Redesigned for 2016, the Toyota Tacoma offers just two engine options: an all-new 3.5-liter V6, and a carryover 2.7-liter I-4. If performance is a priority, the V6 is much more capable and can tow up to 6,800 pounds, which is 3,300 more than the four-cylinder engine.
Key Points
- The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is available with two engine options: a 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve cast-iron block with aluminum alloy head with VVT-i, and a 3.5-liter V6 D4S Injection (direct and port injection) Atkinson Cycle Engine with VVT-i Wider Intake and VVT-i Exhaust.
- Despite some competitors getting one, no diesel engine option is available for 2016 Toyota Tacomas.
- The four-cylinder is under-powered and unrefined, with sluggish acceleration and compromised towing ability.
- Although the 2016 model year has four recalls and one investigation, only one recall is about the V6 engine.
- However, from the nearly 260 consumer complaints that take up 26 pages on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site, engine and powertrain problems received the most feedback.
2016 Tacoma’s 2.7-liter Four-cylinder Carryover Engine is Efficient but Underpowered
Available only in the SR and SR5 trim levels, the four-cylinder engine in the 2016 Toyota Tacoma produces 159 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic, with rear or all-wheel drive. Note that if you choose the V6, you get extra gear in your manual transmission for a total of six.
Fuel economy is on par for this class, with 19/23/21 city/highway/combined for the automatic 2WD truck, 19/21/20 for the 4WD manual, and 19/22/20 for the 4WD automatic. But you’re not losing much here by opting for the more powerful V6. Towing capacity maxes out at 3,500 lbs., which is on par with competitors in its class. Don’t expect to win any races, as getting to 60 mph takes 10.2 seconds.
There are no NHTSA recalls on the four-cylinder-equipped Tacoma, and you’ll be getting a reliable truck with this engine.
All-new 3.5-liter V6 Engine has High-tech Features and Enhanced Towing Capability
All-new for 2016, and replacing the old 4.0-liter V6 with 42 more horsepower (278 vs. 236), is Toyota’s 3.5 liter V6. It features both direct and port fuel injection for better longevity verses direct injection alone, which can tend to leave carbon deposits on the engine valves as the car is driven.
The V6 can be had with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, which is up on the Nissan Frontier, which is equipped with only five. Though the Tacoma with a V6 is rated to tow up to 6,800 pounds, competitors like the Chevrolet Colorado can tow up to 7,700 pounds when comparably equipped. No pickup in this class has blazing acceleration, and the Tacoma can muster a 0-60 sprint in 7.9 seconds.
A benefit of avoiding full-sized pickups is better gas mileage. The Tacoma equipped with RWD and an automatic has a fuel mileage rating of 19/24/21, while the 4WD manual gets 17/21/19, and the 4WD automatic gets 18/23/20. The Colorado again tops it, with 25 mpg on the highway when similarly equipped.
There is one NHTSA recall on the engine. The crank position sensor may malfunction and cause the truck to stall. There were some complaints of lurching or sluggish acceleration at low speeds, and a loud A/C blower motor. One owner in North Carolina stated, “Vehicle lunges like a bucking bronco at wide open throttle from stop or rolling start.”
No Diesel Option Makes Towing a Chore with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Absent from the Tacoma’s spec sheet is a diesel engine option. The rival trucks from GM can pump out 369 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm, while the Tacoma’s V6 must be revved to 4,600 rpm to produce its peak of 269 lb.-ft.
Toyota still produces the same generation of Tacoma through the 2021 model year, with the same engines, so opting for a later model than 2016 won’t gain you any additional powertrain configurations.
NHTSA Logged 26 Pages of Consumer Feedback, with the Top Two Most Common Complaints Regarding Powertrain Problems and Engine Issues
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has logged in nearly 260 consumer complaints about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, and interestingly, almost half of them –126 in total–are about powertrain problems, and the second-highest number of complaints, 34, specifically address the engines.
When reviewing the NHTSA’s 26 pages of consumer feedback, it’s apparent that the problems faced by 2016 Toyota Tacoma owners are varied, and they range from complaints about unintended acceleration to a rear differential leaking oil. One key issue is over a crankshaft position sensor that reportedly needs to be replaced, and was the subject of a 2017 recall over a sensor malfunction that may cause the truck to stall.
Another ubiquitous problem seems to be with the manual transmission getting stuck in gear and requiring much more force than usual to put the gearbox into neutral.
Also, on long trips where the vehicle is driven for several miles in one gear, “it is extremely difficult to pull it out of fourth, fifth, or sixth gear in order to change gears and resulted in dangerous speed control issues,” reports one 2016 Tacoma owner.
“While driving 10 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate,” reports another owner. “There were no warning indicators illuminated.”
2016 Tacoma’s Available V6 Engine Delivers the Best Driving Experience and Most Capable Specs
The small pickup truck market was much smaller in 2016 than it is now, with options like the Ford Ranger not yet out. The Nissan Frontier has an outdated design, while the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon offer slightly better performance overall when it comes to towing and fuel economy.
While the Tacoma is still a fine choice, the four-cylinder’s outdated design, limited towing capacity, and anemic power provide a compelling reason to upgrade to the V6. In doing so, you’ll have a tough-looking pickup truck with excellent Toyota quality and more than enough power to get the job done.
Photos: Toyota
