Think about it divine windfall that all the mid-size pickup truck section is all-new at precisely the identical time. The Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma have all entered new generations inside the final 12 months. This section was stuffed with ho-hum previous metallic for a very long time, so it is time to line these vehicles up and see how their early specs evaluate.
2024 Toyota Tacoma lineup.
Powertrain
The bottom Tacoma SR comes with a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four gasoline engine making 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed computerized transmissions. Transferring up into different trims will increase the engine output to 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet; nonetheless, choosing the six-speed handbook drops these figures to 270 and 310, respectively. Consumers can even electrify themselves with a 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain that enhances output to 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado lineup.
The Chevy Colorado additionally comes with three powertrain choices, all of that are primarily based on a turbocharged 2.7-liter I-4 and an eight-speed computerized. The bottom configuration produces 237 horsepower and 259 pound-feet, whereas the Turbo Plus setup hikes these figures as much as 310 and 390. The Turbo HO (Excessive Output) powertrain, which is normal on ZR2 and optionally available elsewhere, makes use of software program to push the torque even larger, to 430 pound-feet.
The 2024 Ford Ranger comes with two non-Raptor powertrain choices, each of which mate to a 10-speed auto. The bottom turbocharged 2.3-liter I-4 makes 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet, whereas choosing the beefier 2.7-liter V-6 will grant you 315 horses and 400 twists. The extra hardcore Ranger Raptor bulks up even additional, with a 3.0-liter V-6 making 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet.
2024 Ford Ranger lineup.
Towing and Hauling
Toyota has not but divulged full specs for the 2024 Tacoma (not the final time we’ll say this right here). Whereas we do not have towing and payload figures for the entire lineup, we do know that the non-base 2.4-liter can tow as much as 6500 kilos, with the two.4-liter hybrid not far behind at 6000 kilos. The one out there payload determine is for the hybrid, at 1709 kilos.
Chevrolet’s Colorado can tow a bit extra, however it hauls a bit much less. Practically each trim can tow as much as 7700 kilos, though the bottom WT and LT trims require choices to take action; the ZR2 solely manages 6000 kilos, identical because the Tacoma hybrid. WT and LT Colorados can haul essentially the most, at 1684 kilos, with Path Boss and Z71 trims able to 1587. The ZR2 is clearly not meant for hauling as a lot, as it may possibly solely muster 1151 kilos out again.
The story is comparable with the Ford Ranger, though its functionality is damaged down by drivetrain. Each two- and four-wheel-drive variants can tow 7500 kilos, with 4×2 fashions hauling 1805 kilos and 4×4 fashions slightly below that at 1711. The Ranger Raptor is rather less succesful, with a 1411-pound payload capability and a max towing weight of 5510 kilos.
Suspension and Brakes
The 2024 Tacoma is plagued by new suspension bits throughout the lineup. SR, SR5 XtraCab and TRD PreRunner variants proceed to run leaf springs within the rear, however different trims decide up a multi-link suspension as a substitute. Totally different grades have completely different shocks: TRD Off-Highway sports activities Bilstein monotubes with distant reservoirs, TRD Professional wears Fox adjustable internal-bypass shocks, whereas Trailhunter rocks ARB’s Outdated Man Emu monotube shocks. Should you’re after extra on-road consolation, the Restricted variant makes use of Toyota’s adaptive dampers.
Issues are a bit easier on the Colorado. Non-ZR2 fashions sport twin-tube shocks with rear leaf springs. As earlier than, the ZR2 upgrades to Multimatic’s DSSV dampers. That is it. Good and straightforward.
The Ford Ranger is not any extra complicated. Commonplace fashions include rear leaf springs and outboard shocks. The Ranger Raptor makes use of a coil-over setup with adaptive Fox Dwell Valve dampers, and the rear ditches the leaf springs in favor of a Watts-style getup with trailing arms.
All three vehicles now come normal with four-wheel disc brakes. Welcome to the longer term, Toyota.
Off-Highway
Toyota has solely divulged off-road-specific specs for the Tacoma TRD Professional, and it is unclear when figures will arrive for all the opposite variants. The TRD Professional provides 9.5 inches of floor clearance and 11 inches of operating floor clearance; as well as, it provides a 33.8-degree method angle, a 23.5-degree breakover, and a 25.7-degree departure angle.
The Colorado provides between 7.9 (WT, LT) and 9.5 (Path Boss) inches of floor clearance, rising to 10.7 inches on the ZR2. The Z71 provides 29.1-degree method, 19.5-degree breakover, and 22.3-degree departure angles; the Path Boss is a bit of higher at 30.5, 21, and 22.4 levels, respectively. The ZR2 is clearly the king of the trims—method is a meaty 38.3 levels, breakover is 24.6 levels and departure is 25.1.
Ford additionally makes use of operating floor clearance, which measures 8.8 inches on rear-drive fashions and 9.3 inches with four-wheel drive, rising to 10.7 inches on the Raptor. 4×2 Rangers provides 29.2-degree method, 21.8-degree breakover, and 25.1-degree departure angles, enhancing to 30.2 levels, 23.0 levels, and 25.8 levels (respectively) in 4×4 guise. The Raptor has them each beat, although; the angriest Ranger guarantees a 33.0-degree method, 24.2-degree breakover, and 26.4-degree departure.
Dimension and Weight
The Taco is available in each two-door and four-door variants, with the previous providing a six-foot mattress and the latter providing a alternative of five- or six-foot beds. The Colorado’s five-foot-two-inch mattress is all Chevy provides, and the Ranger’s sole mattress is available in at 5 ft even.
We do not have too many dimensions from Toyota but, however we’ve just a few, and there are lots out there from each Chevy and Ford. The Ranger’s 128.7-inch wheelbase is a bit lower than the Colorado’s 131.4-inch span, however the Tacoma tops them each at 131.9 inches. The Colorado is the tallest of the three. Inside, headroom is almost even between the Ranger and Colorado, as is rear legroom; Toyota stays tight-lipped on any inside measurements.
Nevertheless, curb weights could not be extra completely different—the Ranger’s producer estimates vary from 4203 to 4415 kilos, whereas the Colorado ranges from 4716 to 4971 kilos. The off-road variants are fairly shut, although, with Colorado ZR2 weighing 5298 kilos to the Ranger Raptor’s 5325. As for the Tacoma, we’ll have to attend to search out out.
2024 Toyota Tacoma.
Tech
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma’s decrease grades get a seven-inch gauge cluster and an eight-inch infotainment show, with larger grades rising to incorporate a 12.3-inch digital gauge show and a 14-inch heart touchscreen. Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is obtainable, whereas three USB-C ports are supplied within the entrance row, with the choice so as to add extra for rear-seat passengers. Keyless begin is normal, and with the connected-car subscription enabled, sure units can use a totally digital key.
2024 Ford Ranger Lariat.
The Ranger’s tech choices are barely bigger on base fashions, with an eight-inch digital gauge cluster and a ten.1-inch central show normal, every rising to a respective 12.4 inches. Chevrolet has democratized its tech a bit of higher, with each variant receiving the identical 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with normal wi-fi smartphone mirroring.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado Z71.
Worth
Since all three autos are new, and just one is definitely on sale as of this writing, pricing info stays mild. The Tacoma’s pricing doubtless will not seem for some time but, because it goes on sale later this 12 months. A base 2024 Ranger XL will set you again $35,755, whereas the Raptor is a bit dearer at $58,555.
Colorado pricing is already established, although. A base two-wheel-drive Colorado WT will run you $30,695, whereas the 2WD LT will set you again $33,095. Stepping as much as the beefier Path Boss brings the full to $38,495, with the Z71 asking $41,395. On the prime of the lineup, the hardcore ZR2 might be had for $48,295, a relative discount over the Ranger Raptor.
Senior Editor
Automobiles are Andrew Krok’s jam, together with boysenberry. After graduating with a level in English from the College of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew minimize his enamel writing freelance journal options, and now he has a decade of full-time assessment expertise below his belt. A Chicagoan by delivery, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Possibly sooner or later he’ll do one thing about that half-finished engineering diploma.