Real World MPG 3rd Gen with Manual Tranny

Hey all, new to the group. Trying to decide between a few new pickups and I've always driven manual. Only Tacoma and the ancient Frontier offer a manual. The Gladiator offers one but anything that Chrysler touches is a turd. I commute a good bit and was wondering what kind of mileage I'd realistically be getting driving all highway, speed limit 55 so maybe 65mph at most. Anyone out there drive a similar commute and, if so, what kind of mileage? Thanks in advance!

 

I have a 2017 TRD Off Road, Six Speed Manual. My truck is totally stock, other than OV tune and it averages about 18 MPG. Some here say that they get more and I have seen mine get up to 21 in certain conditions but 18 is the normal average per tank.

 

My best mpg with 6MT is around 55mph. Flat land constant 55 to 60mph I'd expect 22-24mpg.

Mpg really drops after 65mph. Just downright sucks after 75mph.

Mixed city -> 17mpg.
Mixed highway over 65 -> 20mpg.

 

Thanks for the reply! I've read OD in auto is taller, lowering rpms. Crazy how they wouldn't have made the OD in manual talk for better mileage... still, I drive conservatively for the most part so good to see that 24ish is achievable under good conditions

 

Fuelly.com has many people tracking MT 3rd gens where you can get actual numbers versus what people think they are getting.

 

I've looked on there. It's just hard to gauge because a lot of people raw hide these trucks so for my scenario I'm really looking for someone's mpg experience driving under my conditions.

 

You'll never really know that, there's so many variables that affect mileage, wind, temp, elevation, warm up times, terrain, traffic conditions, amount of stops, fuel available, etc etc etc. When I buy a new vehicle, I just use the city number, if I can't make that work, it's not the vehicle for me. Neither the Tacoma or the Frontier are very good on mileage.

 

When I have driven on the highway, I have gotten 10 to 12 litres per 100kms. ( 23.5mpg - 19.6mpg ). I drive with a heavy foot. I have been quite happy with my mileage.

 

If I drive ultra conservative and keep it at 65 or under on the freeway, I can get just over 24 mpg on a tank. That is a good mix of rural roads, some feeway, and a little bit of stop n go. That's summer gas.

 

Appreciate the post. I realize there are variables, but I'm looking for real numbers to base my decision on. I know trucks aren't known for mpg, but take the Colorado for instance. The V6 epa estimates are very conservative low 20s and I've talked to several owners and they're reporting 26-28mpg real world under similar conditions. With direct injection, variable timing, aerodynamic improvements, and better gearing, modern trucks should be "good" by truck standards. Just trying to see if that's the case for the new Taco

 

If mpg is a big concern for you then this is not the appropriate vehicle, you can get better mpg with an F-150

 

Both 5th and 6th in the MT are OD, so I don't understand.

Tacoma's are hit hard by winter (-2)

It's a truck (-6)

Worst case, cold winter city I get around 16.5 mpg. Summer hiway 23 mpg. I drive like I stole it

 

Stock on mine I got 18 mpg average. 21 all stock and 17.5 after mods are the best I have ever gotten out of it. Now with armor, lift, OV tune and 255/85r16 I average 16 mpg. Speed limits around my area are 70-80 mph. I just set the cruise and let it go.

 

Sorry for confusion. I mean taller gearing as in in top gear (6th) in the manual, the gearing is not as tall as the auto's 6th gear, therefore the manual requires higher rpms for same speed; worse mileage. I have not verified this, just read it in forum and makes sense as the auto reports better mpg by EPA.

 

Know this won't help much because you can't buy a new Tacoma with a 4cyl 5spd anymore, but I have a 2017 SR access cab 4x4, live in rolling hills and average 24.5 mpg always. On freeway trips with cruise set at 73 or so I have got a little better than 25. And of course, I don't hot rod (really can't with the 4 banger).

 

Appreciate the input! I'd get a 4 banger, as I had a 2016 Colorado with the 6 speed and it got near 30mpg! But, I now have 2 kids so access cab is not realistic. That's why I've narrowed it down to frontier or Tacoma. I want a manual, but need back seats. So mpg is somewhat important to me, so long as it isn't awful. Again, thanks for the input!

 

Trust the data. 15 around town and 19-20 is best on highway. Sure, there will be days when you get 22-24 but they will be few and far between. I put 40K highway miles on mine last year. I drive conservatively. I averaged 19.

 

Like others have posted, advertised MPGs are pretty accurate for me. The only times I've seen 19 are on country roads doing 55. Highway limit here is 70 so I average 17-18. Currently winter gas I'm at 16. This is with 6k miles. Even though I leveled the truck, I hardly noticed a difference in MPGs, stock wheels and tires.

 

Definitely going to vary on conditions, in the Summer I average 21-22 per tank and winter 17-19 per tank.

 

55-65 during the summer time I’ll be 20+ mpg