2023 SR5 2.7L 4Cyl 4x2

Hello everyone! I am a new Taco owner and am interested in knowing what people think about the 4x2 4Cyl.

I live on the coast of Maine where the snow doesn't last too long due to the ocean. I also have been driving for 27 years in the winter and have owned 2WD, 4WD, and AWD vehicles. I have found that when I owned 4WD vehicles I never used the 4x4.

I just bought a 2023 SR5 2.7L 4Cyl 4x2 and am looking forward to it being delivered. I opted out of the 4x4 simply due to the fact that this truck will be for running errands and occasionally picking up a sheet of plywood from Home Depot. It will never be towing anything or going off road.

I know the majority of Tacoma owners where I live have the 4x4, but the majority of them look like they never have left the asphalt.

Are there any Maniacs here who also own a 4x2?

And just a side note: my wife has a Honda CR-V which is great in the snow.

I look forward to hearing from you!

 

welcome!
Nothing wrong with a 4 cylinder 2WD, strong commuter, grocery getter, hardware runner, that will last a long time.
You don't have to have any certain model to hang around these parts.

enjoy!

 

Thanks so much!

 

I have one. LOVE the gas mileage compared to my second gen V6. BUT, it does lack power. I use mine only for commuting so it fits my needs. Those uphill climbs take a bit to get up to speed but hit the ECT and you will get a slight boost hehe

 

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

 

Your payload is way more than my v6 4x4. That means you can load a lot more stuff from the hardware store without sagging. That 4x4 and heavy motor adds 400 pounds or so.

 

Thank you for the information! I appreciate this as I am still learning about these amazing trucks.

 

The 4x2 2.7 is more capable than you think. Yes it does take longer to go up an incline but the engine is bulletproof and as long as you have good ground clearance and good tires and you drive correctly you can go and do anything.

 

Thank you! I appreciate your view! I see lots of people (on many different forums) bashing this truck, but to me and my needs, it just makes the most sense!

 

If you don’t have a lot of snow/ice you should be fine, but keep in mind that a rwd pickup is the worst possible vehicle in low traction situations (much worse than a fwd). With decent tires, weight in the bed, and some skills it is doable. The taco also has traction control to help you out.

 

The 2.7L 2TR-FE is an absolute rock of engine. Will outlast your great-great-grand children lol

 

Thank you for the advice. We do get around 50" - 70" of snow each year here in Maine. However, the snow on the coast doesn't last too long and the roads are well kept. I got around in a Chevy S10 for many winters; only ever had a bag of sand in the back. And if it is really bad out, we will use the wife's Honda CR-V.

 

Thank you! I love the positive input from everyone!

 

I have a 2011 2wd. Great truck! Never once wished it was a 4x4. Sadly 4x2s not sold in Canada anymore.

 

Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing!

 

GTBCKUP...Simple is good.
the less there is the less that can go wrong.
Enjoy and welcome to TW

 

Thank you so much! My exact thoughts on it!

 

That’s slightly more than we get here, but here it sticks around all winter. Even when there is no snow on the road, there are cold spells that cause auto exhaust to freeze to the road and cause “black ice”. A rwd pickup can be quite a fun ride in rush hour under under those conditions.

 

Black ice during rush hour...LOL! We also get black ice here. My wife and I are self employed and work from home, so thankfully, if it is too bad out, we just stay home. I'm excited about receiving this truck. I am confident, based on your original post (and everyone else's) that we should be fine with the 4x2 providing we drive smart!

 

The vehicle stability control (VSC) is also a big help. It reacts to a 60 mph rush hour rwd skid faster than I can and whereas I can only steer into it, it can apply braking to individual wheels to bring the truck back into control. My 2016 taco was the first vehicle I’ve owned with a such a feature.

CAVEAT: When you want to have fun, you must turn VSC off.