4x4 with good (20+) gas mileage

[Martinjmpr]

FWIW I got 21.5 MPG on my trip yesterday from Denver to Salida to Canon City to Colorado Springs back to Denver. Actually that was my overall average which also included about a week's worth of city driving.

This is on my 2004 Tacoma with the high-rise camper shell on the back and the 3.4l V6 and a 5 speed.

I think your best bet for a new vehicle with 4x4 and good MPG would probably be something like a reg cab Taco with a 4 cyl engine and a 6 speed manual.

EDITED TO ADD: Remember that driving style has a lot to do with MPG. My style is "slow and steady." I don't do jackrabbit accelerations, I don't jump back and forth across the lanes of the interstate to get ahead of traffic and I don't pass unless someone is going really slow ahead of me. I use the cruise control whenever I can and even on the interstate I typically set it at 60-65mph and just hang out in the right lane. IOW I'm not in a hurry. That alone gives me a 10-15% boost in MPG.

 

[Red Zebra]

Checked out the Colorado with 4cy 5spd in regular or extended cab? I think the 4x4 window stickers show 24 hwy? I'm like Martinjmpr and drive fairly easy (most of the time:hehe: ).

 

[juicebox]

I only drive my tacoma about 8,000 miles a year, and normally just around my small town, where I usually don't get above 35 mph and if I do it's not for long, so mpg kinda sucks around town. (16-18) but on roadtrips I get awesome gas mileage, I went from 5500 ft elevation to 10,000 or so and back and got 385 miles to my tank- about 23 miles to the gallon. I have the 3.4 v6 with the E locker, I think this is a perfect balance between off-road driving (all types) and daily driving.

 

[haven]

The EPA web site www.fueleconomy.gov shows mpg ratings for
models from current and past years. The two most fuel-efficient
small 4x4 pickups for 2008 are:

Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with 2.7L 4 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual
17 city, 22 highway, 19 overall

Chevrolet Colorado 4x4 with 2.9L 4 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual
16 city, 22 highway, 18 overall.

 

[Mav]

It is a shame that you cannot buy a Toyota Prado D4D in the US as I reckon that would fit the bill for the original poster.

My D4D Prado comes in at 26 mpg and you can get lockers fitted to it. With a standard 47.5 gallon fuel tank I get over 1200 miles range from one tank. I usually drive around 60 to 65 on the open HWY.

 

[T.Low]

It is a shame that you cannot buy a Toyota Prado D4D in the US as I reckon that would fit the bill for the original poster.

My D4D Prado comes in at 26 mpg and you can get lockers fitted to it. With a standard 47.5 gallon fuel tank I get over 1200 miles range from one tank. I usually drive around 60 to 65 on the open HWY.

:Wow1: Wow. Those numbers are astronomical.

 

[Mav]

:Wow1: Wow. Those numbers are astronomical.

That is the reason why they are is such high demand here in Australia and the wait times to get one new from Toyota are anywhere up to 6 months after ordering.

 

[mauricio_28]

I get 25mpg on my D40 Nissan Navara. Here it is:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/mauricio_28/IMG_0161.jpg

 

[T.Low]

How 'bout this with a FWC?

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=&nid=443&tab=list/view/photo_album&ad=864638&photo_num=0

 

[Capt Sport]

How about a diesel pick-up? I love my 05 Duramax Chevy, it gets 21 on road trips and 18 around town. The way I have it set up it's like sleeping at home. Not to mention that a properly maintained a diesel will just about last forever. And, it'll tow 12,000 lbs of your favorite things on a tag hitch or 16,000 via 5th wheel hitch. Right now you can pick them up reasonably cheap as everyone is running away from big trucks. And, it's about the most comfortable way to run down the road. I've gone from Socal to NC in mine and it was pretty dam comfy for such a long trip.

Cya,

JR

 

[Yorker]

:Wow1: Wow. Those numbers are astronomical.

FWIW don't forget that they use a different gallon:
1 UK/Imperial Gallon = 4.55 litres
1 US Liquid Gallon = 3.79 litres

 

[Superu]

Also the rav4 seems an reasonable alternative - but will he get me out of harms way when one tire is off the ground?

My 05 Outback has never left me stuck with one tire off the ground. Now, one front and one rear off the ground at the same time is an entirely different story! My Subie has a 1" lift by adding a set of Kings Springs all around and handles snow, mud, sand and ruts with ease. Front and rear skids from Primitive Racing keep things well protected.

Once I install the 2" lift kit, it'll be even more capable, but it hasn't let me down yet and I average 28 - 30 mpg hwy and mid 20's off-highway.

Stock ground clearance is 8.5" and you can fit slightly taller than stock tires to add a bit there as well.

 

[Zorro]

My 120k mile Ranger 4x4 (4.0L V6) gets 19 mpg without trying (mix of highway and offroading). Up from 13mpg when it still had the automatic transmission on ...
Not saying a Ranger is the truck for you, but you don't necesserily have to go for fancy unusual trucks to get reasonable fuel economy.

 

[Mav]

FWIW don't forget that they use a different gallon:
1 UK/Imperial Gallon = 4.55 litres
1 US Liquid Gallon = 3.79 litres

True but I used a US conversion calculator to do the conversion.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

My 05 Outback has never left me stuck with one tire off the ground.

Huge subi fan here (well I'm not huge, just my love of subies). Anyway, love yours and thought I'd throw this out there to add to the conversation

Scorpion Subaru