Looking for help finding a unicorn. Here is my hope. A vehicle that I can run as an everyday commuter (I do about 100 miles a day) that will get right around 30mpg on the highway. But have the capability on the weekend to just hook up to an overland trailer of about 3,000-3,500 lbs and handle light to moderate off-roading. Not talking about anything extreme, no rock crawling or fording rivers Does such a vehicle exist and if so what is it. Something like a Subaru crostrek but with better towing capacity.
Subaru Outback with the 4 cylinder? That's the first thing that pops in my head. Neither the mileage nor the towing capability will be exactly what you want, but I'm not sure what else will come close. My friend has a Canyon/Colorado/whatever 2WD with the diesel and first of all, screw GM. Secondly, he's not getting anywhere near the claimed mileage and he drives more like an old man than I do. What's your budget? Are you willing to deal with the added service costs of a diesel if one meets your other requirements?
Some friends of ours have a similar commute to yours and regularly tow small trailers, while spending a lot of weekends on forest service type roads (mountain biking/kayaking/etc). They had a Forester for several years but last year bought an AWD Rav4. It's some package which increases the towing to more than 3K lbs if I remember correctly. We test drove some in 2017 and I think the standard towing rating was less than 2K lbs, so I'm not sure how many options they offer with regards to that. They were talking before Christmas about how good the fuel economy was, but I didn't catch the numbers. I think I would look at the Outback first, but thought I'd throw another option out there.
What do you haul the trailer with now? Can you find an old Prius or Ford Fiesta or something just for the commute?
This maybe taking the unicorn a step further but gave you considered something diesel, or even a diesel conversion?
Tacoma is almost there at 26 MPG, and a 6400lb towing capacity. I tow my 21’ travel trailer with mine no problem.
I haven’t done any mods to mine, just installed a brake controller, and use a weight distributing hitch for the travel trailer. I don’t use either though when towing my atv or snowmobile on my utility trailer. The “Gen III” Tacoma’s (2016 and newer) got a redesigned Atkinson Cycle engine, which resulted in much better fuel economy. I estimate that my 2016 gets roughly 20% better fuel economy than my 2009 did. I have the four door TRD Sport model with a 5’ bed. I don’t think I get 26mpg with mine but it is a manual transmission.
My wife’s Fiat Turbo gets 35 mpg on her 50 mile daily commute (mostly Interstate). My 2010 Quadcab Taco with the 6 1/2’ bed can tow 6000# with our hounds in the back seat. Problem solved.
My diesel F250 (on stock wheels and tires) with all emissions removed was getting around 22mpg on the highway. Now that I've switched to wider wheels with 35" tires, I'm down to about 17mpg on the highway and 15 in town. Gotta pay to look pretty.
It’s not a big one or even all that heavy at 21’. Towing weight comes in substantially less than what the Tacoma is rated for. Tongue weight makes it sag a bit, but the weight distributing hitch does a good job at levelling it out. Edit: Trailer weight: 3344 lb empty Tacoma tow rating: 6400 lb Toyota recommends a weight distributing hitch when towing >5000lb.
Ah okay yeah that's not too bad. Those hitches can work miracles! I used one on my F150 and it definitely helped with sag and stability.
@ny700, did this thread give you any ideas? Want to add any information (budget, etc) that might lead to better suggestions?
