Truck-Off: Chevrolet Colorado vs. Toyota Tacoma

The Colorado and Tacoma have both been longstanding favorites of Kansas City truck fans for quite some time, albeit for very different reasons. The Tacoma has always been lauded for its reliability and versatility, but the Colorado is still the practical choice for many because, well, it’s just truckier.

With both hot off a recent refresh (2023 for the Colorado and 2024 for the Tacoma), we figured now would be a perfect time to see which one is the all-around best small truck of 2024. Here’s our vehicle comparison of the Colorado vs. Tacoma.

Pricing

To get things off the ground, let’s check out what editions of each are available, as well as how much it’ll set you back to buy one.

At pretty much every level, the 2024 Colorado is noticeably more affordable than the 2024 Tacoma, especially when we consider the fact that the Tacoma with the i-FORCE MAX engine adds thousands of dollars to the price tag.

For instance, the Tacoma TRD Sport i-FORCE MAX jumps up to $46,300, an increase of nearly 7 grand. Meanwhile, the comparable Colorado Trail Boss already comes with the truck’s more powerful engine as standard.

Power

Both trucks are available with two different engines, and this is perhaps the biggest decision that shoppers will have to take into consideration when choosing which is the best midsize truck for their needs.

The 2024 Chevy Colorado has these two engines available:

• 7-liter Turbo 4-cylinder (237 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque)
• TurboMax (310 horsepower, 430 pound-feet of torque)

Meanwhile, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma has these two engine options:

• i-FORCE (278 horsepower, 317 pound-feet of torque)
• i-FORCE MAX (326 horsepower, 465 pound-feet of torque)

Just looking at the numbers, one might think that the Tacoma takes the cake in terms of sheer power. However, because of the Colorado’s optimized specs, the opposite is true—the Tacoma only tows 6,500 pounds, while the Colorado can haul up to 7,700 pounds, putting it at a distinct advantage.

Off-Roading

The Colorado and Tacoma both have some seriously impressive trail-going prowess, but they each have their own specific areas of expertise.

The ZR2 is the dedicated off-road trim for the Colorado, and folks who want to go truly all-out on a backcountry masterpiece can opt for the ZR2 Bison package, which comes complete with 35-inch OD MT tires, front and rear jounce control dampers, 5 Boron steel underbody plates, and a 4.5-inch factory lift, which gives it an insane 12.2 inches of total ground clearance. The ZR2 trim also adds a Baja Mode to the selection of selectable drive modes, which optimizes traction control in sandy conditions.

On the other hand, the Tacoma has two purpose-built off-road grades—the Trailhunter and TRD Pro. Both have specially tuned suspensions, multi-terrain drive modes with low-speed control, a stabilizer bar disconnect system, and steel bumpers with recovery points, along with a host of additional overlanding add-ons. The Trailhunter also comes complete with a bed utility bar and MOLLE panels.

Even without these top-tier packages, both trucks are impressively well-equipped to do some serious trail running, so the ultimate decision about which is the best truck for off-roading may come down to personal taste. Still, it’s hard to deny the Colorado’s class-leading performance specs, which is part of the reason it won MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year award.

Tech

All Colorado models come with a robust infotainment setup, which consists of an 11.0-inch driver information center and an 11.3-inch color LCD center touch screen. This comes complete with Google built-in, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, voice commands, and Chevy Connected Access with a Wi-Fi hotspot. It can also be optioned with wireless phone charging and a Bose premium audio system with 7 speakers.

The Colorado also comes with Chevy Safety Assist, which features Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, Following Distance Indicator, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and IntelliBeam head lamps. Additional standard safety features include HD Rear Vision Camera and Teen Driver settings; available features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, and Blind Zone Steering Assist with Trailering.

The Tacoma comes standard with an 8.0-inch center touch screen display, and a larger 14.0-incher is available in the more expensive premium grades, and more expensive models also get a 12.3-inch driver info screen. Regardless of which screen size you end up with, all models come with SiriusXM, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Toyota’s suite of connected services, which includes Wi-Fi. There’s also the option for an upgrade to wireless device charging and a JBL sound system with a portable wireless speaker.bl

Toyota Safety Sense is present in all Tacoma models as well, and this includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Proactive Driving Assist, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, Road Sign Assist, and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert is also available.

Once again, it’s a close call. Both trucks have a healthy helping of standard infotainment and driver assistance features, but the Colorado gets the edge because it includes more tech with a friendlier price tag.

Find the 2024 Chevy Colorado for Sale in Blue Springs, MO

The competition for best compact truck of 2024 is fierce, but the Colorado pulls ahead yet again thanks to its signature blend of power, capability, and class-leading features, all at a price you can’t beat.

With tons of available monthly specials on new cars and plenty of finance options, there’s never been a better time to browse our selection of Chevy trucks near Lee’s Summit, MO. Give us a call today at (866) 774-2669 or contact us online to learn more.