You have your reasons for buying a compact truck. Maybe you need a truck but want to save some money. Maybe you want better fuel economy, the kind only a lighter truck could provide. But you still want a truck, one that can work. In this comparison guide, we’ll dig into which of two compact trucks excel in what this class does best.
Price: 2019 Chevy Colorado
Do you want a superior truck and also pay less for it? If so, take a look at these numbers. The 2019 Chevy Colorado starts at just $20,500. Even at this affordable price, you get standard features like Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, 7-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth, air conditioning, power windows, four-way power-adjustable driver's seat, CornerStep rear bumper, rearview camera, and Teen Driver safety system.
The cheapest Toyota Tacoma comes is $25,700. And we’re not sure why the Tacoma costs so much more. Standard features include cloth seats, power windows and door locks, 4.2-inch multi-information digital instrument display, and Entune infotainment system with 6.1-inch touch screen, six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, USB port (plus two more charging ports), and Siri Eyes Free. There’s also the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features comes standard too. We can see why the Tacoma costs more, given there’s slightly more standard features on the base trim level. But $5,000 worth more? We don’t see it.
Fuel Economy: 2019 Chevy Colorado
There are reasons you’re not look at full-size pickups. One of those might be that you want a regular hauler that doesn’t cost you a fortune at the pump. Well, not all compact pickups are created equal. If you want great fuel economy, one of these trucks is not like the other. The 2019 Chevy Colorado gets 20 city miles and 26 highway miles per gallon. With the diesel engine, the highway mileage improves to 30 mpg.
On the other hand, the 2019 Toyota Tacoma gets 20 city miles and 23 highway miles per gallon with the base engine. And with the V6 engine, the Tacoma gets 19 city and 24 highway miles. If you’re always in stop-and-go traffic, the Colorado and Tacoma are roughly equal in fuel economy. But the Colorado will save you a bundle over its lifetime if you regularly drive on the highway.
Towing Capacity: 2019 Chevy Colorado
At the same time, there’s a reason you’re buying a truck and not a sedan. You want that truck bed, that power, the ability to tow and haul to your heart’s content and to finish the day’s work. And the true measure of a truck is its towing capacity. That’s why we think you’ll be pleased with the 2019 Colorado, which posts some of the mightiest numbers in this category. The Colorado is slated to tow up to 7,700 pounds, when outfitted with the diesel engine. By comparison, the Tacoma tows up to 6,800 pounds. Even the V6 on the Colorado tows more than the best the Tacoma musters. And in terms of payload capacity, the Tacoma outdoes the Colorado by less than 40 pounds, but that’s an edge that’s so small it’s virtually a tie.