Exterior comparison of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD truck in white color head to head with the 2021 Chevy Colorado Z71 in orange color

2021 Toyota Tacoma vs. Chevrolet Colorado: Which to Buy?


If you are in the market for a compact pickup truck, you will want to know the differences between the 2021 Toyota Tacoma vs. the 2021 Chevy Colorado to see which truck is better for you. We hope to answer that vital question as we compare the new Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado spec for spec. Read through our Tacoma or Colorado comparison to learn more about the performance, pricing, trim levels, tow ratings, and both trucks' interior features.

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2021 Toyota Tacoma

New 2021 Toyota Tacoma shown riding through the desert in army green exterior color

2021 Chevy Colorado

New 2021 Chevy Colorado in blue exterior color driving by a forest on a dirt road

2021 Toyota Tacoma Price & Trims

You have six trim levels to choose from with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, at a base starting price of $26,150.

  • SR: $26,150
  • SR5: $27,940
  • TRD Sport: $33,060
  • TRD Off-Road: $34,315
  • Limited: $38,905
  • TRD Pro: $44,075

2021 Chevy Colorado Price & Trims

Compared to the Tacoma, the 2021 Chevy Colorado has a slightly higher starting price ($26,395) and less variety with only four trim levels.

  • WT: $26,395
  • LT: $28,895
  • Z71: $34,995
  • ZR2: $42,795

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2021 Toyota Tacoma Interior

Interior front dashboard and center console inside the 2021 Toyota Tacoma

The 2021 Tacoma Access Cab holds four people, while the Double Cab has room for five instead. There are plenty of standard features, such as the seven-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, three USB ports, satellite radio, voice recognition, and a six-speaker sound system.

2021 Chevy Colorado Interior

Whether you choose the Toyota Tacoma or Chevy Colorado, you have room for 4-5 people. Standard features with the 2021 Chevy Colorado truck are comparable with a seven-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, and six-speaker sound system. However, this truck only comes with two USB ports and doesn't offer standard voice recognition or Amazon Alexa.

2021 Toyota Tacoma Exterior

Rear side exterior view of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD truck

The exterior dimensions of 2021 Toyota Tacoma trucks measure 212-226″ L x 74-75″ W x 71-72″ H and offer either the 5-foot or 6-foot-1-inch bed sizes. These trucks come with composite bed walls and a unique bed rail system. You can choose between ten exterior paint colors, including Voodoo Blue, Super White, Wind Chill Pearl, Silver Sky Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Cement, Midnight Black Metallic, Barcelona Red Metallic, Army Green, and Lunar Rock.

2021 Chevy Colorado Exterior

As you evaluate all of your options, Chevy Colorado or Toyota Tacoma, you want to know comparable sizes. The exterior dimensions of the Colorado measure 212-225″ L x 74-77″ W x 70-73″ H with either a 6-foot-2-inch or a 5-foot-2-inch bed. Unlike the Tacoma, you can only choose seven exterior colors with a new 2021 Chevy Colorado: Sand Dune Metallic, Crush, Satin Steel Metallic, Summit White, Black, Bright Blue Metallic, and Cherry Red Tintcoat.

2021 Toyota Tacoma Engines & Powertrain

Power is everything as you evaluate smaller trucks like the Chevy Colorado vs. Toyota Tacoma. Base 2021 Toyota Tacoma models come with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 159 horsepower. However, there is an optional 3.5-liter V6 outputting 278 horsepower as well. You can also choose the six-speed manual or opt for an automatic transmission instead. With the base 2.7L engine, expect 20 city/23 highway mpg, while the upgraded V6 powertrain achieves 18 city/22 highway mpg. Additionally, a look at the Chevy Colorado and Toyota Tacoma off-road capability shows that the 2021 Tacoma TRD Off-Road is your best option.

2021 Chevy Colorado Engines & Powertrain

The 2021 Chevy Colorado offers several powertrain options. The base model has a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, but there is also a 308-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and 181-horsepower 2.8-liter four-cylinder. These pair with a six- or eight-speed automatic transmission. The base motor achieves 19 city/25 highway mpg, while the V6 is rated at 18 city/25 highway mpg. However, the turbodiesel can achieve 20 city/30 highway mpg. As you look at the Colorado ZR2 vs. Tacoma TRD Off-Road, you'll still see that the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD trucks come better equipped for trail functionality.

2021 Toyota Tacoma Towing & Payload

Red 2021 Toyota Tacoma truck towing a large trailer

When properly equipped, you can expect the 2021 Toyota Tacoma max tow rating to reach 6,800 lbs. You can also expect a max payload rating of 1,685 pounds.

2021 Chevy Colorado Towing & Payload

Were you looking at the new Toyota Tacoma or Chevy Colorado for towing? The Chevy truck will tow up to 7,000 pounds, but it only hauls a payload up to 1,578 pounds.

2021 Toyota Tacoma Safety Technology

Safety is a top priority with Toyota, which is seen with all the standard equipment included. All 2021 Toyota Tacoma models have adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic high-beam headlights.

2021 Chevy Colorado Safety Technology

The 2021 Chevy Colorado lacks some of the most basic safety features drivers expect to see. Base models only come standard with a rearview camera and the Teen Driver System. Everything else requires an upgrade to either a better trim level or a safety package.

New Toyota Tacoma or Chevy Colorado? Here's Why the Tacoma Wins.

New 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD trucks parked on a grassy field opening

Decision time. The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has several advantages over the 2021 Chevy Colorado. The new Toyota Tacoma has a lower starting price, a more extensive variety of trims, more color choices, more customization, hauls more equipment, and is an all-around safer truck to drive. Not to mention Toyota's stellar reliability ratings as well as the off-road prowess of the Tacoma TRD models. While the 2021 Chevy Colorado is a nice truck, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma goes above and beyond while staying lock-in-step with pricing. Why not spend the same amount of money for more? Go with the new Toyota Tacoma to get more for your dollar.

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