MPG comparison test: Tacoma (2.4L turbo 4) vs. Ridgeline, Ranger, Colorado, Frontier, Gladiator

[Brunson]

TFL conducted a real life MPG test between the Tacoma, Ranger, Gladiator, Frontier and Ridgeline.

MPG Results:

• Ridgeline - 26.4 mpg
• Tacoma - 26.3 mpg
• Ranger - 26 mpg
• Colorado - 24.4 mpg
• Frontier - 21.8 mpg
• Gladiator - 19.7 mpg

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[dmpplantz]

I don't know how they did that poorly in the gladiator. I rented one of those once, with same tires/size as that Mojave, and did better than that on the interstate going 70-75, including high elevation and grade climbing in northern Arizona. Maybe my rental had higher final drive or something . . .

 

[ridetime]

I don't know how they did that poorly in the gladiator. I rented one of those once, with same tires/size as that Mojave, and did better than that on the interstate going 70-75, including high elevation and grade climbing in northern Arizona. Maybe my rental had higher final drive or something . . .

Yeah they were running heavy 33 tires on the Mojave trim. The Pentarstar V-6 has never been very efficient in any of the previous Wranglers I have owned. Gearing as you mentioned would be the other variable.

 

[bsquaredMTB]

Sounds like the Tacoma did well. Good to hear after hearing a lot of complaints about gas tank size and MPG!

 

[BourbonRunner]

Interesting. Surprised the JTM did as well as it did, it has all the aerodynamic qualities of a brick wall, just like the Wrangler.

Rented a 2021 Mojave that had the full kit last year in Cali. RSI Smart Cap, awning, iKamper hard shell tent, full 7gal road shower, fridge, full bed slide etc. We averaged 12-13mpg over 1700 miles of driving, about 200 of that was off road and much of thatwas crawling ridge trails and blowing down sandy washboards.

I suspect that once you start pushing up to the max payload of the Tacoma or any of the other trucks in the test you'd see similar drops.

 

[bking]

Sounds like the Tacoma did well. Good to hear after hearing a lot of complaints about gas tank size and MPG!

Still complaining about the small tank .

 

[ridetime]

Still complaining about the small tank .

Yes, ridiculous. Toyota has never been big on tank size. My wife's highlander is good for about 300-320 miles. My 18 Land cruiser couldn't even break 300 miles. My 4Runner barely passed 300. There is no reason for this. Tacoma's need at least something North of 20 gallons.

 

[SweetDave]

Sounds like the Tacoma did well. Good to hear after hearing a lot of complaints about gas tank size and MPG!

Those complaints tickle me, since I am now traveling more miles on this tank in the '24 than I could with the larger tank on my '22. FAR more.

 

[bsquaredMTB]

Those complaints tickle me, since I am now traveling more miles on this tank in the '24 than I could with the larger tank on my '22. FAR more.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[ridetime]

Yeah, 2 bites of a hamburger is better than 1 but it's still not enough to fill you up.

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