I've got a DCLB Colorado diesel to test along side my Taco this weekend.......

Block them in..... leave when you're ready.

 

Okay so I used a set of metrics to score both rigs. I did a 26 mile loop run (same as last night) to measure fuel efficiency. My entire family (4 of us) drove on both rigs, back to back.

I used a 1-5 scale, 1 being piss poor and 5 being hot damn this is awesome.

1. Test route- 26 miles. Steep steady uphill climb, then leveling out, then down hill. Turn around and reverse. Speeds held at 70-80mph in both rigs.

Toyota- 18.2 avg MPG (3)
Colorado- 26.5 MPG (5)

2. Open Highway- measured 5 mile relatively flat section of route and checked mpg at 80mph.

Toyota- 16.5MPG (1)
Colorado- 32 MPG (5)

3. Comfort (Driver and passenger mainly)
Toyota- 5
Colorado-2

4. Ergonomics- Is everything well placed? Knobs, controls etc. Visibility front, sides and rear..
Toyota-4
Colorado-3 (gets dinged on visibility a bit- not as good as the Toyota

5. Towing (this is based on what I know from towing my boat, and what I can feel with the Colorado. I have a lot of towing experience with my old 3/4 ton...So trust me, lol)
Taco- 2
Colorado- 5

6. Offroad ability-
Taco- 5
Colorado- 3 (yes, it will go on rutted, dirt, forest roads. I live on one...)

7. Range (distance on 20 gal of fuel based on highway)
Taco- 330 miles @16.5mpg (2)
Colorado- 560 miles at 28mpg (I used a worse case) (5)

8. Price (new)
Taco OR DCLB- you can bargain to around 38,000- $38,500 ish (3)
Colorado- this one is the midnight special, leather, Bose, diesel and they are at $40,000 (3)

9. Resale-
Okay- I have a tough one with this. If I like a truck I tend to keep it for a long time. As far as I'm concerned the 3rd gen Taco has some warts, so I'm not convinced it will hold resale like prior models BUT... I have to give it the benefit of the doubt...
Taco-(5)
Colorado (2)

10. Reliability- Again- I have a tough one with this as well. The 3rd gen has tranny issues, the 2nd gen had frame issues.. However there is there overriding belief that somehow these things don't matter. I owned a Dodge Cummins 3/4 ton 24v diesel and over 250K and had NO issues with the motor or the 5 spd tranny... However I will give the nod to Toyota to, at a minimum, appease the Tacoma Forum faithful.

Taco- 4
Colorado-3

So.. out of a possible 50 points the total is...

Taco-34
Colorado-36

Please, check my math... Final thoughts in a moment...

 

Lol. Looking to adopt a 31 year old grown child anytime soon?

 

Toyota front grille looks like Chinese Walmart crap

Chevy front looks gorgeous

Toyota rear looks better

 

I think this is a great one, true owner comparison.

 

So my final thoughts...

The Colorado Babymax BY FAR has the superior drivetrain- It is absolutely buttery through the entire power band. Seamless shifting, incredible torque- It is fun to drive this truck, and you know IMMEDIATELY it has balls to tow, haul or otherwise shoulder a load like a truck. The suspension is firm, capable. The steering is good, brakes are REALLY good. Mechanically (in this regard) this truck is waaaaaaaaaay better than the Taco.

The Taco has BY FAR the more comfortable cabin. IMMEDIATELY noticeable. The Colorado seats suck, and suck bad. They would have to be modded or replaced. You may be able to go 560 miles on a tank of gas, but my ass would be dead by 300 miles. Not good...

Offroad? Meh- They are both DCLB trucks. Even though the approach is better in the Taco, what goes up, must come down. Both are truly a little big for serious trail shit. If you remove the little chin on the Colorado and take it slow, I think I would be fine. I can think of two places I went in my Taco in 5 months that I would not have tried in the Colorado. BFD...

Although the Colorado scored higher (based on me and my family kind of objectively looking at it) one big thing did weigh on this decision..

The Colorado threw a CEL at 45 miles on the ODO.

Yup- the check engine light came on. We shut it down, let it sit for a while, and the light went off, but while the light was on I detected a noise from the front radiator area, and I suspect the active shutter management 'thingy' was acting up.

Talk about timing, lol. Not good for a brand new truck to be throwing CEL's...

 

And I'm waiting on ZR2 prices. Hmmmm....

 

50k?

 

My sales team is supposed to let me know when they have prices. If I can get a gas extended cab for under 43k, I'll probably be ordering one

 

New tacomas throw cel too

So Colorado trying to match Tacoma step by step

Even in cel category

 

I want your blazing blue sexiness

 

Awesome

Looking forward to your review

 

What an illuminating post. I'm sure we have all learned something from your well reasoned perspective.

 

Fuck no. I live off a dirt road, lol.

 

Nice comparison so far, I like reading stuff like this. I'm not at all interested in the Colorado/Canyon as it isn't available in the configuration I want. Not willing to compromise when I'm spending $35,000.

 

Gotta love these replies. See mine with the idiot who tried to argue my posts.

 

I regret my black choice everyday except the one day when I clean it then regret sets back in.

 

Such low hanging fruit

....must refrain

 

Lol

 

Low hanging fruit. Is that a black joke?