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2023 Chevrolet Colorado vs. Toyota Tacoma: Midsize Truck Spec Shootout

Our favorite midsize pickup is all-new—so how does it compare with shoppers' favorite?

Dimensions and Styling

One thing about the new Colorado that immediately jumps out at us is how it adopts a vaguely Tacoma-esque look. There are articulate similarities in the boxier fenders, thin headlights, and large grille. Of grade, there are just so many means to mode a pickup, and each of these trucks evangelize the goods when it comes to burly handsomeness. The Chevy'south nose is perhaps a bit busier, at least depending on which trim level you go with. Each trim, past the style, wears a unique forepart fascia and grille, so in that location are real differences beyond the lineup.

The new Colorado is much the same size equally the old one, but with a few key changes that more often than not improve its looks. The front axle is moved forward, lengthening the wheelbase by 3.1 inches overall and giving the truck a more believing, long-hood appearance. The alter also puts the Chevy's wheelbase well beyond the equivalent crew-cab, curt-bed Tacoma'south past 4.0 inches.

	Chevrolet Colorado	Toyota Tacoma
Length	212.7-213.ii in	212.3-225.v in
Width	84.4 in	74.iv-75.2 in
Height	78.8-81.ix in	seventy.6-71.6 in
Wheelbase	131.4 in	127.4-140.six in

At present is as skillful a time as any to mention Chevrolet volition only sell the Colorado in four-door crew cab course with the curt 5-pes, 2-inch bed. The Tacoma remains available in two other configurations: a stubby extended-cab, long-bed (6-foot); and crew-cab, long-bed with a 140.vi-inch wheelbase that yawns beyond the Colorado'southward 131.4-inch span. Overall length is similar between the ii trucks, at 212.7 inches for regular Colorados (certain trims are up to 213.2 inches long) and 212.iii inches for the Tacoma.

Powertrains and Fuel Economy

Need a quick lesson on the ages of these ii trucks? Look at their bachelor engines. The Tacoma shows its years with its barely acceptable entry-level engine, a naturally aspirated two.7-liter I-four making a paltry 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque and hooked upwardly to a six-speed automatic transmission. Buyers tin stride up to a 3.v-liter V-vi with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, paired to either a six-speed transmission transmission or a six-speed automatic. Two-wheel drive is standard, with iv-wheel bulldoze optional.

Chevrolet had a similar engine lineup before redesigning the Colorado, offering a ii.5-liter I-four, iii.6-liter V-half-dozen, and available 2.8-liter turbodiesel I-four. All three have been replaced with a single turbocharged gas 2.seven-liter I-iv that is way more than modern than the Toyota'southward. It also comes in three power levels, only even the lowliest is almost competitive with the Tacoma's V-6, producing 237 hp and a solid 259 lb-ft of torque. Midrange Colorados, via tuning changes, deliver 310 hp and a mighty 390 lb-ft, and a meridian-dog version makes the same 310 ponies but ups the torque to an middle-popping 430 lb-ft(!).

	Chevrolet Colorado	Toyota Tacoma
Engines	237-310-hp/259-430-lb-ft 2.7L turbo I-four	159-hp/180-lb-ft 2.7L I-four; 278-hp/265-lb-ft 3.5L V-6
Transmissions	8-speed auto	half-dozen-speed auto, 6-speed manual
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/comb)	TBD	17-20/20-24/18-21 mpg

While fuel economic system figures for the Colorado aren't out nevertheless, wait them to friction match or improve the approachable Colorado V-6'southward performance of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined (in rear-bulldoze models) and 17/24/xix mpg city/highway/combined in 4WD versions. The hardcore ZR2 model previously took a hit, thanks to its lifted interruption, extra equipment, and large off-road tires, a trend we suspect will proceed on the new Colorado. Meanwhile, the Tacoma'due south fuel economy is really a launder between the base 4-cylinder and the V-vi engine—some other glaring demerit for the I-4—topping out at 21 mpg combined. Two-wheel-drive, four-cylinder Tacomas earn upward to 20 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, with 4WD knocking those figures down by i mpg across the board. The 5-vi versions deliver 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, losing 1 mpg city and 2 mpg highway with 4WD.

Towing and Payload

The new Colorado can tow between 6,000 and 7,700 pounds depending on which model is doing the towing. The Colorado ZR2 is express to the depression terminate of that range, while Trail Boss, Z71, Work Truck (WT), and LT versions summit out at the lineup's maximum of 7,700 pounds. Payload capacities max out at 1,684 pounds on Colorado WT and LT variants, with the Z71 and Trail Dominate dropping down to 1,587 pounds and the ZR2 delivering but 1,151 pounds.

	Chevrolet Colorado	Toyota Tacoma
Max Towing	6,000 lbs (ZR2)-7,700 lbs (WT, LT)	3,500 lbs (I-4)-6,800 lbs (V-half-dozen)
Max Payload	1,151 lbs (ZR2)-i,684 lbs (WT/LT)	i,155 lbs (Five-half-dozen Double Cab)-ane,685 lbs (I-iv Access Cab)
Bed Sizes	5-ft, ii-inch short	v-ft brusque, six-ft long

Tacomas can't tow as much. Iv-cylinder models top out at 3,500 pounds, while V-6-powered Tacos tin can drag betwixt 6,400 and half dozen,800 pounds. It should exist pointed out that, to get to the high stop of that range, one must become the Tacoma extended-cab with the long bed—a configuration not available on the Colorado. An equivalent Tacoma V-six coiffure-cab, brusque-bed model maxes out at 6,700 pounds. Payload capacities are similarly down compared to the Colorado, ranging from ane,155 pounds to ane,685 pounds; coiffure-cab, short-bed models can haul only 1,155 pounds.

The Off-Road Models

Toyota trucks are known for their off-road ruggedness, fifty-fifty if their outright capabilities from the factory aren't class-leading. For the current Tacoma, the hardware to assistance back up that epitome is found on the TRD Off-Route and TRD Pro trim levels. The erstwhile includes a Multi-Terrain Select traction control arrangement, locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, fender flares, and machine-faced 16-inch aluminum wheels with Goodyear Kevlar-sidewalled off-road tires. TRD Pro models up the dues with an assortment of off-road focused exterior cameras, Rigid Industries fog lights, a TRD cat-dorsum frazzle, Fox internal-bypass shocks, TRD-branded skidplates, an electronic locking rear differential, and a 1.v-inch front and 0.5-inch rear intermission lift. Both the TRD Off-Route and TRD Pro Tacomas are merely available with the 3.five-liter V-6 engine, and while four-wheel-drive is standard on the Pro, it (curiously) remains optional on the TRD Off-Road. Both trucks are the only Tacomas to offer a half-dozen-speed manual transmission, if kicking things old-school appeals to you.

Right out of the gate, the 2023 Colorado is offered in three off-road-oriented trim levels of varying intensity. Colorado Z71 models are alike to Ford's FX4 package and falls somewhere betwixt regular Tacomas and the TRD Off-Route models. The Colorado Trail Boss adds a 1.0-inch pause lift and beefier looks, while the meridian-domestic dog Colorado ZR2 brings Multimatic DSSV frequency selective dampers, a 2.0-inch suspension lift, skidplates, and offers an fifty-fifty wilder-looking Desert Boss package with more aggro front and rear bumpers, a bed-mounted coil bar, and auxiliary lights. For an idea of how this trio stacks upwardly, here's a closer look at their specifications.

Pricing and Features

The Tacoma is offered in half-dozen trims—SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro—and both extended-cab and four-full-door crew cab torso styles. Toyota restricts the longer of the Tacoma'due south two bed lengths (a half-dozen-footer) to the Access Cab (extended-cab) and Double Cab (crew cab), though only on SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Route, and Limited models. Likewise, the Access Cab is restricted to SR, SR5, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road trims; the entry-level 2.7-liter I-four engine is likewise restricted to SR and SR5 models; every other Tacoma gets the V-6. Buyers tin, on Access Cab SR models, even combine the pokey base of operations engine with 4WD.

Pricing starts at a depression-for-the-form $26,650, but getting there is tricky. One must select an Access Cab, four-cylinder SR before opting for the Utility parcel, an pick that chops $1,715 from the MSRP while as well removing the rear seat, rear speakers, rear cupholders, and, weirdly, the intermittent office from the windshield wipers. Forth with leaving paint off the bumpers, door mirrors, and door handles—they're blank black plastic—this is essentially a commercial spec intended for fleets.

On the whole, the Tacoma is decently equipped. Every Tacoma comes standard with a 7.0- or 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Machine telephone integration; air conditioning; ability windows, door locks, and mirrors; a Course IV tow hitch and wiring, and a plastic pickup bed that negates the need for an improver protective bedliner. Toyota's Safety Sense active-safety features are standard, too, including automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-difference alert, and automated high beams. Grab the V-6 engine on any Tacoma, and yous likewise get dual-zone automated climate control.

The SR5 is the middle-of-the-road offering, with plenty of equipment, nicer interior materials, and amidst the widest latitude of trunk and powertrain configurations. The TRD Sport combines streetable tires with a sporty look, including a hood scoop and plenty of body-color trim on the outside. TRD Off-Road models follow the same format, merely with an off-route focus. The TRD Pro, as mentioned above, is more farthermost. Finally, the Express spec is a recent addition that brings luxurious trimmings such as leather seats and extra features.

	Chevrolet Colorado	Toyota Tacoma
Base cost (by trim level)	WT: TBD	SR: $26,650
	LT: TBD	SR5: $30,155
	Z71: TBD	TRD Sport: $35,275
	Trail Boss: TBD	TRD Off-Road: $38,585
	ZR2: TBD	Limited: $41,120
		TRD Pro: $47,800
On Sale	Jump/Summer 2023	Now

Pricing for the 2023 Colorado lineup is forthcoming, but we practise know a lot already nearly how each of its 5 available trim levels will come equipped. The entry-level Work Truck (WT) model gets a large upgrade over its predecessor, thank you to a standard 11.3-inch touchscreen, digital gauge cluster display, electronic parking restriction, and vastly improved interior. The rig notwithstanding wears pretty basic-looking exterior trim, with much of the same blackness plastic acreage as the base Tacoma SR, and similar the Toyota, information technology comes with steel wheels.

The Colorado LT is billed as the everyday truck in the lineup, with the subtlest advent and street-oriented 17-inch tires. The Z71, Trail Boss, and ZR2 represent increasingly wilder takes on the idea of an off-route pickup, with the ZR2 outdoing the rest with Multimatic DSSV dampers, a 2.0-inch intermission lift, locking differentials, rugged tires, and more. For full details on the 2023 Colorado lineup, be sure to check out our showtime await at the new truck.

And then, Which Truck Is For You?

We can't say for sure even so which midsize pickup reigns supreme because, well, won't drive the new Colorado for several months. But, on paper at to the lowest degree, the Colorado looks like a stronger contender than its predecessor—and its predecessor is currently our favorite truck in the midsize segment, ranked number ane well ahead of the Tacoma. We'll come across if that advantage holds...

Source: https://www.motortrend.com/features/2023-chevrolet-colorado-toyota-tacoma-midsizers-spec-comparison/

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