New engine has way more power?

Hey everybody,

I had the opportunity to drive a 2018 Tacoma the other day that had (almost) the exact same specs as my '02, and seemed to have WAY more power to accelerate.

Vehicle Stats:
New Old
2.7L I-4 (159hp) 2.4L I-4 (142hp)
6-speed manual 5-speed manual
base model access cab SR5 extended cab
3,980lb (1806kg) curb weight ~3100lb (1406kg) curb weight
1131 miles (1820km) 108,000 miles (173809km)

I don't know too much about the mechanics of the new engines and all that, but I know they're definitely running way more efficiently than mine There are a couple variables that I've narrowed it down to, and the reason I posted this in the 4-cyl forum, is that Toyota is using essentially the exact same engine that was available in the '02 models, but it seems to be much quicker off the line. I would probably go as far as to say that it's almost twice as fast as my '02 - my question is, why?

I know cars lose power over time and mileage, but could 17 years and 108k cause that much power to be lost?
Could the 6-speed be geared so differently that it allows the car to seem much quicker? I wouldn't think that one gear could make that difference, but I'm not too sure.

I know this isn't a direct question, more of a "have you guys noticed" type of thing, but has anybody noticed the new Tacomas having way more power than the older ones? It just seems odd to me that a vehicle with almost the same engine that weighs 800lbs more would be so much faster in the city. Are there any mechanical reasons to this? Has anybody noticed this as well?

I should specify that I'm talking about the gas pedal feeling - I really didn't have to put my foot down very far to get up to speed - it seemed like it just went (a grave difference from my '02 in the least, lmao). What do you guys think?

 

I would say being a 6 speed has a lot to do with it. Keeps the motor in the optimal power band. Also variable valve timing of the new motors gives you more available power on demand. The cam can adjust the valve intake and exhaust to provide more air for power under load. So while the power and torque is similar the motor is way more sophisticated in its power delivery.

 

You are also comparing a 16 year old truck to a new truck.

 

was you waring work boots or sneakers when you test drove weight of shoes means a great deal in performance

 

Same shoes, different vehicle. I was wearing tennis shoes. It seems like it pulls way more power out of the (essentially) same engine, but I guess it's just the increase in technology.

Still blows my mind though, to be able to pull a 4000lb vehicle with a 2.7L engine so effortlessly. Hats off to the engineers, I suppose.

 

While the basic engine architecture is the same, there have been many refinements over the years.

 

Do they offer a 4cyl with the 6 speed? I thought only the V6 had that and the four cylinders come with a 5 speed still. Maybe I am wrong.

 

OP,
The motors are very different from one another.
A difference of 7hp (2003 @ 152hp) versus the now advertised 159hp wouldn't be noticeable if they were.

 

I had 1996 Tacoma with a 2.4, 5 speed manual and it was fairly quick. I have a 2018 Tacoma with a 2.7 and a 6 speed auto, the 1996 would easily out run it I would say. The 1996 was a lot lighter and still could hit the speed limiter with ease. I have put in a K&N drop in filter, LCE header, and different spark plugs and it has made a big improvement in the way the truck accelerates, I don't know if it would out run the old 1996, but it would be much closer now. NO LCE does not list a header for a 2018 Tacoma 2.7, I order one for a 2017 and it fits. I checked out the header part number on Toyota's part and the number is the same for the 17 and 18. I haven't noticed any mpg increase to speak of, but I tend to put my foot in it more as, it is more fun now.

 

You are not wrong. OP must mean 6spd auto, as the 4cyl cannot come with any manual 2018+. 2016-2017 SR 4cyl 4x4 could be had w/5spd manual.

 

The 16+ 4 banger really felt like it could use a higher RPM range, but Toyota has lost interest in trucks that don't sell by the thousands.

 

I am hoping they keep it that way until I'm ready for a new one. The 2TR is simple, and reliability is on par with an older diesel. Start adding new tech and there will be compromises.

 

That is disturbing, but not surprising. I hope the manual transmission doesn't disappear.

 

Hey just going to chime in here, Ive had about 4 tacomas in the past 20 years and they were all four cylinders and ive found that my current 2017 2.7 Sr5 has the most power, brand new, out of all of my previous tacomas. The other crazy thing is they were regular cabs and one was an extended cab so they were much lighter trucks but even though my new one is double cab short bed so its much heavier but even then it still feels like its got more power than those trucks. Just my .02c

 

Or... Toyota has lost interest in selling trucks that don't have many thousands $$$ in profit. They just wanna sell more that are loaded up.

 

I don't think it ever will disappear in a truck, but it has disappeared in the 4 cyl trucks. You can only get a manual in a 6 cyl Toyota.

 

2015+ 2.7 is dual vvti, instead of single like 05-14, and no vvti from 95.5-04 slight changes in technology make it slightly better or worse depending how you look at it. The 2.7 has its flaws for sure but for what it is it's a good engine

 

Only 3 pick up trucks available with a manual; Tacoma, Frontier and 1 and 3/4 ton Ram diesels.

 

Ok, so powerwise, goes like this;

1) Back in 2002, they had 2 different 4-cyl engines and 1 6-cyl. The one you are quoting for power is the smaller of the 4 cyl. The other was a 2.7/150hp.
2) For model year 2006, the power calculation formula changed a bit. The 4-cyl was derated by 5 hp due to this, so if you want to compare evenly, the newer engine at that point should be thought of as 164 hp as compared to 142 or 150. So a gain of 22 hp or 14 hp.
3) In model year 2016, they added exhaust side VVT, which bumped the power again, this time by 5 hp. So to compare a 2018 against a 2002, you would be looking at 169 hp vs 142 or 150. That's a gain of 27 (19%) or 19 (12.7%) hp.
4) On top of that, there is a gearing difference. Yours with a 142 hp engine, would have been the base model 2wd. The 150 hp engine was for prerunner/4x4. The base model has a higher gearing, and thus will suffer a bit on acceleration. Yeah, probably enough to make up for the 29% weight increase with only a 19% power boost.
5) Wait! There's more! I mentioned the exhaust side VVT for 2016+, but I didn't yet mention the intake side VVT for 2005+. This has the effect of altering the intake cam timing. You know how "work trucks" are made to dump on the torque at low RPM, but "race cars" are made to maximize peak horsepower? Basically, VVT allows the same engine to do both. So when you're comparing the engines and see a 27hp/19% gain, that is only the *peak* figure, and doesn't represent the change to the power/torque curve, which is utterly jaw dropping!

 

OP no 2018 Tacoma with a 4 cylinder has a manual transmission, let alone a 6 speed which was never put behind a 4 cylinder as far as I know.

Are you sure you weren't driving a V6 truck?