Compare the2022 Toyota TacomaVS 2022 Chevrolet Colorado

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Tacoma has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Colorado doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Tacoma has standard Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Colorado offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Tacoma’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Colorado and is only available on Colorado LT/Z71.

The Tacoma (except SR/SR5/Double Cab) offers an optional Panoramic View/Multi-Terrain Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Colorado only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tacoma (except SR/SR5 Access Cab)’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Colorado doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Tacoma’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Colorado doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Tacoma and the Colorado have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Tacoma is safer than the Chevrolet Colorado:

	Tacoma	Colorado
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	221	309
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	244 lbs.	300 lbs.
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	45 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Tacoma is safer than the Chevrolet Colorado:

	Tacoma	Colorado
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	163 G’s	203 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	480 lbs.	545 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Tacoma, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 2.1% to 7.3% less likely to roll over than the Colorado, which received a three-star rating.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tacoma the rating of “Top Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 166 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Colorado was last qualified as only a “Top Pick” in 2016.

Warranty

The Tacoma’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Colorado’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tacoma for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Colorado.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Tacoma’s reliability 32 points higher than the Colorado.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

Engine

The Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 78 more horsepower (278 vs. 200) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (265 vs. 191) than the Colorado’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Tacoma V6 is faster than the Chevrolet Colorado V6 (automatics tested):

	Tacoma	Colorado
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	7.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.6 MPH	87.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Tacoma gets better mileage than the Colorado:

			MPG
Tacoma
AWD	Manual	3.5 DOHC V6	17 city/21 hwy
		TRD-PRO 3.5 DOHC V6	17 city/20 hwy
	Auto	2.7 DOHC 4-cyl.	19 city/22 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/22 hwy
Colorado
AWD	Auto	ZR2 2.8 turbo 4-cyl. Diesel	18 city/22 hwy
		ZR2 3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/18 hwy

Transmission

The Tacoma offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Colorado doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tacoma 4x4’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Colorado:

	Tacoma 4x4	Colorado
Front Rotors	12.48 inches	12.2 inches

The Tacoma stops much shorter than the Colorado:

	Tacoma	Colorado
70 to 0 MPH	185 feet	206 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	135 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Tacoma has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Colorado. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Tacoma has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Tacoma flat and controlled during cornering. The Colorado’s suspension doesn’t offer stabilizer bars.

The Tacoma Short Bed Limited 4x4 handles at .73 G’s, while the Colorado Short Box ZR2 Crew Cab pulls only .68 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Tacoma Short Bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Colorado Short Box Z71 Crew Cab 4x4 (28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29.7 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Tacoma’s turning circle is tighter than the Colorado’s:

	Tacoma	Colorado
Extended Cab Standard Bed	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Crew Cab Short Bed	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Extended Cab Standard Bed 4x4	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Crew Cab Short Bed 4x4	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Crew Cab Standard Bed 4x4	44.1 feet	44.6 feet

For greater off-road capability the Tacoma has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Colorado Long Box Crew Cab (9.4 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Tacoma to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Tacoma Short Bed Limited 4x4 is quieter than the Colorado Short Box ZR2 Crew Cab (40 vs. 45 dB).

Passenger Space

The Tacoma Access Cab has 2.2 inches more front hip room and .8 inches more front shoulder room than the Colorado Extended Cab.

The Tacoma Double Cab has 2.2 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Colorado Crew Cab.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Tacoma. The Colorado doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Toyota Tacoma has a standard tailgate assist feature, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. Tailgate assist costs extra on the Chevrolet Colorado.

Payload

The Tacoma has a higher standard payload capacity than the Colorado:

	Tacoma	Colorado
Extended Cab	1685 lbs.	1400 lbs.
Crew Cab	1560 lbs.	1400 lbs.
Extended Cab 4x4	1445 lbs.	1380 lbs.

The Tacoma has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Colorado (1685 vs. 1550 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Tacoma TRD/Limited’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Colorado’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Smart Key System standard on the Tacoma TRD Automatic/Limited allows you to unlock the driver’s door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Chevrolet Colorado doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Tacoma’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Colorado’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Tacoma detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Colorado doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Tacoma has standard power remote mirrors. The Colorado only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Tacoma’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Colorado and aren’t offered on the Colorado Work Truck.

The Tacoma (except 4-cylinder)’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Colorado doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Tacoma has a standard Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Colorado doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Tacoma TRD/Limited has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Colorado doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Tacoma owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Tacoma with a number “8” insurance rate while the Colorado is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tacoma is less expensive to operate than the Colorado because it costs $727 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Tacoma than the Colorado, including $57 less for front brake pads, $79 less for front struts and $125 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

4-Wheel & Off-Road performed a comparison test in its April 2016 issue and the Toyota Tacoma Short Bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4x4 won out over the Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Extended Cab 4x4.

The TRD Off-Road was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2016 4x4 of the Year. The Colorado has never been chosen.

The Toyota Tacoma outsold the Chevrolet Colorado by over three to one during the 2021 model year.