The base turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 243 pound-feet of torqueBuying a base level car involves a lot of compromise, and the Tacoma SR is no different. Being the entry-level model, it offers the least powerful engine of all fourth-gen Tacomas, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder generating 243 pound-feet of torque (and 228 horsepower). The inline four-cylinder is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that routes output to the rear or all four wheels. When specified with the rear-wheel SR XtraCab that comes with a six-foot bed, the engine can tow up to 3,500 pounds and carry a maximum payload of 1,460 pounds. Opting for a four-wheel-drive SR XtraCab model with the long six-foot bed reduces payload to 1,230 pounds. Which means, if you're set on the fourth-gen Tacoma SR but want the most payload, the Double Cab is your best bet. In rear-wheel-drive, shorter five-foot box guise, it provides up to 1,495 pounds of payload capacity, whereas the four-wheel drive variant offers a 1,500-pound payload capacity. As for fuel economy, rear-wheel drive SR trims with this engine are estimated to earn 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. That average return is 2 mpg better than the base third-generation Tacoma managed, given its 21 mpg combined return. As you'd expect, four-wheel-drive fourth-gen Tacoma SR versions are less efficient than their rear-wheel-drive counterparts, with both XtraCab and Double Cab models delivering 19 mpg in city driving, 24 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined.
