2026 Toyota Tacoma vs Chevrolet Colorado

The Tacoma and the Colorado differ most in cabs, beds, powertrains and towing.

Starting MSRP at launch, excluding destination.

The Tacoma offers two cabs: the XtraCab seats two and always carries the 6-ft bed, and the Double Cab seats five and takes either a 5-ft bed or a 6-ft bed. A 4x2 Tacoma is rear-wheel drive. Every 4x4 Tacoma uses part-time four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case (1.00:1 high, 2.57:1 low).

A few Tacoma grades and powertrains come only in certain shapes. The TRD PreRunner is a 4x2 XtraCab. The gas Limited is offered only with 4x4, the Double Cab and the 5-ft bed. The i-FORCE MAX hybrid always comes as a 4x4 Double Cab with the 5-ft bed, except for one Trailhunter version with a 6-ft bed. The 6-speed manual is limited to 4x4 Double Cabs with the 5-ft bed in the SR, TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road grades.

The Colorado comes in five trims: WT, LT, Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2. The ZR2 Bison Edition is a package on the ZR2, not a separate trim. Every Colorado is a Crew Cab Short Box that seats five, with front bucket seats and a 60/40 split-folding rear bench. Two-wheel drive is offered on the WT and LT only; every other trim is 4WD. Chevrolet offers two transfer cases on the 4WD Colorado: a single-speed electronic Autotrac with push-button control and a two-speed electronic Autotrac with a transfer-case shield.

The Tacoma offers three powertrains. The Colorado offers one.

The hybrid's 465 lb-ft is the highest torque figure in the Tacoma line.

These are EPA ratings, shown as city/highway/combined MPG.

Every gas Tacoma automatic has a higher combined rating than any Colorado with the same drive (2WD against 2WD, 4WD against 4WD). Every Tacoma carries an 18.2-gallon fuel tank.

On both trucks, the towing rating depends on the exact configuration.

Toyota rates Tacoma towing to the SAE J2807 standard.

The Towing Technology Package includes the Toyota Wireless Camera System. It's available as part of an option package on every TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road except the manuals, and on the Limited, Trailhunter and TRD Pro. It isn't offered on any SR, SR5 or TRD PreRunner.

The Colorado's Advanced Trailering Package includes Chevrolet's heavy-duty Trailering Package, with a trailer hitch, a 7-pin connector and an integrated trailer brake controller, plus the Trailering App.

If you tow near these limits every weekend, a full-size truck deserves a look; our Tundra vs F-150 comparison covers that step up.

Toyota rates more Tacoma configurations than the side-by-side table shows. The gas SR5 Double Cab, the gas TRD Sport and the TRD Off-Road with the manual or the 6-ft bed each tow up to 6,400 lb:

Each hybrid TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road or Limited is rated at 6,000 lb. The SR automatic is rated at 3,500 lb in any cab or drive.

Payload and GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) vary across the 27 Tacoma configurations. The table gives payload first and GVWR in parentheses, both in pounds.

A Tacoma's wheelbase and length change with its cab and bed; every Colorado shares one wheelbase.

Between the wheel wells, the Colorado's one box is slightly wider than either Tacoma bed.

Toyota also lists a bed width of 53.0 in and a bed depth of 20.2 in (every 4x2 and the 4x4 XtraCab) or 21.2 in (4x4 Double Cab). Chevrolet lists a cargo-area width of 58.8 in and a cargo volume of 41.9 cu ft for the same Colorado trims. Bed width and cargo-area width are measured differently, so the wheel-well figures are the fairer check.

Toyota and Chevrolet measure clearance differently, so their figures don't compare directly.

Tacoma running clearance ranges from 9.9 in to 11.5 in, depending on grade, cab and bed.

Colorado ground clearance (4WD): WT and LT 7.9 in; Z71 8.9 in; Trail Boss 9.5 in; ZR2 10.7 in; ZR2 Bison 12.2 in.

On the Tacoma, off-road hardware follows the grade. The TRD Off-Road (gas or hybrid), the Trailhunter and the TRD Pro come standard with Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control and an electronically controlled locking rear differential. The TRD PreRunner gets the locking rear differential too. The TRD Sport does not get Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control or Downhill Assist Control.

For shocks, the TRD Pro uses FOX QS3 adjustable internal-bypass units and the Trailhunter uses Old Man Emu forged monotube units. At the rear, every SR, the SR5 XtraCab and the TRD PreRunner use leaf springs; the SR5 Double Cab and every other grade use a coil-spring multi-link setup.

On the Colorado, the Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2 come only with four-wheel drive. Chevrolet's ZR2 Bison Edition package adds 35-in LT315/70R17 mud-terrain tires, AEV stamped-steel front and heavy-duty rear bumpers, AEV skid plates, Multimatic Jounce Control Dampers and a bed-mounted vertical spare tire carrier.

Every Colorado gets the same touch screen; every Tacoma gets adaptive cruise control.

The Tacoma's Toyota Audio Multimedia system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited, TRD Pro and Trailhunter pair their 14-in screen with a 10-speaker JBL system that includes the JBL FLEX portable Bluetooth speaker, and the TRD Off-Road and TRD Sport can add that setup.

Every Tacoma comes with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. On every configuration it includes the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Tracing Assist and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist. It also includes Automatic High Beams, Road Sign Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Front/Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking is available. Our Toyota Safety Sense overview covers the system.

Every Colorado has Google Built-In, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six-speaker audio and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every trim: Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Alert. It also includes Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indicator and IntelliBeam. Rear Cross Traffic Braking and the HD Rear Vision Camera come standard too.

The Colorado's Technology Package is available on the Z71 and ZR2. On the LT it comes only as part of the LT Convenience Package, and on the Trail Boss it requires the Trail Boss Convenience Package II. It adds Rear Pedestrian Alert and HD Surround Vision, which replaces the HD Rear Vision Camera.

Crash-test ratings vary by cab and configuration and change as new tests are published; check NHTSA.gov for the truck you are considering.

Basic and powertrain coverage run the same length on both trucks.

Toyota covers corrosion perforation, while Chevrolet covers sheet-metal surface corrosion and rust-through separately, so those terms don't line up one for one.

Towing and fuel economy aside, here is where each truck comes out ahead.

Powertrain choice differs too: the Tacoma offers gas, hybrid and manual versions, while every Colorado shares one turbo engine and one automatic.

Winters and hills shape truck choices in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The county averages about 43 in of snow a year in the valleys and up to about 75 in at higher elevations, and Chestnut Ridge rises to about 2,993 ft. On snowy hills and unplowed back roads, four-wheel drive is worth having, and every Colorado trim and every Tacoma grade except the TRD PreRunner offers it. For more on cold-weather choices, see our guide to Toyotas for Pennsylvania winters.

• You want to spend less on fuel: In matched gas pairings, the Tacoma's EPA ratings are higher, and its hybrid adds a choice the Colorado doesn't offer.
• You head for the trails and the river: Weekends in the Laurel Highlands, at Ohiopyle State Park or on the Youghiogheny River reward real off-road hardware, from the Tacoma TRD Pro, Trailhunter and TRD Off-Road to the Colorado ZR2 and its Bison package.
• You tow a heavy camper or equipment trailer: A Colorado Z71 or Trail Boss is the stronger choice of the two.

Also weighing the Ford Ranger? Our Tacoma vs Ranger comparison covers that matchup.

Our lot is truck-heavy. Off-road grades such as the TRD Pro, Trailhunter, TRD Off-Road and TRD Sport are well represented, our selection skews toward 4x4, and hybrids are broadly available. Browse our new Tacoma inventory or all of our new Toyota inventory. To see whether a current Toyota offer applies to the Tacoma you want, check our current Toyota specials, and use our payment calculator to estimate a monthly payment.

When you're ready, schedule a Tacoma test drive. Drive a Colorado at a Chevrolet dealership too before you decide.

Buyers report a no-pressure, low-hassle experience and say deals are often completed remotely with a quick pickup. They also report traveling from out of town and out of state to buy, including from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Morgantown, West Virginia; Fairmont, West Virginia; and Ohio. In those reports, the Tacoma is among the models buyers mention most.

We help arrange financing through lenders for all kinds of credit, including bad credit or no credit. You can get credit assistance or visit our finance department. If you're trading in a truck, get a value for your trade-in. Buying new? Read about the Kelly Confidence Program.

We're at 1 Mary Jane Wood Drive, Uniontown, PA 15401. Check our hours and directions, or contact us with questions about a specific Tacoma.