Tacomas are not underpowered

Until people accept that power in a smaller vehicle comes at the cost of fuel economy, much like it does with a V8, we won't get anywhere.

It's a little slow, but anyone can use the gear limiter in an automatic truck and access the power they want when they want it. Or just drive with a different mindset like you said. Wanna go fast? Push the RPMs and you're golden. My first vehicle was a 2.2L RWD Mazda pickup, if I didn't need power as a teenager why would I now lol.

 

The 6MT accomplishes all and costs nothing additional.

Crazy how that works.

 

Take it easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy

 

Idk who bought a v6 truck expecting it to be fast and powerful haha. If you want a more powerful vehicle, fork out some more dough

 

1989 Silverado 4x4 reg cab 8' bed 2019 Tacoma Access cab 4x4 6'6" bed

Engine 4.3 L V6 - 3.5 L V6
H.P. 160 @ 4000 r.p.m. - 278 @ 6000 r.p.m.
Torque 235 @ 2400 r.p.m. - 265 @ 4600 r.p.m.


Wheelbase 131.5" - 127.4"
Width 76.8" - 70.6"
Length 212.9" - 212.3"
Height 73.9" - 70.6"

GVWR 5600 Lbs. - 5600 Lbs.
Max Payload 1496 Lbs. - 1295 Lbs.
GCWR (combo) 9500 Lbs. - 11360 Lbs.
Curb weight 3933 Lbs. - 4300 Lbs.

 

The problem is, many people expect full size performance out of a midsize/compact Tacoma

Some simply don’t research well enough prior to buying. Their expectations are over extended.

 

It's closer to 2500 rpm on my tacoma when things being to really happen. Even at 2k, there's enough torque that the truck has very good response.

 

Best post in this thread so far!

 

As an owner of a 6MT, I emphatically disagree.

 

Drive a Ranger with a 3.0 for twenty years like I did and then tell me the Toyo 3.5 is a dog. Plus it had the power of a 4 cylinder and the economy of an eight.

 

Drive an old toyota 3.0 4wd pickup. Now thats a real gutless dog.

 

Too much focus on the HP and not enough on the torque numbers. For reference the two vehicles I daily:

2004 V8 4Runner (Non-VVTI)
HP: 235
Torque: 320 lb-ft
Gear Ratio: 3.73
Weight: 5,460
Tire Size: 285/70r17

2018 Tacoma TRD Pro (Manual Transmission & Tune/ Performance Mods)
HP: 278
Torque: 265 lb-ft
Gear Ratio: 4.30
Weight: 5,600
Tire Size: 285/75r16

Comparable weights and tire sizes. The 4Runner smokes the Tacoma and would do so even more if I got the gear ratios similar.

 

Without the AC running it's not bad, here in Arizona where you run your AC a lot, the truck is blunted by that drain on power. I think the engine/transmission is horribly matched and even Toyota said when designing the 4th gen that the 3rd gen didn't have enough torque.

 

I had a new 1990 Chevy S-10 four banger with a manual 5 speed back in the day. That was a slow truck. So I laugh at all of these complaints about how slow the V6 in the Tacoma is. The Tacoma is fine for what it is a mid-size truck. It isn't a race car.

 

Pretty much every other truck in the segment has more power, including the 4th gen. The offerings are marching more and more toward full size power, so this argument is really getting tired.

 

Drive the older Ranger 4.0 and then tell me the Tacoma 4.0 isn't completely gutless.

 

Underpowered, no.

100% incorrect cam profile for a truck though.

 

You know OP, at the same dealership you bought your truck they sold Supras too. It’s a truck, basic and simplistic. Defining something by what it is not or what it can’t do is not the fault of the truck but yours. Know what you own and appreciate it for what it is… or go get that Supra.

 

I agree, the Iron Duke was a big time slug. I had a couple of Jeep CJ's with 4.2 six, 112 hp at about 3,000 rpm, max torque of 210# hit at 1,500-1,800 rpm. All I needed. I just not real fond of a truck with max torque thats north of 4,000.

 

I can agree with that. Not saying I don’t like the engine in my Tacoma but if I had the 4.0L from my old Cherokee it would be a different animal all together.