CoedNaked

My 93 truck with 283,000 km's on it (176000+ miles) the last few tanks - 19.4 MPG, 18.4 MPG, 18.2 MPG, 17.7 MPG, and 20.1 MPG (various combinations of hwy/city driving). My truck weighs roughly 4000 pounds or so give or take. Ironically Toyota compact and now midsize trucks in the same configurations haven't really changed weights all that much. The new Tacoma Access CAb 4x4 V6 with the 6 speed weighs 3950 pounds roughly. My truck technically weighs that much as well (5350 GVW - 1400 pounds payload - do the math). Perhaps the new trucks do it "faster" but if you're talking about a purely moving the vehicle standpoint it doesn't appear to me like the newer trucks are getting all that much better gas mileage. I mean my truck is about as mechancially sound as it can probably be (bone stock) with synthetic oil, a relatively new air filter, and plugs, about 25,000-30,000 miles on the Dist/Cap/Rotor, etc. Dealer serviced by an awesome tech, etc. I've seen a few threads on MPG on a Tacoma board I frequent here and there and I'm not blown away by how much more efficient these trucks are considering the weight. Perhaps they pull harder, yes - but considering my truck is lacking 2 technologies - dual overhead cams, and variable valve timing, plus it has one less gear, I'm impressed. Also consider one more thing. The newer trucks are geared to have lesser RPM's in various gears - they don't work as hard. For example the new Tacoma in 6th gear on the highway doing say 70 MPH is around 2100-2200 RPM's if I'm not mistaken (3.73 rear end), my truck is at about 3000 RPM's with a 4.56 rear end. If my truck could cruise at lower RPM's with a higher highway gear, say - more like 2300-2500 RPM's I might even be seeing better mileage.

maxpower_hd

I can't speak on newer Toyotas but I know that the newer Chevy and Ford trucks are definately more efficient compared to their mid 90's and earlier counterparts. They either have the same sized motors with more power and better milieage or bigger motors with the same mileage.

They have come a long way with the computer controlled watchamacllits and fuel delivery thingamagigies.

eric-the-red

My 01 4runner with the 3.4 definitely gets better mileage than my old 93 which had the 3.0. I haven't really calculated it exactly but I went from about 350 km on 50 L to 400 km on the same 50 L. Could be the lower gears, my 01 has the 3.73 diffs, or just a more fuel efficient engine. The shape and weight of the 2 are very similar.

kyle_22r

i'm considering getting rid of my '91 4x4 that i use as a dd and buy something a bit more gas efficient like a little wagon. 20mpg from a 2.4l engine is rediculous, especially when it can't get out of its own way(at least my '79 can hold its own on the pass)

it's really depressing that it gets about the same mileage as my friend's V6 tacoma. i could have about 50-60 more horsepower for the same economy...

84sr5yoty

I pull 33-36 mpg out of my 84 EFI 2wd currently. If I were able to step the RPM's down from 3000 to 2500 at 70mph (IE taller 5th gear, taller rear end gears), I bet I could pull over 40. To me, it seems like efficiency has actually LOWERED while horsepower and complicated computer controls have grown over the years.

Jimmeh

I would have to disagree about this. Efficiency is actually what most people are asking for, and most of the newer rigs are giving that to the consumer. Years ago, more power meant less mileage, but now, you can have roughly the same amount of power in a big vehicle and have BETTER mileage then the older counterpart. For example, my dad has the 1988 F-150 with an inline 6 and gets roughly 16-18 MPG on the highway. A 2006 F-150 with the Triton V-8 gets almost 23 MPG on the highway, and that is with much more power then the I-6. Almost every vehicle on the market gets AT LEAST 15 MPG highway miles. Technology over the years has helped give more power in an engine without mileage and range being depleted.

kyle_22r

in the case of the 2wd tacos not getting equal or better mileage than the old trucks, i think it's probably a weight thing.

86 TurboSR5

86 turbo x-cab gets 33+ mpg highway with camper and passenger and 500 lbs at 62 mph. Might do better now. Total stock. Only 24 mpg in mixed driving.

4runnermt

Newer vehicles are a hell of a lot lighter than the old ones, especially trucks.

arjan

4 cylinders will save you fuel, the 3.4 is not any better on fuel then the 3.0 imo. I've had both, but I still only get 475km from 55L (I always drive until the light is on for a while).
I changed my gearing from 3.90 to 4.30, which also didn't help at all.

tony_4runner

I just got a 3rd gen (1999) and had a 2nd gen (1994). Both SR5, 5-speeds. So far I have improved from about 15 to 18 MPG in the city, and from 16 to 21 MPG on the road.