2015 Mid-Size Truck Shootout

Extra Goodies
The Frontier just screams value, from its dual-zone climate control and heated seats, to the sunroof and roof rack. The Nissan comes equipped with satellite navigation and a rear backup camera like the other trucks in its class, but the Frontier adds the segment’s only backup sensors.

Although the Tacoma has a tie-down system and the Colorado offers the upgradable GearOn system, the Frontier’s Utili-track bed system is the best in its class, featuring removable tie-down cleats that mount to two channels in the floor of the bed as well as along the bedsides for securing cargo. This truck may not be the best performer in its class, but it sure offers a lot of neat features to its potential customer.

The Tacoma T/X Baja in our test really sets itself apart with its off-road upgrades and performance-minded features, but then again you pay for all those parts in the higher sticker price. If we were comparing apples to apples, namely a Tacoma 4x4 Double Cab with the TRD Off-Road package ($35,275), it would sacrifice much if not all of its off-road performance advantage, and would still be lacking in added features compared to the others. What stands out most about the Toyota in terms of added features and creature comforts are its lack of a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control (which the Chevy also lacks), a damped rear tailgate (which the Frontier also lacks), or rear parking sensors. The Tacoma does feature a bed tie-down system with moveable cleats to facilitate cargo hauling, though it isn’t as comprehensive as the Frontier’s system. It also has the basics covered, like navigation, a backup camera and satellite radio, but its lack of other cabin features compared to the competition shows its need for an update. We expect this will change with the all-new 2016 Tacoma, but for now, the other trucks have clearly surpassed the Tacoma in creature comforts.

Chevrolet made some smart additions on the Colorado. The aforementioned tailgate damper is nice when lowering, though it is called the EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate so the ease of lifting shouldn’t be forgotten. The CornerStep rear bumper makes climbing up to load gear in the bed a more simple task.

The Colorado also features the segment’s first forward collision alert and lane-departure warning system. Its impressive 8-inch touch-screen is the largest and most vibrant in the class, displaying the Colorado’s backup camera, navigation system, and of course GM’s OnStar. The Colorado also has the option to become a WiFi hotspot. That isn’t a standard feature and does require a monthly cellular data fee, but for those who consistently work out of their truck this could be a valuable asset. 

And the Winner is …
Clearly Chevy came out the gate swinging with its all-new Colorado, bringing some much-needed updates and refinement to the stale mid-size market. Going to the judges’ scorecards it’s easy to see why the 2015 Colorado is the winner of this Mid-Size 4x4 Truck Shootout. It was the clear-cut leader in almost every measure of our objective testing, and though it may not have topped every category in the subjective scoring, it still posted the highest total aggregate score. Its class-leading horsepower is nice, but its class-leading fuel economy is what the segment truly needed. Pair this with its great on- and off-road handling, a comfortable well-appointed cabin, and numerous value-added features and it’s easy to see how Colorado claimed the victory.

Editors can never be perfectly satisfied, though, and we’d definitely love to see a Colorado with more ground clearance and more aggressive suspension components, so we’re holding out hope that the Colorado ZR2 concept gets a green light for production. As it stands, the Colorado is the best all-around mid-size truck available today, and for the first time in a long time it provides a number of reasons for upgrading an older mid-size truck or considering this segment again for those who left. 

The battle for second place was ridiculously close. Sure, both the Tacoma and the Frontier might be showing a few grey hairs these days, but there’s a reason they were the last two trucks standing in the mid-size ring prior to the Colorado’s arrival. Both of the Japanese trucks bring a lot to the table when it comes to performance and value, and they’ve clearly had the reliability records to keep them in the fight for quite some time.

Thus, going to our scorecard takes some careful inspection to determine the runner-up. We converted our objective testing score tally into a percentage, with the Frontier scoring 90.6 percent, while the Tacoma trailed by the slightest of margins at 90.5 percent. In our subjective categories, the trucks were again extremely close, with the Tacoma erasing its deficit with a stronger 78.08 percent score that edges out the Frontier’s 76.67 percent. In the end, the Tacoma just barely squeaked out the second-place finish with a combined overall score of 83.14 percent, the Frontier sitting a mere .78 percentage points behind it in third place. Talk about a photo finish! In our crew’s 30-plus years of experience testing motorized vehicles, this is as close a race as we’ve ever seen!

But remember it was a race for second place, as the Colorado was outstanding in most of the categories and still competitive even in the ones it didn’t win. It’s the most exciting truck we’ve seen in the class for some time, and it truly ups the ante for mid-size trucks. And there appears to be more exhilarating developments on the horizon, as Toyota is set to unveil its all-new 2016 Tacoma at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, and we already know the impressive Colorado will be available with an optional 2.8-liter Duramax diesel in 2016. One thing’s for sure: Things are starting to get really interesting again in this corner of the truck Octagon, and the new models might just cause a few other manufacturers to enter the mid-size fray. Stay tuned!

Specifications
2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71
Engine: 3.6L SIDI DOHC V6 VVT
Horsepower: 305 @ 6,800 rpm
Torque: 269 lb.-ft. @ 4,300 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4,500 lbs.
Height: 70.6 in.
Track Width: 62.4 in. (front), 62.4 in. (rear)
Length: 212.7 in.
Wheelbase: 128.3 in.
Ground Clearance: 8.3 in.
Approach Angle: 17.3 degrees
Departure Angle: 22.1 degrees
Breakover Angle: 19.8 degrees
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 6,000 lbs.
Towing Capacity: 7,000 lbs.
Payload Capacity: 1,590 lbs.
Fuel Tank: 21 gal.
Seating Capacity: 5
Axle Ratio: 3.42
MPG Rating: 18 city, 24 hwy
Aver. MPG (tested): 20.5 (combined)
Price: $36,710

2015 Nissan PRO-4X
Engine: 4.0L DOHC 24-valve V6
Horsepower: 261 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 281 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4,580 lbs.
Height: 73.9 in.
Track Width: 61.8 in.
Length: 205.5 in.
Wheelbase: 125.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 8.9 in.
Approach Angle: 32.6 degrees
Departure Angle: 23.3 degrees
Breakover Angle: 20.5 degrees
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: N/A
Towing Capacity: 6,100 lbs.
Payload Capacity: 1,049 lbs.
Fuel Tank: 21.1 gal.
Seating Capacity: 5
Axle Ratio: N/A
MPG Rating: 15 city, 21 hwy
Aver. MPG (tested): 15.4 (combined)
Price: $36,205

2014 Toyota Tacoma T/X Baja Series
Engine: 4.0L DOHC 24V VVT-i V6
Horsepower: 236 @ 5,200 rpm
Torque: 266 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4,400 lbs.
Height: 72.1 in.
Track Width: 64.6 in. (front), 65 in. (rear)
Length: 208.1 in.
Wheelbase: 127.4 in.
Ground Clearance: 9.3 in.
Approach Angle: 37.8 degrees
Departure Angle: 26.0 degrees
Breakover Angle: 21 degrees
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 5,500 lbs.
Towing Capacity: 6,400 lbs.
Payload Capacity: 1,280 lbs.
Fuel Tank: 21.1 gal.
Seating Capacity: 5
Axle Ratio: 3.73
MPG Rating: 16 city, 21 hwy
Aver. MPG (tested): 17.5 (combined)
Price: $39,910