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Are you on the hunt for a highly capable midsize pickup truck? Two of the leading choices for the segment are the Toyota Tacoma and the Chevrolet Colorado. See how the two pickup trucks measure up in this 2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Chevy Colorado comparison.

2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Chevy Colorado

Front angle view of Lunar Rock 2023 Toyota Tacoma
Lunar Rock 2023 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

In this 2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Chevy Colorado midsize pickup truck comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, gas mileage, towing, payload, off-road capabilities, interior design and features, warranty coverage, and price.

Tacoma vs. Colorado: Performance and gas mileage

Cherry Red Tintcoat 2023 Chevy Colorado driving on a dirt road
Cherry Red Tintcoat 2023 Chevy Colorado | Chevrolet

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado has the advantage for performance. Compared to the 2023 Toyota Tacoma, it generates more horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) for both its base engines and available engines. The Colorado offers three variants of a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four engine: the 2.7L Turbo (237 hp; 259 lb-ft), the 2.7L Turbo Plus (310 hp; 390 lb-ft), and the 2.7L Turbo High-Output (310 hp; 430 lb-ft).

In comparison, the Tacoma offers two engine options. The base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine in the 2023 Toyota Tacoma generates 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, while the available 3.5-liter V-6 engine produces 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.

The Colorado has the advantage for efficiency. We don’t yet know the estimated fuel economy for the 2023 Colorado, but it’s expected to be similar to the 2022 Colorado. The 2022 Colorado has an estimated gas mileage of up to 20 city/30 highway mpg, compared to 20 city/23 highway mpg for the 2023 Tacoma.

Tacoma vs. Colorado: Towing and payload

Which pickup truck can tow more? The 2023 Colorado has a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which is the highest for the midsize truck segment. In comparison, the 2023 Tacoma has a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds.

How about hauling a load in the pickup bed? The two trucks are fairly evenly matched, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,685 pounds for the Tacoma and 1,684 pounds for the Colorado.

Tacoma vs. Colorado: Off-road capabilities

Both the Tacoma and Colorado have impressive off-road capabilities. Both pickup trucks offer advanced four-wheel drive systems and offer a wide range of off-road-enhancing features. Also, the Tacoma and Colorado have models that are specifically geared for off-road use. This includes the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims for the Tacoma and the Trail Boss and ZR2 trims for the Colorado. 

Tacoma vs. Colorado: Interior design and features

The 2023 Colorado has an all-new design. Along with a bold new look for the exterior, the interior is vastly improved, with a more modern design. Also, it has many features and technology upgrades. This includes a new 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is standard for every trim level. 

In comparison, the interior of the Tacoma is outdated, for the truck hasn’t had a redesign since the 2016 model year. Also, the largest touchscreen that Tacoma offers is 8.0 inches. 

Tacoma vs. Colorado: Warranty coverage

For warranty coverage, both the Tacoma and Colorado have the backing of a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, unlike the Colorado, the Tacoma has a free maintenance plan, with two years or 25,000 miles of coverage.

Tacoma vs. Colorado: Price

Which pickup truck costs more: the 2023 Tacoma or the 2023 Colorado? The starting price of the 2023 Tacoma is $27,250 MSRP for the Access Cab models and $28,080 MSRP for the Double Cab models.

The official price information is not yet available for the 2023 Colorado. However, it will likely cost slightly more than the 2022 version. The starting price of the 2022 Colorado is $25,500 MSRP for the Extended Cab models and $27,400 MSRP for the Crew Cab models. The 2023 Colorado only offers Crew Cab models, though.

2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Chevrolet Colorado: Which pickup truck is better?

In this 2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Chevy Colorado midsize pickup truck comparison, the 2023 Colorado has most of the advantages. This includes advantages for performance, gas mileage, towing, and interior design and features. Conversely, the 2023 Tacoma has the advantage of a free maintenance plan.

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