Compare the2022 Chevrolet ColoradoVS 2022 Nissan Frontier

Both the Colorado and Frontier have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Colorado has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Frontier’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Colorado. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Frontier.

Both the Colorado and the Frontier 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, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Colorado the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2016, a rating granted to only 207 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Frontier has not been tested, yet.

The Colorado’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Frontier’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Colorado’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Colorado third among midsize pickups in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Frontier isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

The Colorado’s 2.8 turbo diesel produces 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 281) than the Frontier’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Colorado V6 is faster than the Nissan Frontier:

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Colorado V6’s fuel efficiency. The Frontier doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Colorado has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Frontier doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Colorado’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Frontier:

The Colorado stops much shorter than the Frontier:

The Colorado’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Frontier’s standard 70 series tires. The Colorado’s optional tires have a lower 60 series profile than the Frontier’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Colorado has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Frontier. The Colorado’s optional 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Frontier.

The Colorado has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Frontier Crew Cab suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Colorado’s wheelbase is longer than on the Frontier:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Colorado is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Frontier.

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

For greater off-road capability the Colorado Short Box ZR2 Crew Cab has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab (10 vs. 9.4 inches), allowing the Colorado to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Chevrolet Colorado may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Nissan Frontier.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Colorado has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Frontier uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the Colorado uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Frontier doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Colorado Extended Cab has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom and 4.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Frontier King Cab.

The Colorado Crew Cab has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room and 2.6 inches more rear legroom than the Frontier Crew Cab.

The Colorado Extended Cab has a larger cargo box than the Frontier King Cab shortbed (49.9 vs. 49.6 cubic feet).

The Colorado Crew Cab shortbed has a much larger cargo box than the Frontier Crew Cab shortbed (41.3 vs. 40.1 cubic feet). The Colorado Crew Cab longbed has a much larger cargo box than the Frontier Crew Cab longbed (49.9 vs. 49.2 cubic feet).

The Chevrolet Colorado has a standard CornerStep (not available ZR2), which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. The Nissan Frontier doesn’t offer a rear cargo step.

The Colorado has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Frontier doesn’t offer stake post holes.

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Frontier is limited to 6720 pounds. The Colorado Crew Cab offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Colorado 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Colorado can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Frontier can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Colorado Long Box Crew Cab 4x4 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 (1460 vs. 1260 lbs.).

The Colorado has higher optional payload capacities than the Frontier:

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Colorado LT/ZL1/ZR2 has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Frontier doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The power windows standard on both the Colorado and the Frontier have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Colorado is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Frontier prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Colorado’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Frontier doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Colorado’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Frontier’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Colorado has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Frontier King Cab doesn’t offer rear vents.

Motor Trend selected the Colorado as their 2016 Truck of the Year. The Frontier has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Colorado outsold the Nissan Frontier by 63% during the 2021 model year.