Toyota Tacoma "Real World" Gas Mileage

There must be many impatient people on Fuelly, with their 13-15mpg averages on Tundras. 2014 Silverado owners seem to be more patient than Tundra guys, as they seem to be getting 16-18mpg with theirs.

You can't go by the window sticker to get an absolute number, but it is a pretty good relative indication. In this area, Toyota products suck, for lack of a better term.

355hp Silverado, EPA 16/22
236hp Tacoma, EPA 16/21
310hp Tundra, EPA 14/18

Most users seem to report numbers in these ranges.

 

I think a lot of people are forgetting about or not considering rear end ratios here. Gm uses like a 3.4 stock while Toyota ratios are much higher. Lots of GM owners with 3.4 complain about towing.

 

Diff ratio doesn't make much difference in city/suburban driving. It does, however, affect highway mileage. My 2.7, cruising at 67mph on the flat gets no more than 20mpg.

 

I have posted here before that I am lucky to get 18. Usually I get 16, and even 14 in the winter.

The other day I did a test. I filled, then drove 75km at 100km/h with cruise on, then filled as soon as I hit my destination. Over 22! ON the way home, I did same thing, but drove 110km/h. 18.5mpg. While not scientific, or in a controlled environment, that highway is pretty darn flat (Moose Jaw to Regina), and (for once) there wasn't any noticeable wind.

I draw 2 conclusions from this: 1. The extra 10km/h sucks down more that I would have guess. 2. City drive must be horrendous, because I usually only put on about 50km in the city, the rest highway, yet I usually get about 16mpg on a tank. So it really affects it. I should really do this test with city only to see.

I should also repeat this a few times to see how repeatable the results are.

 

Took my truck on 400km trip averaging 14.8mpg on the highway at 110km/h (67mph).

I am eagerly awaiting a new vehicle because this mileage is pathetic. I don't even mind the low Mpg, but the fact that I can barely get over 300km/tank is pathetic. I back country camp a lot and constantly have to limit my trips because my tank won't take me and farther without a gas station nearby.

 

2013 DCSB TRD OffRoad. Average 20.1, last tank 20.5.

 

Stock? Meaning no lift and road tires?

 

My 2.7 stick shift Taco gets slightly better than the listed

21 city/22 combined/25 highway

On Summer blend my highway mileage is 27-29 mpg, and city is 24. The latest fill up with mostly highway driving on Winter blend was 25.6 mpg, so I'm totally happy with the gas mileage I'm getting.


Greg

 

I just got mine and am in the process of figuring out the mileage. I burned through roughly a half a tank at about 150 miles, but looking to get more accurate reading. Hoping for at least 17-20. I do mostly highway driving.

Saw this on the first page of the thread and it made me cry a little

"Not to mention gas has sky rocketed in the past few weeks in FL & GA. We're up to $2.71/gal for 87 octane. 2 or 3 weeks ago I was getting it for $2.34"

I am paying almost double that now in 2014 here in California...

 

Mine varies a lot. In winter with really short trips, a lot of idling, stop and go etc... I can get as low as 16mpg . On summer trips I've got as good as 26-27.

 

Yes, stock. Al I have done (so far) is add rock sliders and a plywood bed organizer that weighs around 85 pounds.

 

Deleted post was way old

 

So, I posted a few days back regarding fuel economy in my Chevy Suburban. This weekend we took the family up to the family cabin in Weber Canyon, above Oakley, and I decided to test what kind of fuel economy I could achieve. Elevation gain is about 2400 ft, from 4900-7300ft elevation. The Suburban was loaded with myself, my wife, our three boys, all our stuff for the weekend (full interior including tool boxes, suitcases, coolers with food, etc), then our single axle trailer hitched up with two quads (Blaster 200 and 300ex) as the rolling rig. I decided to try for good fuel economy, so I drove very nicely but still at or above the speed limit, with the tow/haul mode "ON" (which holds lower gears longer) and by the time we got there 1.5 hrs later going uphill I was averaging 18 mpg. After running a few in town errands while up there and returning home yesterday with the loaded rig, the average for the whole trip was 20.9 mpg. I'm very satisfied with that mileage. Again, as I stated earlier, I have total confidence in my digital readout because I've tested it manually so many times it's pointless to doubt it any more. In case you forget, the truck is: 2005 Chevrolet Suburban LS 2wd 5.3 V8 3.42 rear end, all factory and stock, nearing 140K miles. Tires are Michelin LTX MS2 in size 245/75R16 on factory aluminum rims.

 

First fill up was just over 20 mpg. Second was 18.87 when I switched to 91 (highest usually available at my elevation and used in anticipation of a supercharger install the following week). Third fill up was just over 20 mpg. Just over 750 miles on the odo. Picked up the Taco tonight from the dealer w/ supercharger installed. I expect 15 mpg the next tank or two. When I get over the SC giggles I'll check back in w/ the mpgs w/ a SC.

 

Update: I tracked fuel economy on a trip I took a trip with my oldest two boys in the Suburban to Arizona this weekend to haul back a bunch of stuff from home.

On Thursday we drove the Suburban from Springville Utah to Taylor Arizona, down HWY 6 to HWY 191 to HWY 77 to Taylor. I filled up at the Maverick on Mn Street in Springville Utah, then drove 516 miles to Taylor Arizona. We did not stop for fuel, and I still had just over 1/4 tank left when we arrived. I filled up in Taylor, and my manual calculation gave me 23.7 mpg for the trip down. Details: I drove at 70 mph or less, mostly 65 mph, cruise control on, A/C on, 89 octane fuel.

In Taylor I loaded up the entire back half of the Suburban with heavy stuff, cabinets, large speakers, totes full of scrap books, etc. Then drove to Mesa, AZ to visit family.

Yesterday morning I topped off the loaded Suburban on McKellips/Horne in Mesa and drove the 202 loop to the 101, to the 60, to the 93, to Las Vegas NV, then took I-15 home to Springville Utah and filled up at the Phillips 66 just off the 400 South exit. I never had to stop for fuel. I drove 683 miles on 29.15 gallons of 89 octane fuel = 23.43 MPG. I pretty much drove 70 mph with the cruise/AC on the entire way.

As a reminder, it's a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 2wd 5.3 V8, 139K miles, all original/stock with Michelin LTX MS2 245/75R16 tires.

Also of interest to you fellas I saw the following on I-15:
1. An '05-'08' Tacoma reg cab, short bed, 2wd, towing a large box trailer North on I-15. He actually passed me going up the hill between Cedar and St George, and I could see it was a manual transmission, looked like he was in third gear pulling the hill. He was doing just fine, even with additional load in the bed of the truck. I was impressed.
2. An '09 or newer Tacoma Long Bed Double Cab 4x4, lifted with large tires, pulling a large toy hauler and hauling a dirt bike in the bed. I've never personally seen someone towing a trailer that large with a Tacoma, but he was cruising about 73 mph and passed me. He was zipping right down the freeway, with rear view mirror extensions sticking out to the sides. Probably headed to Little Sahara. Again, I was impressed.

 

Stock 14 TRD Sport DCLB - very first tank of gas was 15.04mpg. Really hoping it gets better as my Titan with a 5.6 V8 got 14mpg around town and 17mpg highway.

 

I drive 90% city stop and go, truck has 32" Duratracs, 3" OME lift, I use WOT as needed, I use it like a truck and haul or tow what I need, and the 4.0L isnt the most fuel efficient motor. I do run 89 octane here in the NE. I know I bought a truck and I know its not a fuel efficient vehicle but guess what I could care less. I am around 13-14 mpgs according to Fuelly but I dont give a shit.

 

I have been using this truck for almost 7 weeks and am avg 640 Km / 70 liter. That's a combo of city / country road driving. About 50/50. Im avg about 21 mpg. Cant complain considering I used to own a Titan.

 

Last fill up. 17.58 MPG. Supercharged. Mixed driving.

 

My last fill was 22.75. I have to track my mileage. That reading was with 3900 on the truck.