It’s challenging enough to beat the Toyota Tacoma, but the new Chevrolet Colorado is about to give it a try in college. While Toyota trucks typically dominate sales charts, the Colorado has been closing the gap. Now, the 2023 Chevy Colorado could cover even more ground.
2023 Chevy Colorado vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma
The 2023 Chevy Colorado could give General Motors the edge it needs to unseat the incredibly popular Toyota Tacoma. According to Torque News, the Colorado is on the right track. It experienced a 22 percent sales increase in 2022.
The Coloroaod 2022 moved around 89,197 units. But it’s still quite a bit behind the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. The Tacoma sold about 237,232 models. That gives him a sales lead of 148,035, so we’ll call the Colorado an underdog for now.
However, the Tacoma actually experienced a six percent decline in sales during 2022 and could drop further. The Tacoma hasn’t been updated since 2016, and the 2023 Colorado is all-new.
Is the 2023 Colorado better than the Tacoma?
The 2023 Chevy Colorado needs to be put to the test before we can determine if it’s better than the 2023 Toyota Tacoma. However, the 2023 Colorado hopes to renew its reputation with a total redesign, while the 2023 Tacoma stays the same.
While the Colorado got a cool new look, it also got more power. The 2022 Colorado has a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 hp and 191 pound-feet of torque.
The new Colorado starts with a standard turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. The higher output version of the engine makes 310 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.
With the 2023 Tacoma, the standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine makes 159 hp and 180 pound-feet of torque. But you can upgrade to the 3.5-liter EV6 engine for 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.
When properly equipped, the 2023 Colorado can tow up to 7,700 lbs., which is an increase of 700 lbs. over the previous model. The Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 pounds.
To truly battle the Tacoma, the Colorado needs superior off-road value. It comes with a more affordable Trail Boss trim level with a 2.0-inch suspension lift, 3.0-inch wider track, a limited-slip rear differential, hill descent control, and all-terrain tires.
The beefier Colorado ZR2 model features a 3.0-inch lift, Mulitmatic adaptive shocks, front/rear power-locking differentials, skid plates and 33-inch mud-terrain tires. In addition, the Desert Boss has beadlock-capable wheels, a roof-mounted LED bar, and an underbody camera.
Does the Colorado or Tacoma have better features?
The 2023 Chevy Colorado may have a smoother ride and quieter interior than the 2023 Toyota Tacoma. But we’re still waiting for the Colorado to put it through its paces. However, it has an updated interior with a more modern feel.
The 2023 Colorado gets a standard 11.3-inch infotainment system, 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Tacoma features an 8.0-inch infotainment screen.
But to succeed, the Colorado must also match the Tacoma’s reliability rating and resale value. It has more power, could be more comfortable, and could have off-road advantages. We can’t wait for it to be put to the test.