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Y’all, I apologize for saying this over and over, but I miss affordable beater trucks. If you want a brand new mid-size truck then prepare to hurt your wallet. The only mid-size truck that starts under $30,000 is the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado. 

The 2024 Chevy Colorado is the only mid-size truck that starts under $30,000

While the 2024 Chevy Colorado is the only mid-size truck that starts under $30,000, it barely hits the mark. It has a retail suggested manufacturer price (MSRP) of $29,500. 

However, it could be difficult to lock in that price due to the $1,595 destination fee, dealership fees, and markups. It still has a cheaper MSRP than its rivals, though. 

For example, the 2024 Ford Ranger has an MSRP of $32,750, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma starts at $31,500, the 024 Jeep Gladiator comes in at $37,895, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline starts at $39,750, and the 2024 Nissan Frontier has an MSRP of $30,510. 

If you want a cheaper truck, you’ll have to move to the compact class. The 2024 Ford Maverick has an MSRP of $23,920 and the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz starts at $26,900. 

The 2024 Chevy Colorado crawling over rocks
2024 Chevy Colorado | Chevrolet

Let’s see if going for the mid-size truck that starts under $30,000 is worth it. The 2024 Colorado has a standard turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. 

That’s a good amount of solid power, but the Frontier has a standard 3.8-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. 

The entry-level Colorado WT model also has: 

  • 17-inch wheels 
  • Pushbutton start 
  • Manual tilt steering wheel 
  • An 11.3-inch infotainment system 
  • Six-speaker audio system 
  • A rear-view camera with hitch guidance 
  • Automatic emergency braking 
  • Lane departure assistance 
  • Automic headlights 

Only the more expensive options like the Honda Ridgeline and the Jee Gladiator have standard AWD or 4×4, so you’ll have to calculate that into your costs. 

With the standard engine, the Colorado can tow up to 3,500 lbs. With the High Output engine with 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, it can tow up to 7,700 lbs.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.