Why all the threads on MPG?

What I mean is we bought a truck…who buys a truck that is concerned with mpg? The last time I was concerned with mpg was 12 to 15 years ago. I had a 35 mile commute to work in Dallas, TX traffic…and then 35 miles home through even worse traffic. At the time I had an Infiniti G35. MPG was only so-so plus it used premium gas. I traded in for a Honda CRZ. After I left that job and had a short drive, I got a Camaro. No more worries about mpg and gas prices.
So, my question is, why the concern and question for MPG in our Tacos? I don’t get it, I gotta be missing something.

 

Speaking as someone who will end up buying a new truck in the future, I’d like to get good mpg along with stock offroad capability and reliability. My 2013 with 285s and a canopy get around 20mpg highway with a 60mph speed limit. I’d hope that my new truck was at least around 25 to 30 mpg with all new tech. Give me some incentive to get a new truck!

 

It’s two parts to me.

1) most want what the sticker says on the door, but most don’t drive 60mph during their commute with limited stops/wind.

2) people want a Tacoma, but also have a long commute.

Both scenarios lead them here to discuss the later scenarios.

 

I’m mostly confused that the typical person gets more or less exactly what Toyota says they will but still seems indignant about it.

Frankly, a vehicle that size and shape, weighing what it does, with the feature set it has, and the relative ease with which one can live with it, not being less efficient is kind of a pleasant surprise.

 

The majority of people complaining are not getting what the sticker states. That’s what I see anyway and is often the complaint.

 

Alright…I see a couple points there. As I side note, I bought my truck 1/2/25. It came with a full tank, I have filled it up once. So I have no idea, what I am actually even getting - probably not great with the 33” tires.

 

I read recently that the manufactors are using the most selled models of a vehicle in their advertised MPG on the sticker, so folks are complaining that there Trailhunters or TRD Offroads are getting far less than sticker is advertised. Toyota is posting 19/23 on these vehicles which is not correct

 

I will take "People who don't understand how the EPA test is conducted" for $500 Alex.

 

Drivers have been concerned and talked about fuel mileage since the 1st cars were on the road. My dad started driving in 1936 and he could tell you the fuel mileage he got on every car he owned in his life.

It's just something a lot of drivers do and have always done. I've noticed that the drivers who are the most concerned are the ones who are most likely to identify as a car enthusiast. My wife, nor most women have any idea what fuel mileage their car gets, nor do they care.

I don't think anyone really expects to get the fuel mileage on the EPA sticker. It's tested under ideal conditions. I have never quite matched the numbers, but If I drive carefully can come pretty close.

 

Another reason…changes/differences in mpg over time could be an indicator of a problem. So good to know the baseline.

 

I don't really understand the question. Why do people discuss MPG? Because it's an aspect of owning a vehicle, especially as it relates to cost of ownership with rising gas prices and diminishing resources. All aspects of vehicle ownership matter. Reliability, color, accessories, wheels, butt feel, power, styling etc etc etc. If a truck got 1mpg would anyone consider buying it? Probably not. A difference of a few MPG over the lifetime of a vehicle is significant in terms of cost. So it all matters. That's why people discuss it. That doesn't somehow stop with the purchase of a truck. Not only that but this is clearly a forum of people who love analyzing, questioning and tweaking things. What better topic for those critical analytic enthusiasts who want to spend their time questioning, theorizing and tweaking for the benefit of other members? It's clearly a geek/enthusiast forum.

I just don't understand the question.

 

I'm like roalddahl, I don't understand the question. Who doesn't want lower cost of ownership? What does a gas guzzler get me that a fuel efficient truck doesn't get me? Should I cry because it only costs $50/week to fill it instead of $100/week? If I could buy a truck that gets 50 mpg and does the same thing as my current truck, I'd buy it in a instant.

I've put off replacing my 2006 Tacoma for the last few years because the gen3s get worse gas mileage than my current truck. The 2025 SR5 gets almost the same mileage as my 2006, so I'll probably buy one eventually.

 

Why doesn't everybody just think the way I think and adjust all their considerations to match mine and my very unique individual commuting situations? I just don't get it.


But I will say that most of the posters on here who would love to get 30mpg would not like the way a 30mpg Tacoma would look. It would be lower, smaller tires, sleeker, curvier, slower, and uglier. There's a reason every midsize truck gets about the same gas mileage. The changes it would take to get significantly better mileage right now would make the trucks unsellable to the usual truck crowd.

 

Good News: now there's one more MPG thread

 

I wonder if the OP recognizes the irony of complaining about all of the MPG threads with a new thread about MPG. Anyhow, that's beside the point.

I am among those concerned about the MPG. First time truck owner. Bought a 2024 Tacoma in March. The sticker was 20/24. I am averaging below 16 MPG, 15.7 on last check, with about 10K miles on the vehicle. Not driving 4wd or doing anything crazy. 50-50 highway-city. Even left the chin guard on. I have owned Rav4, several subarus, a VW, and a few more, and haven't experienced such a gap between the window sticker MPG and reality. Mainly, I'm trying to figure out if I am doing something wrong, if there is a problem with the truck, or if this is just what it is, so suck it up buttercup. And when I question MPG, even at the dealership yesterday, the response is along the lines of ... "and you believed that?" Still love the truck, but c'mon.

 

SPG>MPG

 

? I'm guessing a 2WD SR5 sells the most/gets the best MPG. How is posting 19/23 not correct?

 

Guys and gals…I am being realistic. I have owned a bunch of different vehicles (appx 22) since I started driving 40 years ago. Besides what I mentioned in my first post, I have never been concerned with mpg. If I was I would be driving a fuel efficient vehicle or an EV.
My question is directed to truck owners…why buy a truck and be concerned with mpg? I mean, 20mpg sucks, no matter how you look at it.
Simple question.

And thanks Ace_10 for noticing!

 

My 2006 SR5, 159 hp, mpg = 20/27.

2023 SR5, 159 hp, mpg = 20/23.

2024 SR5, 228 hp, mpg = 20/26.

That's more than a 10% improvement in mpg from 2023 to 2024 with virtually no difference in the way the truck looks and a 40% increase in horsepower. I drive mostly highway miles and average more than 27 mpg since I keep it under 65 mph. I'm glad I waited for gen4 rather than settling for a gen3 with a lower performance engine that consumes more gas.

 

After living with a 2006 Frontier that was lucky to get 14 MPG at 7000+ foot altitude and most driving at 45-50 mph, I could not be more thrilled about my 2013 4.0 4X4 which gets 20 MPG plus a bit at times.