Hybrid fuel economy number spilled..

I am getting 20.5 overall in my 2023 Tundra non-hybrid, mix of suburban and highway driving. I really like the 2024 Tacoma and might find my way to trade for one next year. I would be very happy if they would make ~24-25 MPG. Too bad Toyota has not fitted a version of the RAV 4 Prime PHEV powertrain into Tacoma. It seems like they could have done that with the existing 2024 Tacoma hybrid components by adding a slightly bigger battery, maybe a different or bigger electric motor, and some software.

 

Might be the reason the 24 Tacoma engine is fully exposed compared to the 10-15 year old trend of covering the motor and sometimes the entire engine bay with a plastic cover.

 

The iForce Max and Prime hybrids are complete different systems. The Max is a relatively modest electric motor between the transmission and ICE that can boost power output. The Prime has discrete powerful electric motors that can power the drivetrain by itself.

If the Max was able to run in eco mode with a higher contribution from the electric motor it would be a dream. But the output of that electric motor would have to at least be 150 hp to move a Tacoma.

 

Yes, I know the Max system works from Tundra. Same in 24 Tacoma. IMO Toyota missed the boat with this more tqe and power but not really better MPG strategy. My non hybrid Tundra plenty of power already. The Prime system would need a bigger motor and battery and different software programming than the Max powertrains have. But that would not be hard to implement if they wanted to.

 

Fuel economy should be 10-15% better while being noticeably more powerful. A Prime Tacoma would be interesting. But I also respect the fact it’s 80-90% a gasser with a simple auxiliary hybrid system that doesn’t add too much weight and complexity. Betting whatever unibody compact truck they are supposedly developing will have a more traditional hybrid drivetrain.

Keep in mind these are all patches until they go full EV in 10 years.

 

Correct. My wife’s turbo Outback, while not low pitched of course, “wheezy” does not come to mind. Takes hills in cruise control like they aren’t hills. The “trip switch” that I finally said, “I’ve had it w/ obnoxious Tacoma cruise control w/ hills” and went running to the regional OTT tuner. Helped significantly.

 

Toyota has been too slow to embrace full electrification and is currently unable to produce enough PHEVs (of any model) to meet demand. The i4 turbo powertrain will be outdated the moment it hits dealer lots and the decision to prioritize acceleration over efficiency in their Tacoma hybridization strategy is perplexing, at least to me. Regardless, can they even make enough of the them? I think some prospective Tacoma buyers are likely to skip 4th gen in anticipation that better electrification options will soon be available in the midsize market (maker TBD).

 

4th gen should be easy to skip for most 3rd gen owners.

I can go either way on efficient vs performance hybrid on a Tacoma. Not sure if PHEV is even possible in truck that weighs 4500 lbs even without the two motors and massive batteries and cuts through wind like a freight train.

Either way it has to drive like a truck, not a high powered Prius. I absolutely loath the drivability of Toyotas hybrid SUVs, so much so I bought an all gas Pilot over the highlander hybrid in 2021. For me that hybrid/low power ICE appliance experience in a truck would be a hard pass and I’d go straight to Ford.

Also keep in mind they have to compete with ford and Chevy or the Tacoma will become the Tundra of mid sized trucks. And that means performance over fuel economy alone.

Trucks sell in the US despite being inefficient. Though I agree there’s also a massive market for a 35 mpg lower performing truck, but like I said that’s probably coming as a compact unibody.

 

I think it is doable. I am not sure anyone would like the specs but look at the Kia Sorento for an example. Instead of the 2.5 turbo motor they are using a 1.6 turbo. They also reduced the gas tank from 18 or so gallons to 12 to make room for the battery. I think it only has a single motor. I am not up to speed on the Rav 4 Prime but I assume they made changes along those lines. So it might be a heavy underpowered brick if they tried the it in the Tacoma or it could be really awesome if they set it up just right and have a lot of power behind the electric motor.

 

It's because they want to use solid state batteries from my understanding. They are probably testing them for all we know . Maybe they are a few years away

 

I've gotten up to 24 MPGs in my manual 3rd gen, before my 33s.

27 is better, but not that much better.

I still wish we had diesel options to be honest.

 

You must be going down hill a lot lol

 

^^^^This^^^^

...and the Land Cruiser is a closed vehicle/SUV. Let's face it: A pickup (Tacoma) is an aerodynamic nightmare. Maybe if you remove that "Hoover Dam" chin strap in the front it might achieve 24 mpg on a 300 mile highway trip on cruise control..... but I doubt it. My truck will return 24 on cruise under 70 with the with the "big motor".

I've done it: more than once. It ain't easy in the "Mad Maxx" Northeast, but it can be done.

"We don't need no stinkin' turbo-charged hybrid 4-bangers."

(But they are fun!) (turbos)

 

Honestly just a lot of 55mph flat country roads, the gearing + OEM tire size at that speed is money.

60MPH and above is just a flat 20/21MPG sadly.

Light towing or weight in the bed also = a flat 20 with how the truck was setup originally, before 33s.

It really didn't fluctuate hardly at all.

 

^^^^This^^^^

Turbo-Diesel options ! (or forgetabout it)

 

You mean individual trips of 24, or hand calculated for the entire tank? I managed 24.7 driving to the gas station today.

 

Technically both, though more often I had good trip averages like you shared.

I only went crazy calculating at the pump when I first got the truck and later found the trip averages to actually be pretty accurate.
(useful on road trips where you're going for like 5 hours straight from 1 gas station to the next etc)

 

Yep my trucks dash display has been extremely accurate too, any time I have hand calculated it's been within +/- .1 - .2

 

The “Hoover dam chin strap” improves MPG.

 

Oh man, forgot I had this but here's a pic of my down hill mpgs/trip meter from way back lol.
And yes I gamed it, I had another leg of the trip to do but wanted to see how high I could get that number before continuing on.



And my MPGs while getting a Christmas tree in a snow storm with 4WD on.
(Was driving at about 40-ish MPH most of the way)


I will say, speaking to the main topic for a moment, MPGs are nice because it translates to total overall range.
The Tacoma seems more forgiving when geared right, but currently the way my stock truck sits on 33s, head-winds/inclines etc all hit me pretty hard.

Turbo vs non-turbo aside, I'm a little peeved that they widened the 4th gen Taco without increasing it's length of travel in the suspension.

Oh well, can't always have your cake and eat it I guess lol.