Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford Ranger vs. Chevrolet Colorado: Midsize Truck Comparison Test 

It’s a close race between these three midsizers. Which are you picking for your garage? Let us know in the comments below!

If you have one that's reliable and paid off - keep it...

Bring on the Ranger Raptor please…

Emme, you just get better every year. Your insights are always the best!

I was originally suppose to get the 2024 Tacoma. Instead got a 2024 Colorado Trail Boss. I like it.

Nice job Emme! I would have liked to see the Nissan Frontier in this comparison...

Never thought the day would come when I'd have to admit a Chevy had a better interior than anything else.

Only clicked for Emme. Enjoy her reviews.

the rear back seat lift and secure via a strap/button was a huge fail for toyota. atleast ford's works correctly.

For me, I'm going Ranger Lariat 4x4 FX4 2.7 V6

Emme you are the Queen of vehicle reviews & off-roading. Top notch quality review & presentation as always. I have watched every one of your videos since your TFL Car days, even if I don't care about the subject material. You're awesome! Keep up the great work. Thank you!

I’m buying the Ford ranger 2.7

Nissan Frontier! V6 engine normally aspirated!

What a great video!!! I am a ford f150 guy but have been thinking about the Colorado trail boss. This video provides great insight and reinforces some of my thoughts. Thank you!

If ford comes out and reliability is on the higher end, they will be number 2 and maybe eventually back to number 1 in this segment.

Bought the Colorado trail boss. $42,500 with the 360 camera, remote start, adaptive cruise, factory bed liner, blind spot monitoring, trailer brake control and 7700 tow capacity. A comparable XLT Ranger is about $4k more and I like the appearance of the trail boss with the factory lift more than the fx4 Ranger. Plus you’ve got more power and towing. Yeah it’s a ton of money for a mid size truck but beats paying the Toyota tax for a taco that was made in Mexico.

Ford Ranger is probably Best Buy at decent price . Visibility is important

Very close competition, all three are really nice trucks. My preference would be the Ranger equipped with the V6 twin turbo engine.

I'd probably get the Nissan Frontier because its the only one with a naturally asperated V6

GREAT REVIEW!!! Felt like you were really honest and unbiased in your review of these trucks! Really helped me make up my mind. Keep up the good work and yes you were funny too.

After months of research and a few test drives, I purchased a new 2024 Colorado ZR2. It was nearly fully loaded for less than $52,000 including lane keep, adaptive cruise control, 360 camera etc. after primarily looking at the 2024 Tacomas, I was left feeling as if it was just a very mid truck. That’s the best way I can describe it. It was just meh with no personality. The mid spec trd sport/offroads at my dealer were over $53,000 with much less features than the zr2, I was not a fan of that. Can’t imagine how much the trd pro will cost when they come out, more than likely over $60k and even then the $51,000 zr2 will still compete. I test drove a manual 24 Tacoma and an automatic 24 Trd offroad, as well as a 24 Colorado z71 (hard to find zr2 in stock so I could only guess how it felt) but I am so very happy and pleased with the Colorado zr2. Tacomas power plant was very buzzy and felt very gutless. I’ve had my zr2 for almost a week and I’m passing through 500 miles and have been on it very hard the past few days. It is incredibly fun offroad and makes tons of torque, 430lbft if I recall. The 4wd launch control on it is actually quite impressive, gives a nice whiplash! I was really pleasantly surprised. I couldn’t be any happier with my choice so far!

Base trim King Cab Nissan Frontier, for me. Simpler mechanicals, steel bed, analog gauges, simple climate controls, small screen, conventional gear lever... easy win.

Such an amazing job of presenting all the facts, so articulate! Love it

FRONTIER BABY! V6 low key winning all day....😂

I have always liked your videos, I think you’re one of the best

It’s definitely a hot segment right now. Ranger looks remarkably polished. Would be a tough decision depending on local selection, pricing and feel from the drivers seat during a test drive.

Best comparison yet and thanks!

What about the new Nissan Frontier?

I'm definitely between the Colorado and the Ranger. I prefer the look of the Colorado and the offroad features + 4-Auto (which I use both quite a bit), but I like the quality, powertrain, and day to day features of the Ranger. Tough choice... will have to go with my gut feeling! or maybe will be based on if one of them has a nice discount at the time of purchase :) P.S. I really don't mind the headlight controls on the chevy. Having owned a tesla, it's not an issue at all.

Sorry if I missed this in the video, but isn’t the Colorado the only one that has full time four-wheel-drive in the lower trims?

I have had my Colorado almost a year and never needed my headlight switch.

Great Review. To the point. Punchy and informational. :)

Buttons instead of screens all the way! Everyone will be getting into accidents fooling around with their truck televisions. How is that legal.

Not going to choose at this time. Let's revisit this question at 100k, 200k, and 300k miles. Last truck standing wins.

Love my 2019 Frontier.

Why no frontier?

Great job Emma as usual

Loved my 2019 Ranger Lariat and would definitely buy one again if I needed a truck, especially given all the improvements they made to it.

That was great. Thank you!

If i only had these three to choose from, i think i would buy the Ranger. Unfortunately for the difference in mpg and interior room I opted for the Maverick. If i was towing more weight i would have probably bought the Ranger or F150. Besides saving at the gas pump I also saved thousands on the purchase, ka-ching, laughing all the way to the bank.

Thanks, Emme for not being a Toyota fan-girl, and giving us an honest review.

Edmunds Cars: GM has full time 4 wheel drive. Have to go to Limited trim in Taco and Ranger Raptor to get that. No ventilated seats in Ranger either. No rear vent in Ranger. Rear seat space in Taco is much smaller than other two. GMC Canyon offers more value than the others in my opinion while Ranger has best proven powertrain. Ranger styling is way too conservative too, others much more aggressive.

The Chevy Colorado's available towing capacity is 7,700 models, but models like the ZR2 can only tow 6,000 pounds. The Ford Ranger maxes out at 7,500 pounds, but its Raptor model only musters 5,000 pounds of towing capability.

I have a Red Ford Maverick Tremor and I love it.It’s not heavy duty at all but for basic needs it’s fantastic.

Great info and an excellent presentation. You get an "A" in Public Speaking. No extraneous info, like, the weather, your dog, etc.

Very informative....thank you! So, the Tacoma is the only one with ventilated seats available? And wonder what mileage the Tacoma hybrid will get....think I read somewhere that won't get mileage as good as the hybrid Venza, but more like the hybrid Tundra and Sequoia?

We need more Emme!

9:03 “Check the tech” gives me nostalgia for the days of Emmie making videos at CNET 🥺

I BET money on FORD ranger,,, man

lol..."Orange you glad" + 10 pts for the dad joke 😃have now compared all 3 (And yes, have owned previous gens of all 3) and couldn't agree more with the ratings. Great comparo.

Not buying a truck with a 4-banger. Period. Frontier is a far better option in so many respects to these three options.

Ford Ranger can hold a full sized 4x8 sheet of plywood. That's big in my world where I use my trucks, as work trucks.

Emme Hall is an amazing presenter

Best delivery and presentation of any car/truck reviewer on RU-vid. E-V-E-R. She definitely gets it!

which one resists splashed soda the best? Emme votes for that one.

I don't think your Tacoma actually has wireless charging. It doesn't look like it has the indicator lights for charging like I've seen in other videos...

I have 27,000 miles on my '23 Colorado, the headlight switch is a non-issue when you actually drive the vehicle daily. It takes as much time and effort as moving your left hand down and turning a knob. On the other hand, I can't imagine having to use the screen to lock diffs, turn on ventilated seats, etc, like on the Ranger!

i'm 9 seconds in, and you're right. I'm just going to go out and buy a Taco!

Long term reliability and resale will prove the value of the Tacoma

Don't get why every reviewer acts like the headlight switch is a big deal. Haven't had to touch the headlight switch in over 20 years with GM's auto headlights.

No Ridgeline or Frontier in the comparison?

"I own a 2008 Tacoma TRD Sport package with 220k miles, and it has never given me any issues. I was waiting to upgrade to the new 2024 Tacoma, but the disappearance of the 4-cylinder turbo engine option has disappointed me, so l've decided to go with a Ford Ranger instead."

Great time to buy a truck? Have you seen prices?

Totally agree with the ranking ….. I’m waiting for the Ranger 2.7

Good comparison. 1 question though.... how many redbulls did you slam before the video? Lol😅

I got the 23 Trailboss, tons of trailboss content on my channel. almost 20K miles and no issues, love it so far.

Just bought a 2024 Canyon Elevation for 40k pretty well equipped. Liked the 11 inch driver screen standard as well as the factory 2 inch lift. We also have a 2017 Tacoma TRD Sport with 135k miles which has never seen the shop for anything but routine maintenance, so switching to the GMC is a leap of faith. I couldn't get past the steep price increase (Paid 31.5k for my Tacoma, and similiarly equipped 2024 was going to run 47k), the inability to order a truck exactly as we wanted it spec-ed, and that new engine looks atrocious with the plethora of potentially leaky hoses. Time will tell obviously.

Let’s see Emme Fly the Raptor! 💪🏻

The Colorado is pretty much the truck that does everything that 90% or more of buyers would ever want. GM really did their homework on dialing in the chassis and suspension tuning where it balances competent road manners, with actual overlanding capabilities. Yes, everyone knows that the 2023 Colorado and Canyon have had some issues, but they have pretty much all been related to the CANBUS and computer control systems that are fixed with firmware updates and larger capacity batteries. I haven't heard of any major mechanical or powertrain failures, and I think this is because they were Feild tested and proven in the Silverado and Sierra 1500's several years prior. The Colorado would be my first choice over the others.

Great review. Much better than Motortrend’s

I'm buying a Colorado next weekend. Love that truck!!!

Oh wow! It's Emme!!! You've been busy, huh? It's been forever since I saw a vid with you. 🙂

I’ll keep my 2010 Tundra, 50,000 bucks will buy a lot of gas for my double over head cam V-8. Tow anything I need, and it will still be running strong long after these turbos burn up. Rip off! Sticker on mine was 31,000. Thanks uncle Brandon!

im a toyota person but the Ranger is a world platform all over the world, and proven to bad we cant get the diesel here...was driving one in Vietnam a couple weeks ago great vehicle

Wanna back up a trailer easy.. 1.Put your hand at 6 o clock on steering wheel. 2. Now turn the steering wheel what ever way you want trailer to move in your mirrors. 3. Pull up a bit if need be till you get it right. Small trailers move quicker then longer ones!

Who is the best selling of this three?

Tacoma: “There’s no step on the bumper”- cameraman pans to show the bumper step a foot away from her foot🤦🏻‍♂️

Most important factor for me is looks. Tacoma and Colorado look mean and tough. Ranger looks curvy and non-intimidating. I bought the Colorado

Have you considered long term dependability? The Toyota brand is the best by far of all brands. Does this translate to the Tacoma? What happened to the Nissan Frontier?

I have a 2022 Colorado myself. Z71 fully loaded. My buddy has a 2022 tacoma TRDpro. We kept arguing about who's was better so we both took a ride in each, drove each ourselves. Judged them on everything and even raced them. We both agreed my Colorado was better in almost every single category, even winning the race, gas mileage, and having the nicer interior. We agreed the ride was smoother and a nicer drive than the tacoma, but being the TRDpro his was better offload, especially since I had street tires and he had all terrains

The Ford and the GM are assembled in the US. Tacoma which I loved is now assembled exclusively in Mexico and the Pro4X is now starting at $65k.

I am going to buy the Ford Ranger 2.7

Should have included the frontier!

none of these have a V6, the Frontier outshines all of these, the larger displacement has less wear over time compared to a 4 cylinder running at a higher RPM to get the same power, that's why the previous Toyota engines in V6 and V8 last so long, they run at lower rpms, this new 4 banger in all these models shown will not have the longevity compared to a NA engine, also Dont forgot to factor in the cost of a turbo replacement can be 3-4K$ so what ever fuel savings you make, keep it handy

Nissan Frontier is Mid-Side Truck on Platform F-Alpha Mid-Size Full-Size Since D40

The Ford Ranger will be #1 with in a year it’s the only truck with 3 engine options. Hopefully they make a kingranch version with the 3.0 V6 as an option. Then Dodge will come out with the new Dakota with the inline 6 Hurricane Engine

Talk about reliability, thats the most important thing lady.

I have a 2023 colorado and I really like this comparison but I disagree on the worst feature on the interior of the Colorado. It is definitely the lack of a sunglasses holder in the headliner. My 2021 had a great holder. This truck non existent. That's just dumb.

One category you didn’t mention which is the most important is the reliability and longevity.

6 foot bed? Thx tacoma

Former long time Ford Ranger owner. You couldn't give me a Ford product today. Reliability issues throughout the Ford line is an ongoing issue. Look at all the sketchy dealer practices Ford dealers have become known for over the past few years. I moved away from the Ford line in 2004 & never looked back.

People buy Toyota based on history reliability and resale value regardless what ford or Chevy do their truck.

I found mostly trade-offs between the Ranger and Colorado. I was originally going with the Colorado LT because I could get it with a sunroof, but that required an upgrade to 4WD, which I really didn't need. Comparing the interior of the Colorado LT with the Ranger XLT, I did not like the cloth seat material in the Colorado which is rough and comes only in black, while the Ranger offers a softer tan cloth material. The Colorado also does not have front passenger seat height adjustment (manual or powered) at any trim level, while the Ranger offers both for the passenger front seat. The Ranger XLT also has a back seat fold down center arm rest standard, while the Colorado LT only offers that with the leather trim in Convenience Pkg III, which adds even more to the price. So, by going with the Ranger XLT optioned the way I want it, I am saving about $3500 than going with the Colorado. I like both trucks, but the Ranger basically won primarily due to the seats.

I just ordered a 2024 Colorado Trail boss (TB) w/ the standard 2.7L TurboMax engine (310 hp/ 430 Torque). I got it loaded (Convenience II, Safety, Tech, Adv Trailering, 20" Wheel, spray in bed liner), it was also much cheaper than a comparably equipped Ranger. The TB has a factory 2" lift and can be flat-towed behind a motor home. Neither the Ford or the Toyota can be flat-towed.

The Tacoma has dominated this market for a reason. I will be test driving a Colorado this coming week though, just to see.

I like to keep my cars/trucks for at least 15 years. Reliability is a huge factor especially for a daily driver. Next is interior comfort and climate control button/knobs functionality.

Let's see, one will see 300,000 miles, and two of them will see the inside of the repair shop before 100,000. Take a guess on which is always the smarter buy. But then everyone seems to be made of money.

Just picked up a new Ranger XLT FX4. Replaced my 2021 Ranger XLT Sport with Technology pack. I love the addition of the good size screen (12”). New seats are considerably better. Glad the 2.3L/10spd carried over. I like it. But it feels more responsive in the new truck. Things I’m missing from my old truck (purely because they weren’t optioned on my new truck): active cruise (loved it!), front parking sensors, plus two small but super convenient features: Ford’s touch pad entry (so handy!), and the lock/unlock buttons for all doors that were in my old truck but aren’t in my new one. They too were really handy. One thing I will say, Ford screwed us here in the USA. XLT for $44K and no keyless entry and push button start!? Come on Ford, do better!

Do the other 2 come with a manual transmission in the USA?....No? Then they are not a consideration.

Good video. Not me I would my a Ranger if I was looking for a midsize. That's funny to me they have a switch to lower all four windows on the Colorado but they don't have a switch for your headlights. The only thing that would concern me with the Colorado is the 2.7 four-cylinder. 430 lb of torque out of a four-cylinder with one turbo is a lot of torque to me that doesn't seem like that engine was built for longevity. 😁