I have a 2006 Tacoma 4-cylinder with 172,000 Mi and it runs perfectly. Very smooth with decent power, about 23 to 24 MPG average. That's about 18 City and 29 Highway. Yes there is much more room in the engine bay which is great for service and the very rare repair. I can do spark plugs in 20 minutes lol. As for new parts, mine has only needed a new water pump, AC condenser and the coolant bypass pipe. Getting the 4-cylinder was an easy decision because I don't tow and only occasional haul camping gear and dirt bikes, and help friendsmove of course. This truck does everything I need and I love it. Thanks for the good video.
Good to hear. I just got a 2007 Tacoma 4 cylinder, 4WD, 5 speed manual. A great drivetrain IMO, plenty of power for me. Geared nicely (tall) for the highway.
I have a Taco, a '99 I purchased new 22 years ago. 2.4L 4 banger, 2WD, standard cab, nothing fancy. Was $12,500 out the door. It's been a great little truck, now with 156K miles. I've hauled with it, sometimes heavier loads (firewood), on occasion, but not often and not too far. It got the job done. The motor itself is bulletproof and easy enough to work on. Not a fast truck, but not too slow. I'm ready to buy a new Taco and I've studied the V6 and while it reportedly gets roughly the same MPG as the 2.7L, I can't justify the added expense (purchase + maintenance) and I'll factory order with the 4 banger. This video helped me decide after much thought and research. For me, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Does it go slow slow like everyone says? I’m afraid it’s too slow :( but I found a v4 Hyundai Accent with 54,000 miles so idk if it’s worth it or get one that’s 137,000 and is a v6
Great you still have your '99. I'll be hauling firewood at times with the 2007 Tacoma I just picked up. I've heard many good things about these 4 cylinder Tacoma engines.
I changed spark plugs on a F150 V8 and the two in the back were tough. I also changed an alternator on a Chevy Traverse, had to take wheel off. Then I realized the previous 4 Toyotas I owned didn’t require anything so I’m going back to Toyota and buying a 4 Cylinder Taco.
@@maykelelmango With exception to the new full size GM trucks with the 2.7L Turbo, I wouldn’t buy a GM vehicle. I hear lots of good things about those 2.7L Turbo engines. They’ve been around since 18 and everyone says no issues, no problems. Not to mention they tow 9000 pounds which is great for a 4 cylinder.
3 days ago I got a Toyota Tacoma my third Tacoma, first time getting a 4 cylinder, I can’t really tell the difference! Love it, way cheaper and can’t complaint! Just love it!!
Remember, these 2.7 iron block Tacoma engines can actually take a lot more punishment than the aluminum block V6 engines. Its not hard to find these with 400k + miles with good maintenance.
That's not exactly true, the 4.0 v6 in the 2nd gen are seen very commonly exceeding 300k. I've seen two personally with over 500k. Now I'm not saying the 4cyl don't exceed 300k, but I am saying the v6 does as well.
@@kgbreviews35 @KGB Reviews Yes. I meant to compare against the 3.5. Those 4.0 2nd gen Tacos between 2015-2016 are by non the best V6 you can get now. While the 4 cylinder, any year works
I’m bout to get a 4 cylinder Hyundai sante fe this very day. By the time anyone reads this I will probably be owning the happily driving down the street! All I’ve ever heard about 4 cylinder engines has come from my old dad who insists they are inferior and take up more gas. He probably was right 30 years ago but I’m glad to hear all those positive things about the engine I’m about to own. Very informative. Liked. Commented and subscribed.
Also for full size trucks, they should bring back inline 6 engines, notoriously smooth, generally simpler, and exactly what this video suggests, just what you need!
Idk man I love the 4 cylinders but both the 4 and 6 need better fuel economy tbh. Idk what the solution to that is. If only the fuel economy could go up without the expense of the vehicle costing more
I just took a trip to the Bad Lands, Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, Grand Tetons, Boise and Salt Lake over 5k miles in my 2018 Ford Escape 1.5 liter turbo from Michigan with four of us and it didn't miss a beat! No loss of power in the mountains even with the air on at 106 degrees in Idaho and it ran great! Driving 84 mph I averaged 24 mpg.
My taco is a 4 banger 2.7L manl and he's peppy and great on gas. I mean... It used to be around 50 to fill him up and now it's 100 but still, compared to other trucks I have driven, he is WAY better on gas. He has a lot of get up too so I'm ok with 4 cyl.
I own a 2007 Tacoma 4wd, 5 speed, V6 4.0L with 350k miles on it. The truck runs great and I have had no major issues. The V6 is a very smooth and reliable engine for any truck if your doing off roading and towing. I tested the 2.5L 4-cylinder engine and the one thing I notice they sound more like a race engine. Some other issues are the hard shifting and the lack of power. Typically these engine needs to be equipped with a turbo charger or even any electrical battery system to help over come the lack of power.
I loved my first 2 Tacoma's with 4 bangers. Now I have a 2021 V6 4x4 Tacoma. Needed it for towing a bigger boat. Great in the mountains too. Simple as that.
@Justin Man yupp she's definetly wore out a few tires lol mine has like 267k right now and I haven't dropped a dime but maintenence since like 130k more power would be nice though I've always been curious if they would hold together like a Honda with some boost a base model taco stomping ass would be a sweet sleeper
@Justin Man just fab it up UA-cam style with a junkyard turbski or a ebay turbo could easy put together a set up for 1g especially if it's a older 4 runner they can take the boost. If you can't weld you can mark your homemade pipes and take them to someone
I another thing not mentioned here is how much you save when at idle. Up here in Canada in the winter many warm their cars or trucks up first for a few mins each day long enough that you would notice a real difference in your fuel consumption after a little while between the two.
Opted for the V6 Tacoma SR, need to haul 1200 of hay every 2 weeks and tow a two horse slant a couple of times a year. Were it not for those requirements, I would have gone with the 2.7 4 banger.
I drive both the 4 banger for work and the 6 for personal use, honestly I rather take the v6 any day it runs the way a truck should, if money ain’t an issue go with the 6
I have a 4 cyl Tacoma and I love it. Yes it can use some more power but I have the 5 speed manual which is WAY better than the automatic. I was able to tow ~7000 lbs without much issue, uphill start from 0 was a little touchy. The power issue won't be an issue once I stick a supercharger in it.
@@kyzerw3816 the 4 cylinder Tacoma is a trooper. I did my research though, there's someone else online who tows a trailer with a smaller bulldozer regularly at ~10000 lbs. So I figured I'd be ok with what I was hauling.
Purchased 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR5 2 wheel drive 4 cylinder. Not racing , towing or off road play. I luv this truck thanking Jesus for this gift that I Asked for.
I pull a 17 foot bass boat and trailer with no problems at all with my 2017 4 door Tacoma 4 cylinder. For the few times I use it to pass a vehicle I really don't have problems. I've been able to get as much as 29 miles per gallon on the highway. I like it !!!!
Finally a fair comparison. Before 4wd all pickups were 2wd and most people were happy. I am one of those rest of us people you were talking about. I don't need bragging rights. I have a 2022 2.7L 2WD and completely happy with it. Where I live it has been over 12 years since we had any significant snow or ice. Why should I spend an additional 10k for the V6 and 4WD, bragging rights. I think not.
I’ve owned a 07 Tacoma 4 cylinder and a 09 Tacoma 6 cylinder. The 4 cylinder was the better truck in my opinion. The 4 cylinder actually was better off-road too. Obviously if you buy a TRD the TRD is probably better.
@@Dave-so7sf what the f*** are you talking about? What issues? It's literally a better transmission than the automatic. The six-speed manual in my V6 is great
@@terrynichol577 Mine was a piece of junk. At 30k it needed a new transmission which Toyota covered. Then the new transmission they replaced it with kept popping out of reverse. I had a 07 Tacoma 4 cylinder 5 speed before that one and had 0 issues with that 5 speed transmission. I recently just picked up a 2021 Tacoma 4 cylinder SR with the SX package. So far seems pretty good but a bit underpowered. Though I am coming from daily-ing that STI in my profile picture that makes 611hp / 500tq. Two different animals.
There is a big miss conception here about the capability aspect of a 4 cylinder engine. It is untrue that towing or going up and down mountains should have any more affect on 4 cylinder versus a 6 cylinder the stress of the motor isn’t actually dependent on towing or driving as much as people may think believe it or not but actually the main difference added by having more cylinders or changing the pattern from inline to a V formation is simply for piston efficiency moving up and down the cylinder is slightly easier to do at an angle instead of vertical but there are benefits to an inline motor which is inline motors will typically build a greater percentage of torque over an equal amount of horsepower meaning the torque load is handled better and more efficiently in a inline motor however a V formation motor will have a better throttle response which is typically why they will build better horsepower range the rpm horsepower and torque curve build faster but the torque and horsepower fall off much sooner than an inline motor which if you are doing a lot of towing then that is a bad thing which also is the same for going up a steep incline which is why inline diesel motors are much more common in industrial vehicles such as tractors, semis, skid loaders, dump trucks etc.. because they handle the load better and have less overall stress what people do not realize is horsepower is really only good for spinning your wheels over faster horsepower is measured by what the average horse could move somewhere around 1300lbs horsepower in a motor will determine how faster the crank will spin and how fast the pistons will recover on each stroke and the faster it spends the quicker the vehicle will be but the lower your percentage of ft.lbs of torque decreases it changes a lot of variables but the main reason vehicles have limitations is not so much as the motor but actually comes down to the drivetrain your axles, transmission, driveshaft etc.. endure the most amount of stress and it takes a lot of energy to make all of the parts to move and get a vehicle up to speed horsepower will get you to that speed faster but without torque the motor will have to work much harder to get the vehicle moving think about it like a boat the wider the boat is the better it displaces water the more stable it is but a boat that’s more narrow with a deeper V can cut through water easy and be faster overall but risks flipping because it’s water displacement and center of gravity is much more narrow and much higher off center torque is what handles the brute force and will determine the stress a motor will endure when towing or driving up a steep hill or mountain so a 4 cylinder engine can handle just as much as a 6 cylinder engine the problem is what the gearing is setup as which will determine how the vehicle will handle different scenarios if your axle gear ratio is very low you will have a much greater torque response you will get off the line quick and you can climb and pull a much greater amount but your top speed will be very reduced if your gear ratio is much higher let’s say a 3.55 then you can achieve much higher speeds and get better fuel mileage but your torque control will be severely reduced which will have a big impact on how your vehicle will handle driving up hill and hauling a trailer that’s why a vehicle will downshift when driving up hill or hold a gear longer with a load the higher the rpms the greater the torque band the less it has to work to achieve the same thing so with the right gear ratio you can have lower rpm = lower stress on the motor and maintain a stronger torque response which ultimately will handle the work load better and more efficiently and will allow you to use less horsepower and the less horsepower a motor has the less stress is put on the motor (Sorry to anyone who reads the whole text kinda got carried away but you get my point it all comes down to personal preference and what you’re gonna do with it)
A four cylinder can be set up to toe if done correctly with a transmission cooler, cold air intake, and air shocks. A V-6 has more power but requires a lot more upkeep and maintenance and to me is not worth the cost.
The 2nd and 3rd Gen Tacoma’s 4-Cyl makes more horsepower and torque than my ‘90s vintage Nissan 3.0L V6. Not much more, but they do have more power AND get better mileage. New 4-Cyl > Old V6. Great video and point. 👍👍
Well if you live in the city with lots of flat roads, and just want a truck/car to get you places, go for the 4 banger. In my country, most cars are 4 bangers with V6's and V8's (V8's like on a Land Cruiser that only rich people buy) reserved for higher end cars which the general consumer doesn't need nor buy. For heavy works like towing, off-road, hauling, we have diesels for that.
@@KubanKevin No regret here. I payed literally HALF the price for my 4 cylinder. I absolutely love it, and it is just as reliable/ long lasting as the v6, if not more.
I bought yesterday Tacoma from 2008 with 2.7. Damn, I'm in shock how powerful this engine is. Sure for European reality it drinks gas faster than russian guy a bottle of vodka, but really I'm surprised how good it accelerated with 2,2 tons of weight. I have hope this car is going to stay with me for a really long long time because it is love from the first sight and better if she doesn't break my heart too quickly.
hi there i bought a 2015 used second gen. tacoma 2 wheel drive the engine has a 46k miles it has a i4 2.7 liter engine that's all i need for my family day to day commute everywhere we go and i drive to work 15 min. everyday i also own a 1995 corolla dx since i was 21 yrs old my high school graduation gift now im 47 i still have it and drive her
I take care of 2 cars. 1 highlander 2AZ-FE & 1 1st gen Rav4 3S-FE engine. For my family. The Rav4 is slow but it goes. Its used for grocery shopping & I put Castrol High Milage. The Highlander is the car I drive to work. Back & forth. I change different oils for that because the lovely "check engine" light shows up. Right now I'm using Valvoline, full synthetic high milage. Yet the car drives so good I can go 80mph on the freeway smoothly.
I have a 2012 Tacoma 2.7 access cab. It’s my daily, I abuse it a lot and I have the confidence to say that this little truck won’t ever betray me on the road. It’s rwd so of course I’m gonna slide it around corners and on freeway ramps when I can. My only complaint is that it’s slow, 159hp in a pickup truck just isn’t enough and to get to freeway speeds, acceleration is just sad. But this truck won’t ever leave you stranded on the road, unless your tires are punctured.
Yeah. Bought a new Tacoma this year. Really wanted an SR5 with the 4 cylinder. However, I HAD to have a manual transmission. For 2023, only the TRD trim with the V6 can be had with that manual, so sadly I let the 4 cyl go.
Wow! Such an educative tips. I observed that v6 engine are far from vibration when AC is on than 4 cylinder engine. 4 cylinder engine easily vibrant when driving with ac. Why so?
Good points but both engines are good. I would have been happy with either, but found a 2010 v6 with tow package (6500 rated towing) and 47k miles. Have been getting 18.5 mpg and am happy with it, really smooth and nimble truck.
@@TheAnnoyingBoss It just depends on what you need it for. If you're hauling a lot, the 4 banger will struggle to keep up and go thru heavy MPG's, and the engine will be knocking, ticking, leaking and valve chattering within a few years. Remember the point of this video was only discussing the 'driving miss daisy' types who are going back and forth to school, grocery stores etc. Manly work requires manlier engines and tow packages, just saying.
You are spot on! I bought a Toyota Tacoma SR5 with the V6, and the performance is not that great. I cannot imagine the 4cyl being much worse. I'm looking to trade in my truck for a 4cyl manual tranny as that was what I had in my 1989 Toyota 4WD pickup and that engine was plenty powerful for getting to work and back, and going to Home Depot to buy Sheetrock and materials. I never had a single complaint about the 4cyl. The V6 Toyota engine has gremlins that will force me to take it to a mechanic, and I have been doing my own work on my cars for the last 30 years. They're making them more difficult for us to work on our own cars.
I live in FL. It’s very common to own boats, jetskis etc. If you are buying a truck to do truck things, get the truck engine. If you’re using it to go out to dinner and to buy groceries, 4 cyl and save money.
I agree with you!! The problem is that they don’t do 4 cylinders anymore all you can find is 6 cylinders in the market unless you go and get the new Ford Maverick and I telling you that isn’t the best.. thanks for your video!!
Excellent video. You're particularly good at explaining things ... If it's worth it, to you, could you do a video answering "How can the Tacoma Sr 4cyl 2.7L with only 159hp tow 3,500 compared to something like RAV4 with only 2.5L with MORE hp (180) and is even 500lb lighter curb weight but can tow only 1,500lb? Is something funky going on in the transmission? Gear sizes?
I have a 2001 Camry 4 cylinder 5 speed manual. Will that last longer than V6? It rides very very smooth and sounds good when it starts. Very quiet engine. Has 171k
For normal everyday driving, can you explain why the higher RPM of a 4 cylinder engine does not result in more or earlier wear and tear compared to a V6? I'm thinking about the Toyota 2.4L turbocharged on the upcoming 2025 4 Runner vs 2024 4 Runner with V6.
Actually Josh, the I-6 is your best engine imho. Lighter than the v-6, as much or more power, and better reliability due to less vibration. See the amc 4.2 and jeep/chrysler 4.0 for reference. 4 bangers can put out a decent hp, but are trash when it comes to torgue. Light vee's only my friend.
had one of each, a 4 cylinder YJ and a 6 cylinder TJ (and a CJ7) the YJ had to be pulled out of a Georgia red clay ditch where it got stuck, the TJ pulled through the same ditch with mud and water flowing!!!!! going up Lookout Mountain, Tennessee the YJ smoked clutch and struggled, the TJ had no problem even with the A/C on full blast, YJ got under 20 MPG the TJ got under 12 MPG, traded the TJ for a Subaru Outback which has terrible roof rail leaks, the Jeeps never leaked!!! Sometimes i just hate vehicles!!!!
Interesting stuff - have definitely heard this about Subaru Outback, go with the 4 vs 6 cylinder but the concept is sort of counter-intuitive outside the gas mileage but you make good points. Wife has the 4 cylinder Honda CR-V Turbo and the gas mileage is excellent near 30mpg.
For maybe the old small Tacoma's. If you're trying to get a new Tacoma, V6 is the only way to go. Sure its more but you're turning way less RPM's just to get the truck moving or maintaining speed...whereas a 4cyc has to work harder (higher RPM)...more RPMs = more wear and tear also!
@@teslaedison6236 i got one 2013 2.7 4 cyl with lce header full AFE exhaust, cold air intake, jegs mass air flow chip... i thought about supercharging it glad i didnt thou..
I Have a 4cyl 2021 Tacoma I use it to Tow my 16 Ft Bayliner open Bow and haul Lumber. While Im not breaking a speed record it does the job havent had any issues. Drive it to work 60 miles a day no issues at all.
I’d agree 4cyl is a good choice. The 6cyl is also a good engine but overall a Tacoma is not much of a tow vehicle with either choice. Come on who buys a Tacoma as their tow rig?
Ive had two 3RZ tacomas, now i drive a 5vz 4runner. That toyota 4banger will go forever and get decent mileage, but holy crap...the extra power of the V6 makes a big difference when traffic flows at 80mph on the interstate. I love my 5VZ 3.4L. 275k miles and gets over 20mpg on the highway. My 3rz tacomas got about 28mpg hw on 31 inch tires. The 4banger is the better trail motor, but id get the V6 is you drive far on the highway, even if it burns more gas. You dont buy these things to save gas. 4banger tacos are just slow, the only downside to them. 1st gen tacoma beats the 3rd gen taco in a drag race, Btw
There’s pros and cons to everything the question is can you deal with the cons if yes then go for the more cylinders V6 V8s can be lots of fun too drive
Bought a new 2022 tocoma barely a week after it was built..lol. 4 cylinder 2 door (with fully open out side door) and REAL full size 6 foot bed. On the highway sure it's a bit slower but can get up and go especially when not loaded.mpg is around 20 so much better than the idiots buying v6 and V8 trucks when they don't have any real reason as they don't tow crap on a regular basis. If your towing some stuff occasionally...a 4 cylinder dies just fine and mine was $32,240 after ttl
Never driven a truck before. Bought a new 2019 4 cyl Tacoma and wish I got a 6 cyl... I have a hard time getting up to speed and end up flooring it, as well as people shitting on me with their trucks. With all that said I do love it
And. I even got the manual transmission. my mechanic said it was a amazing little motor. he said smart getting the manual. would have been disappointed with automatic.
Most inline 4 engines are turbocharged these days, this greatly reduces the lifespan of the engine and makes you go through more oil, 6 cylinder engines are usually naturally aspirated which means you will have much more even acceleration, if money isn’t an issue and your debating between a turbo4 and a v6 get a v6 also i4’s sound HORRIBLE
Also, many turbo 4s require premium fuel which negates any increases in efficiency with in fuel cost. Really a v6 at least in bigger vehicles is the way to go.
I have a 2006 Tacoma 4-cylinder with 172,000 Mi and it runs perfectly. Very smooth with decent power, about 23 to 24 MPG average. That's about 18 City and 29 Highway. Yes there is much more room in the engine bay which is great for service and the very rare repair. I can do spark plugs in 20 minutes lol. As for new parts, mine has only needed a new water pump, AC condenser and the coolant bypass pipe. Getting the 4-cylinder was an easy decision because I don't tow and only occasional haul camping gear and dirt bikes, and help friendsmove of course. This truck does everything I need and I love it. Thanks for the good video.
Good to hear. I just got a 2007 Tacoma 4 cylinder, 4WD, 5 speed manual. A great drivetrain IMO, plenty of power for me. Geared nicely (tall) for the highway.
I have a Taco, a '99 I purchased new 22 years ago. 2.4L 4 banger, 2WD, standard cab, nothing fancy. Was $12,500 out the door. It's been a great little truck, now with 156K miles. I've hauled with it, sometimes heavier loads (firewood), on occasion, but not often and not too far. It got the job done. The motor itself is bulletproof and easy enough to work on. Not a fast truck, but not too slow. I'm ready to buy a new Taco and I've studied the V6 and while it reportedly gets roughly the same MPG as the 2.7L, I can't justify the added expense (purchase + maintenance) and I'll factory order with the 4 banger. This video helped me decide after much thought and research. For me, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Does it go slow slow like everyone says? I’m afraid it’s too slow :( but I found a v4 Hyundai Accent with 54,000 miles so idk if it’s worth it or get one that’s 137,000 and is a v6
Great you still have your '99. I'll be hauling firewood at times with the 2007 Tacoma I just picked up. I've heard many good things about these 4 cylinder Tacoma engines.
I've heard that the V6 acceleration isn't much better than the I4 because bad gearing. Seems like the only advantage is towing
@@stephbelle56 4 cycl will struggle up anything really steep...unless you have a manually and you can easily downshift...
What is a taco
I changed spark plugs on a F150 V8 and the two in the back were tough. I also changed an alternator on a Chevy Traverse, had to take wheel off. Then I realized the previous 4 Toyotas I owned didn’t require anything so I’m going back to Toyota and buying a 4 Cylinder Taco.
GM is definitely not the company they used to be, they’re making some of their vehicles in China now, what a shame.
@@joeshmoe8952 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@maykelelmango With exception to the new full size GM trucks with the 2.7L Turbo, I wouldn’t buy a GM vehicle. I hear lots of good things about those 2.7L Turbo engines. They’ve been around since 18 and everyone says no issues, no problems. Not to mention they tow 9000 pounds which is great for a 4 cylinder.
@@joeshmoe8952 they make very good looking endless money pits
buy a new turbo, just to have a spare
3 days ago I got a Toyota Tacoma my third Tacoma, first time getting a 4 cylinder, I can’t really tell the difference! Love it, way cheaper and can’t complaint! Just love it!!
I'm guessing you got a 2021 2.7L? How is it holding up so far?
Have u ever drove a V8 gt?
I am picking up my 22 4cyl 4x4 SR with work truck package on 3/9/22 in a couple weeks, pretty excited
I’m waiting on delivery of a 2022 Tacoma 4cyl 4wd. I can’t wait for it to get here!
@@SuperCinemaCraft ditto. I’m getting the same truck. Should be here in a few weeks.
Remember, these 2.7 iron block Tacoma engines can actually take a lot more punishment than the aluminum block V6 engines. Its not hard to find these with 400k + miles with good maintenance.
That's not exactly true, the 4.0 v6 in the 2nd gen are seen very commonly exceeding 300k. I've seen two personally with over 500k. Now I'm not saying the 4cyl don't exceed 300k, but I am saying the v6 does as well.
@@kgbreviews35 the point is it's not as common. More 2.7s go for longer.
@@kgbreviews35 @KGB Reviews Yes. I meant to compare against the 3.5. Those 4.0 2nd gen Tacos between 2015-2016 are by non the best V6 you can get now. While the 4 cylinder, any year works
@@kgbreviews35 True but the new ones are junk.
Nah I’ve seen the 3.4 and 4.0 go for 3 even 400k
I’m bout to get a 4 cylinder Hyundai sante fe this very day. By the time anyone reads this I will probably be owning the happily driving down the street! All I’ve ever heard about 4 cylinder engines has come from my old dad who insists they are inferior and take up more gas. He probably was right 30 years ago but I’m glad to hear all those positive things about the engine I’m about to own. Very informative. Liked. Commented and subscribed.
Enjoy!
Wish Toyota brought back the 5spd manual for the 4 cylinder
It'd be cool if they made a 3.0L L4 engine with some torque, something less rice lol
A 2022 6 cylinder automatic cannot compare to my 2011 4 cyl in a manual. Totally agree with your assessment.
Also for full size trucks, they should bring back inline 6 engines, notoriously smooth, generally simpler, and exactly what this video suggests, just what you need!
Yes please
Idk man I love the 4 cylinders but both the 4 and 6 need better fuel economy tbh. Idk what the solution to that is. If only the fuel economy could go up without the expense of the vehicle costing more
Straight 6 has a serious flaw though. They all blow headgaskets in the middle
@@270emani'm guessing this could be fixed at the drawing board
I just took a trip to the Bad Lands, Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, Grand Tetons, Boise and Salt Lake over 5k miles in my 2018 Ford Escape 1.5 liter turbo from Michigan with four of us and it didn't miss a beat! No loss of power in the mountains even with the air on at 106 degrees in Idaho and it ran great! Driving 84 mph I averaged 24 mpg.
Yes, I have Tacoma 2.7..4cylinder..very happy with it,
What’s the mpg on yours, city and highway?
What year?
2009. 2.7 is great
My taco is a 4 banger 2.7L manl and he's peppy and great on gas. I mean... It used to be around 50 to fill him up and now it's 100 but still, compared to other trucks I have driven, he is WAY better on gas. He has a lot of get up too so I'm ok with 4 cyl.
I mean it's not great, but manageable. My '09 reg. cab 4x4, 5-speed 2.7 gets 20 mpg regularly here in Colorado.
I own a 2007 Tacoma 4wd, 5 speed, V6 4.0L with 350k miles on it. The truck runs great and I have had no major issues. The V6 is a very smooth and reliable engine for any truck if your doing off roading and towing. I tested the 2.5L 4-cylinder engine and the one thing I notice they sound more like a race engine. Some other issues are the hard shifting and the lack of power. Typically these engine needs to be equipped with a turbo charger or even any electrical battery system to help over come the lack of power.
Weird, I thought the 4.0's were equipped with the 6-speed manual. And you tested the 2.5?! Did you mean the 2.7 2trfe?
I loved my first 2 Tacoma's with 4 bangers. Now I have a 2021 V6 4x4 Tacoma. Needed it for towing a bigger boat. Great in the mountains too. Simple as that.
I have a 2018 with a 2.7 good mileage around 24 MPG. Very easy to change the oil. I can get away with the 4 cyl because I don't tow.
I tow with my 4 banger just fine :)
@Justin Man well I know it can handle more then toyota said it could multiple times and the sound doesn't matter 2tr fe sounds like a beast
@Justin Man yupp she's definetly wore out a few tires lol mine has like 267k right now and I haven't dropped a dime but maintenence since like 130k more power would be nice though I've always been curious if they would hold together like a Honda with some boost a base model taco stomping ass would be a sweet sleeper
@Justin Man just fab it up UA-cam style with a junkyard turbski or a ebay turbo could easy put together a set up for 1g especially if it's a older 4 runner they can take the boost. If you can't weld you can mark your homemade pipes and take them to someone
@Justin Man o shoot they are a little different im not computer inclined at all im stone age haha
Genuine guy, loved that U didn't beat around the bush, just plain, direct , to the point information. Thank you
Glad you liked it
I another thing not mentioned here is how much you save when at idle. Up here in Canada in the winter many warm their cars or trucks up first for a few mins each day long enough that you would notice a real difference in your fuel consumption after a little while between the two.
Opted for the V6 Tacoma SR, need to haul 1200 of hay every 2 weeks and tow a two horse slant a couple of times a year. Were it not for those requirements, I would have gone with the 2.7 4 banger.
simple and plain with education, just subscribed.
I drive both the 4 banger for work and the 6 for personal use, honestly I rather take the v6 any day it runs the way a truck should, if money ain’t an issue go with the 6
Moneys not an issue for me but prefer the i4.
Same here, 3.5 is a car motor. 2.7 is a truck motor.
@@bryant7082Truck noob but I drive a 2.7 Manuel. Why is the 3.5 a van motor? What makes the 2.7 drive like a truck? Curious..
I have a 4 cyl Tacoma and I love it. Yes it can use some more power but I have the 5 speed manual which is WAY better than the automatic. I was able to tow ~7000 lbs without much issue, uphill start from 0 was a little touchy. The power issue won't be an issue once I stick a supercharger in it.
Bro you towed more than the v6 is said to be able to by Toyota 🤣
@@kyzerw3816 the 4 cylinder Tacoma is a trooper. I did my research though, there's someone else online who tows a trailer with a smaller bulldozer regularly at ~10000 lbs. So I figured I'd be ok with what I was hauling.
@@lGuileWilliamsl that's a death wish bro the tow ratings are for what the vehicle can safely stop
@@kyzerw3816 I had no issues with stopping power. As I said, towing uphill from a stop was my only issue. Everything else was stable.
Good job, you’re gonna blow up your motor in about a month if you keep this up
I was only looking for a 6-cylinder. I’m sold! I’ll be looking at 4 cylinder as well. Thanks!
Purchased 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR5 2 wheel drive 4 cylinder. Not racing , towing or off road play. I luv this truck thanking Jesus for this gift that I Asked for.
I pull a 17 foot bass boat and trailer with no problems at all with my 2017 4 door Tacoma 4 cylinder. For the few times I use it to pass a vehicle I really don't have problems. I've been able to get as much as 29 miles per gallon on the highway. I like it !!!!
I’m thinking on buying a 2017 4 cylinder, are they any major problems with this type of truck?
Finally a fair comparison. Before 4wd all pickups were 2wd and most people were happy. I am one of those rest of us people you were talking about. I don't need bragging rights. I have a 2022 2.7L 2WD and completely happy with it. Where I live it has been over 12 years since we had any significant snow or ice. Why should I spend an additional 10k for the V6 and 4WD, bragging rights. I think not.
Own a Pajero/Montero 3.2lt Generation 4- diesel 4 cylinder, has the torque of an old v8 petrol. Just such a great engine on so many levels.
2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4cyl 2.7 automatic 250,000 and going strong.....Love it all the power I need
Nice!!
4 cyl is easier and cheaper to maintain in the long run
Even with the break and engine light on for months, my 98 Toyota Camry LE is still running with over 200k miles. Love it although NEEDS to be checked.
Of course, I owned 2011 taco sr5 preR 2.7L run awesome. It get me there every time!
I’ve owned a 07 Tacoma 4 cylinder and a 09 Tacoma 6 cylinder. The 4 cylinder was the better truck in my opinion. The 4 cylinder actually was better off-road too. Obviously if you buy a TRD the TRD is probably better.
What if it’s RWD can you still do trails (not mud or sand)
Bullshit
I’m about to buy a 2011 Toyota tacoma 4 cylinders 4x4 with 208,000 miles what you think ? Only $13,000
I love my 2006 Tacoma 2.7 access cab 4x2
Thank you so much for your honesty,great video and very helpful !
My 2019 tacoma 4cyl works for me on Oahu. Mostly 35mph or less driving. Got it just b4 flu shutdown. Best move ive made in years...
I wish you could get the 4-cylinder with a manual in the Tacoma. Not the case anymore.
I’m really wanting one too 4x4 Access Cab 6-spd manual
@@J.Young808 Those 6 speed manual transmission are garbage. Your better off with an automatic. I had so many problems with my 6 speed.
@@Dave-so7sf what the f*** are you talking about? What issues? It's literally a better transmission than the automatic. The six-speed manual in my V6 is great
@@terrynichol577 Mine was a piece of junk. At 30k it needed a new transmission which Toyota covered. Then the new transmission they replaced it with kept popping out of reverse. I had a 07 Tacoma 4 cylinder 5 speed before that one and had 0 issues with that 5 speed transmission. I recently just picked up a 2021 Tacoma 4 cylinder SR with the SX package. So far seems pretty good but a bit underpowered. Though I am coming from daily-ing that STI in my profile picture that makes 611hp / 500tq. Two different animals.
What year did they stop making the 4bangers in a standard?
6 cylinder is fantastic...never had any good fortune with a 4 cylinder
There is a big miss conception here about the capability aspect of a 4 cylinder engine. It is untrue that towing or going up and down mountains should have any more affect on 4 cylinder versus a 6 cylinder the stress of the motor isn’t actually dependent on towing or driving as much as people may think believe it or not but actually the main difference added by having more cylinders or changing the pattern from inline to a V formation is simply for piston efficiency moving up and down the cylinder is slightly easier to do at an angle instead of vertical but there are benefits to an inline motor which is inline motors will typically build a greater percentage of torque over an equal amount of horsepower meaning the torque load is handled better and more efficiently in a inline motor however a V formation motor will have a better throttle response which is typically why they will build better horsepower range the rpm horsepower and torque curve build faster but the torque and horsepower fall off much sooner than an inline motor which if you are doing a lot of towing then that is a bad thing which also is the same for going up a steep incline which is why inline diesel motors are much more common in industrial vehicles such as tractors, semis, skid loaders, dump trucks etc.. because they handle the load better and have less overall stress what people do not realize is horsepower is really only good for spinning your wheels over faster horsepower is measured by what the average horse could move somewhere around 1300lbs horsepower in a motor will determine how faster the crank will spin and how fast the pistons will recover on each stroke and the faster it spends the quicker the vehicle will be but the lower your percentage of ft.lbs of torque decreases it changes a lot of variables but the main reason vehicles have limitations is not so much as the motor but actually comes down to the drivetrain your axles, transmission, driveshaft etc.. endure the most amount of stress and it takes a lot of energy to make all of the parts to move and get a vehicle up to speed horsepower will get you to that speed faster but without torque the motor will have to work much harder to get the vehicle moving think about it like a boat the wider the boat is the better it displaces water the more stable it is but a boat that’s more narrow with a deeper V can cut through water easy and be faster overall but risks flipping because it’s water displacement and center of gravity is much more narrow and much higher off center torque is what handles the brute force and will determine the stress a motor will endure when towing or driving up a steep hill or mountain so a 4 cylinder engine can handle just as much as a 6 cylinder engine the problem is what the gearing is setup as which will determine how the vehicle will handle different scenarios if your axle gear ratio is very low you will have a much greater torque response you will get off the line quick and you can climb and pull a much greater amount but your top speed will be very reduced if your gear ratio is much higher let’s say a 3.55 then you can achieve much higher speeds and get better fuel mileage but your torque control will be severely reduced which will have a big impact on how your vehicle will handle driving up hill and hauling a trailer that’s why a vehicle will downshift when driving up hill or hold a gear longer with a load the higher the rpms the greater the torque band the less it has to work to achieve the same thing so with the right gear ratio you can have lower rpm = lower stress on the motor and maintain a stronger torque response which ultimately will handle the work load better and more efficiently and will allow you to use less horsepower and the less horsepower a motor has the less stress is put on the motor
(Sorry to anyone who reads the whole text kinda got carried away but you get my point it all comes down to personal preference and what you’re gonna do with it)
Thanks learned alot.
it was a good read, learned some things.
A four cylinder can be set up to toe if done correctly with a transmission cooler, cold air intake, and air shocks. A V-6 has more power but requires a lot more upkeep and maintenance and to me is not worth the cost.
tow how much im looking into doing something similar for my 4cyl taco towing a 9k lb trailer if possible, didnt think it would be.
well said. love how you made it simple for people to understand👍
The 2nd and 3rd Gen Tacoma’s 4-Cyl makes more horsepower and torque than my ‘90s vintage Nissan 3.0L V6. Not much more, but they do have more power AND get better mileage. New 4-Cyl > Old V6. Great video and point. 👍👍
He is spot on. If you don’t tow your good to go.
Well if you live in the city with lots of flat roads, and just want a truck/car to get you places, go for the 4 banger. In my country, most cars are 4 bangers with V6's and V8's (V8's like on a Land Cruiser that only rich people buy) reserved for higher end cars which the general consumer doesn't need nor buy. For heavy works like towing, off-road, hauling, we have diesels for that.
4 cyl is so much better cast iron block... tough as nails
I thought both were tough as nails as long as they are Toyota.
@@angelozicarelli541 3.5 is good most 2.7 owners just regret not getting the 3.5 or 4.0 so they have to justify it by making it seem the better choice
@@KubanKevin No regret here. I payed literally HALF the price for my 4 cylinder. I absolutely love it, and it is just as reliable/ long lasting as the v6, if not more.
I bought yesterday Tacoma from 2008 with 2.7. Damn, I'm in shock how powerful this engine is. Sure for European reality it drinks gas faster than russian guy a bottle of vodka, but really I'm surprised how good it accelerated with 2,2 tons of weight.
I have hope this car is going to stay with me for a really long long time because it is love from the first sight and better if she doesn't break my heart too quickly.
2.2 tons? You realize that's 4,400 pounds, right?
@@evanjohnrobasci7356 Yes I do, so?
hi there i bought a 2015 used second gen. tacoma 2 wheel drive the engine has a 46k miles it has a i4 2.7 liter engine that's all i need for my family day to day commute everywhere we go and i drive to work 15 min. everyday i also own a 1995 corolla dx since i was 21 yrs old my high school graduation gift now im 47 i still have it and drive her
2016 4cyl manual 4x4 181,000 miles and going strong no issues. Work truck lots of highway miles.
I take care of 2 cars. 1 highlander 2AZ-FE & 1 1st gen Rav4 3S-FE engine. For my family.
The Rav4 is slow but it goes. Its used for grocery shopping & I put Castrol High Milage.
The Highlander is the car I drive to work. Back & forth. I change different oils for that because the lovely "check engine" light shows up. Right now I'm using Valvoline, full synthetic high milage. Yet the car drives so good I can go 80mph on the freeway smoothly.
Thanks! im really happy after watching this video!
Me tewwwwwwwww
A good honest strait forward review. Much appreciated 👍.
I have a 2012 Tacoma 2.7 access cab. It’s my daily, I abuse it a lot and I have the confidence to say that this little truck won’t ever betray me on the road. It’s rwd so of course I’m gonna slide it around corners and on freeway ramps when I can. My only complaint is that it’s slow, 159hp in a pickup truck just isn’t enough and to get to freeway speeds, acceleration is just sad. But this truck won’t ever leave you stranded on the road, unless your tires are punctured.
Yeah. Bought a new Tacoma this year. Really wanted an SR5 with the 4 cylinder. However, I HAD to have a manual transmission. For 2023, only the TRD trim with the V6 can be had with that manual, so sadly I let the 4 cyl go.
Wow! Such an educative tips. I observed that v6 engine are far from vibration when AC is on than 4 cylinder engine. 4 cylinder engine easily vibrant when driving with ac. Why so?
Awesome vid! The 2trfe is one of the best 4 cylinders Toyota has ever made....and that's saying something!
Glad you like it!
Nice info. I like my little 4 cylinder truck.
Good points but both engines are good. I would have been happy with either, but found a 2010 v6 with tow package (6500 rated towing) and 47k miles. Have been getting 18.5 mpg and am happy with it, really smooth and nimble truck.
Costs so much to drive it around in gas
@@TheAnnoyingBoss It just depends on what you need it for. If you're hauling a lot, the 4 banger will struggle to keep up and go thru heavy MPG's, and the engine will be knocking, ticking, leaking and valve chattering within a few years. Remember the point of this video was only discussing the 'driving miss daisy' types who are going back and forth to school, grocery stores etc. Manly work requires manlier engines and tow packages, just saying.
You are spot on! I bought a Toyota Tacoma SR5 with the V6, and the performance is not that great. I cannot imagine the 4cyl being much worse. I'm looking to trade in my truck for a 4cyl manual tranny as that was what I had in my 1989 Toyota 4WD pickup and that engine was plenty powerful for getting to work and back, and going to Home Depot to buy Sheetrock and materials. I never had a single complaint about the 4cyl. The V6 Toyota engine has gremlins that will force me to take it to a mechanic, and I have been doing my own work on my cars for the last 30 years. They're making them more difficult for us to work on our own cars.
The V6 on the Tacoma is tried and tested. It's not a very powerful engine, but it will last a very long time.
I live in FL. It’s very common to own boats, jetskis etc. If you are buying a truck to do truck things, get the truck engine. If you’re using it to go out to dinner and to buy groceries, 4 cyl and save money.
Sounds about right
EXCELLENT video! Thank you for explaining the difference. 😊
Coming up to 4 years ownership and my Toyota engine 2GR fse has been bullet proof on 84k milage so far.
I agree with you!! The problem is that they don’t do 4 cylinders anymore all you can find is 6 cylinders in the market unless you go and get the new Ford Maverick and I telling you that isn’t the best.. thanks for your video!!
This was excellent. Thank you
Excellent video. You're particularly good at explaining things ... If it's worth it, to you, could you do a video answering "How can the Tacoma Sr 4cyl 2.7L with only 159hp tow 3,500 compared to something like RAV4 with only 2.5L with MORE hp (180) and is even 500lb lighter curb weight but can tow only 1,500lb? Is something funky going on in the transmission? Gear sizes?
Frame (Tacom) vs Unibody (RAV4). The truck frame allows you to tow more. That’s why Heavy Duty trucks are body on frame, as are Semi Trucks.
4 cyl also lighter on brakes and tires?
This was so helpful! Thanks
Thank you so much...sir....I learn about car!! Blessed always....peace from CA!!
Great video and advice for those not car savvy. Liked and subscribed 🤙 new fan, all the way from Australia
I have a 2001 Camry 4 cylinder 5 speed manual. Will that last longer than V6? It rides very very smooth and sounds good when it starts. Very quiet engine. Has 171k
The 4 cylinder should last longer because it has less moving parts for it to break.
My '94 Ford ranger 2.3L has 430K miles ...and still going strong.
Great job,
very well done.
Many thanks.
For normal everyday driving, can you explain why the higher RPM of a 4 cylinder engine does not result in more or earlier wear and tear compared to a V6? I'm thinking about the Toyota 2.4L turbocharged on the upcoming 2025 4 Runner vs 2024 4 Runner with V6.
Actually Josh, the I-6 is your best engine imho. Lighter than the v-6, as much or more power, and better reliability due to less vibration. See the amc 4.2 and jeep/chrysler 4.0 for reference. 4 bangers can put out a decent hp, but are trash when it comes to torgue. Light vee's only my friend.
Ain't no straight 6's making equal or greater power than similar sized V6's.
Ford 4.0 litre Barra engine from Aussie Falcon
Great video!
Wich one is better jeep TJ 4Cyl or TJ 6 Cyl. Thank you for the advise.
had one of each, a 4 cylinder YJ and a 6 cylinder TJ (and a CJ7) the YJ had to be pulled out of a Georgia red clay ditch where it got stuck, the TJ pulled through the same ditch with mud and water flowing!!!!! going up Lookout Mountain, Tennessee the YJ smoked clutch and struggled, the TJ had no problem even with the A/C on full blast, YJ got under 20 MPG the TJ got under 12 MPG, traded the TJ for a Subaru Outback which has terrible roof rail leaks, the Jeeps never leaked!!! Sometimes i just hate vehicles!!!!
They are not weak, Hilux has 4cyl. However,V6 is more powerful, there is no doubt about that. Land cruisers all have V6,V8
Interesting stuff - have definitely heard this about Subaru Outback, go with the 4 vs 6 cylinder but the concept is sort of counter-intuitive outside the gas mileage but you make good points. Wife has the 4 cylinder Honda CR-V Turbo and the gas mileage is excellent near 30mpg.
v6 are easily capable of upper 20s maybe even low 30s for example my 3.2l v6 Cherokee gets 27-29 highway which is most of my commute to work.
Super helpful! Thanks!
The 4 cylinder is the longer lived Toyota Truck engine that can go 300,000+ miles . I'd only buy a 4 cylinder if I was buying a Tacoma.
For maybe the old small Tacoma's. If you're trying to get a new Tacoma, V6 is the only way to go. Sure its more but you're turning way less RPM's just to get the truck moving or maintaining speed...whereas a 4cyc has to work harder (higher RPM)...more RPMs = more wear and tear also!
@@buddybestor The 4 cylinder has an IRON BLOCK. Not a aluminum block like the V6. Much more reliable
@@teslaedison6236 facts the 4cyl can handle boost and all types of crazy shit
@@skimask5049 Very good point bro
@@teslaedison6236 i got one 2013 2.7 4 cyl with lce header full AFE exhaust, cold air intake, jegs mass air flow chip... i thought about supercharging it glad i didnt thou..
I Have a 4cyl 2021 Tacoma I use it to Tow my 16 Ft Bayliner open Bow and haul Lumber. While Im not breaking a speed record it does the job havent had any issues. Drive it to work 60 miles a day no issues at all.
Wow! Downshift and keep truckin’!
I’d agree 4cyl is a good choice. The 6cyl is also a good engine but overall a Tacoma is not much of a tow vehicle with either choice. Come on who buys a Tacoma as their tow rig?
very useful information
I have a 2.5 Nissan Frontier 2019 pulled a Ford 1/2 ton off a trailer with my frontier plenty of power for me love it
Thank you so much thats very useful information
Ive had two 3RZ tacomas, now i drive a 5vz 4runner. That toyota 4banger will go forever and get decent mileage, but holy crap...the extra power of the V6 makes a big difference when traffic flows at 80mph on the interstate. I love my 5VZ 3.4L. 275k miles and gets over 20mpg on the highway. My 3rz tacomas got about 28mpg hw on 31 inch tires. The 4banger is the better trail motor, but id get the V6 is you drive far on the highway, even if it burns more gas. You dont buy these things to save gas. 4banger tacos are just slow, the only downside to them. 1st gen tacoma beats the 3rd gen taco in a drag race, Btw
Just hit 300,000 today on my 4 cylinder- don’t need a bigger V6 since I don’t tow lol
Is your 4dr? Is it sluggish like ppl say ? Like driving on the up ramp or passing a car
@@subtegral interesting
@@subtegral bolt on mods would work better
There’s pros and cons to everything the question is can you deal with the cons if yes then go for the more cylinders V6 V8s can be lots of fun too drive
Bought a new 2022 tocoma barely a week after it was built..lol. 4 cylinder 2 door (with fully open out side door) and REAL full size 6 foot bed. On the highway sure it's a bit slower but can get up and go especially when not loaded.mpg is around 20 so much better than the idiots buying v6 and V8 trucks when they don't have any real reason as they don't tow crap on a regular basis. If your towing some stuff occasionally...a 4 cylinder dies just fine and mine was $32,240 after ttl
some ppl just want that v8 roar
Insightful video thanks!!
Never driven a truck before. Bought a new 2019 4 cyl Tacoma and wish I got a 6 cyl... I have a hard time getting up to speed and end up flooring it, as well as people shitting on me with their trucks. With all that said I do love it
Have u tried using the ect button
Your an idiot you don’t need to drive fast in US highways lol
Keep it bro,will cost you less in the long run
Patients is a virtue. As far as the rest Fc um
What if you live in snow belt? Since 4 cylinder only comes with RWD on double cab? Just mod winter tires and rims?
And. I even got the manual transmission. my mechanic said it was a amazing little motor. he said smart getting the manual. would have been disappointed with automatic.
Great channel, info thanks
@budget mechanic. What are your thoughts about 4cyl turbo engines??? CVTs?
Thanks for the info 👍
If your going to tow get the 6.if you don't care about power or speed go with the 4.but don't expect to pass much
What do you think of the 4 cylinder engines that come in 2002 Suzuki vitaras or Chevrolet trackers?
The problem if not only the 157 hp, but why does a RAV4 and Camry have 200 and the truck now? Why is it $31k to buy
Actually it's 180 foot pounds of torque at 3800 RPMs lower horsepower keeps temperatures down for off-roading and extreme use.
Thanks for the information
Awesome video..good explanation..
Most inline 4 engines are turbocharged these days, this greatly reduces the lifespan of the engine and makes you go through more oil, 6 cylinder engines are usually naturally aspirated which means you will have much more even acceleration, if money isn’t an issue and your debating between a turbo4 and a v6 get a v6 also i4’s sound HORRIBLE
Also, many turbo 4s require premium fuel which negates any increases in efficiency with in fuel cost. Really a v6 at least in bigger vehicles is the way to go.
Very helpful explanation. Muchas gracias amigo.