Fuel Economy Tpepidations: "How Does A Four-banger Get V-8 Gas Mileage?", Toyota Tacoma Owner Wonders

Toyota currently spoils with an impressive diversity of SUVs and trucks. These are the most popular vehicle segments in the US, by an overwhelming difference. Despite the market teeming with US-built models from Chevrolet, Ford, and Dodge, to name a few, Toyota has carved out a significant portion of the SUV and truck market. That said, some of Toyota’s recent decisions have not resonated with fans. 

Toyota Tacoma dropped its famous V-6 engine in favor of the i-Force and i-Force Max units, both revolving around a 2.4-liter turbo-four (the latter being a hybrid). It is no secret that the downsizing trend is done in the name of fuel economy and covering increasingly-strict emissions regulations. However, while browsing through the 4th Gen 2024+ Toyota Tacoma Owners group on Facebook, I stumbled upon a post from one owner who is outraged by his Toyota pickup truck’s fuel economy, and he’s not the only one.

It’s one thing to lament after the V-6, but it’s another thing to find out that your four-cylinder Toyota Tacoma isn’t that much more fuel-efficient than the outgoing V-6. To add insult to injury, in non-hybrid guise, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine doesn’t make more power than the outgoing, 3.5-liter, 2GR-FKS V-6, and according to Reddit threads, the Tacoma’s downsized engine is a divisive subject. 

Four-cylinder turbo engines can get V-8 gas mileage under certain conditions.

The owner of this particular fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma shared an image of his instrument cluster, showing an average fuel economy of 16.6 MPG. This is about 4.4 MPG short of the official EPA combined fuel economy. This is the non-hybrid variant, which should achieve 20 MPG combined with the six-speed manual or 21 MPG combined with the eight-speed automatic. 

But why are the numbers so off? Or are they?

Since this is a new vehicle (just 7,777 miles on the odometer) and there are no symptoms of any problems, we can chalk the low MPG figure down to driving style and driving conditions. It hardly does the Tacoma any justice that the owner simply posts an image with a number without giving more details. 

No, I am not advocating for Toyota (they don’t pay me for that), but having spent time at a Toyota dealership, I’ve seen firsthand customers buying a V-8 Land Cruiser 300 and being shocked by the gas mileage. In this particular case, we are talking about a much smaller engine, but still, buying a Toyota, especially a pickup truck, doesn’t automatically mean you are getting something frugal.

Some Tacoma owners seem to have embraced the “low MPG life”, while others seem to be beating the official figures.

Owners chime in and share their own gas mileage, with some providing visual evidence of their Toyota Tacoma gas mileage. The numbers vary quite a bit. Some report figures ranging from 20 to over 24, including driving “in traffic”. Some report the best numbers of 33 MPG. 

Here are some replies from under the post:

John Kownacki says: “I get that at the best. 15 city , 20 highway.”

Regis Gagne says: “17 mpg for me ,in the snowy winter time in Québec or 13.8 L/100.”

Marty Newsom says: “I've got the same in a 24 model with 14,850 miles and it gets 25.7.”

Joe Burns says: “I get consistent 14.5 mpg.. yeah, idk.. It's not meant for 75 mph turnpike driving. Its happy spot is between 45 and 60 mph. “

Jesse Norman says: “Because it's a four-cylinder trying to do eight-cylinder things. I've been running rec 90 gas in ours since new and average 18mpg”.

Danny Blair says: “21-25 mpg stock on expressway, 27 driving between 65-75 mph. TRD Sport”.

Most owners seem to agree that it all comes down to use. With that said, there are numerous factors in play when it comes to your average fuel economy. Here are some tips: 

• Maintaining a constant speed (e.g., highway driving) keeps fuel economy high, as opposed to stop-and-go driving. Engines burn the most amount of fuel when accelerating, especially from a standstill, as they have to overcome the entire weight of the vehicle. This is especially true when towing.

• Cold engines tend to run richer until they get to operating temperature, which hurts fuel economy. Naturally, short trips don’t give the engine a chance to properly warm up, leading to lower average gas mileage.

• Elevation is another factor that affects gas mileage. Uphill driving uses more fuel as the engine needs more power to overcome a certain distance. Downhill driving is easiest on the engine and improves fuel economy. If you have multiple routes to choose from, choosing the one with the least elevation will improve your MPG.

• Drive slower or hypermilling. I admit, it’s not an advice I would personally take to heart, but lower speed means lower RPMs and less strain on the engine. Driving at the lowest possible RPM and the most fuel-efficient driving mode, also known as hypermiling, is a sure way to match or even surpass the official figures. Just because the speed limit is 90 mph, doesn’t mean you have to drive at that exact speed. Going 75 instead will bring those MPG figures up. 

• Unload everything you don’t need. This may sound a bit excessive, but getting rid of useless stuff from your car’s (or truck’s) interior or cargo space will result in weight reduction. A lighter car is a more fuel-efficient car, so next time you are heading for the groceries, ask yourself, do you need all that stuff lying around in your trunk or truck bed, like it’s a storage? 

Regardless, if you are a Toyota Tacoma owner (or own any other vehicle), I am curious to hear about your experience. Are you getting the advertised MPG, or are you beating them? Share your experience in the comment section below.

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Image source: 2025 Toyota Tacoma, Heith Tewes / 4th Gen 2024+ Toyota Tacoma Owners on Facebook

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.