Why do 4th Gen get better MPG than later?

[cognus]

This is not a dig at the later models which are fine vehicles AFAIK, but from reading reviews by real owners, many are disappointed that their trucks have sluggish acceleration AND poor MPG... like 15mpg real hand-calculated [not the indicator on the dash which is Marketing...]

My 07, which has not ever had a tuneup at 160K, gets 18's to 19's, and most of my driving is not interstate speeds. I don't gun it, though it will go, as you all know. What I read is that the later more-aggressively-managed drivetrains are getting 15mpg :noidea:

I'm saying all this 'cause my wife will be giving up her old but loved Mazda 5 before long and I'm poking at ideas for her. At this point, my bias is toward a Tahoe...

 

[JeffMerr]

This is not a dig at the later models which are fine vehicles AFAIK, but from reading reviews by real owners, many are disappointed that their trucks have sluggish acceleration AND poor MPG... like 15mpg real hand-calculated [not the indicator on the dash which is Marketing...]

My 07, which has not ever had a tuneup at 160K, gets 18's to 19's, and most of my driving is not interstate speeds. I don't gun it, though it will go, as you all know. What I read is that the later more-aggressively-managed drivetrains are getting 15mpg :noidea:

I'm saying all this 'cause my wife will be giving up her old but loved Mazda 5 before long and I'm poking at ideas for her. At this point, my bias is toward a Tahoe...

5th gen is heavier and less aerodynamic than the 4th gen. The 4.0 was already underpowered for the 4th gen, and then they decided to throw it in a heavier vehicle. I can't imagine how the 3.5 is going to perform in a 5000 lb 6th gen.

 

[1BAMF]

This is not a dig at the later models which are fine vehicles AFAIK, but from reading reviews by real owners, many are disappointed that their trucks have sluggish acceleration AND poor MPG... like 15mpg real hand-calculated [not the indicator on the dash which is Marketing...]

My 07, which has not ever had a tuneup at 160K, gets 18's to 19's, and most of my driving is not interstate speeds. I don't gun it, though it will go, as you all know. What I read is that the later more-aggressively-managed drivetrains are getting 15mpg :noidea:

I'm saying all this 'cause my wife will be giving up her old but loved Mazda 5 before long and I'm poking at ideas for her. At this point, my bias is toward a Tahoe...

This is legit. My wife and I were in my 04 V8 4Runner the weekend and she noticed after I filled it (I always calculate my mileage after filling) that I was averaging over 18/gallon. She said, "this thing gets better mileage than your new one" (2017 TRDOR)?! I said I know, and she goes "how the hell the does that happen"?! I said I don't know, I think the new one's heavier, gearing, aerodynamics, etc. lol. It was pretty funny actually seeing the look of disgust on my wife's face. Apparently she's a little more fond of the 04 now?!

Btw, I'm averaging about 16 miles/gallon with the new one, but I've just completed the first oil change (5k miles) so I'm hopeful it will improve.

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

This is not a dig at the later models which are fine vehicles AFAIK, but from reading reviews by real owners, many are disappointed that their trucks have sluggish acceleration AND poor MPG... like 15mpg real hand-calculated [not the indicator on the dash which is Marketing...]

My 07, which has not ever had a tuneup at 160K, gets 18's to 19's, and most of my driving is not interstate speeds. I don't gun it, though it will go, as you all know. What I read is that the later more-aggressively-managed drivetrains are getting 15mpg :noidea:

I'm saying all this 'cause my wife will be giving up her old but loved Mazda 5 before long and I'm poking at ideas for her. At this point, my bias is toward a Tahoe...

How does your wife feel about your '07? Do you think she likes 4Runners in general? If she likes it, why consider a Tahoe? Start looking for 4th gen 4Rs for your woman, go go go!

 

[AE1M]

How does your wife feel about your '07? Do you think she likes 4Runners in general? If she likes it, why consider a Tahoe? Start looking for 4th gen 4Rs for your woman, go go go!

This has been a wonder of mine also. I need a heavy tow vehicle and after loving my 08 4R, I looked at the new 4R, still not enough to tow. Looked at Sequoia but has MUCH worse gas mileage than any other vehicle in it's class, not what I expected from Toyota. Gas back on the way up, new Tahoe is 22-23 with flex fuel and variable cylinder use. In a quandary, need to tow 7000.

 

[AuSeeker]

This has been a wonder of mine also. I need a heavy tow vehicle and after loving my 08 4R, I looked at the new 4R, still not enough to tow. Looked at Sequoia but has MUCH worse gas mileage than any other vehicle in it's class, not what I expected from Toyota. Gas back on the way up, new Tahoe is 22-23 with flex fuel and variable cylinder use. In a quandary, need to tow 7000.

Another BIG reason the new Tahoes gets better MPG is they have a 6 speed transmission, if Toyota puts a 6 Speed or even better a 7 speed transmission in the 6th Gens T4Rs the mileage will be much better and if they add a variable cylinder function as well it will mostly likely get better MPG than the Tahoes!!

I hope they also bring back the V8 option as well!!

 

[ElZilcho]

The EPA fuel economy test circuit for highway economy averages 48MPH and maxes out at 60MPH. If you drive like that maybe you'll see 22/23 in a Tahoe.

I drive... faster. On a recent trip from NYC to Chicago in a newer Tahoe (loaded heavy but no trailer) I got ~15MPG. To put that in perspective my 1993 80 series Land Cruiser (loaded similarly) does the same trip, at the same speeds, at 13MPG and my 2008 V8 4runner gets 16MPG.

Not saying that the Tahoe isn't right vehicle for you, but I was not impressed with its fuel economy.

As far as why the 4runners don't see better economy... [MENTION=149207]AuSeeker[/MENTION] said it. The transmission/drive train is a dinosaur. ...but it's dependable too.

 

[Terminator03]

I’m not sure why mine gets such bad mileage by comparison, but mine averages 13.7, at least according to the dash indicator. I wonder if it’s O2 sensor related? I have a V8 with Thorley headers, but don’t drive it hard.

 

[AuSeeker]

I’m not sure why mine gets such bad mileage by comparison, but mine averages 13.7, at least according to the dash indicator. I wonder if it’s O2 sensor related? I have a V8 with Thorley headers, but don’t drive it hard.

Stock tires?

Any other Mods that added any weight?

 

[Terminator03]

Stock tires?

Any other Mods that added any weight?

Yes, stock 265/65/17. I do carry tools in the cargo area for work, but I wouldn’t think it would be enough to significantly alter the mileage.

 

[ElZilcho]

Yes, stock 265/65/17. I do carry tools in the cargo area for work, but I wouldn’t think it would be enough to significantly alter the mileage.

The on-board read-out is not to be trusted.:suspicious:

Compare your odometer to the mile markers and calculate it by hand for a couple of fill-ups. If you find it's reading accurately than maybe a tune-up is in order. If it's not reading accurately (but your odo is) there is another fix.

 

[thecole1098]

Another BIG reason the new Tahoes gets better MPG is they have a 6 speed transmission, if Toyota puts a 6 Speed or even better a 7 speed transmission in the 6th Gens T4Rs the mileage will be much better and if they add a variable cylinder function as well it will mostly likely get better MPG than the Tahoes!!

I hope they also bring back the V8 option as well!!

Hate to break your balls, but not gonna happen. They're gonna have the 3.5. I've also heard that they're going to be getting rid of all the V8. This might be foreshadowing to a diesel in the tundras, etc.

 

[Terminator03]

The on-board read-out is not to be trusted.:suspicious:

Compare your odometer to the mile markers and calculate it by hand for a couple of fill-ups. If you find it's reading accurately than maybe a tune-up is in order. If it's not reading accurately (but your odo is) there is another fix.

I’ve heard that, but back when I first got the truck last fall, I did do the manual calculation on a couple of tanks and it was very close, and was averaging around 17mpg which is more in line with where I’ve read a lot of these fall. The only thing that’s changed is that I have the Vsc/trac off and CEL illuminated and the code P0420, which I know is the right bank CAT (or most likely). I’ve been driving it like that for a few months, but read that it doesn’t affect the mileage. I’m starting to wonder though because the mileage drop correlates to the timing of the CEL problem.

 

[S p a r k y]

We have a new to us 2014 limited, I noticed this weekend while traveling 80ish Mph that it could definitely use another gear up there. My 04' V8 doesn't struggle nearly as bad up at those speeds. That is for sure part of the MPG difference. I also noticed how much louder the engine is compared to the v8.

 

[Atlanta_man]

If talking official posted vs. actual there have been a couple changes to mpg ratings:
2008 and 2017
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings.shtml

 

[cognus]

I hand-calculate my mileage at every fillup. The readout on the dash display says "21.4" lol. I've reset it a couple of times and it goes right back to 21.4 which is a lie... big fat lie. My lowest [one time] was 16.8 or so, and my highest, on midgrade gas 89, was about 20.6. 90% of the time its from 18.2 to 18.9 on the cheap gas. goes like stink too - I wonder what it would get if I ever gave it its first tuneup??:noidea: I do know it doesn't like cold start much and I assume that is the throttle body carboned up so it never quite closes. Cat stinks until it hits warmup point.

when I read the 5th gen comments on the car sites, from owners that have had then awhile, they hate that sluggish startoff - lack of acceleration, and the mpg is 16'ish. I didn't check curb weight but are they heavier?

As to the wife, she's done with 4runner. hates the seats, hates the herky-jerky ride, and that's a problem.. we like to hit the backroads but I can't stand her mazda seats and she can't stand the 4runner. I think she'd like the full power passenger of the RX350. but they are not any quieter than the 4runner vs. road/tire noise. they are however quieter to ambient outside noise and wind.

I'm very leery of tahoes. again, when you read a lot about them from the awful years 07-10, and somewhat better thereafter, you're still rolling the dice on some very expensive repairs. Mileage legit is about 15. same as the 5.3 got from 2002 to present, notwithstanding many changes

 

[JeffMerr]

I hand-calculate my mileage at every fillup. The readout on the dash display says "21.4" lol. I've reset it a couple of times and it goes right back to 21.4 which is a lie... big fat lie. My lowest [one time] was 16.8 or so, and my highest, on midgrade gas 89, was about 20.6. 90% of the time its from 18.2 to 18.9 on the cheap gas. goes like stink too - I wonder what it would get if I ever gave it its first tuneup??:noidea: I do know it doesn't like cold start much and I assume that is the throttle body carboned up so it never quite closes. Cat stinks until it hits warmup point.

when I read the 5th gen comments on the car sites, from owners that have had then awhile, they hate that sluggish startoff - lack of acceleration, and the mpg is 16'ish. I didn't check curb weight but are they heavier?

As to the wife, she's done with 4runner. hates the seats, hates the herky-jerky ride, and that's a problem.. we like to hit the backroads but I can't stand her mazda seats and she can't stand the 4runner. I think she'd like the full power passenger of the RX350. but they are not any quieter than the 4runner vs. road/tire noise. they are however quieter to ambient outside noise and wind.

I'm very leery of tahoes. again, when you read a lot about them from the awful years 07-10, and somewhat better thereafter, you're still rolling the dice on some very expensive repairs. Mileage legit is about 15. same as the 5.3 got from 2002 to present, notwithstanding many changes

Sounds like a gx470 would please you both

 

[cognus]

Sounds like a gx470 would please you both

i drove 2 of them before I bought the 4runner. loved the seats. the gas mileage of course is notoriously awful. odd shape, really no bigger than the 4runner, feels topheavy on uneven roads, swaying side-side.

i see them get sold cheaply around here. a former lexus svc manager i met told me none of the air suspensions were worth a hoot. all problematic

i drove a 2011 lexus ls 460 a few days ago and was more impressed than I thought I'd be. from what I read 2010 to 2012 are sweet years. i should have jumped on it but it got away. i wouldn't sell my 4runner, i would just keep the ls for trips. the LS is less expensive than Tahoe, like for like