Do our eyes deceive us? Is the 2022 Chevy Colorado really ranked above the 2022 Toyota Tacoma? What in the world did Chevy Colorado do to take down the incredibly popular Toyota Tacoma? We’re about to launch an investigation to find out. 

2022 Chevy Colorado vs. the 2022 Toyota Tacoma 

According to the U.S.News, the 2022 Chevy Colorado is better than the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. This comes as a surprise because typically, the Tacoma is unmatched in terms of reliability and off-roading skills. 

The U.S.News ranks vehicles based on published reviews from respected automotive critics and data from third-party sources to generate an average score. The score represents what credible reviews and professional critics have to say. 

Each score is based on the vehicle’s performance, interior, critic’s rating, safety, reliability rating, fuel economy, cargo space, towing/hauling power, and awards. 

While the 2022 Honda Ridgeline is ranked as the best compact truck with a score of 8.3, and the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado is ranked in second place with a score of 7.8. Then the 2022 Tacoma is ranked in fifth place with a score of 7.3. 

Why is the Colorado ranked ahead of the Tacoma? 

The 2022 Chevy Colorado received a high ranking because it has the class-leading towing capacity, a smooth ride with good handling, a spacious and comfortable interior, and an intuitive infotainment system. 

Potential drawbacks include an underwhelming base engine, disappointing cabin quality, and a shortlist of driver assistance features. 

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma received a high score for including tons of standard features, having an easy-to-use infotianment system, and excellent off-roading capabilities. But it comes with an underpowered base engine, a stiff suspension, and a small rear seat. 

With the Colorado, the standard engine is a 2.5-liter option with 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 3.6-liter V6 engine for 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. Also, the 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel engine cranks out 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. 

The standard engine in the Tacoma is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 3.5-liter V6 engine for 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. 

When properly equipped, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lbs, and the Colorado can tow up to 7,000 lbs with the V6 engine and 7,700 lbs with the diesel engine. 

Does the Colorado or Tacoma have better features? 

You can get started in a 2022 Chevy Colorado for about $25,435. The 2022 Toyota Tacoma starts at around $26,700. These prices are the MSRPs and do not include destination fees or dealership markups. 

While the Colorado is spacious and comfortable, According to Car and Driver, the interior materials seem a little cheap and dated. The Tacoma also feels dated as the interior relies on hard plastics and minimalist materials. 

The Tacoma and Colorado come with a 7.0-inch infotianment system that can be upgraded to an 8.0-inch unit. Both trucks provide Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can opt for wireless charging with the Tacoma. 

Standard safety features for the Tacoma include forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. 

So, the Colorado can tow more and may have a better ride quality on the pavement. But the Tacoma is built for off-roading, which is why the suspension is stiff and may have a better interior.