Nissan Frontier vs Toyota Tacoma vs Chevy Colorado: Truck Showdown

Let's have a look the Nissan Frontier vs Toyota Tacoma vs Chevrolet Colorado midsize truck battle. The segment has been heating up lately. After years of automakers ignoring the potential, they've realized people want a smaller, but still utilitarian pickups. These trucks are easier on the wallet than bigger options, plus they can fit in tighter spots.The Chevy Colorado, Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier are popular options. Each one has its pluses and minuses, but all three are some of the best selling trucks. Let's have a look at each one.Chevy Colorado HighlightsAs the relatively new midsize pickup, the Chevy Colorado has a fresh feel to it. Sure, the styling is straightforward Chevy, but when you get behind the wheel it drives surprisingly light. But don’t be fooled, because this little tuck can be a real workhorse.Instead of just four-cylinder and six-cylinder gasoline engine options, you can also get the Colorado with a Duramax engine. With that option, you have on tap a monstrous 369 lb.-ft. of torque, which is great for towing and off-roading. It's one of the most powerful diesel trucks.Comfy InteriorLet’s be honest: some trucks have really utilitarian cabins. Sure, they’re modern, but you wouldn’t want to be stuck in there for hours on a road trip. That’s where the Colorado really shines. The seats strike a great balance between being comfortable and supportive. As the driver, you can find and reach the controls with ease, and you enjoy good visibility all around.Chevy also serves up plenty of comfort with some slick onboard tech. One you can’t get elsewhere is the optional 4G LTE WiFi, so everyone can be on their device at once, even in the middle of nowhere.ZR2For those of us who like to go off-roading, there’s the Chevy Colorado ZR2. It’s not just a trim with “tough” aesthetics. It comes with some real hardware like multimatic shocks, automatic front and rear locking differentials, a 3.42 axle ratio, hill descent control, and special suspension calibrations. An Off-Road Mode changes calibrations for the engine, tranny and traction control.Toyota Tacoma HighlightsPretty much everyone knows the Tacoma, and plenty like it well enough. When other automakers jumped out of the midsize truck segment, Toyota was one of the few to stick with it. As a result, this option feels pretty refined all around.The top reason for getting any Toyota is longevity and reliability. Sure, roll your eyes, but there’s a reason why even ISIS fighters prefer Toyotas for waging desert warfare. Getting stranded in the middle of nowhere is absolutely no fun.You can get a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine capable of 159 horsepower or upgrade to the 3.5-liter V6 which produces 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque.This One’s Comfortable, TooSweetening the deal as well is the fact the Tacoma’s cabin is comfortable and loaded with features. That wasn’t necessarily the case with the previous generation. The current one is surprisingly quiet and loaded with conveniences.Despite all these comforts, there are some drawbacks to the cabin. I can say as a Toyota owner that the company needs to learn how to make more comfortable seats. Headroom is also a little tight, which let me tell you is great fun when you’re rock crawling ...Rugged CapabilitiesConquering the trail is also possible with the Tacoma. Keep in mind Toyota has decades of experience building great off-road machines, and it shows with the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro models. One of the most useful and unique features is the crawl control. It’s like trail cruise control, maintaining a constant low speed by controlling the throttle and brakes. That frees you up to monitor the trail ahead and plot a safe course.Another trail innovation is Multi-Terrain Select. It alters how traction control and the engine throttle work, minimizing wheel spin. You just choose the right setting, and the computer does the rest. There are many other trail-oriented features, like an electronically locking rear differential, hill descent control, Fox internal bypass shocks, Rigid LED fog lights and a beefed-up aluminum front skit plate.Nissan Frontier HighlightsIf you're not one for a lot of frills, the Nissan Frontier is the right fit. You could say its platform is aged, but some things are better with time, like cheese and wine. Just remember that means you don't get all the latest and greatest onboard electronics.Instead of some sleek, modern exterior, you get a truck that looks like a proper truck. It's meaty, chiseled and tough on the exterior. You can get all sorts of accessories to make it look even more rugged.This aged nature also means the Frontier cab is basic, cheap even. You get plenty of hard plastics, seats that feel more like slabs and a few funky controls.Excellent ValueWhen money is an issue, the Nissan Frontier can make your dollar stretch pretty far. The four-cylinder engine isn't even worth considering, but upgrading to the 4.0-liter V6 won't cost you an arm and a leg, unlike some options. You have on tap 261 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft. of torque with the V6, which should be sufficient for most.Depending on the model you get, a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission is an option. Of course, that means no hill descent control, because you must have an automatic for that.While you do get plenty of power, don't expect a comfortable ride. The stiff suspension makes for a choppy time on broken-up roads and rough trails. That means passengers might need to visit the chiropractor after a long trip.Nissan offers few standalone optional equipment for the Frontier. That means going with bundled packages. The good news is they don't cost much, which adds to the value of this option.Desert RunnerIt's worth mentioning the trail-oriented model for the Frontier, since I covered similar options for the other two. With the Desert Runner model, you gain Bilstein off-road performance shocks, which actually help smooth things out, and make rock crawling more doable.Aside from the Bilstein shocks, you get some styling flourishes, fog lights and that's about it. In other words, I'd be cautious about how hard you push the thing on truly rugged terrain, because it's more about image than substance.Which Truck Is Best?If you're looking for a winner in the three-way Nissan Frontier vs Toyota Tacoma vs Chevrolet Colorado battle, it may depend on what you're looking for in a truck. If you're looking at just hardcore performance, the Chevy Colorado with the diesel engine comes out on top. It delivers monstrous torque the other two can't match, plus great fuel economy. That comes at a steep cost, so if you're highly cost sensitive the Nissan Frontier will give you the biggest bang for your buck.As far as longevity, the Toyota Tacoma comes out on top. Is that worth the extra cost? That's a question you must answer.As for the interior, it's a tie between the Tacoma and Colorado. Each have some impressive features and comforts, but neither is a perfect package. Mixing the two together would be great, but that's not an option.

Truck Throw Down: Colorado vs. Tacoma vs. Frontier

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