2014 V6 vs i4 Double Cab 2X4, real world diffs, paved road driving

I have a 2013 v6 access cab 4X4 and when I drive easy i can pull around 18-20 mpg around down but I am 17 you other guys can probably get better. I say get the one fully loaded or at least back up camera it has helped me out a ton! And when you want you can really put the power down with the V6 i never feel like it struggles with anything i have thrown at so far! thats just my 2 cents

 

I have an I4 and I love it. It's a champ offroad and easy on the wallet. This said, I have a manual regular cab and it's by no means fast. The manual keeps it fun to drive, the auto would really suck. With the extra weight of a double cab I personally wouldn't even consider the I4 as an option. Access cab, sure.

I didn't see, did you say where you live? If you see snow get 4x4... Actually regardless get 4x4. You will regret not having it at some point, it's a truck it should be able to go places.

If I were looking for a double cab it would be a v6 4x4 no questions asked, as for packages... That's a whole new world of debates

 

Real world depends on how you drive.

I am a bit of a lead foot.

I had a 4 banger and now a 6.

I got the same gas mileage but the 6 has a lot more power.

So if you are a granny on the skinny then get the 4 to save gas.

Other than that get the 6.

 

I hope this helps with your questions:

The names Toyota use and the number of drive choices really make it way too confusing... so, understand why I have posted many different ways to describe the drive modes... because we all hear things different... me included!

In H4, I recommend the quick press of the VSC OFF button for TRAC OFF MODE... for 2012+ Tacomas. 2009-2011 Tacomas no pressing was needed, because TRAC in H4 then didn't have regulation as it does beginning in 2012.

Why?: Off road, I find traction control (without engine output regulation) to provide maximum limited slip so the tires with traction get power... instead of only the tires without traction (or less traction).

Tire spin is limited, because brake force is applied to any free spinning tire so power will transfer to traction tires.

I am not sure if VSC goes off with TRAC OFF on the 2012+...? It doesn't on the 2009-2011 in H4, except in H2 AUTO LSD/TRAC OFF... but comes back on at 30 mph.

Stopping the truck, and pressing the VSC button for a few seconds turns off Traction Control and Stability Control... old fashion open differential spinning of tires (usually one in front and one in the rear).

If you get stuck in sand, spinning the tires is the last thing you want to do. Let the air out of your tires... to about 50% of the street pressure for starters. Deflating tires and clearing away any sand from in front, will get you moving again.

Finally, VSC is to keep you driving the direction you intend... like when freeway driving and you swerve suddenly... VSC corrects the skidding to keep you from spinning out of control.

TRAC is traction control... moving forward from a stuck by braking the spinning tire and transferring power to the traction tire.

MODES (2012+):
H2 has 3: TRAC, AUTO LSD/TRAC OFF, VSC OFF
H4 has 3: TRAC, TRAC OFF, VSC OFF
L4 has no traction control (except the OFF ROAD TRD ONLY with A-TRAC, REAR LOCKER, LOCKER & A-TRAC on together).

TRAC is standard mode in H2 & H4, no button pushing. It is limited slip WITH engine output regulation. Brakes and power reduction to limit tire spin.

TRAC OFF in H2 and H4 requires a quick press of the VSC button, moving or stopped. It is limited slip without any regulation (no reduction of power).

VSC OFF in H2 and H4 requires the truck to be STOPPED, and the VSC button held down for a few seconds until light comes on. This is open differentials and no traction control.

VSC and TRAC returns to standard setting if the engine is restarted or if sensors detect imminent danger of roll over/ spin out.

A-TRAC, Rear Locker each have a button to select. If both on, the A-TRAC affects only the front tires and only if the speed drops to under 3 mph.

 

Seriously though op get the 4wd version of the Tacoma. A lot of guys get prerunners and regret it later on. I got the v6 and it returns decent fuel economy and if you really want the 4 cylinder test drive one of each to determine what youd like better.

 

Indeed! The 4WD will keep you from destroying the truck from needing to bonzai it through rough stuff... 4WD lets you crawl over and up things with ease and no damage to the tuck because you don't need momentum to bounce over rocks.

 

The double cab is a heavy truck. I would think that the I-4 would be a dog and average about the same MPGs as the V6. I have the V6 with 4x4 and I averaged 21 MPGs on a trip from Omaha to Atlanta and about 17 MPG around town. I opted for a fully loaded Sport because I wanted the color matched body panels and JBL stereo with navi. But if you want to save on the initial price of the truck, a SR5 or even SR (new for 2014) will have all of the nice to have options and be a few thousand cheaper.

 

Wow this is great, thank you. The only part Im still confused on is the open diff.

Example: I'm driving on the beach in H4 with TRAC and VSC on. I turn too sharply at somepoint and my tires start to spin. I've now dug myself into a hole. I'm stationary. I straighten my tires, and hit the VSC button once to turn off VSC to get a stronger diff lock (non-engine regulated). This hopefully gets me out my hole. Is this correct? What does it mean if you remove the engine regulation? Arent your brakes then working harder to keep the spinning wheel still, or does it just mean that VSC off allows for some spin? Im so fricken confused....

So when would I use H4 with TRAC and VSC off? What does this do (mechanically I mean), and when would I use this? Thanks man.

 

I think all trucks with the electronic LSD are open diffs. Unless it is stated it has LSD with a locker.

Electronic LSD is a systems that has nothing to do with the diff. It detects wheel spin and applies brakes to the spinning wheel.


They should not have came out with all these stupid acronyms. TRAC, ATRAC, ELECTROIC LSD. It is all the same damn thing. Traction control. All the different crap just confuses people.

 

Trd offroad 4x4 v6 you wont regret it.............no matter which model you decide to go with get 4x4 and a v6 .

 

Probably so. I originally bought the I4 and I knew it was underpowered but thought I could live with it. But one day and 83 miles convinced me I could not. I took it back to the dealer for the V6. They were cool about it, no problem, just zipbamboom I was in the V6.

4055 lbs curb weight is just too much for the I4 . . . .

BTW, I think it was only $3000 more to go from the I4 4WD basic package Access Cab to the SR5 V6 4WD with tow package.

 

Well, if you are gonna tow I can't imagine the I4 doing the job. I'm hauling a 3150 lb dry travel trailer and on the steep 6%-7% grades the V6 can only hold 50 MPH. And that's in second gear at 5000 RPM.

Now, towing a boat is a little easier I imagine, since you don't have the wind resistance of a 9-foot tall trailer.

 

Exactly plus its nice knowing if need the off road equipment its built into the truck so it gives me a little more confidence plus some more reasons to give my friend swho own fords crap ..

 

I4 double cab is a poverty truck.

 

like you said Mummel

eventually you will venture to ski slopes. the Toyota will last a long time so get the features you want now and you won't have to "trade-up" later on. Besides if you get the SR5 4x4 with V6 now you can swap out anything or add to it and save the money. If you haul get the tow package and the backup camera now comes with SR5 so you get most of the basics.

Also I have the TRD OR on my '04 and I rarely wheel offroad. I can count on one hand how many times I've used the locker (mainly just to test it ) but have always used 4wd in snow and even heavy downpours. Use 4wd when I retrieve my deer from the woods and have never gotten stuck climbing hills or going through small creeks. Rarely use 4Lo now that I think about it

 

I am glad you are asking so there is no confusion in your mind... Believe me, it takes a while to get it all down... Using your truck will make it much clearer too.

Maybe get the 'VSC' term out of the thinking... VSC is not a traction aid, it is a high speed over-steer corrector or accelerating on slippery road spin-out corrector.

TRAC is NOT "locking the differential" in any way, but it is providing 'Limited Slip' using brakes, instead of gears. TRAC OFF and AUTO LSD is a stronger limited slip, and yes the brakes may be working more... just like when you stop your truck.

VSC OFF MODE (stopping and holding in the button until the light comes on) means NO traction control/ no limited slip/ no Vehicle Stability Control.

When I say Open Differentials, I mean no traction control (like an open differential). ALL Tacomas since 2009 have only open differentials.

The Off Road TRD has a selectable locker on the rear... and when it is on, the diff is locked and not open, so both tires turn equally, 50/50 power split. When turning, one tire needs to rotate more than the other, and that's why open differentials are needed, so the outside tire can rotate differently than the inside tire. The locker should only be used to get unstuck, driving straight. A-TRAC automatically frees the brake lock on any tire, when you turn or are no longer stuck.

When in H4, TRAC and VSC are normally on together... I personally would press the button quickly for TRAC OFF, so you don't need to do that later. My 2010 is normally in what is called TRAC OFF now (without any button pushing), but was called TRAC then.

Engine Output Regulation (in H2 and H4 TRAC now) is designed to prevent tire spin from heavy pedal... With the regulation, you push down on the gas pedal and nothing happens (because 'HAL' knows that will only make the tire spin and not move you).

'TRAC OFF' (or 'TRAC' on 2009-2011 models) in H4 and 'AUTO LSD' in H2 has no regulation giving MORE power (or un-reduced power) to turning the traction tire while brakes work on just the spinning tire. This is desired off road, but never on pavement. I don't understand the logic of the change in 2012 making H4 TRAC regulated? Perhaps for wet/snowy pavement driving safety?


OK, that's a lot to digest... read it a few times and let it sink in... Compare this with what I posted before, and make sure there is no conflict with either the way I wrote it or the way you read it. I am trying to be consistent, but using different terminology to explain the drive modes.

I do not mind explaining this stuff, so don't hesitate to ask!

David

 

Im so lost. Thanks for posting this, but I feel like a brain donor trying to absorb all this info. Toyota really needs to clean up their traction control marketing. This is crazy haha. Back in the 80s, we had H2, H4 and L, and manual lockers that you needed to get out the car for. Simple stuff!

So if no one really uses the read diff locker (from what Im reading, ATRAC is king), then how does ATRAC compare to TRAC performance wise. Possible to quantify it? 10% better, 80 % better?

 

Oh and just to confirm, when driving on the beach or in the snow, you would prefer to drive in H2 with VSC off and drive less than 30mph?

And in what situation would one use completely open lockers when TRAC and VSC are off?

 

Please read my post just once more... you using that 'VSC off' talk again...

On the beach: USE H4 (with traction control and no regulation, called 'TRAC OFF' in 2012+). For me (2010), I just go into H4, and nothing else. For 2012+ Tacomas, a quick press of the VSC button. VSC on or off does NOT matter... In my truck it is on, and does make the annoying beep-beep-beep any time I slide in the sand. But the performance of limited slip over no traction control overrides the beeping of the VSC active sound.

VSC OFF MODE is no traction control & no VSC (stop and hold in the button until light comes on). I do NOT recommend that, because TRAC (TRAC OFF) is really a great addition for off roading... this is limited slip... slipping is bad, and tire spinning in sand is how you get stuck.

A-TRAC is a much higher level of limited slip than TRAC or TRAC OFF. It is more like NO SLIP or nearly 0 slip... so it is closer to the action of locking differentials than it is to limited slip differentials. Because it frees up (to allow steering) and re-grabs if the tires spin again, it makes some loud noises in the front end and the slipping between locking makes climbing less smooth than all lockers. The bottom line is that it works, and you will get to the same places, maybe with just a little more noise and effort than the guys with their locker only rigs.

 

1) H2 TRAC: most driving.
2) H2 TRAC OFF (AUTO LSD): if rear tire spins when you try to move.
3) H2 VSC OFF: you want the tire in back to spin
4) H4 TRAC: slippery pavement or gravel roads normal speeds
5) H4 TRAC OFF: off road, loose surface normal speeds
6) H4 VSC OFF: you want front and back tire to spin
7) L4: your front and back tire can spin, slow, climbing/crawling speed
8) L4 A-TRAC ON: you want to go most anywhere, slow, climbing/ crawling speed
9) L4 Rear Locker ON: you want the back tires to have equal power, front may spin
10) L4 A-TRAC + Rear Locker: for pulling others out, no spin if speed drops under 3 mph (A-TRAC works the front tires at that point to keep you moving). I have used in snow with good results.

2012+:
All Tacomas now have 1-3
All 4WD Tacomas have 1-7
All 4WD OFF ROAD TRD Tacomas have 1-10
2009-2011 Tacomas do not have #4 (they have #5, but it was called TRAC then)