2020 Tacoma 4cyl or 6cyl more reliable?

Hi I was looking to buy the 4cyl but its so underpowered feels like my 2018 Toyota.Corolla SE. The only reason looking to buy new truck is i want to add powerwashing yo my window cleaning business. If i could get a light weight trailer that would be perfect.

Any thoughts on 4cyl seems.too darn weak

 

Rumor has it Toyota knows how to build a bullet proof I4. My first Toyota truck was the Pickup... pre-Tacoma. It had the 4cyl and I whipped the snot out of that thing for 125k miles second hand to 190k miles. Engine was rock solid but I did go through a clutch. The 4 is definitely under powered for the Taco by today's standards. But if you just need it for transportation and light loads and not dealing with highway on/off ramps regularly, it'll probably save you $5k on the purchase. I really enjoyed the 'truck drive' of my manual 4 cylinder. Don't get the 4 in an auto is my advice if you choose the 4.

 

The 3.5L is designed to last at least 300.000 miles or around 483.000 kilometers...

 

From all the posts I’ve run across here on Taco engine troubles here on TW, it appears to me the 4 cyl is more reliable, but even the V6 is generally reliable ($4000 timing cover replacements for leaks on some).
I have a 2019 2.7L automatic, love it.

 

i had a 18 corolla se premium with 6mt! i know exactly what you was talking about lol. it was a damn slug, but the more i reflect on it, i think it was attributed to the atrocious drive by wire. i felt that same lag and throttle gating with the taco too, once i put a sprint booster, it literally was driving a different truck. the 2.7 is bulletproof, but it doesnt come with manual trans anymore. so you gonna feel the anemicness especially if you dont go sprint booster or ovt.

 

The 3rd gen 2.7 Auto has the same rear end gearing as the manual, Using the S mode and the first 4-5 gears in the auto I doubt you’ll see that much performance difference with the manual in a race to 60. But who races these trucks

 

If you're already worried about power, the 4 banger isn't for you.

Pre-runner 4 bangers make no sense, I miss the old low rider 4 cylinders, they drove much better and the power suited the truck.

 

I think it is too early to say about the 3.5. The older 4.0 engines are pretty bulletproof and baring abuse will usually last longer than the rest of the truck. But I'm aware of several of the 4 cyl engines near, 1 million miles. If anyone has done that with one of the 6's I'm not aware of it.

I wouldn't make my decision based on that though. If I need the V6 power I need the V6 power. If I don't, and if I want to save some on the purchase and fuel costs the 4cyl is a good choice.

 

I think the 3.5 has been around since around 2008 so it has a pretty good track record, it just wasnt in a Tacoma until 2016.

 

If anything the new 3.5 is much better than the old 2gr in the rav4 and siennas. They had VVTI rattle starts that plagued them for years. Timing cover leaks have always been a problem, but it's minor as far as reliability is concerned.

We also have to remember the 4.0 is still a GR motor, and was still very close in mechanical similarities, it just lacked exhaust vvti.

 

The four cylinder is a sick running joke at this point. The last truck it made sense in was the 2nd gen singe cab.

 

I think they’re both very reliable. 4cyl isn’t fast but it will still pull your loads safely. Just not fast.

 

So many V6 vs I4 threads and 4.0 vs 3.5 etc. op, honestly you can’t go wrong with any Toyota engines. All of them for the Tacoma (2.7, 3.5 and 4.0) are great engines. Just have to really ask yourself what you do or don't need the power for and go from there. Also consider the weight of the newer tacomas. 4500ish pounds is a lot for that 4cyl but it can do it. The 4cyl edges out the 6 obviously in gas mileage but really not as much as you would expect. Pretty close. Anyway, good luck OP. Take care.

 

I have a 2.7 4 banger in my SR... I had a 4 banger in my 1994 4x4 P/U I had a 3.4 in my 99 Taco. They were all good reliable engines.

 

I'm sure many people get by just fine with the I4, but if you have the cash I wouldn't pass up the V6. I really appreciate having the extra power and it performs nicely in these trucks.

 

@davidstacoma: thats pretty cool. i didnt know that! still though, you gonna feel that anemicness with the 2.7. the robust nature of the 4cyl felt more at home in the 2nd gen due to it being just all around lighter. in the 3rd gen not so much. in stock form the v6 in the 3rd gen is pretty brisk, especially when mated to the venerable 6mt. unfortuntely, cant be said about the 4cyl. not to take away from the motor though. like i mentioned before, its a workhorse motor; pretty much bulletproof. itll do what you need it to do. not quickly, but then again, you dont need quickly when you get the 2.7 lol.

 

I think you summed it up well!
I’ve learned not to fear high revs with the 2.7 in a heavy midsize truck, I’ve learned the machine and it feels good now. I get in the gas to merge on an interstate and cruise with the best. I don’t drag race though Like you said, it’s a workhorse motor, and should last a long time.

 

@davidstacoma: no doubt! and thats really what this thread is all about. at the end of the day, i think whatever choice he makes he really cant go wrong. the 2tr is very reliable and has a track record. the 2gr while the younger motor is also very reliable with a growing record of its own.

 

Its not a rumor but a fact toyota can build a reliable 4 cylinder. I had them for years and ran them hard, but the 6's and 8's have been just as good. Imo, The 4 cyl engines belong in lighter vehicles not this gen3 tacoma after i took a test drive one.

 

Any DOHC V6 is going to be more reliable run a bit smoother and run cooler than SOHC V6 right?

If you do the maintenance on the V6 and don't overheat it, it should be as reliable as any DOHC V6.