2006 Prerunner v6 vs 2016 base v4???

I'm in the market for a mid-size truck. I found 2006 Toyota tacoma access cab Prerunner SR5 V6 w/ 51k miles for $20k and 2016 Toyota tacoma access cab V4 w/ 8k miles for $23k.
I nerver have a truck before but really like it. I'm not towing anything heavy (at least for now any couple years later). And I don't need a big truck.
Also I'm wonder why Tacoma V4 truck model 2015/2016 seem to use more gas than earlier versions?

 

Welcome to TW. Drive both and see what you like best. The 2016 will be more modern while the v6 will have more torque.

The engine is an inline 4, or I4 not a v4. And while it is in the new 3rd gen platform, it is a carryover from the 2nd gen.

The fuel economy wasn't really any better in the earlier trucks, the way they calculate fuel economy changed in 2008 to be more realistic. So you are likely not comparing apples to apples. A 2005 trucks original rating will rate the truck as more fuel efficient than if the truck was rated today. Fueleconomy.gov will supply backwards applications of today's rating on the older vehicles so you can get a better comparison:

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=21136