Why did they not use the 4.0 Dual VVT-i V6?

They are moving the Tacoma to be in the same engine class as all the cars across the line. Much like the 2az which they used in just about everything. Making one engine across the line saves money. In the next few years all models with the V6 will probably be the same engine with slight modifications. Already switched some of the Lexus'

 

Heavy trailers will create a lot of drag through their shitty tires that people buy at Walmart.

 

For anyone who hasn't driven a 3rd gen v6, do yourself a favor and drive one. Admittedly if feels slow when you're just driving regularly, but that's the point it's set up to get better gas mileage. Now when you step on it even just a little it builds a ton of power and is very fast. I'm impressed every time I get on it. I think those who haven't driven one and do would be impressed also.

 

I've driven one, and what you are saying is exactly how I felt in comparison of the 3.5 V6 to my 4.0 V6 and yes I acknowledge this is the point of the engine technology in the thing. Somehow though, I like the low end torque of my truck. Yeah, it doesn't have an atkinson cycle but I guess I am just used to being able to drive around town with decent power all below 2000 RPM's without having to rev the piss out of the thing.

 

Wow, that is pretty good. My commute is 52 miles round trip 98% hwy...I keep the cruise set at the speed limit, 65. I have been debating on what to get, either a F150, Tundra, or another Tacoma...if it will break 25 mpg...the Taco might be the ticket.

Most of the 2-Lane roads around here have a 55-65 speed limit.

Finally test drove a '16 back in November, seemed plenty peppy to me..not sure why people think it is under powered...unless they are kids racing from stoplight to stoplight.

 

In the short amount of time I've had mine, I've noticed a few things:

1. It doesn't "feel" fast when accelerating normally.
2. Once the RPMs hit around 2500 it starts pulling much harder (not like a vehicle with a turbo, but it hits power).
3. Even though it doesn't have the "push you back in your seat" feel to it, the acceleration is definitely superior to the gen2 V6.

My observations are with the manual transmission. I test drove an auto, and it seemed fine for an auto when I stomped on it.

 

All most people care about is if it "feels" fast off the line or if it puts you back in your seal a little when you BARELY hit the gas. The gens 2's will do that but the gen 3's don't and thats what people are complaining about. Nobody really cares how fast from 0 to 60 blah blah blah, its if it puts you back in your seat or not. That sucks you really have to push the 16 to feel that.

 

Old sayings still hold true here.
Power under the curve.
No replacement for displacement.
Forced induction rules.

 

I like my gen 3, but i dont love it. If it could "jump" off the line i would love it.

Everything about this truck is great except the weak low end.

Off the line it cant even break the tires loose. Its quick enough at rolling speeds, but lacks any initial power. I wish there was a tuner for this thing to help with performance.

 

It's not that it doesn't have any low end... It's the what the throttle by wire has been tuned by Toyota. It is tuned for everyday use with a mpg first mindset.

 

Another thing is people tend to overlook the extra cost of owning a diesel. Everything costs double if not more on a diesel compared to a gas engine when it comes to repairs, fuel, oil changes and routine maintenance. Diesel engines are superior to gas engines in a lot of ways but having those extra features and abilities costs money. Not to mention diesels are a pain in the ass in the cold weather you have to run fuel additives all winter long to keep the fuel from gelling up and since diesel engines hate cold weather, they need to be plugged in at night in order to start the next morning. I have a 7.3 Powerstroke for a work truck when the Tacoma won't cut it, but that truck rarely gets used for those same reason. Sucks in the cold, has to be plugged in which runs up my power bill, 15 quart oil changes every 3,000 miles, and much more costly to maintain. the cost of a single injector could buy a whole timing belt kit and the labor to do it all on my Tacoma 3.4 engine and the 7.3 has 8 injectors in them to worry about. It's an old school diesel too, injectors on newer ones are way more expensive than the ones in my diesel are. The cost of fuel, insurance, and MSRP are all considerably higher with diesels so if people want them so bad, they need to commit to the extra cost and research them heavily before getting one. I researched hard for about a year before buying my 7.3 and all my homework was done so I knew what I was getting into when I bought the truck.

 

I will probably end up getting a 2017 or 2018 Taco. Wondering if they will have software fixes for the laggy acceleration and erratic shifting by then for the Taco. My guess is they will touch very little. If they had that manual in the DCLB I would have bought one already. The manual gives you that low-end torque fix you've come to expect in pickup trucks. Even the tiny 22re motors in the old Toyota trucks had low-end torque. Absolutely no passing power on the highway but you felt like you had a powerful truck around town at least.

 

I had a 2012 TRD DCSB and I now have a 2016 TRD DCSB off road and I can say, I miss the old 4.0 in my 12. Not that I DONT like the new engine, I just miss the responsivness in my 12. Boom

 

Does the 4Runner have a different engine than the Tacoma?

If so is that why it has more hp

 

The 4 runner has a dual VVTi 4.0

The old Tacoma had a single VVTi 4.0

 

An Acura NSX 3.2L makes like 290hp, but it doesn't mean it would be a better motor to put in a pickup truck over a 270 HP 4.0L.

If it was all about HP then everyone here should agree that the 306 HP Colorado is the best midsize truck.

 

Essentially the same motor. The 2010 4runner, 2010 FJ CRUISER and 2011 Tundras received the 270hp dual vvti version. The Tacoma stayed with the single vvti 236hp motor until 2015 and I think the only reason they did that is because the 3.5L specs are disappointing compared to the 270 HP 4.0L. It sounds so much better for Seatbelt Mike Swears to say "the 3rd gen has 42 more HP than the outgoing model" rather than "the 3rd gen has 8 more HP at higher rpm and less torque at higher rpm than the outgoing model"

But I'm the conspiracy theorist for suggesting that, lol.

 

I personally think that the 4.0 v6 was the wrong motor back in 2003 when they made it. They should have kept with the 1uz-fe vvti motor but emissions put them off... for example.. the 1uz-fe motor was rated at 300 hp and 310 lb·ft of torque

The 1UZ-FE was voted to the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 1998 through 2000 but instead of offering it they made another whole motor that was just subpar. reasons behind it will never be known.

I cant wait to put the 4.6 tundra v8 into my truck with the 6 speed a760F transmission. Then we will see what happens with displacement vs economy.

 

The funny thing is that when the Ranger joins the show the point will be mute since it will get likely get some version of the ecoboost engine. At that point other companies will be forced to come up with better midsized engines or watch Ford reclaim top spot back from the Tacoma after about 15 years.

 

I want a 1 ton capable Tacoma...
Has to stay mid size, but be able to out do a F450 when I want it to, but be as economical as a Prius.
I mean I'm kinda mad, shouldn't the 2016 Tacoma be exactly a Tundra that was just shrunk a little?

Sorry, but I guess I really don't understand all of the boo hooing about Toyotas motor choice for a mid sized lifestyle truck. If you really want to make an honest argument, put a dyno-graph of the 4.0 and the 3.5 and show the actual disparities.

But again, buy the right truck for what you want, a Taco will never beat a 1 Ton towing, just as an unloaded 1 Ton will never beat an unloaded Taco for daily driver comfort and economy...