Terrible mileage for a Hybrid and Gas Tank is way too small

[PACruiser]

General summary comparison of different vehicles based on rounded numbers and EPA combined estimates. Admittedly, a few apples and oranges but interesting.

When looked at this way, Toyota has done a pretty nice job over the last few years improving fuel economy, and maintaining comparable range, while living under the thumb of the emissions import requirements.

Vehicle​	EPA Combined​	LC 250 Improvement​	Gas Tank Capacity (Gallons)​	Range (Miles)​	Comments​
LC 250	23​	0%​	17​	391​	i-FORCE MAX Hybrid
6th Gen 4Runner	23​	0%​	19​	437​	i-FORCE MAX hybrid
6th Gen 4Runner	21​	10%​	19​	399​	Non-hybrid, 4WD
5th Gen 4Runner	17​	35%​	23​	391​	V6
GX 550	17​	35%​	21​	357​	TT V6
GX 460	16​	44%​	23​	368​	V8
LC 300 2022	14​	64%​	21​	294​	TT V6

 

[Midwest Duo]

It is a Hitch 17BHS. 3500lb single axle camper (7ft wide). Roughly 40% of the miles have been toying it. It does great (you need a weight distribution hitch).

Have you found some towing mirrors?

 

[ferrari1898]

Have you found some towing mirrors?

We do not use tow mirrors. Our camper is 21' end to end with a 7' wide box and I get decent visibility with the factory mirrors driving down the road. The only time I have found tow mirrors would provide any value is along the highway in Ohio or Indiana when the road is strait for 100 miles and then I just change lanes once in a while to see what is going on behind me.

 

[ultane]

We do not use tow mirrors. Our camper is 21' end to end with a 7' wide box and I get decent visibility with the factory mirrors driving down the road. The only time I have found tow mirrors would provide any value is along the highway in Ohio or Indiana when the road is strait for 100 miles and then I just change lanes once in a while to see what is going on behind me.

Have you thought of those remote cameras that can be put on the back of campers or motor homes to show on a screen in the cab?

 

[juevi]

This horse needs to be beaten until Toyota provides a bigger Fuel Tank IMO. The term "Land Cruiser" means we want to cruise the land, which a 300 mile range is not compatible with.

As for fuel mileage, I'm averaging 21 Mpg ish. I have the 20" wheels, and have about 13k on my cruiser. The mileage doesn't bother me. The range is infuriating.

Some are looking into either extended after market tanks. Or converting Middle East (gas) or Australia (Diesel) tanks. They are larger tanks in other sectors.

 

[Velmo]

Your mileage will not be at its peak until your transmission is warmed up, if you watch the transmission temp, it takes forever to warm up especially in these very cold weeks of January, the oil temp warms up much faster. Anyway if you're doing little 5 to 10 Mile runs around town and that's it, your transmission may never hit efficient operating temp, but if you have a good highway slog ahead of you it will hit that and then when you get back into side roads or the city, you'll hear that battery kicking in a little more often

This. I can do a 5 mile drive and get like 15mpg. If the car is sufficiently warmed up (since I live in a rather cold area of the US), I settle into decent MPGs. I also don't trust the gauge. I use Fuelly and it has me at a combined 20.7 mpg. That is after filling up on the way home from skiing, where temps were -7 to 18 degrees and I averaged 19.5 mpg, premium Mobile. I have a LC/LC with Stock tires (Dunlop Grandtrek) on 20".

 

[BB3]

Not understanding the Range Rage (RR)! I am getting the published EPA numbers of 22 and 25 very consistently (its in FL so that helps). I do drive in "econo" mode on the 1958 stock tires but often exceed the posted speed limit by 5 or 10 miles around town and typically no more than 5 on the hwy. That is giving me a combined range of 411.7. Compare this to the 2021 LC with a published combined of 14 with a 24.6 tank for a theoretical range of 344.4. Maybe folks were complaining about a small gas tank back then?
So even given some of the above reports for about 20mpg thats a 358 mile theoretical range, still marginally better then 2021. Knock the same 3mpg off the 2021 and it gives you a 270.6 range and it looks like an improved range of about 30%. for the LC250 at the 20mpg number.
Perhaps I am missing something?

 

[azmtnbkr1]

Saw a little improvement after 5k miles. I expect more improvement up to 10k. I immediately switched tires to Michelin Defenders in stock size. I’ve been in snow, Utah sand and Arizona rocks and they’ve been great. I use my LC for mountain bike trail access so no Moabin’ except on two wheels. I get 22-23 mpg in town and 23-25 on backroads. Flying down the interstate at 75 plus, back to 22-23.

 

[BB3]

Saw a little improvement after 5k miles. I expect more improvement up to 10k. I immediately switched tires to Michelin Defenders in stock size. I’ve been in snow, Utah sand and Arizona rocks and they’ve been great. I use my LC for mountain bike trail access so no Moabin’ except on two wheels. I get 22-23 mpg in town and 23-25 on backroads. Flying down the interstate at 75 plus, back to 22-23.

Was getting ready to switch out my tires. I don't see a direct match, at least from tire rack, what size did you put on?

 

[LandcruiserNut]

She’s like a bitchy girlfriend. She has great legs, but…..not perfect.
Get over it,we all know. Or sell it, my son needs a good deal.

 

[azmtnbkr1]

Was getting ready to switch out my tires. I don't see a direct match, at least from tire rack, what size did you put on?

 

[juevi]

She’s like a bitchy girlfriend. She has great legs, but…..not perfect.
Get over it,we all know. Or sell it, my son needs a good deal.

I will not get over it. Toyota knows their history and their branding, and they dropped the ball. It's insulting. They are the originators of having 72 cup holders in the minivan. They know how to research and what Americans want.

Those of us who drive a lot, or want to adventure (again, they absolutely know this), have been let down.

The more vocal actual buyers are, the better.

 

[brandonmcox]

This horse needs to be beaten until Toyota provides a bigger Fuel Tank IMO. The term "Land Cruiser" means we want to cruise the land, which a 300 mile range is not compatible with.

As for fuel mileage, I'm averaging 21 Mpg ish. I have the 20" wheels, and have about 13k on my cruiser. The mileage doesn't bother me. The range is infuriating.

Some are looking into either extended after market tanks. Or converting Middle East (gas) or Australia (Diesel) tanks. They are larger tanks in other sectors.

I am seriously considering trading this in with under 500 miles. My daily commute is 105 miles and the range is 301 when I’m topped off. But hey at least it’s premium gas I get to stop for constantly

 

[Skidaddl]

My main reservation with regards to purchase. My current Cruiser gets about 250 miles out of a tank of gas. So, not seeing an improvement over this with a LC 250. I would like to see Toyota add a bigger gas tank (3-5) gallons/use the Lexus GX 550 tank size in the 250. I really like the new 250 and probably will buy one, but holding off a year or two to see if Toyota will address this and add some more option/upgrades like TRD enhancements.

Many of us on here are too old to wait another year or two.

 

[Skidaddl]

My contribution to keeping the eternal mpg thread going...

I'm at 600 miles on the odometer and i've noticed mpg gradually improving and more pure electric running as others on here have promised -thank you.

I already get 22mpg during the urban area trips, driving efficiently. This is with rolling hills and mild traffic. Impressive!

On the highway i struggle to get 19mpg at 75mph, but it has been below freezing since we bought the vehicle and I have the stock nitto grapplers -which appear anything but fuel efficient.

Obviously (to me) most Hybrids don't bring much, if any, efficiency to highway driving, so i expected to suffer more on the highway than the city. (More weight, less energy recovery from deceleration).

For us, our Landcruiser is about smiles per miles, comfort, safety, and capability. That's well worth sacrificing a few extra trips to the gas station.

Landcruiser checks all our boxes and we're in love with it, mpg be damned -even though the HVAC/sauna in winter is suboptimal, but manageable thus far.

Granted, for those whining i sympathize, there should be a disclosure stating what options and conditions the vehicle requires to achieve the mpg rating for optimistic customers, but that's more on the EPA, not necessarily Toyota.

Well said. My experience exactly over the past month of owning it. If I do slow drives on secondary highways (50 mph'ish) rolling hills, etc. I'm already getting in the 27 - 28 mpg range when being conscious about it. But when trying to make time on a 10 hour road trip (each way) through the Rockies last week, I averaged about 18'ish mpg.

 

[juevi]

I am seriously considering trading this in with under 500 miles. My daily commute is 105 miles and the range is 301 when I’m topped off. But hey at least it’s premium gas I get to stop for constantly

I feel it. I don't have a daily commute, but do drive a LOT for work, and... as stated, anger. lol

I'm a huge Toyota fan and advocate, I even teach a lot of their principles for my business. I advocate for them almost every day. But if GM's didn't eat camshafts so often, I'd probably be in a Yukon lol.

And there are other fairly significant issues, HVAC being another. The thing is, some of these things are a bit of an inconvenience, but the fuel range, genuinely takes so much time away from us who drive a lot. And ironically, those who drive a lot don't want to waste time at the gas station 50% to 100% more than we should be.

I'll stop now... for now

 

[sierraCruisin]

Ive been unable to cross 16mpg on the tank average, until today!

Early this afternoon I crossed 1200 miles on the odometer and filled up a tank from near empty. After driving around town later in the day my tank average has been steadily climbing and it’s now over 20 mpg.

 

[robsurfskate]

My 1958 is a weekend driver. I've had it for almost a year. It has 3,500 miles. I have no complaints whatsoever and this vehicle has exceeded my expectations. I also have a 2005 Tacoma 4x4 and a 2008 Tacoma PreRunner Off Road, so this is my first brand new vehicle in 16 years. This vehicle is not built to be a daily driver.

 

[robsurfskate]

My arsenal.

 

[EOD Guy]

Some of ya'll crack me up!