Are they hiding the 4 cylinder ?

According to the Press room brief the 2016 Tacoma 4 cylinder is completely unchanged for 2016. http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/2016+toyota+tacoma+debut+aug17.htm

 

Dual VVT-i was added in the 2015 calendar year for the 2016 model year. It is new for the 2016.

I don't see anything in that press release saying the engine is unchanged, they mostly don't talk about the changes as the V6 is really the new excitement.

Regardless, it's not the same engine as the 2015, Dual VVT-i was added and the compression ratio changed from 9.6:1 to 10.2:1 as well.

Jeff

 

Ah okay thanks for the clarification Jeff. I'm surprised toyota hasn't hired you as a customer service rep.

 

That is what one of clients was getting out of his Access Cab 4WD...not the fastest thing, but it will get the job done. I could probably make a 4-Cylinder work...as I get older...I find I take my time more and enjoy the scenery. I'll catch myself driving under the speed limit...and often.

 

I was just out to Cleveland twice in the last month. I checked my mileage with Torque along the way and it reported 23/24 with my 2015 AC 2.7L 4WD.

 

I wonder if one of the reasons the mileage appears worse in the new ones is because all the 4 cyl. trucks are basically Prerunners now that they've dropped the 5 lug suspension?

 

That does seem to be a likely option.

Best would be to compare the 2015 Tacoma 4-cyl 4x4 to 2016 Tacoma 4-cyl 4x4. The 2WD EPA specs will likely not be comparable between 2015 and 2016.

Jeff

 

2015 Tacoma 4x4 4-cylinder 4-speed Auto (Single VVT-i): 18/21/19
2016 Tacoma 4x4 4-cylinder 6-speed Auto (Dual VVT-i): 19/22/20

So it looks like yes, the updated Dual VVT-i 2TR-FE does in fact get better fuel mileage than the outgoing Single VVT-i model.

Jeff

 

I know everyone "disses" the 2.7/auto, but I would think the the new 6 speed auto should really improve the drivability. My main complaint with the current 4 cylinder/auto, is that the gear spacing leaves a lot to be desired. I'll have to drive on to see what it's like.

 

Agree on all accounts......

I made this comparison on another thread. My wife has the Venza 2.7 up graded to 180 hp with 180 lb ft of torque with the six speed. The weight of the car with AWD is over 4000 lbs. Is it the same motor as the Taco...I think so..the Venza 3.5 appears to be the base motor for the "new 6" .
Regardless, if that motor were easily the replacement Taco 4 motor, you wouldn't get much better around town driving, if any. But, where the 2.7 in my early a Taco was lacking, was highway cruising. The Venza is really good and capable with it's better aerodynamics of cruising all day at 90 mph. It averages 27 mpg on the highway when driven at sane 70 mph speeds. Toyota has the motors. They are just milking the situation for all it's worth. The six speed IMHO, will make a big difference in drivability over all regardless. I WILL try one out when I Have mine in for the free service I still have.

 

The 2.7 in the Venza and Tacoma are completely different engines.

The 3.5 in the Venza and the 3.5 in the Tacoma much more similar, though the 3.5 in the Tacoma shares more in common with that found in the IS350/GS350 (especially the 2016 GS350).

Jeff

 

I am not so sure. Their configuration and actual design are very similar, their bore and stroke differ slightly.

 

I'm pretty sure that you know less than he does, contrary to your opinion.

 

The 1AR-FE in the Venza is an all-aluminum engine with cylinder liners and an open-deck block design, it uses a cartridge-type oil filter and is designed for transverse mounting. It has a magnesium valve cover. The head uses a 2-piece design with a separate cam box and hydraulic valve adjusters.
The 2TR-FE in the Tacoma is a closed-deck iron-block, aluminum head engine designed for truck applications and uses a spin-on oil filter and has longitudinal mounting points. It has a plastic valve cover. The head is a one piece design with the camshafts directly actuating the valves and shim-type valve adjustment.

The heads flow in opposite directions (LH camshaft is intake on Tacoma, exhaust on Venza).

The Venza uses an offset centerline block design where the centerline of the crankshaft is offset from the centerline of the cylinder bores. The Tacoma is not offset.

The Venza uses balanceshafts connected via a gear machined into one of the crankshaft's balancers, while the Tacoma uses chain-driven balanceshafts.

The Venza has 10 piston oil squirter nozzles, the Tacoma has 4.

They have different cylinder bore spacing.

I could go on, but rest assured, they're very different engines.

Jeff

 

Hmmmmm..

Notice how they both have "..R-FE" in the name? That means the only difference between them is the first two characters (1A and 2T). Sounds like they are 66.7% identical.

 

and....when the Tacoma 2.7 is replaced by the AR series engines and is offered in fwd, I want an apology. ;-)

 

It's certainly possible the AR series could replace the TR series in the Tacoma. The 2AR and 8AR are both used in RWD/Logitudinal applications.

That doesn't mean they are similar/related engines though.

Jeff

 

Well, they are both fours, both found in Toyotas, both......could go on..seriously, that may be the way they are headed..

 

Which car has a longitudinal 2AR? I guess some Asian market Toyota Mark X or similar?

 

IS300H

Jeff