Downsizing from a v-6 to 4-cylinder?

YES you will ... press that ECT button ! i have passed many vehicles in my 4-banger

 

When I bought my 2018 I test drove a 4 and was shocked at the lack of acceleration. Drove it back to the dealer and scratch that off my list of possibilities.

 

As far as the fuel efficiency the 3.5 v6 gets just as good fuel economy as the 4....it doesn't have to work as hard. Sure they have a super reliable well built 4 cylinder, but its underpowered for these heavier gen3 trucks. Imo, unless toyota offered the 4 in a lighter truck with just a regular cab, and a 6' bed, i'd pass from whats out there now.

 

You will gain little to no fuel efficiency and lose the already crappy performance of the 3.5. Lose lose situation

 

When i took a test ride in a 4 cylinder back in 2020, the toyota dealer was located near the top of a hill. They should of never let me drive that truck down the hill....which it went fine. Going back up was the problem..truck was gutless. Right then, and there my decision was made writing it off.

 

I had a 2017 4 cyl and it was gutless to the point of being dangerous when you have a cab full of people and you're trying to go up a hill. ECT button helped, but I swapped it out for a 6 cyl. If Toyota made a single cab 4 cyl with a manual, that would be fine (maybe), but these trucks are too big and heavy for a 4 cyl.

 

Back in 2016 and 2017 when you could get the 4 banger with a manual would be the only way l would even consider it.

 

2.7 I4 with 4WD and Wildpeaks I got 21.7mpg with 3/4 local and the rest congested highway so pretty good I think.

Fill up was 18.6 gallons for 404 miles.

I hear V6s get around high teens with big tires so being over 20mpg for local driving is pretty good for me.

 

If reliability is your only concern you’ll find it even more reliable than you’re already solid previous Tacomas. I’ve owned 4-6-8 cyl. Toyota Trucks and the 4cyl. were the least maintenance and zero issues whatsoever.

 

I went from a '99 extracab SR5 PreRunner w/ the 2.7 & an auto. Even w/ only 4 gears it was frequently downshifting @ 70. Mileage was the same or 1mpg less than the 6 cylinders in the identical model. The 3rd gens are much heavier than the 1st gens so it even more weight for the motor to move plus (lightly) higher wind resistance. I like having the V6 in my 3rd gen though it still searches for gears not that there are 6 gears but I find it a bit less obnoxious.

But like others have said, the 2.7 is essentially bulletproof.

 

i have a 2.7L 4 cylinder and wouldnt trade it for a V6, it’s known for reliability. on the other hand if I had the V6 I wouldn’t trade it for a 4 cylinder, you rarely come out ahead money wise on trades. from my experience and reading what others here say, when stock they both get about the same gas mileage or very close.

 

Reliable? Long-lasting? Buddy this THE MOST reliable and long lasting engine there is!