, I am originally from PA) however, we want to add another AWD or 4WD to what we have. She suggested I just get another Tacoma, which is cool...but seems kinda silly to me. I also have a 50 mile round trip commute now. Something that gets better mileage than a Taco for a daily driver makes more sense to me. I am willing to spend $30K on a vehicle, cheapest Tacoma in the configuration I want is roughly $28K, I can pick up a Suby for $22K, gasser VW Sportwagon is about the same. TDI version is about the same price as the Taco, however it does get 40 mpg+, here diesel is generally 10¢ cheaper than 91 octane (I only run 91 in my vehicles).

The Suby seems to winning the pros and cons as of now. Cheaper buy-in cost than the Taco or the TDI VW, I can also run it down a mild dirt road without fear of putting a hole in the oil pan like on the VW. That and I will still have a Tacoma for the rough stuff the Suby can't handle.

Couple of my dirt bike buds have gone to the Suby or VW route for their general daily vehicles and their trucks stay parked for the most part.

 

6-21 depending on how much fun u have

 

I'd look at XV crosstrek as a cheapo new DD.

 

I'd driven Honda's and Toyota's for a good twenty years before getting a Subaru Forester a few years ago. The AWD is excellent and tackles our driveway on a modest hill through up to 6-7 inches of snow easily even on the lame factory tires. The interior is decent and reliability good so far. But it seems slightly less well built and thought out than a Honda or a Toyota - minor things really so far. Comfort quite good though - have done a few 1000 mile trips in it and been quite happy (well, as happy as you can be on such a long trip).

I've noticed any place that has snow and hills there are a bunch of Foresters and Outbacks on the road. They just do so much better than FWD or RWD and to be honest better than a basic open diff full time 4WD as well. Given Idaho is a snowy hilly place I'd imagine you see them around you a lot already.

Be aware, even if you like an MT normally with the Suby you'll probably want to end up with an AT. The mileage on the MT is no better (for some configurations slightly worse actually) and the traction control more advanced and effective on the AT.

And the AWD is available on everything they make, but if you want a little more clearance you are looking at a Forester or Outback. Between those two really one isn't "better" than the other, they are just different cars with the Outback more station wagon like and the Forester more SUV like. We weren't sure but were leaning towards the Outback initially but after a test drive we preferred the Forester. Similar people to us have made exactly the opposite decision. So be sure to try both out in person before getting your heart set on one or the other.

The MPG is not amazing by any means, but better than a Tacoma of course. Low to mid 20's with mixed highway and city driving.

 

I was looking at the Forester since it has a tad more cargo room.

Thanks for the info. Yeah, there are ton of Subarus running around here, see plenty of rednecks driving them...so they aren't only for middle-age lesbians.

We had a couple FWD cars when I lived in PA, they did "ok" in the snow. I have been in my buddy's Suby in the snow, pretty amazing. Seems like the people I know are getting roughly 24-25 city 28-30 hwy. Majority of driving is hwy, both work and home are only a couple lights off the hwy. I can't get better than 21 hwy out of my Taco, that is really babying it. I rented an Outback years ago, I could get 26 hwy...that was well over 10 years ago, would imagine they have improved a bit since then.

Manual is a personal preference, one I just like driving them over AT's, that and my dad has been in a wheelchair since I can remember, pushing the clutch in reminds me not to take my legs for granted.

I would imagine the car would get picked for road trips over the Taco, I have buddy coming up this summer to go dirt bike riding, he is leaving his Silverado at home, and bringing his VW TDI. Has a little aluminum trailer for it, says it pulls the bike just fine.

 

Had a couple of Subarus. They have the best on road drive system for the money because they can get more torque to the rear wheels on demand then the fwd to AWD systems most AWD cars have, the problem I have always had is their calling card; the flat four. It alows them to have the front to back drive train and balanced traction, but it is ugly sounding and no where near as reliable as the Toyota motors I have had. We have an AWD Venza now which is "adaquate" where we are. The drive system is not as good but it's very comfy, has better stock engines and Imo, is much more reliable. If you stay on the beaten path, I would stay with the Venza. If you plan on trading before 100k or so which I did with my two Subbies, they might be better traction wise. The bottom line though.....

IT's ALL ABOUT THE TIRES. if you use snow tires in the winter, any modern AWD system will work very well. Tires are the most transformative single ingredient in a car's performance. They are the great equalizer. Toyota AWD and snows is what we settle on for winter.....and we had 130 inches of snow this past year.

If you are the type who thinks AWD is a replacement for winter or AT tires, you will be in for a rude awakening when you try to stop or turn in snow.....AWD doesn't help you there !

 

I looked at the Venza, mileage doesn't seem all the great compared to the Subaru. No manual trans.

Toyota needs to bring back the AWD Corolla Wagon.

Too bad we don't get the Avensis, looks to be slightly longer than the Venza, available in AWD, Diesel, and manual trans.

 

Indeed, no one here in MD seems to understand this. As a result the 2WD vehicles carefully creep along and successfully stop at intersections. The 4WD trucks on the other hand barrel down the road and then fly through intersections and smash into things. Traction control and AWD systems help you get going, they don't help you stop...

 

No delusions there, I grew up in PA, didn't move to AZ until I was 21. We had 4WD, FWD, and RWD vehicles driven them all in the snow and ice.

Shoot, our driveway was half mile long up a hill, off a state road...that thing would turn into a sheet of ice during the freezing and thawing. Could be a little exciting at times, as it was on blind corner...you would just slide out onto the road, and pray no one else was coming.


Hmmm...VW has confirmed the Golf Alltrack for USA 2016.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/03/31/vw-golf-sportwagen-alltrack-confirmed-new-york/

 

That's pretty sweet looking. I wish more car companies offered a sportwagon. I wouldn't mind having a VW.... if they were reliable and have a manly cloth seat pattern

 

my wife has the sportwagon. I remember seeing something about this a year or so ago. I would love the AWD but I think we are going with a sedan next time (A4). Nice car though.

 

I wish we had more sport wagon options too. 'Murica doesn't seem to like them for some reason.

We had a Jetta years ago, swore I would never buy a late model VW ever again....but dang, they make some good looking cars. Would be awesome if you could get the GTI interior in the Sportwagon. I might consider owning another VW, if I ditched it before the warranty was up.

 

^God, that plaid. Reminds me of the seats on my Granddad's old V8 Vega. Ooof.

 

I had a 2007 GTI with the plaid. Loved those seats and the pattern especially. If I could get a GTI wagon, I'd forgive all the months that my GTI spent getting repairs.

 

You should of seen the plaid I was going to put in my '73 Westfalia, but I sold it before I got around to it.



She is in the Netherlands now...

 

VW's are like hawt crazy girlfriends, nice to look at, fun to ride, but often broken down...

 

... you sir just described my most recent ex.

 

I wonder how my wife would react if I described her to be a Toyota in the metaphor...

It is a compliment, honey!!