Toyota offers just two engine options in the 2011 Tacoma, both of which are extremely reliable. The standard 2.7L four-cylinder puts up the best mpg figures but struggles with performance. Opt for the 4.0L V6, though, and get 77 more horsepower and a max tow rating of 6,500 pounds.
Key Points
- There are only two engine options available for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma: a 2.7L DOHC four-cylinder and a 4.0L DOHC V6.
- According to the NHTSA, Toyota’s 2011 Tacoma has nine recalls, zero investigations, and only 162 registered complaints, none of which are related to either of the engines.
- The 2.7L four-cylinder engine is the more efficient of the two engines, making 21 mpg around town and 25 on the highway, which is an average of four mpg higher than the 4.0L V6.
- Toyota’s 4.0L V6 is one of the most reliable engines the company has ever made with very few serious problems. However, misfires and coolant leaks are more prevalent on higher mileage trucks.
- Overall, a 4.0L Tacoma with the five-speed automatic is our favorite option for its impressive towing capacity and respectable 21 mpg on the highway.
2011 Tacoma’s 2.7L Engine Offers Impressive Fuel Economy, Strong Reliability, but Lacks Performance
The base engine option for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma is a naturally-aspirated 2.7L DOHC four-cylinder. The 2.7L is the standard engine across all trim levels except for the X-runner and offers 159 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. There are two transmissions available for the 2.7L, a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, and both have a towing capacity of around 3,500 pounds.
Expect a two-wheel-drive, 2.7L Tacoma to reach zero to 60 miles per hour in 9.1 seconds, but know that extra equipment like four-wheel drive and larger cab sizes can push acceleration time to over 10 seconds.
While the four-cylinder Tacoma does not provide much straight-line performance, it does offer respectable gas mileage for a pick-up truck. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates manual, two-wheel-drive 2011 Toyota Tacomas equipped with the 2.7L engine get 21 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. That’s on par or better than the Tacomas strongest competition from General Motors and Nissan.
As far as problems go, the 2.7L is about as reliable as you would expect from a Toyota. The 2011 Toyota Tacoma has registered nine recalls, zero investigations, and just 162 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). None of the recalls pertain to the 2.7L engine but a few of the registered complaints do.
Owners mention their 2011 Tacomas burning too much oil, or making ticking noises that dealers can’t determine a solution for. One tragic complaint states that a Tacoma caught fire and the owner was killed as a result. However, there are not enough recurring complaints to identify a pattern for any of these problems.
2011 Tacoma’s 4.0L V6 Provides the Best Performance and a Maximum Towing Capacity of 6,500 Pounds
The alternative engine for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma is a 4.0L DOHC V6. The six-cylinder engine is offered as an option on what Toyota calls the Prerunner trim level and up. It produces a healthy 236 hp with 266 lb.-ft. of torque. This massive jump in extra horsepower improves the Tacomas performance by shaving the zero to 60 mph time down to 7.1 seconds. Once again, roughly seven seconds reflects the Tacoma in its lightest configuration, and options like four-wheel drive will slow it down considerably.
There are two different transmissions for the 4.0L, either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. While both transmissions offer decent gas mileage, this time the automatic proves to be the most fuel-efficient. The EPA estimates 2011 Toyota Tacomas equipped with the five-speed automatic provide 17 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.
Another great benefit of the V6 engine option is the increased towing capacity. Equipping the 4.0L engine to a 2011 Toyota Tacoma will raise the maximum towing capacity to 6,500 lbs. If you need to drag something heavier than three and a quarter tons, then you need to be searching for a full-size truck.
If you’re looking for reliability, it is hard to beat Toyota’s 4.0L V6. The 1GR-FE engine has been a staple of Toyota’s truck and SUV lineup since 2002 and has shown to have very few issues. A few common problems you may encounter on higher mileage Tacomas are worn-out ignition coils and leaky water pumps. While neither of these problems is particularly frightening, they are the maintenance items that tend to fail first. Head gasket failure is the only real concern with 4.0L Tacomas, but to be fair, it’s only reported on trucks knocking on the door of 250,000 miles.
You can Depend on Both 2011 Toyota Tacoma Engine Options to Get the Job Done
In all honesty, both of the 2011 Toyota Tacoma engine options are great. The four-cylinder may not be the most exciting but it will be easy on your wallet and you can depend on it day and night. If you need to use a truck to haul things and do what trucks are meant to do, definitely consider the V6 for the performance upgrade. Our best advice is if you’re looking to pinch pennies in between fuel stops, stay away from 4.0L Tacomas equipped with the six-speed manual and four-wheel drive. Adding both of these options will increase the fuel consumption to 14 mpg in the city and just 18 mpg on the highway.
Photos: Toyota
