Which Midsize Truck Has the Best Entry-Level Trim: The 2025 Chevy Colorado or Toyota Tacoma?

When looking at the 2025 Chevy Colorado vs 2025 Toyota Tacoma, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the major differences between the trims. Both models have options ranging from entry-level models to purpose-built off-road trucks that come loaded with special equipment. The latter might be more fun to talk about, but the former is probably more relevant to most drivers. Here at DePaula Chevrolet, we want to make sure that everyone has access to relevant information, not just enthusiasts. So today, we’re going to take a look at the most affordable trims of these two popular midsize trucks and see which one gives you the better deal without any optional upgrades involved.

A Look at Towing and Hauling Capability

Even if you compare the most powerful configuration of each truck, the Colorado is the winner in terms of towing. The most well-configured Tacoma can tow up to 6,500 lbs, while the Colorado can tow up to 7,700 lbs. If you’re using your truck for work or like to bring a trailer on vacation, that’s a significant difference that can greatly affect your experience as a truck owner.

The Tacoma can carry a little more payload, but the difference isn’t nearly so dramatic. The Colorado can carry up to 1,684 lbs of payload, while the Tacoma can handle an additional 26 lbs with its top engine (a total of 1,710 lbs). However, that engine brings the towing capacity down even further to 6,000 lbs—if you want to get the max towing capacity, the payload figure comes down to 1,690 lbs. A mere 6-pound difference in payload capacity is going to be a lot less noticeable than a 1,200-pound difference in towing capacity.

We mention the Tacoma’s optional engine upgrades simply in the interest of fairness and to give you some perspective. Now, let’s turn to the base engine. The Tacoma SR comes standard with a 2.4L turbocharged I-4 engine that produces 228 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. With this engine equipped, the Tacoma is capable of carrying up to 1,500 lbs of payload and towing up to 3,500 lbs. That’s quite the drop in power compared to the higher trim levels and certainly limits what you can do with your truck.

Since this powertrain is essentially exclusive to the base trim, it feels remarkably like giving fleet managers and drivers on a budget scraps while those who can shell out an extra $5k for the SR5 trim get the privilege of an engine that’s really useful.

By contrast, the Colorado uses the same capable 2.7L TurboMax I-4 across the lineup, so that even the humble WT can take advantage of 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. That gives it the power to tow over twice as much as the Tacoma SR and carry over 100 extra pounds of payload. Once again, the total capacities are 7,700 lbs for towing and 1,684 lbs for payload.

In other aspects, the two powertrains essentially tie, which means that there’s not really any area where the Tacoma’s option has the advantage. Both pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Both get an EPA-estimated 23 MPG combined when paired with rear-wheel drive and 21 MPG combined when paired with four-wheel drive. When it comes to power, the Colorado is the clear winner.

Which Model Has the Better Performance Specs?

Looking at those engine figures again, let’s focus for a moment on the power figures. The Colorado WT churns out 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, while the Tacoma SR produces just 228 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. That doesn’t just make a difference in terms of towing and hauling—it also affects driving dynamics.

The Colorado has more power for accelerating up to highway speeds and handling surfaces like dirt roads and gravel driveways. The base trim of the Tacoma will be noticeably less fun to drive and worse at passing slow-moving vehicles on two-lane highways, among other disadvantages. For those who use their truck as a daily driver between jobs, this is certainly something to consider.

How Do They Compare in Regards to Infotainment and Connectivity?

Like with powertrains, Toyota and Chevy have different approaches to offering infotainment systems. The Tacoma once again has two tiers. While upper trims get a generous 14-inch infotainment screen, the three base trims (not just the SR, but also the SR5 and the TRD PreRunner) get a small eight-inch screen that makes text harder to read at a glance and camera view less user-friendly.

The Colorado democratizes access to technology by offering a large 11.3-inch screen standard on every trim. You’ll be able to keep track of navigation and music more easily, no matter what trim you opt for.

Of course, it’s not just the screen that counts—the software behind it is also important. While both trucks come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can hook your smartphone up to the system, only the Colorado also has standard Google built-in. This allows you to use Google apps for maps, music, and other functions without connecting your smartphone, so you can easily get where you’re going.

Speaking of music, both trucks come with a free trial of SiriusXM, but the Colorado WT comes standard with a six-speaker audio system, while the Toyota SR has only four speakers, giving you less power to blast your favorite songs as you drive.

Who Offers the Most Value?

For all of the advantages that the Colorado WT has over the Tacoma SR, from power to infotainment system, you might expect it to be more expensive. That would put the two trucks on even footing from a value perspective: you get a lot more from the Chevy, but you have to pay more for it.

So think, for a moment, about a fair price for an additional 3.3 inches of screen size, 82 hp, 187 lb-ft of torque, 184 lbs of payload capacity, and 4,200 lbs of towing capacity. Picture a number in your head. Now, we’re not claiming to read your mind here at DePaula Chevrolet, but we’ll bet that the number you’re thinking of is larger than $310. And yet, that is the actual difference between the starting price of the Tacoma SR and the Colorado WT. You can get behind the wheel of the Colorado WT for a starting price tag of $31,900.^[a]

A little over $300 is all it takes to get everything the Colorado has to offer. By contrast, it takes a couple thousand to upgrade from the Tacoma SR to the Tacoma SR5 and get an engine that comes closer to giving you the same towing capacity as the Colorado (though not quite, and you’re still stuck with that eight-inch screen). When it comes to getting a bang for your buck, the Colorado is simply the better deal.

The Colorado Is an Affordable Midsize Pickup With a Lot to Offer

The Tacoma is a popular midsize truck with plenty of fans and some solid offerings in its higher trim levels. However, the base SR locks you out of so many of those offerings, including a decent engine, that it feels like a disappointment. The Colorado also has a range of trim levels, with top-tier offerings getting you extra comfort and convenience features, exclusive styling touches, and more rugged off-road equipment.

But the WT trim doesn’t cut corners where it counts: it gives you a capable engine that can tackle hard work and an infotainment system that’s up to the task of keeping you connected and entertained on the road. While this entry-level trim may be highly affordable, it doesn’t feel “cheap,” so you can get a great value without sacrificing capability.

^[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.