2024 Toyota Tacoma Vs. Ford Ranger vs. Chevy Colorado: How They Compare (2023)

It's a treat to see the entire mid-size pickup class new at the same time. thisChevrolet Colorado,ford ranger, andToyota TacomaThey all entered the new generation last year. This part has been scrap metal for a long time, so it's time to line these trucks up and see how their early specs compare.

Drive System

The base Tacoma SR comes with a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four gas engine rated at 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Moving to other trims increases engine output to 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft. However, opting for the six-speed manual transmission drops those numbers to 270 and 310, respectively. Buyers can also electrify with a 2.4-liter hybrid system that boosts output to 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft.

The Chevrolet Colorado also comes with three engine options, based on a 2.7-liter turbocharged I-4 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base trim makes 237 hp and 259 lb-ft, while the Turbo Plus trim boosts those numbers to 310 and 390. A Turbo HO (high output) powertrain, standard on the ZR2 and optional elsewhere, uses software to push torque even higher, to 430 lb-ft.

The 2024 Ford Ranger comes with two non-Raptor engine options, both paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The base 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4 makes 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft, while opting for the range-topping 2.7-liter V-6 gives you 315 horsepower and 400 rpm. The beefier Ranger Raptor goes a step further with a 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft.

towing and towing

Toyota has yet to reveal the full specs for the 2024 Tacoma (and this won't be the last time we say this). While we don't have towing and payload figures for the entire lineup, we do know that the non-base 2.4-liter can tow up to 6,500 pounds, with the 2.4-liter hybrid not far behind at 6,000 pounds. The only payload figure available is for the hybrid, at 1709 pounds.

Chevrolet's Colorado can tow a little more, but tow a little less. Almost every trim can tow up to 7,700 pounds, though base WT and LT trims require options to do so. The ZR2, like the Tacoma Hybrid, can only handle 6,000 pounds. The WT and LT Colorado tow the most at 1684 pounds, while the Trail Boss and Z71 trims can tow 1587 pounds. The ZR2 is clearly not meant to tow that much, as it can only carry 1,151 pounds in the back.

The story is similar to the Ford Ranger, although its features are divided by powertrain. Both two- and four-wheel-drive models tow 7,500 pounds, the 4x2 model tows 1,805 pounds and the 4x4 model just under 1,711 pounds. The Ranger Raptor is slightly less capable with a towing capacity of 1411 pounds and a maximum towing weight of 5510 kg.

Suspension and brakes

The 2024 Tacoma gets new suspension pieces across the lineup. SR, SR5 XtraCab and TRD PreRunner versions continue to ride with rear leaf springs, but other trims get multi-link suspension. The shocks vary in quality: Sport TRD Off-Road Bilstein monotube with remote reservoir, TRD Pro with adjustable Fox internal bypass shocks and Trailhunter with ARB's Old Man Emu monotube shocks. If you want more comfort on the road, the Limited uses Toyota's adaptive dampers.

The situation in Colorado is simpler. Non-ZR2 models have twin-tube shocks with rear springs. As before, the ZR2 upgrades to Multimatic's DSSV dampers. This is. Well, easy.

The Ford Ranger is not complicated. Standard models have rear leaf springs and outboard shock absorbers. The Ranger Raptor uses a coil-over setup with Fox Live adaptive valve dampers, a Watt-style trailing arm setup at the rear and leaf springs.

All three trucks now come standard with four-wheel disc brakes. Welcome to the future, Toyota.

off-road

Toyota has only revealed off-road specs for the Tacoma TRD Pro, and it's unclear when figures for all other versions will arrive. The TRD Pro offers 9.5 inches of ground clearance and 11 inches of ground clearance. In addition, it offers an approach angle of 33.8 degrees, a climb angle of 23.5 degrees and a departure angle of 25.7 degrees.

The Colorado offers ground clearance between 7.9 (WT, LT) and 9.5 (Trail Boss), rising to 10.7 inches in the ZR2. The Z71 offers an approach angle of 29.1 degrees, a corner angle of 19.5 degrees and a departure angle of 22.3 degrees. The Trail Boss was slightly better at 30.5, 21 and 22.4 degrees. The ZR2 is clearly the king of trim - 38.3 degrees of approach angle, 24.6 degrees of turn angle and 25.1 degrees of departure angle.

Ford also played with the ground clearance, which is 8.8 inches on rear-wheel drive models and 9.3 inches on all-wheel drive models, rising to 10.7 inches on the Raptor. The 4x2 Rangers offer an approach angle of 29.2 degrees, a breakover angle of 21.8 degrees and a departure angle of 25.1 degrees, better than the 30.2 degrees, 23.0 degrees and 25.8 degrees (respectively) of the 4x4 -form. However, their Raptors have two winners. The furious Ranger promises 33.0 degrees of approach, 24.2 degrees of departure and 26.4 degrees of departure.

size and weight

The Taco is available in two-door and four-door versions, the former with a six-foot bed and the latter with a five- or six-foot bed. The Colorado's 5-foot-2 bed is the only one offered in the Chevy, while the Ranger's unique bed can be raised an additional 5 feet.

We don't have many sizes from Toyota yet, but we do have some, and both Chevrolet and Ford have plenty. The Ranger's 128.7-inch wheelbase is slightly shorter than the Colorado's 131.4-inch wheelbase, but the Tacoma's are both 131.9 inches. Colorado is the tallest of the three. Inside, headroom is roughly the same between the Ranger and Colorado, as is rear legroom. All of Toyota's internal metrics were flat.

Curb weight doesn't differ much, though—manufacturer estimates range from 4,203 to 4,415 pounds for the Ranger and 4,716 to 4,971 pounds for the Colorado. The off-road models come very close, however, with the Colorado ZR2 at 5,298 pounds and the Ranger Raptor at 5,325. As for Tacoma, we'll have to wait and see.

science and technology

Lower grades of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma get a 7-inch instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment screen, and higher grades add a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 14-inch center touchscreen. Wireless smartphone mirroring is available, and three USB-C ports are available up front, with rear passengers having the option to add more. Keyless start is standard and a full digital key is available for some units when a connected car subscription is activated.

The Ranger's tech offerings are slightly larger on the base model, with an 8-inch digital gauge cluster and a standard 10.1-inch center screen, each growing to a corresponding 12.4 inches. Chevrolet has democratized its technology a bit, with each version featuring the same 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and standard wireless smartphone mirror.

taken

Since all three cars are new and only one is actually for sale at the time of writing, pricing information is still scarce. Pricing for the Tacoma will not be announced yet, as it is expected to launch later this year. The base 2024 Ranger XL is priced at $35,755, while the Raptor is slightly more expensive at $58,555.

However, the Colorado prices are already set. The base two-wheel-drive Colorado WT is $30,695, while the 2WD LT is $33,095. Stepping up to the top Trail Boss brings the total to $38,495, while the Z71 asks for $41,395. At the top of the range, the powerful ZR2 is $48,295, which is a relative steal for the Ranger Raptor.