Photo: Toyota
When Toyota recently introduced the 2015 Toyota Tundra, the one thing that stuck out more than the awesome TRD Pro off-road model was the fact that this truck would no longer offer a V-6 engine. Even though our inner enthusiast instantly shouted “Who needs a V-6 anyway,” the truth is that the move shows the facelifted Tundra still isn’t competitive in the full-size truck market.
As pointed out by Automotive News, V-6 truck engines are far more advanced than they were just several years ago making them more efficient and more powerful at the same time. When it comes to Toyota’s 4.0-liter V-6 that will be dropped from the Tundra following the 2014 model year, this engine currently ranks at the bottom of the segment for base engines in terms of horsepower, torque, towing capacity and fuel economy.
Ford has made the biggest advancements in V-6 engine technology as the upcoming 2015 F-150 will offer three various six-cylinder engines and just a single V-8. Likewise, Ram and General Motors have developed new entry-level V-6 engines that help deliver improved fuel economy without sacrificing the towing power that truck buyers demand.
For instance, the current Tundra V-6 offers just 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque to go along with a maximum tow rating of 4,500 pounds and fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Matching that city fuel economy is Ford’s optional EcoBoost engine that churns out 365 hp, a tow rating of 11,300 pounds and highway fuel economy of 22 mpg.
This means that for 2015, the Tundra will be a V-8-only truck just like the Nissan Titan, which is at the end of its life cycle. There have been rumors about diesel-powered Tundras in the future, but this report says that at the moment, Toyota has yet to mention any engine slotting in below its equally aging 4.6-liter and 5.7-liter V-8 mills.
Ford has made the biggest advancements in V-6 engine technology as the upcoming 2015 F-150 will offer three various six-cylinder engines and just a single V-8. Likewise, Ram and General Motors have developed new entry-level V-6 engines that help deliver improved fuel economy without sacrificing the towing power that truck buyers demand.
For instance, the current Tundra V-6 offers just 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque to go along with a maximum tow rating of 4,500 pounds and fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Matching that city fuel economy is Ford’s optional EcoBoost engine that churns out 365 hp, a tow rating of 11,300 pounds and highway fuel economy of 22 mpg.
This means that for 2015, the Tundra will be a V-8-only truck just like the Nissan Titan, which is at the end of its life cycle. There have been rumors about diesel-powered Tundras in the future, but this report says that at the moment, Toyota has yet to mention any engine slotting in below its equally aging 4.6-liter and 5.7-liter V-8 mills.
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