MPG on a 3rd Gen 4 banger

I saw another thread on MPG, but it's pretty much for the V6 guys.
I'm curious on what you 3rd Gen 4 cyl. guys are getting for gas mileage - 2 or 4wd (of course 4wd won't get quite as good).

Mine is used 90% commuting (Norcal) from Modesto to Vacaville, I5 & 80.
I'm in right now for my first 5000 mile service - I usually drive her pretty easy setting the cruise at 70.
I've been getting 23 to 24 mpg, which I'm not that happy with - I expect more out of a 2wd 4 cyl.
Hopefully she loosens up a little and this summer she'll do better, getting away from the winter gas blend.
My 2012 got 26 mpg on the same commute, doing 70-75. I like my current SR, but do not like the fact that these 3rd gens are heavier and higher off the ground (larger / heavier tires).
It's a 2wd!

 

Don't they have the same engine (2nd & 3rd generations)? I have a 2008 with a 4 cyl and to be honest its no much better than the 2012 v6 taco.

 

For the most part, cept the 3rd gens have dual vvti.

 

Difference between 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen 2TR-FE is single vs dual vvti. Horse and torque numbers stays the same though but don't know about torque curve. 24+ mpg on highways is what I've seen when I was on oem wheels/tires. I think the reason 2nd Gen's can get better mpg is that it's a little bit lighter than a 3rd Gen. 2WD and Manual trans will be about +/- 400 lbs lighter.

2nd Gen Regular Cab Auto 4x4 = 3,765 lbs
2nd Gen Access Cab Auto 4x4 = 4,050 lbs
3rd Gen Access Cab Auto 4x4 = 4,220 lbs

 

I get like 18 to 20 but I stopped counting/caring. I have larger tires, wider track, bed rack, and I’m above 3k all the time. Don’t even care.

 

Same engine but lower mileage rating for 3rd Gen, for reasons already stated. The fact that one can get about the same mileage with a V6 makes me wonder why a 4 banger is even available. I got one to keep my purchase price down and they are really reliable. Just wanting to know what mileage others are getting.

 

Mine hits 23 mpg on a regular basis. On short outings I have seen the average as 17 mpg. Usually thus shows up on short one mile or less errand.

 

I've wondered the same thing. Maybe they have plans of phasing one of the three motors out and, in the interim, gave the consumer the choice of three engine types? Who knows.

The 4 banger fits my needs perfectly though.

 

Haven't paid serious attention. I'm not spending more on gas with the Taco than I was with a 2006 CRV, so it can't be too bad.

 

Doesn't a 2nd Gen 2wd have 15" wheels and smaller 215 tires? I did notice that by going from 245/75R16 to 265/75R16 that my mpgs dropped from 24 hwy to 21 hwy. I'm about 2 lbs heavier than per wheel/tire combo than oem and aftermarket wheels stick out about 1+ inch more. That can all factor to my current mpg.

 

You’re correct. My 2012 had 15’s, and larger/heavier tires usually don’t help gas mileage.

 

That's the culprit right there.

 

Lived in that area for about 15 years. Now in Wisconsin rural area. 2017 SR AC 4X4 5 spd 24-25 in the Summer, 22-23 Winter. I do let her warm up a few minutes when it's below 0 so that cuts it down some. If you were doing Vacaville to San Fran you'd be getting much worse.

 

2016 4x4 2.7L 5spd. Upsized (265/75R16) tires and lots of extra weight. I average 18-19MPG. Consistently shift at 3.5-4K.

 

Dang, that's good mpg - especially for a 4x4.
When you drive it do you baby it, or just go and not think about it?

 

I like to drive it like it's a bigger truck, letting the engine come back close to idle speed when shifting between gears. She loves 60 mph and being kept around 2k rpm. No doubt if I drove it harder and faster my mpg would drop by a lot. I like to drive, so usually not in a hurry to get anywhere and lots of highway driving, not much freeway so 60 is kinda the norm.

 

I had a 2016 4X4 SR5 4 cylinder and regularly got 19 - 21 MPG city/highway driving. I now own a 2017 TRD Sport 4X4 V6 and it is about 17 -19 MPG

 

mine is 4x2 double cab, got around 17 mpg since I usually have very short trip (less than 2 miles). Highest mpg I got on hwy is around 25 (80 miles trip)

 

I drive a 3rd gen, SR 4x4 ACLB, 5 speed, very few mods, so it's as basic a Tacoma can get. I've been trying to track my MPG in an excel sheet and have been fairly diligent with keeping track, with a few obvious exceptions.




Between 7/17 - 8/21, I was commuting somewhere between 100 - 150 miles per day, 95% highway. 8/21 - 11/3 saw a reduction to 70% highway / 30% city (estimate). 11/3 - now, predominately city driving with occasional use of 4x4 during snow storms. I wish I had some better data earlier on because I can only dream that I could get 37 mpg in a pickup...

Hope this helps.

 

Wow Josh, overall you get some pretty good mileage - especially with a 4x4.
I hope mine loosens up a bit, and I eventually can get to the 25 mpg range.

BTW, what rpm were you maintaining during the highway commuting?