In last week’s epic Real World Towing MPG battle of mid-sized versus half ton Toyota trucks the surprising and unexpected winner was the 2016 Toyota Tacoma.
Let’s briefly recap.
A few weeks ago we posed a simple question: which truck is more fuel efficient towing 5600 pounds? Is it the new 2016 Toyota Tacoma or the 2016 Toyota Tundra? To find out we strapped on the same horse trailer to both trucks and loaded it with 5600 pounds. With Kent (Mr. Truck) behind the wheel and myself riding shotgun we took both trucks up and down I-76 on our 100 mile test loop at 70 MPH.
When the smoke cleared the new Toyota Tacoma was the winner returning an average of 8.4 MPG vs the Tundra’s average of 8.15 MPG.
This result was an obvious surprise because the new 2016 Toyota Tacoma engine worked harder with the rev’s much higher in the rev band to tow the test load. In the end we surmised that while the Toyota Tundra’s 5.7L V-8 was less stressed and worked a bit less to maintain 70 MPH on the highway, the Tundra’s added 1400 pounds of weight made the small MPG difference giving the win to the smaller and lighter Taco.
But now here’s where it gets even more interesting.
It’s time to bring in the wild card match.
At the end of last’s week’s test I surprised Kent with another truck: The brand spanking new 2016 Chevy Silverado. Our blue test truck was equipped with Chevy’s most powerful 6.2L V8 that produces 420 HP and 460 lb-ft making it the most powerful towing rig in the half ton class.
I know this new 2016 Chevy Silverado would not even flinch at towing only 5600 pounds of horse trailer, cinderblocks and an ATV. But would it be more fuel efficient than the 2016 Toyota Tacoma and/or the the 2016 Toyota Tundra?
Spoiler Alter: Kent, Andre and I know the answer, but we’re still editing the video of this TFL Real World Towing Test.
Now is your chance to take a guess at what MPG number the Chevy was able to achieve. Please take a guess and place your bets in the comments below. To make it even more interesting I personally send a TFL T-shirt or trucker hat to the person who guesses the correct mile per gallon number to the tenth of an MPG.
Did the 2016 Chevy Silverado match the Tacoma’s winning 8.4 MPG on our 100 mile test loop or did it do better or worse? We will publish the video results later this week so now is your chance to guess and get some free TFL schwag in the process.
I’ll give you a hint: The Silverado beat the Tundra’s MPG number.
Good luck and have fun guessing below.
