Chevy Colorado vs Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier and Chevy Colorado are both midsize pickups with various pros and cons. You’ll find the Frontier at your Nissan dealer for a price that starts around $27,840. The Chevy Colorado starts at a slightly lower price of $25,200. Let’s take a look at how these two trucks stack up.

Midsize Truck Matchup

If you visit a Nissan dealer, they will likely highlight the Frontier’s strengths with a strong V6 engine that makes 310 horsepower. Similarly, the Chevy Colorado offers a range of engine choices, including a diesel. The new Nissan Frontier offers a redesigned exterior and interior that is meant to reflect the old Hardbody pickup without being too retro.

The Colorado has good engine options and features a comfortable driving experience that almost feels like a crossover. However, its interior is a bit dated and it doesn’t have a lot of modern driver-assistance tech features.

The new Frontier offers the same 126-inch and 140-inch wheelbases as the previous generation, but the overall length of the truck is up by 4.5 inches. You can get King Cab or Crew Cab models on both trucks and both trucks come with a few bed options.

Where the Nissan Frontier Stands Out

The Nissan Frontier shines with its powerful standard engine and the Pro-4X model features a number of off-road upgrades. The max tow rating for the Frontier is 6,720 pounds and it comes standard with trailer sway control. The 3.8-liter V6 has best-in-class power and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The new powertrain for the Frontier has made it a very capable midsize pickup. Whether you’re on-road or off-road, the Frontier is ready for anything. MPG ratings are competitive in the segment with the 4×2 models getting up to 20 MPG combined. The 4×4 option takes a slight hit at 19 MPG combined.

Where the Chevy Colorado Stands Out

The Colorado’s main claims to fame are its comfortable ride, multiple engine options, and roomy interior. For those used to a bumpy ride with a midsize pickup, the Colorado is surprisingly smooth. It doesn’t have the usual bouncing and there isn’t much noise or vibration either.

The base engine for the Colorado is an inline-four that makes 200 horsepower, but you do have the option of upgrading to a V6 engine or a Duramax turbodiesel. The max tow rating depends on the engine. The four-cylinder can tow up to 3,500 pounds, the V6 can tow up to 7,000 pounds, and the Duramax can tow up to 7,700 pounds.

The Duramax engine delivers some of the best fuel economy in the class at up to 30 MPG on the highway.

Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between these trucks depends somewhat on what you need it to do. The starting price at your Nissan dealer for the Frontier is slightly higher than the Colorado, but you get more power without needing to upgrade to another engine. However, the Colorado has more options if you want to tow more, but you’ll pay more.

In conclusion, the Nissan Frontier is a great all-around truck for the money that excels off-road and in many other applications.