The midsize truck market is highly competitive, and automakers have recently introduced new entries or updated existing models. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma and 2024 Chevrolet Colorado recently benefited from the latter.
The Tacoma has been a top-selling midsize truck in the U.S. for the past two decades despite not getting a major makeover until this model year. The Colorado, which returned to the market about a decade ago, has a loyal fan base in its own right, and its recent redesign aims to attract even more buyers.
Sporting new updates, let’s take a closer look at these midsize pickups.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma enjoys a redesign for the new model year. It has a refreshed look in line with the rest of the Toyota truck family, but doesn’t lose the rugged simplicity that truck enthusiasts love about the Tacoma.
Available in seven trim levels, the Tacoma gives you options. It can be a work truck, a full-bore adventure pickup, or something in between. It can also be had with either a crew cab or XtraCab and with a standard or long bed, options not offered by its Chevy rival. The Tacoma is available with a standard 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or the more powerful i-Force Max hybrid powertrain.
The interior of the Tacoma has always stressed simplicity, but the new cabin gets a welcome freshening. It’s still clean, yet now comes with all the convenience tech you expect. Pricing starts at $32,995, including destination fees.
Toyota Tacoma Highlights
Trailhunter: This new trim level features a slew of specialized off-road equipment, including a high-mounted air intake plus underbody protection made of real steel plates.
Safety first: The new Toyota Tacoma comes standard with forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure alert with steering assistance, lane-tracing assistance, and adaptive cruise control.
JBL audio: Optional in a few lower trims, standard at higher levels, this system includes a removable Bluetooth speaker.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Tacoma models near you.
2024 Chevrolet Colorado
Like its counterpart above, the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado is freshly redesigned. It features a larger front grille, slit-like headlamps, and wide wheel wheels, suggesting this is one tough, capable pickup.
With six trim levels, the Colorado can be configured as anything from a work truck to a rock crawler. It comes only as a crew cab with a short bed. Most people will upgrade to at least the LT trim to get a few more goodies. For another, $3,300 4WD can be added to the WT and LT models, which is standard for each ascending trim.
There are three variants of the 2.7-liter turbo 4-cylinder, starting with the 237-hp base engine. After that, there are two versions of the 310-hp 4-cylinder with either 390 lb-ft or 430 lb-ft of torque. Pricing starts at $31,095, including destination fees.
Chevrolet Colorado Highlights
Touchscreen: One of our favorite Colorado standard features is an 11.3-inch touchscreen. That’s bigger than the standard 8-inch screen in the Toyota Tacoma. It’s also easy to operate. Moreover, Google built-in connectivity is offered and can be connected with a driver’s Google account.
Engine options: The base engine is a 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder developing 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. For a reasonable $1,200, you can upgrade to a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder developing 310 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque that can tow more than 7,000 pounds, which beats the Tacoma’s 6,500-pound max towing figure.
Off-roader: If you need a rough-and-ready off-roader straight from the factory, pass the Trail Boss and go straight to the ZR2 Bison. This off-roading Colorado offers several upgrades designed to maximize any off-road experience, including a raised suspension, larger wheels and tires, unique off-road dampers, and more.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Colorado models near you.
Similarities
The Toyota Tacoma and the Chevy Colorado feature up-to-date exterior styling and a slew of new technologies to complement their new looks.
Conclusion
These two pickups are similar in size and are within 500 pounds of each other for max towing. They offer off-road performance variants, just received major updates, and are priced within $1,000 of each other to start. The Toyota Tacoma has been the segment leader for years and has a sterling reputation for reliability and segment-leading resale value. Still, the Chevrolet Colorado is no slouch, and fans of GM products might find exactly what they need with the Chevy.
| 2024 Toyota Tacoma | 2024 Chevrolet Colorado | |
| Starting Price | $32,995 | $31,095 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.7-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 228 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 237 hp @ 5,600 rpm |
| Torque | 243 lb-ft @ 1,200 rpm | 260 lb-ft @ 1,200 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic/2WD | 8-speed automatic/2WD |
| Fuel Economy | 20 city/26 highway/23 combined mpg | 19 city/24 highway/21 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 4WD; higher-output turbo-4; i-Force hybrid | 4WD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | N/R | 4 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 131.9 inches | 131.4 inches |
| Overall Length | 213.0 inches | 213.0 inches |
| Width | 76.9 inches | 80.2 inches |
| Height | 73.9 inches | 78.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 45.8 feet | 43.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.7 inches | 40.3 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.4 inches | 38.3 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.8 inches | 45.2 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 33.7 inches | 34.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 58.3 inches | 57.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 57.8 inches | 56.1 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 42.6 cubic feet | 41.9 cubic feet |
