+23k miles and MPG @ 60, 70, 77 and 80 mph

[trailhunger]

…there's a steep fall off in mpg as the speed stays low or goes high.

I’ve mastered the city drive in my TH / with the hybrids there’s a method to nudge more out of the electric motor, setup your dash with the MAX power band, ECO mode all the way and the sweet spot (minimum) is about a 10mi each direction commute to get the engine & cat warm, light coasting, etc.

Every thread about MPGs there’s some rando who says “go buy a Prius if you’re looking for good MPGs” they can pound sand. These trucks are 4 bangers, some hybrid. Learn to drive like a solid human being and not like an ass is my advice to those guys. While a COMBINED total average or fuelly logs are the best and most accurate, individual trip records are key insight because people are camping/ generator mode w/the high output inverter or remote starting, engine break in, etc. I think these side tests are awesome. Let ‘em enjoy a victory lap, those numbers are impressive who doesn’t want better numbers than the sticker print…

I’m getting ~25 in town and driving around a queen size bed on the back!

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[Baltimore]

We've just hit 5,000 miles. Been a long time since I had a new vehicle need 20K to fully break-in. But I'm happy to hope our own mileage improves because, it's simply unimpressive right now ;).

For me, it's as if the first long road trip or passing 2K miles suddenly shook the engine out of slumber (17mpg tanks were loaded and towing or significant idling).

Date	Fuel	PPG	Price	Octane	Units	Miles	MPG	Result	CumMiles
11/29/2024​	Exxon	$2.97​	$50.50​	87​	17.009​	337.9​	19.87​	OK	337.9​
12/15/2024​	Costco	$2.89​	$42.00​	87​	14.538​	281.5​	19.36​	OK	619.4​
12/23/2024​	Wawa	$2.78​	$28.50​	87​	10.254​	210.6​	20.54​	GOOD	830.0​
1/12/2025​	Wawa	$3.10​	$48.00​	87​	15.488​	284.2​	18.35​	OK	1114.2​
2/11/2025​	Costco	$2.86​	$44.50​	87​	15.565​	310.4​	19.94​	OK	1424.6​
3/4/2025​	Costco	$2.80​	$38.50​	87​	13.755​	234.8​	17.07​	POOR	1659.4​
4/10/2025​	Costco	$3.03​	$42.00​	87​	13.865​	240.2​	17.32​	POOR	1899.6​
5/6/2025​	Costco	$2.79​	$30.00​	87​	10.756​	222.5​	20.69​	GOOD	2122.1​
5/16/2025​	Murphy USA	$2.88​	$32.75​	87​	11.375​	267.6​	23.53​	GREAT	2389.7​
5/23/2025​	Dash-In	$2.80​	$41.75​	87​	14.915​	347.1​	23.27​	GREAT	2736.8​
5/23/2025​	Wawa	$3.00​	$39.75​	89​	13.253​	303.6​	22.91​	GOOD	3040.4​
5/26/2025​	Circle K	$3.70​	$29.25​	93​	7.907​	188.2​	23.80​	GREAT	3228.6​
5/26/2025​	Exxon	$3.84​	$38.00​	93​	9.901​	220.9​	22.31​	GOOD	3449.5​
6/1/2025​	Royal Farms	$3.86​	$63.50​	93​	16.454​	361.0​	21.94​	GOOD	3810.5​
6/14/2025​	Costco	$3.60​	$56.75​	93​	15.768​	381.4​	24.19​	GREAT	4191.9​
7/2/2025​	Costco	$3.10​	$46.00​	87​	14.842​	323.0​	21.76​	GOOD	4514.9​
7/2/2025​	BP	$2.97​	$28.75​	87​	9.683​	234.0​	24.17​	GREAT	4748.9​
7/6/2025​	Circle K	$2.75​	$26.00​	87​	9.458​	235.2​	24.87​	GREAT	4984.1​
7/6/2025​	Exxon	$2.97​	$29.75​	87​	10.02​	221.0​	22.06​	GOOD	5205.1​
7/15/2025​	Costco	$3.10​	$39.75​	87​	12.826​	291.0​	22.69​	GOOD	5496.1​
8/12/2025​	Costco	$3.84​	$46.50​	93​	12.112​	265.6​	21.93​	GOOD	5761.7​
8/28/2025​	Costco	$3.46​	$25.00​	93​	7.227​	164.7​	22.79​	GOOD	5926.4​
8/29/2025​	BP	$3.83​	$40.75​	93​	10.642​	250.8​	23.57​	GREAT	6177.2​

 

[maxx075]

I put gas in, drive until empty, repeat. I know what my mpg reading from the truck is over 24k miles, but I don't really care.

 

[evlfred]

setup your dash with the MAX power band, ECO mode all the way

please explain this further

 

[TFOUTS]

I put gas in, drive until empty, repeat. I know what my mpg reading from the truck is over 24k miles, but I don't really care.

I am with you on that

 

[Briscoelab]

Trailhunter 16.4mpg. 4800miles. Love the truck, but simply terrible.

 

[bking]

TRD OR Non-Hybrid. 10-Ply 33's and Westcott Lift. I regularly get 20mpg on the highway and usually around 1 7 in mixed driving. I'm not entirely sure how some of you get such bad mileage unless you love laying into the gas pedal.

 

[grwil67]

TRD OR Non-Hybrid. 10-Ply 33's and Westcott Lift. I regularly get 20mpg on the highway and usually around 1 7 in mixed driving. I'm not entirely sure how some of you get such bad mileage unless you love laying into the gas pedal.

AWESOME!
For the fuel mileage not to be the best, I have noticed a trend that when the much added weight and or towing is involved, it doesn't tremendously effect fuel mileage as most do...
My mind was blown when I pulled the car loaded down and truck loaded for 1st 100 miles @ 60mpg getting right @ 20mpg.
Last year used son's 2023 Tundra to pull about 8k 900 miles and THAT was a mind blower for power and fuel economy pulling a load as well.
The 2 wheel drive Tundra actually gets better fuel mileage than our Tacoma Limited!

 

[choocad]

2024 Limited (2.4 gas only)
+23k miles
Air Dam removed
Bed cover
Running 87 octain / 10% ethanol
32 PSI in factory tires.

Well over 100 steady miles @ each speed.

28.9mpg @60mph
22.7mpg @70mph
*21.5mpg @77mph
20.5mpg @80mph

*Note:
The 77mph trip was about a 400 mile trip with truck completly loaded for a beach vacation.
Everything was under bed cover or back seat with 2 passengers.

All trips were 2 passengers only.
Also mostly flat land here in south traveling Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Southern Arkansas.
And I baby the throttle getting to speed trying to get the best fuel mileage possible @ the speed I run.
I "Never" hit resume, until "I" babybit back up to speed.

Also:
MPG was sickening when new! 16.5 to 17mpg!
It was probably close to 15k miles before it started running these numbers consistently.
Now to change Air filter to the Toyota performance....

I also own a 2025 Limited Gas, with 2485 miles, and have almost the same results. I did try 93 octane but could not tell that mileage was any better than with 87. Of course I do see variations with fill ups at different places, maybe due to the fuel itself and of course climate conditions affect mileage as well as can be expected. Overall am pleased with mileage and power output compared to my previous 2019 Tacoma 3.5. Just hope powertrain is at least as reliable as the 2019 model. Time will tell...

 

[TrailAdventurer]

Just for fun, I thought it'd be interesting to see if there might be any correlation between mileage reported and elevation. This is what I found. Unfortunately, between lack of controls across driving styles and vehicle configurations, not much to discern here.

I track mileage for every tank, carry-over from days of needing to log business miles, so it'll be interesting to see what happens.

Normally, I drive if we're together. However, after a lifetime of having a wife that drove mildly, I've been shocked a couple times where she's driven the TH. I guarantee her lead foot is having an impact. Glad she sees no need for 'Sport' mode. She'd be terrifying .

Unfortunately, I just cannot see myself--anytime soon--being able to run a tank out at 60MPH. In our area, we're either surface streets (30-50MPH) or highway at 75MPH. There's no '60' around here<g>.

(I'd discount the Florida # since that referenced 'while driving through mountains/canyons')

 

[soupy1234]

Just for fun, I thought it'd be interesting to see if there might be any correlation between mileage reported and elevation. This is what I found. Unfortunately, between lack of controls across driving styles and vehicle configurations, not much to discern here.

I track mileage for every tank, carry-over from days of needing to log business miles, so it'll be interesting to see what happens.

Normally, I drive if we're together. However, after a lifetime of having a wife that drove mildly, I've been shocked a couple times where she's driven the TH. I guarantee her lead foot is having an impact. Glad she sees no need for 'Sport' mode. She'd be terrifying .

Unfortunately, I just cannot see myself--anytime soon--being able to run a tank out at 60MPH. In our area, we're either surface streets (30-50MPH) or highway at 75MPH. There's no '60' around here<g>.

(I'd discount the Florida # since that referenced 'while driving through mountains/canyons')

I live at 6,600 feet and I typically get over 24 driving nearby. That's a max speed of 65 and minimal stops. When I hit the interstate (75mph), it drops to around 21. Worst I ever noted was 13.7 on a 50-mile stretch of interstate at 75 because of a nasty head wind.

 

[Cold_Taco]

I have gotten 360 miles so far on my first full tank from the dealer. The low fuel light just came on. I was surprised because I got a shorter range with my fuel efficient commuter car. Obviously I am in the initial break-in period so taking it easy with RPMs. But so far pretty impressive. For trucks, I'm used to my 2001 V8 Tundra that got 15 mpg on average.

 

[TrailAdventurer]

Note: The following observations are purely academic—real-world mileage is what it is.

One point that hasn’t been clearly addressed in this discussion is whether people are referencing instant MPG resets while driving (which many seem to be doing), or full-tank average mileage. That distinction matters.

On a recent trip north in late September, I ran premium fuel throughout. It didn’t appear to make a noticeable difference. My tank averages came in at 14.5, 14.9, 15.6, and 14.9 MPG. Two of those tanks were mostly highway commute segments.

The only way I could get close to 18–20 MPG was by deliberately doing things like enabling ECO mode, setting cruise control, and resetting the average MPG reading during a straight, level segment here or there. Interesting—but not realistic for everyday driving.

For context, my previous Jetta was EPA-rated at 30 MPG highway. Over 150,000 miles, it consistently delivered 23.5–24.5 MPG overall, and once hit 31 MPG during a tank through Colorado. My Q50 averages about 25.5 MPG aggregate (20 city / 29 highway). I never expect to get close to EPA ratings, yet neither do I expect real-world results to fall 30%+ below those benchmarks under stable conditions.

Personally, if a vehicle is rated at 24 MPG highway, and I’m run out a tank on cruise, I’d expect to see something around 18 MPG—not 14.5 to 15.5. At the end, I'm simply disappointed in this aspect.

This has been an interesting, entertaining topic, and this last trip I actively did some playing around, but I'm pretty much done w/it now.

 

[Cold_Taco]

In the summer months I was getting 39 mpg with my '17 Corolla. It was EPA rated at 34 mpg combined. I'll report my official first tank fuel economy when I fuel up but based on fuel low LED coming on with 3 gallons left i would expect it to be around 24 mpg which is quite a nice surprise to me driving a 278 hp 4x4 pickup truck.

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