It’s pretty challenging to beat the Toyota Tacoma, but the new Chevrolet Colorado is about to give it the old college try. While Toyota trucks typically dominate the sales charts, the Colorado has been closing the gap. Now the 2023 Chevy Colorado could cover even more ground. 

2023 Chevy Colorado vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma 

The 2023 Chevy Colorado could give General Motors the advantage it needs to dethrone the incredibly popular Toyota Tacoma. According to Torque News, the Colorado is on the right track. It experienced a 22 percent sales increase in 2022. 

The 2022 Coloroaod moved about 89,197 units. But it still falls pretty far behind the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. The Tacoma sold about 237,232 models. That gives it a 148,035 sales advantage, so we will call the Colorado an underdog for now. 

However, the Tacoma actually experienced a six percent decrease in sales during 2022 and could drop even more. The Tacoma hasn’t been updated since 2016, and the 2023 Colorado is brand new. 

Is the 2023 Colorado better than the Tacoma? 

The 2023 Chevy Colorado needs to be put to the test before we can determine if it’s better than the 2023 Toyota Tacoma. However, the 2023 Colorado is hoping to revamp its reputation with a total redesign, while 2023 Tacoma stays the same. 

While the Colorado got an attractive new look, it also got more power. The 2022 Colorado has a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. 

The new Colorado kicks things off with a standard turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. The higher-output version of the engine cranks out 310 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. 

With the 2023 Tacoma, the standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. But you can upgrade to the 3.5-liter EV6 engine for 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. 

When properly equipped, the 2023 Colorado can tow up to 7,700 lbs, which is a 700 lb increase over the outgoing model. The Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lbs. 

To truly fight the Tacoma, the Colorado needs superior off-roading grit. It’s coming with a more affordable Trail Boss trim level with a 2.0-inch suspension lift, a 3.0-inch wider track, a limited-slip rear differential, hill descent control, and all-terrain tires. 

The beefier Colorado ZR2 model features a 3.0-inch lift, Mulitmatic adaptive dampers, power locking differentials in the front/rear, skid plates, ad 33-inch mud terrain tires. Also, the Desert Boss has bead-lock capable wheels, a roof-mounted LED bar, and an underbody camera. 

Does the Colorado or Tacoma have better features? 

It’s possible that the 2023 Chevy Colorado could have a smoother ride and quieter interior than the 2023 Toyota Tacoma. But we’re still waiting for the Colorado to be put to the test. It has an updated interior with a more modern feel, though. 

The 2023 Colorado has a standard 11.3-inch infotainment system, an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Tacoma features an 8.0-inch infotainment screen. 

But to succeed, the Colorado must also match the Tacoma’s reliability rating and resale value. It has more power, could be more comfortable, and might have off-roading advantages. We can’t wait for it to be put to the test.