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TacomaGeneral discussion forum for the 2005 and later Toyota Tacoma.
This is a discussion thread titled "Tacoma vs Tundra - MPG", within the Tacoma forum, part of the Truck Forums category.
Tacoma Off Road Access Cab 4X4. with 4300 miles on it. 70/30 in favor of highway miles. MPG= 20.3. I nurse it off the line and try to keep at posted speed of 65. It revs at a mellow 2100rpm or so.
When I have driven it normal or with loads of firewood for "Winter 08-09", it will give me 17 mpg.
My very first top up the other day was 16MPG on the nose. This could have some error since it was the full tank that came from the dealership. This is all city driving and taking it easy with it.
Im in a similar situation in shopping for a new truck. With all the rebates with the Tundras the price for a double cab 4x4 is really close to a double cab taco long bed 4x4. Both are great trucks but seems to me you get some nice extras in the Tundra not available in the Taco. Things like power seats, dual climate control, bluetooth, more backseat room and few others Im not thinking of at the moment. Not to mention a long bed double cab taco is only 7 inches shorter than a double cab tundra. To me, the 1-2 mpg you might gain in the Taco wont make up for it. But then again everyone has their specific wants and desires. Just my .02.
Not to sound like a jerk, but the I really don't see how people keep throwing this 1-2mpg difference around with these two trucks. I just don't believe (based both on reports from drivers on here, and with comparing the sheer/power to weight of the two trucks) that the Tacoma only gets 1-2mpg better than the Tundra. Most Tundra 4wd users are getting about 14-15mpg mixed driving...lower than that in all city. I get 19-20mpg in mixed driving with most of it being steep rural backroads (and I'm on 265/75s!). I've gotten as high as 21.5mpg on the highway, and NEVER lower than 18mpg (on winter gas mind you). I just towed a 12'x5' trailer loaded with a bed, frame, box spring, tvs, boxes full of kitchen ware, electronics, etc. Not a massively heavy load, but still. Plus my bed was just as full. Got 17mpg on that tank. The ONLY place where I can see them coming close in mpg figures is on the highway thanks to the Tundra's 6-speed. That's just me. Believe me, if the difference truly was 1-2mpg all around, I would be in a Tundra right now.
Just checked my 08 Tacoma sr5 v-6 4x4 over the wekend and city driving it did 18.7. But you really have to nurse it or it goes to 17.
I've been from one end of the scale to the other... monster V8 to 4 cylinder... automatic to 6 speed... and most of it depends more on the DRIVER. I don't need to tow trailers long distances, so this time I decided on the 4 cylinder Prerunner. Last tank was 24.0 which was driving around Phoenix... which is better than most cities, in that you can go long distances without stoplights. Best tank so far is 25.9. I'm convinced I could get better if I had a 6 speed instead of a 5 speed. In this vehicle, it's all about keeping the RPM under 2 grand, and having a steady light foot. My 2001 Prerunner with the V6 NEVER got better than 22 and that would have to be ALL freeway driving under 75 MPH, with nothing in the bed, and a tailwind. Most every time I drive, it's like I'm on an economy run. I wave the monster trucks around when they're on my ***, and then wave to them at the next stop light
In my experience, the difference between the fullsize V8 trucks and midsize V6 trucks is more like 3-4 MPG... and the difference between the V6 and 4 cylinder midsize trucks is also about 3-4 MPG. But it depends a lot on the individual driver. If you've ever had a vehicle with a gas mileage computer to watch, you'll see how easy it is to screw up your gas mileage by driving aggressively. It's hard for me to imagine I could improve the mileage I get now, but I'm even considering one of these for my truck... it would be a fun toy, if nothing else
In my experience, the difference between the fullsize V8 trucks and midsize V6 trucks is more like 3-4 MPG... and the difference between the V6 and 4 cylinder midsize trucks is also about 3-4 MPG. But it depends a lot on the individual driver. If you've ever had a vehicle with a gas mileage computer to watch, you'll see how easy it is to screw up your gas mileage by driving aggressively.
I think your 3-4 mpg difference is generally true, but the variation between different full size, V8 pickups is more than 4 mpg and the same can be said about mid size V6 mpg variations. There's a bigger difference between the mileage of a full size Dodge hemi and a full size GMC 5.3 liter V8 than there is between the mileage between a Tacoma and that same GMC truck. Mileage doesn't fall in neat categories of mid size and full size anymore. It depends a lot more on the particular make/model of truck.
A gas mileage computer IS a very interesting thing to have and it really opened my eyes. Never passing or accelerating while going uphill, shutting off the engine at long red lights and drive-up windows or while waiting for someone to come out of a store are a few more things I noticed made a big difference.
My '05 Taco Double Cab 2WD TRD SR5 Sport gets 21 mpg in my highway/city loop.
same for me. i do near the speed limit and no jackrabbit starts. other drivers seem to hate me, but i think i'm doing my American duty and 'training' them how to save gas.
it works. i must save 3mpg driving responsibly in my Tacoma. the Tacoma was an easy choice for me. the Tundra wouldn't fit in my garage. my 2005 is almost paid off and i'm very happy with it. great truck. i have no need for anything larger. i think my DC SB Tacoma rides great, but i don't need a Caddy ride.
truth be known...the Tacoma is a little more than i need. yet it feels perfect. it has the room i need from time to time, big enough bed for my errands, and is comfortable. i can drive that truck forever; stopping only for physiological needs. it's that good.
both are great trucks, but if you don't need the extra girth of the Tundra then i think you know what your choice is. and you can always mod the Tacoma to your liking thanks to the great minds on this site.
A gas mileage computer IS a very interesting thing to have and it really opened my eyes. Never passing or accelerating while going uphill, shutting off the engine at long red lights and drive-up windows or while waiting for someone to come out of a store are a few more things I noticed made a big difference.
yep. i do that at train crossings until i see the caboose. everything makes a difference. and i'm a better driver because of my unaggressive style that i established a few years back.
First, if you haven't already bought one or the other by now, I don't think you could go wrong with either truck.
I currently drive an '07 Tundra 4.7. I get around 17 mpg driving 60/40 highway/ city. Lately with the rising gas prices, I too have been driving more conservately. I try not to do over 70 mph on the highway and I concentrate on taking my time... leaving earlier and all that. Before I purchased my Tundra, I had an '06 Tacoma DC, V6. In the Tacoma I ran an average of about 19 mpg in mostly highway driving; of course I drove alot faster then, sometimes 75-80 on the highway.
When I went from a Taco to a Tundra, I didn't consider the 3 or so mpg difference a big deal and even with the current gas prices now, I fell about the same way. Now if you consider the difference between any Tundra and the 4cyl Taco, then you have quite a difference, just as you would with almost any comparison between a full-size and a compact or mid-size truck.
Is gas economy the priority, or do you haul larger loads?
You didn't really ask about this either, but I think the build quality is much better on the Tacoma line than the Tundras right now. It may just be me, but I think the Taco just feels so much more solid. Opinions vary, but when I shut the door of my Taco I heard a solid thud, and I'm not feeling that when I shut the door of my Tundra. I should say I really like my Tundra. I like the increased room I have with it (this is why I bought it) and the ride is smoother and quieter than in the Taco. My Tundra is the nicest truck that I have ever owned. The Tundra is a BIG truck. This could be a plus or a minus depending on how you think about it.
You won't go wrong with either truck. I know the resale is much better right now on the Taco than on the Tundra.
3 words: testdrive, testdrive, testdrive.
__________________
Stephen
"The Higher, the Fewer"
2007 SR5 Doublecab, Salsa Red Pearl, 4.7 V8
TRD offroad package, Tow Package, Line-x
First, if you haven't already bought one or the other by now, I don't think you could go wrong with either truck.
I currently drive an '07 Tundra 4.7. I get around 17 mpg driving 60/40 highway/ city. Lately with the rising gas prices, I too have been driving more conservately. I try not to do over 70 mph on the highway and I concentrate on taking my time... leaving earlier and all that. Before I purchased my Tundra, I had an '06 Tacoma DC, V6. In the Tacoma I ran an average of about 19 mpg in mostly highway driving; of course I drove alot faster then, sometimes 75-80 on the highway.
When I went from a Taco to a Tundra, I didn't consider the 3 or so mpg difference a big deal and even with the current gas prices now, I fell about the same way. Now if you consider the difference between any Tundra and the 4cyl Taco, then you have quite a difference, just as you would with almost any comparison between a full-size and a compact or mid-size truck.
Is gas economy the priority, or do you haul larger loads?
You didn't really ask about this either, but I think the build quality is much better on the Tacoma line than the Tundras right now. It may just be me, but I think the Taco just feels so much more solid. Opinions vary, but when I shut the door of my Taco I heard a solid thud, and I'm not feeling that when I shut the door of my Tundra. I should say I really like my Tundra. I like the increased room I have with it (this is why I bought it) and the ride is smoother and quieter than in the Taco. My Tundra is the nicest truck that I have ever owned. The Tundra is a BIG truck. This could be a plus or a minus depending on how you think about it.
You won't go wrong with either truck. I know the resale is much better right now on the Taco than on the Tundra.
I'm with others that the difference is more like 3-4mpg which equates to 60-80 miles further on a 20 gallon tank.
I drooled over the Tundra's when they first came out but knew that you can't get ought for naught so I bought only what I needed which was the Tacoma. Now I'm very, very, happy that I did not buy something thirstier.
This is an interesting thread I'll be watching because like many I have been looking at the new Tundra's now for a while. Then I started looking at what I use a truck for and could easily get by with the Tacoma double cab, long bed, 4x4. The mileage has been my sticking point though because the window sticker isn't much different. So I'll just keep watching and then make some decisions.
Please do not read the MPG on the stickers" they are not REAL WORLD numbers" I owned a 2.7 -SR5- Pre runner- access cab, and traded it in for an 07 TRD 4.7 Tundra DC. On paper the numbers varied slightly around a 5 mpg difference. The difference is close to 10 with city driving. Once my lease is up I will be buying an 09 Tacoma, and will rent a Tundra when needed. The 2.7 is really a solid engine.
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Re: Tacoma vs Tundra - MPG
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