
Will the all-new upcoming 2024 Toyota Tacoma use the 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 engine that is now in the 2023 Highlander SUV? At this point, this is still speculation – but many signs point to this possibility. Here are all of the details on the 2023 Highlander engine with specs and fuel economy.
The updated 2023 Toyota Highlander SUV made itself known this week. The newest Highlander ditches the 3.5-liter gas V6 in favor of a new 2.4-liter turbocharged I4. This turbocharged four-cylinder engine first made its debut in the new 2022 Lexus NX crossover. Now, this engine is making its way into the updated Highlander. The power numbers are a bit different in the Highlander three-row crossover.
2023 Toyota Highlander
The 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 is rated at 265 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. While the horsepower output is down significantly when compared to the outgoing 3.5-liter V6 (it was 295 hp), the torque is up about 17% (it was 263 lb-ft). Toyota says this new engine’s power delivery is very smooth, but we will have to wait until we drive it to know for ourselves. Toyota also says that the new turbocharged engine offers a huge 50% reduction in NOx and NMOG emissions when compared to the old V6.
The new Highlander engine maintains the same 24 MPG combined efficiency as the old V6, according to Toyota. The Highlander turbo also retains its 5,000 lbs of maximum towing ability. Toyota also offers a 1,500-watt inverter power outlet in the new Highlander on certain trim levels. In the end, the new turbo engine offers more torque and better emissions, while keeping the same efficiency and load-carrying capability.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
The current Tacoma is using a 3.5-liter gas V6 that is very similar to the one in the 2022 Highlander. It’s likely that Toyota will be discontinuing the V6 across multiple of its vehicle lines. It means the next Tacoma will also get a version of the new 2.4-liter turbo I4. The Tacoma and the Highlander do not share the same platform, so the new engine will have to be adopted to live between Tacoma’s frame rails.
If the next Tacoma will be turbocharged, I hope that it improves the truck’s efficiency (at least by 1 MPG) when compared to the V6. I hope it at least maintains the same load-carrying capability while improving acceleration performance.