2020 Tacoma 4cyl or 6cyl more reliable?

Can confirm. Bought new 2020 4 cylinder, was about $3500 cheaper. Using that to throw in some stocks and use as part of a house downpayment or small boat. Little slow in acceleration but if you use S mode or ect the acceleration is a lot better imo.

 

Confirmation Bias:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias


BTW, I've had both...they are relative gutless and get crappy mileage and will turn to a pile of rust in your driveway (while you watch) long before either engine blows up ;-)

 

100%
ever since the 22r/re they have been building reliable 4bangers.
I still have the one that was my moms first car that she bought in 1985 and it took the abuse of 3 teenage boys having it as their first car. Not to mention the serious neglect from said teenage boys.

However, I would personally go for the v6. Because they are also reliable. They have that uphill mountain road passing ability.

 

Depends on what your definition of slow is... I've had 80s and 90s Toyotas with the gutless 22RE (newsflash they weren't even that reliable... seriously, plastic timing chain guides?) and they were absolute dogs with somewhere around 100 horsepower.

The 2TR has around 160ish HP and although they are newer/heavier vehicles, the power to weight is still better than the older 4 cylinder pickups. With that being said, a standard transmission still helps get more out of the smaller engine. Unfortunately Toyota discontinued the classic 4cyl/manual a few years ago I think.

 

You're asking in the 3rd gen section. Does that mean you are really looking to buy a 'new' truck, or a newer used truck?

Spending $35-40k to pull a small trailer for a power washing business would seem to have a really long ROI.

Not trying to get in your business. Just a factor to consider that may even be more important than the 4 vs 6 question.

 

Re: my ‘rumor that Toyota builds a bullet proof I4’, that was a bit tongue in cheek because I think that anybody that has an opinion on one, knows they are pretty darn tough.

I had one in my ‘92 ( I think it was a ‘92) and while not a power house, it was actually a joy to drive in a manual.

 

Coming from a 4.7 tundra,
i test drove a 2020 4 cyl manual...felt more like one my old toyota 4 cyl 22r pickups power wise....gutless. I tried their 3.5 auto v6 in a buddies trd i was sold.

 

I just went from the 2.7 in a second gen manual to the 4.0 in a second gen manual, honesty the 4 cylinder mated to the five speed was soo much more fun to drive in a slow car fast sort of way. Although I’m in the mountains now and it is refreshing not to have to worry about traffic bc the bigger motor just pulls!

the 2tr reliability is unquestionable, and the old 4.0 is proven as well, but I’ll have to drive a new 6 cylinder maybe it’s better (more fun) than both

 

I think there are just fewer I4's around to complain about and those who have them aren't generally beating on them as hard because they don't have the same power.

 

get a base model v6 4wd imho

 

There's something extremely satisfying in dropping any car down into second or third gear to pass someone... even in a slow little pickup. Shifting gears is fun in a slow car, moderately speedy cars nearly pull themselves in every gear. Dunno.

 

They do not make a 4 cylinder MT Tacoma for 2020, last one was 2017 so you had to be test driving something else.

 

5 speed died awhile back. 4 banger is auto and USA only now. No one wants them haha.

 

The only way I’d get the 4banger is in a 5spd from say 1990 back when they were still little trucks. Its a big truck now you need the 6, hell it needs more than the 6 if you ask me.

 

Pretty sure 4 cylinders/diesel trucks rule the rest of the world buddy... we Americans have a different view of what a pickup should do/be. If we put small diesels in small trucks like overseas people would bitch and moan about how slow it is. In fact I don't even think a V6 gas option is a thing in other countries for small trucks.

 

The Duramax Diesel is pretty popular in the Colorado/Canyon. The issue though is complying with the EPA. Most of those engines overseas have to be overhauled before they can be compliant here. From my understanding, a lot of the issues with the Colorado/Canyon Duramax has to do with the DEF system.

 

The reason 4 cylinder trucks rule the world is fuel costs, CO2 taxes, and vehicle costs.

Believe it or not, people like to have torque in their trucks. I wouldn't own a hilux in australia/africa unless I had a real need for it.

 

If the timing chain guides are what you base reliability on, I mean thats a weird thing to base reliability on. But mine are still intact, so I'm still not sure why thats unreliable...but I guess we have different definitions of reliable. Also despite the not impressive HP, mine has overtaken many-a-built up off road rigs on the trails. Completely stock. Sure driving ability has something to do with it, but, the reality is that the motors, transmissions, transfer cases, suspension and diffs. were built for off-road first, then made to be comfortable for a family. i.e. Its not a racing motor, but a 'get you anywhere' motor. The 4-low gearing is undeniably beast on the 85 4R 22re. Thats not even to mention the solid axle. Its an off road truck, and an extremely impressive one straight stock considering it isn't the 'most powerful' engine.

With that being said, there is a reason that my 96 V6 taco is my daily driver, because comparing the two, on highways and passing conditions, its not even a competition. V6 all day. (Also is awesome in offroad conditions, stock). If the 3.5l is anything like the 3.4l? Ya. Id choose the V6.

But the 22re "weren't even that reliable"?

 

You don’t need lots of speed for trucks. We have 26ft ft with a 7.3 T444 (aka powerstroke). Truck is slow but it has enough torque to pull a hill in 3rd or get going with 10,000lbs on its back.

 

The 22RE was relative, the 3vz was shit, and much harder to work on than the simple 22R. They both still blew headgaskets, but the 3.0 was just better known for it.

Low compression, high clearances and quality parts are the secret to durability, but 75HP gets tiring quickly.

Jeep guys are the same, they brag about their 4 bangers, but I'd blow their doors off in my i6 with its fresh rebuild.