4 cyl not that slow

The 4 cylinder automatic Tacomas have a 4.3 final drive ratio, while the V6 autos have a 3.909 final drive. The automatics have identical ratios 1-6. That means the 4 cylinder has a 10% torque advantage off the line.

Also, the 3rd gen Tacoma has an electronic throttle body that is not linear whatsoever. The 4 cylinder is programmed to have a "boosted throttle response", so it tends to provide a large portion of the available torque that it can produce, even at relatively small throttle inputs. When the accelerator is pushed 25% of the way down, the throttle can be electronically opened up as much as 85% of the way, granted the engine will only be around 2000 rpm. Pushing the throttle half way down on the 4 cylinder basically gives you 93% of the availabe torque and the transmission will upshift around 3700 rpm, effectively giving you around 65% of the peak power output of the engine even though you asked for 50%. This is very easy to verify when you read live data through a scan tool. Contrast that with the V6 which actually dumbs down the throttle response artificially, especially on the initial application of the accelerator pedal.

As others have mentioned, the 2TR (I4) is a more torque-centric engine than the 2GR (V6). The torque comes on much sooner on the I4 than on the V6, but it also withers away quicker too (it doesn't make as much power or torque at higher rpm than the V6).

All of these effects combined make the I4 and V6 seem comparable in some conditions, and it's not until each engine is stressed before the differences become ampliflied.

 

280hp is not under powered.

 

The (automatic) transmissions have the exact same ratios, but the final drive ratio is 4.3 on the 2.7 and 3.909 on the 3.5.

For the manuals, they are pretty similar 2.7 has 4.313 1st gear * 3.909 final drive = 16.86 while the 3.5 has a 3.982 first gear * 4.3 final drive = 17.12. The V6 manual has a slightly more aggressive overall first gear ratio than the I4 manual, but it's not perceptible (<2% difference)

 

OP's other ride:

 

This is why I run a Pedal monster.

https://official.bankspower.com/pedalmonster-faq/

 

You're right, but people buy a vehicle with an advertised 278hp (or whatever the # is) rating, yet they expect it to perform like a Porsche GT-3. Then complain as if Toyota did not advertise that the truck will only put out 278hp.

My 2nd gen 4.0 putting out a puny 236hp (or whatever) is plenty of power and satisfies my needs. But I also don't try to drag race it.

People just like to complain. 1st world problems, ya know?

 

They’re both slow so…

 

I wondered the same thing but when I looked at Fuelly the 2.7 averages 21 mpg where the 3.5 averages 18 mpg... I know it's only 3mpg but that is like 15% better fuel economy and 400 miles out of a tank of gas (at least mine gets 400 miles)

I came from a 17mpg truck no way I'm upgrading 20 years for only 1mpg. Frankly I wished the maverick had come out when I was shopping. 35-40 mpg is awesome!

 

Going from 17 to 18 mpg saves the same amount of money as going from 40 MPG to 46 MPG and the same as going from 100 MPG to 148.5 MPG.

(1/17-1/18) = (1/40-1/46) = (1/100-1/148.5)

Still a very small amount though. My 2000 4wd did only 22-23 MPG while my 2020 2WD does 27-29. That and it's also a lot less bouncy, roomier, and handles better.

 

My other ride is E550 Mercedes - 382 hp, 391 foot pound torque, 0-60 in about 5.3, 5.5L V8

 

I had a Maverick hybrid for 1 month. It got better than 40mpg's. I reserved it on Day 1 and got it fairly early in the release process. Sold it with 800 miles on it 1 month later for a quick $8,500 profit. That should pay for gas in my Toyota's for years to come.

 

With my 2022 2.7L I got just over 31 mpg on a 35 mile trip with the bed fully loaded with furniture and heavy bed mattress. Granted that's not quite the norm since my speed was only 50 to 55 mph (and I stayed in 5th) due to the mattress being up high. For me I find it suits my needs....I don't normally pull anything and in Florida the roads are flat. My average tank mpg is currently at 27 mpg and that is the result of mainly in-town short trips. I enjoy it. My prior vehicle had a 4.0 v6 and I don't feel much difference, especially since the prior vehicle was heavier.

 

I learned how to drive on a 4.0L OHV V6 Ford Explorer. My Tacoma feels about I remember that being but the Tacoma gets double the gas mileage.

 

To answer succinctly: you are correct!

 

I consistently get 19-19.5 mpg when I fill my tank and do the calculation (miles/gals). I drive approximately 60/40 city/hwy, and I have a heavy foot.
Mine is stock. DCSB V6/Auto 4X4.

 

Nice, so a German Taxi with the bigger engine. That's a nice daily driver.

 

How did you launch? Normal or brake-torque it with your left foot as if at a dragstrip?

Was the 4-cyl 2WD or 4WD? The 4WD version has the worst power-to-weight ratio of any vehicle in Toyota's lineup from the last 15 years.

 

4.30 rear end definitely helps.

 

Better gearing off the bat 2.7 comes with 4.30s and I think the 3.5 is 3.90. I have a 4cyl it’s actually not slow taking off or around town. It’s the hills and highway speeds where it struggles

 

See i don't have any issue with the 3.5 in my 2020 it drives the same as my gen1 tundra if you deleted 5th and 6th gears. Even the rpm in those gears at the same speeds are very similar. Trucks a joy to drive. I'll agree the 2.7 in a 2020 sr i test drove was fine in town and down hills. I felt it struggled when i had to go back up at 40-45 mph against traffic in the outer lane. I could guess how it might be if i used it to tow my trailers. The 3.5 v6 works just fine for my needs.