Toyota Tacoma vs. Chevy Colorado: Midsize Truck Showdown

Here at Romeoville Toyota, we love a good vehicle comparison. It’s the quickest way to whittle down the playing field, and today, we have two contenders vying for the title of best midsize truck.

We’ve already stacked the redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma against the Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier this year, and the Tacoma remains our favorite. With two solid victories under its belt, the Tacoma is ready to take on one of its most popular American rivals, the 2024 Chevy Colorado.

Keep reading to discover which one comes out on top as the best truck to buy near Joliet.

2024 Tacoma vs. Colorado: Trims and Pricing

As is the case with most modern trucks, both are available in multiple grades and trim levels, which each come with their own unique features.

Here’s the full breakdown, along with MSRP as of the time of this writing:

Right away, you’ll notice that while they both start out at roughly the same price point through comparable trims, the top-level Tacoma grades surpass the Colorado in price by quite a bit. This is because the Tacoma offers a much bigger range of choices compared to other trucks, allowing buyers to tailor their ride to suit their exact needs. The Tacoma also packs better standard features in its trims overall, while the Colorado requires you to spend money on a bunch of upgrade packages to experience the full assortment of goodies.

Verdict: As they say, you get what you pay for. Upper-level Tacoma grades command a higher price point, but the Tacoma’s extensive features make it well worth it.

2024 Tacoma vs. Colorado: Powertrains and Performance

When it comes to picking the best midsize pickup truck, the powertrain is pretty important. Both the Tacoma and Colorado have a couple different engine configurations to choose from.

The base Tacoma engine is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with a turbocharger slapped on, otherwise known as the i-FORCE. It produces 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Higher-end grades get a boosted version of the same engine with a hybrid motor, the i-FORCE MAX, which cranks out 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This beefy engine is available in most Tacoma models, and standard in the Trailhunter and TRD Pro.

The Colorado’s base engine is a 2.7-liter Turbo affair, and it has 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, the upgraded TurboMax engine puts out 310 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, and this engine is standard in Trail Boss and Z71 trims. Finally, there’s a high-output version of the TurboMax that cranks the torque up to 430 pound-feet in the ZR2.

Crunching the numbers, we see that both Tacoma engines create more power than their Colorado counterparts. So, how does that translate to real-world capability?

The Tacoma takes the cake when it comes to fuel economy, with up to 26 MPG on the highway thanks to its hybrid-powered motor. The Colorado can get up to 23 MPG, but you’ll have to put up with the underpowered base engine.

In terms of towing, both are rated to haul 3,500 pounds at the low end. The Tacoma maxes out at 6,500 pounds, while the Colorado with the TurboMax engine can haul 7,700 pounds, making it the slightly better truck for towing despite its lower horsepower and torque figures.

Verdict: The Tacoma gets markedly better gas mileage, but the Colorado tows more, and their respective payloads are pretty much a wash. So, the decision all comes down to how you plan on using it.

2024 Tacoma vs. Colorado: Cargo Box and Interior Space

The Tacoma has two available bed sizes, while the Colorado only has one. The cargo box in the Colorado is 61.7 inches long and 58.8 inches wide. The shorter of the two Tacoma beds is 60.3 inches long and 56.4 inches wide, but the long bed stretches out to 73.5 inches long, allowing for significantly more space overall, making it the truck with the most cargo space by a long shot.

The Tacoma also has a slew of killer bed features, including standard 2,400-watt AC power supply to both the bed and cab in i-FORCE MAX grades, plus available prewired auxiliary switches and onboard air compressor. The Colorado gets points for its ample tie-downs and unique tailgate design, but it doesn’t have the extras to outdo the Toyota truck.

Now, how about cabin space? As with the cargo area, the Colorado has but one cab layout, whereas the Tacoma has two. The larger Tacoma cab boasts more side-to-side shoulder and hip room, while the Colorado has a bit more head and leg room. These aren’t your great uncle’s midsize trucks, though—neither one will leave you feeling cramped.

Verdict: The Taco once again proves that it’s imminently more versatile, with two different body styles to choose from and a heck of a lot more bed utility.

2024 Tacoma vs. Colorado: Technology

There are a few different infotainment options in the Tacoma. Depending on the grade, the center stack will either feature the 8.0-inch touch screen display, or an absolutely massive 14.0-incher. Either way, Sirius XM, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto are all standard-issue. Higher trims also come with a 12.3-inch digital meter, and a heads-up display is available as well. The Tacoma can also be optioned with a premium JBL 10-speaker sound system that also comes with a portable wireless speaker that plugs into the dash, which is an undeniably cool option for camping and tailgating.

All Colorados come with a standard screen setup, which consists of an 11.3-inch LCD center display and an 11.0-inch driver information center. This is paired with Chevy’s Google built-in technology, which allows linkage to other Google devices to handle audio streaming, navigation, and more. It also features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7-speaker Bose audio system is available too.

Verdict: The Colorado’s infotainment system impresses with its Google built-in connectivity, but the Tacoma’s larger screen and better sound system gives it the edge.

2024 Tacoma vs. Colorado: Safety

The Tacoma and Colorado both have an impressive array of standard and available features through Toyota Safety Sense and Chevy Safety Assist.

The Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 package includes Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, proactive Driving Assist, Road Sign Assist, and Automatic High Beams. A Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is also standard in most grades.

Chevy Safety Assist in the Colorado has Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indicator, and Intellibeam automatic high beams. Other standards include an HD rear vision camera and Teen Driver settings, while features like adaptive cruise control and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are optional with an upgrade package, and not included as standard in any trim.

Verdict: The standard ADAS is decent in the Colorado, and Teen Driver settings are especially cool for families, but the Tacoma has a much more comprehensive list of features across all grades, and even the optional features are included in many models.

Final Verdict: The 2024 Tacoma Beats the Competition

The Chevy Colorado puts up a good fight with a bit more standard towing capacity and a host of great amenities, but the Tacoma gives buyers much more choice to build the exact truck they want, and it has the brains, brawn, and reliability to back up its reputation as the finest truck for shoppers near Naperville.

If you’re looking for the perfect ride in the Greater Chicago area, our Toyota dealership is the place to be. We have tons of new vehicle specials, and our college rebate program is perfect for grads buying their first vehicle. Contact us online or give us a ring at (815) 744-2760 to learn how you can streamline your car buying process through SmartPath.