Chevy Colorado vs. Toyota Tacoma - Comparison

2009 Chevrolet Colorado

The Colorado, considered a mid-size pickup, is substantially smaller and more maneuverable than full-size pickups. The Colorado provides all the trucking capacity most owners will ever use. It has a six-foot bed with Regular and Extended Cabs, and a five-foot bed on Crew Cabs. A properly equipped Colorado is rated to tow 4,000 pounds.  With the Colorado, Chevy stepped away from the norm to offer a dual overhead camshaft and inline-five-cylinder engine rather than a traditional V-6. Chevy Colorado offers the increased roominess of the newest generation of mid-size pickup trucks. Now, Chevy is finally offering a 300-horsepower V-8 in the Colorado.  Chevy likes to promote its three suspension setups to help differentiate its models. The Z85 is for normal operation, the Z71 is tuned for offroad use and the ZQ8 is designed for sports-car-like handling.

New for 2009

The 300-hp V-8 is the biggest addition for this model year.  Also for 2009, Chevy beefed up the brake system and now includes stability control and XM Satellite Radio on all models.

Colorado Drive

On Regular and Extended Cabs, a five-speed manual transmission is standard with either engine, or a four-speed automatic optional. The automatic is standard in all Crew Cabs. A 2.9-liter four-cylinder engine, rated 185 horsepower, comes standard Regular and Extended Cabs, and on rear-wheel-drive (2WD) Crew Cabs.  A 3.7-liter, 242-horsepower five-cylinder engine is optional on those models and standard on Crew Cabs with four-wheel drive.  All models offer stable and predictable handling. The suspension is firm enough to handle hard stops on pavement.  Using front discs and rear drums, they are easy to modulate for smooth stops and work well when applied.  
 

Inside the Colorado

Although it is drenched in plastic, the Colorado's interior features an effective gauge layout and easy-to-reach audio and climate controls. The seats are plenty wide and comfortable, and the crew cab offers decent headroom and legroom for people of most heights. The second row of the extended cab is for children only.  The optional front bucket seats are wide and soft, and lack lateral support, whether upholstered in cloth or leather.

2009 Colorado Design

Ride height varies by suspension grade and has a dramatic effect on the truck's appearance. The standard Colorado has about 7.3 inches of ground clearance with 2WD and 7.7 inches with 4WD, varying slightly with cab style. The Z71 off-road suspension raises the ground clearance to around 8.9 inches, with 2WD or 4WD.  Overall, the Colorado has a clean, modern look. The fender bulges are angular and aggressive. Reach-through door handles allow a full handful of grip for easy opening, even with gloves.

Safety Features

Standard safety features include dual-stage front airbags, a tire pressure monitor, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), and front seatbelt pre-tensioners. Curtain-style side-impact airbags designed for head protection are optional ($395) on all models.

2009 Toyota Tacoma

The Tacoma is a truck with various special models and packages.  It is available in three cab styles: Regular Cab, Access Cab and Double Cab. Regular and Access Cabs come with 6-foot beds, while the Double Cab can be had with either a 5- or 6-foot bed.  The TRD Off-Road package is perhaps the most popular, with a combination of appearance and performance items. The TRD Sport package offers a monochromatic appearance, street-tuned suspension and low-profile tires on 17-inch wheels.  The X-Runner is the real street-performance star in the specialty group. It features a 4.0-liter V-6 engine, six-speed transmission, 18-inch wheels, improved steering response, Bridgestone Potenza tires and a lowered, specially tuned suspension. The X-Runner gets its name from a unique X-brace on the rear of the frame.

New for 2009

All of Toyota's advanced safety features are now standard on the Tacoma. This includes the Star Safety System, which is comprised of five electronic brake controls.

Driving the Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma drives well and cruises nicely on the highway. It offers plenty of power from the V6 and feels relatively refined.  Off-road models offer better capability over rugged terrain than previous-generation models as well as improved ride comfort. Size can be a detriment when parking though, and a long-bed Double Cab can be a challenge in tight parking situations due to the amount of space it requires to turn. The Tacoma Double Cab long bed requires 44 feet to complete a circle; while a Double Cab short bed needs closer to 40 feet.

Tacoma Cabin

The Tacoma's cabin offers a higher grade than other compact trucks, with a simple but effective layout; supportive seats and attention-to-detail build quality. The new rearview monitor system features a small camera in the tailgate handle and a 2.5-inch display mounted in the rearview mirror. Ceiling-mounted speakers are included in all of the five sound systems offered throughout the lineup.

Design for Tacoma

The Tacoma got bulked up when it was redesigned for the 2005 model year. The wheel flares are more muscular, character lines are more pronounced and the grille is a little more menacing. The Double Cab is especially stylish.  The X-Runner is just too burly with all its extra bodywork.

Safety

Combined with sophisticated accident-avoidance technologies and standard side-impact and side curtain airbags, the 2009 Tacoma has more safety features than most compact pickups. Besides stability control, the Star Safety System includes electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and traction control.

Conclusions

The 2009 Colorado and the 2009 Tacoma are both trucks that offer a welcomed brake from the oversized monsters we see rumbling down the road today.  They are considered mid sized trucks, yet both offer plenty of space and power for the average truck owner.  The Chevy Colorado is engineered for room and comfort, for a smooth ride and for fuel efficiency.  It offers a variety of cab styles, suspensions and powertrains that make it both versatile and practical. The Colorado has a little more muscle in its silhouette than some other compact trucks, which is great in four-wheel-drive and/or Z71 trims. Read Motortrend's First Look for another view on the Colorado. The latest changes include additional body-colored moldings, bezels and surrounds to add a more sporty appearance to some trim levels.  The Toyota Tacoma is a compact pick up that offers a comfortable cab, a refined ride, responsive handling, proven off-road capability, and quality construction.  The Tacoma features a comfortable cab trimmed with quality materials. The 4WD models offer crisp handling, a nicely balanced ride quality, and excellent off-road capability. The TRD Offroad models are terrific trucks for rugged terrain. The X-Runner drives and performs like a sports car. Read Here for a Tacoma Consmer Review. The 2009 Chevy Colorado has a starting MSRP of $16,705 - $26,940, while the Tacoma comes in at $15,170 - $27,075.  The trucks both average 14 mpg for the city and 19 mpg on the highway.