September MPG Update - Undramatically Unchanged - 2016 Toyota Tacoma Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

September MPG Update - Undramatically Unchanged - 2016 Toyota Tacoma Long-Term Road Test

We've driven our 2016 Toyota Tacoma more than 14,000 miles so far. Fuel economy is holding steady at a bit more than 18 mpg.

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s197gt

so... i just filled up my 2001 ford ranger with 203k miles and got 19.95 mpg. mostly highway this time, but on average i am getting about 18 mpg with highway/city mix of 60/40 or so. i believe it is rated 15/19 by the epa.

that is also with the off road package, 4.10 gears, 4.0 SOHC, 5-speed auto. obviously, the tacoma is a better truck in so many ways but amazing how real-world fuel economy has stayed the same after 15 years! the only thing that seems to have changed is their ability to manipulate the test for better theoretical results.

now, my truck does have highway tires on right now. so that helps it a bit. (new wheels/all terrains in the garage)

geezermike

Breaking trucks into size segments is getting more and more moot. Currently I am comparing the Ext Tacoma to regular cab half-tons. The Tacoma is a expedition, reliability and modification king, and the Tacoma Ext holds 2 adults vs 3 in a reg cab half ton. However, for the average camping truck owner, comparing the Tacoma Ext or Crew cab shows the regular cab half-tons are cheaper, competitive or better MPG, a bit shorter turning radius, bit more ground clearance, bit more payload and towing capacity, and the current reliability of the F150 is now as good as the Tacoma, though for me the long term (10-15 year) turbo reliability is still unknown. The Tacoma was my top pick for my next truck, but now I am very interested in the future reg cab 2.7 F150 with the 10 speed (depending on test results), and a reg cab Ram with Pentastar. I don't think I would be unhappy with any of them.

bohio

14k miles, and extremely unlikely to attain the advertised "Combined" EPA fuel economy rating. In fact, despite what I presume is a significant number of highway miles in that cumulative figure, this Tacoma is essentially yielding overall fuel "economy" equal to the "City" rating. I think that's unacceptable, just as it is with Ford and their F150 per Edmunds LT review. Apparently the Taco eaters are such loyalists, with their penchant for touting resale value, that they accept such mediocrity and Toyota continues to ladle it. So, as geezermike posits, a regular 1/2 ton (aka full-size) pickup may well cost less, provide better fuel economy, and hold/tow more... but if you want a slightly smaller truck that will be easier to park in your garage, grab a Taco? I don't get it.

FWIW, my 2016 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel 4WD CrewCab now has about 8.5k miles (since Feb 1 this year when I bought it new, in part because of Edmund's LT review of their 2014 iteration). According to the truck's computer, my average speed in that time is 38 mph. It holds up to six passengers (I searched hard to find a front bench seat version, wherein the 'console/armrest' folds up and becomes the middle seat), the 6'4" bed with tailgate down provides full support for 8' plywood and similar dimension DIY materials, it has easily towed ATVs/hundreds of LF of split-rail fencing/all manner of farm debris to the dump, and has the best ride of any pickup truck. Overall fuel economy to date? A tick over 25 MPG, which I've tracked at the pump from day 1. Amazing. This 3.0 liter diesel engine is really efficient. I call it Goldilocks; not underpowered, not overpowered, just right. And did I consider resale value? No more than I did when I bought my (Makita) dual-compound slide miter saw, or my (Husqvarna 550XP) chain saw, or my (Kubota) tractor. All these things are tools. If you keep them for their useful life, then resale is basically irrelevant IMO. And we park our truck outside until I can get our (28' deep) garage sorted out.

longtimelurker

The only similarity between the Tacoma 3.5L V6 and the Ecoboost 2,7 is they both are V6s. The LT F150, exclusive of towing (the LT Tacoma miles are also towing-free) got 17.2 mpg, and is an order of magnitude more powerful, faster (even though it's 800 lbs. heavier) and has a better powertrain for towing or hauling...with a 1 mpg penalty compared to the Tacoma.

The Toyota 3.5 is a great engine, but in this weight of vehicle, with the aerodynamic penalty of a pickup truck and the friction/power loss penalty of a 4WD powertrain, it's overmatched. The 2.7 has peak power advantages of around 55 hp and 125 lb/ft. of torque, with even larger differences at lower revs - and those are actually paper numbers, as the engine has proven to be underrated.

I'll take my chances on turbo engine reliability...these are very reliable engines, and they were designed from the ground up to power a half-ton pickup. The Toyota 3.5 was not designed for this application - it's been adapted to it, Big difference.