Motor Trend 2024 Tacoma v Colorado v Ranger

I do think the Canyon is the better looking of the 2 GMC's as well.

I think somebody was copying somebody, not sure if it was Toyota copying the GMC or vice versa, but something is definitely going on there.

 

I think the Tacoma and the GMC are the best looking for the front but the GM products carry great lines through the side and back profile. The Tacoma looks terrible from the rear and rear quarter.

 

That looks like a good price, and I don't think the ZR2 is worth it at $51k. What's the price difference between the AT4 and AT4-X? I doubt the added equipment is worth the price difference. I'd go 1500 RC 4x4 shortbed over the midsize GMs, they cost les you get the same engine, and I can avoid some of the tech I don't want.

Those ZR2s at $51k would have me considering this 2500 HD. It's a WT you get the old silverado dash, it's ugly but the gauges should work for the life of the truck. The dealer is showing a GM employee discount to get the sale price. Very different trucks for very different buyers.

https://www.edrinke.com/VehicleDeta...el_Drive_Work_Truck-CENTER_LINE-MI/5862536910

 

Maybe, but in 10 years that trail boss will be worth 14k and the Tacoma will be worth 47k.

 

All this talk about the comparisons, I dropped by a Chevy dealer on my way back from Costco today. I checked out and drove a Trail Boss. The trail minions weren’t available…lol.

Trail Boss/Chevy Pro’s.
Price. Boss was 41k and had nice OR wheels/tires, 2” lift and digital gauge cluster is way more vibrant and nicer than both the SR5 and TRD’s upgraded digital displays. The Infotainment matches that high quality look and feel.
Extra storage in tailgate.
4AUTO!!!!
OR suspension nicer than SR5 4x4 ride.
Backseat air vents.

Cons:
No 6’ bed
Little to no under rear seat storage.
Seats not as comfortable to me.
No telescoping steering wheel.
Interior is really bland, especially the dash in front of the passenger.
Not a lot of storage cubbies.
Liberal use of glossy black trim around shifter and infotainment.


About the same:
Engine power delivery, even though when you put your foot into it, the Chevy pulls harder with 430 tq.


I’d say, buy the Chevy if you don’t care about interior design and won’t keep it more than 7 years…and buy a 7/10000000000000 mile warranty.

 

And not through GM, as they will try to get out of honouring their own written warranty

 

AT4 starts at $44,595, AT4X starts at $52,595. I've seen ZR2's for as low as $46k. A pretty phenomenal deal.

The one thing that really bugs me and I think a lot of potential buyers need to keep in mind is that the Colorado/Canyon frame seems like more or less a weak point. If you're daily driving and doing light duty trucking you are probably fine, but probably more of a concern for those off-roading with a loaded truck.


1. Owner had 4 people in the truck and hit a pothole, and apparently the frame flexed enough for the bed to hit the cab. YouTube "Downtime Lost" also had a similar issue. His latest video also shows cracks forming on the bed.
Frame and body issues

2. The ZR2 in the Mint 400 race ended up breaking the frame, - I believe this is what led to GM adding additional bracing to the production ZR2/AT4X (But not other trims from what I can tell)

 

I haven't priced the base Colorado, and I'll stick with 4wd for a base line. I'm seeing the Ranger/Tacoms drmographics driving the base Colorados maried couples who've reached retirement age. Not that they are the same truck, but a regular cab short bed Chevy or GMC go from under $36k discounted all the way up to MSRP, and if you want white you have a better chance of a good deal. The GMC also gives you LED headlights if you are shopping base or TrailBoss Colorado. Two weeks ago I saw a new Colorado TrailBoss on the Ford used lot. I wanted to go in just to see if it was traded for a Ford truck, maybe even a Ridgeline or if it came from auction.

Edit

Forgot to adress the frames. The previous gen also was bending frames.

 

Rangers are having issues with any weight put on the bed (topper, etc). J Brace installs are high, and parts on back order. I don't have anything on my bed because I prefer to throw stuff in it and don't wanna deal with a topper or rack/etc.

 

200,000 miles is setting the bar pretty low with modern trucks. Most any of them should do that easily. You'll see a lot more Toyota's with 400,000 miles although I've seen some domestic trucks go that far.

 

I think this is where the Tacoma shines. Yes they had frames turning into dust in the past, but I have not really heard of any issues with loading the truck with weight on the 3rd gens.

If you look at the frame thickness on a 4th gen Taco and the new Colorado/Canyon, where it wraps over the rear axle, the Taco frame seems like it's at least 1 inch thicker.


Colorado/Canyon


4G Tacoma

 

I'm thinking the lower control arms is where the 4G will have rust issues. Mud and debris could build up in the LCA where the shocks bolts to it. Probably won't be huge issue.

 

I had to have the long bed also, so... only Toyota or Nissan to choose from if you want a new mid size truck, regardless of anything else that is good or bad about any of them. I can't believe that GM and Ford do not at least offer a 6' bed version to compete, unless sales of the longer bed models are just so small that its inconsequential to their bottom line.

 

Maybe enough people just go up to a full size in those other 2 if they need the longer bed.

 

I will let you know about reliability on the Colorado if I ever get to 100k.

 

My 2006 engine didn't even hit 80K without eating itself. Not to mention needing U joints at 30somethingK, five cam actuators, and a few other things that it shouldn't have needed so early.

 

Having the larger offering and cannibalizing their own sales occurred to me when I was shopping. Especially at Ford dealers. Still, the market for 8 ft bed seems to be a different animal. There I have a friend complaining it is hard to find a simpler one just like my complaints with a Tacoma.

What was frustrating during my shopping that was spring time through 2 weeks ago was how many more long bed TRD OR were in certain areas. Even then long beds were few relative to all the production out there.

 

After having owned full size trucks my entire life, it was time to downsize. With my kids grown and out of the house and their ATV racing hobbies a thing of the past so I didn't need giant race trailers to haul around with a 3500 dually, this time I wanted a "fairly nimble", fun to drive, mid size truck that was still capable of pulling a small camp trailer and for hauling stuff in the bed without having to drop the tailgate often.
When I parked my Taco next to a mid 90's GM half ton at work, my Tacoma visually appears the same or maybe just a big larger (just as wide if not wider, and just as tall if not taller). I haven't looked at comparing the '24 Taco specs to full size trucks from 20ish years ago to see exactly if that is the case, but when I was shopping, I did look at new full size half tons, and they were just not what I wanted this time - too WIDE primarily (making parking difficult at work or at doctor offices, where it seems parking spots just get smaller and smaller while cars/trucks get bigger and bigger).

 

Who pays and supports the mag the most. That is who wins. Honestly do a non bias review. Then the winner is the truck that sells the most at the end of the model year. Period.

 

Sounds strange yes..and IDK how many have to have 8 feet of bed, I'm sure there are those people. I just need a 6 foot because homeowner stuff