Thinking about buying a Toyota Tacoma? Here are other top choices to consider

Yahoo

21-02-2025

If you're looking at a mid-size truck, the Toyota Tacoma is impossible to ignore. The truck touts a reputation for reliability and holds its value incredibly well, all while doing everything a good truck should. But a new model introduced in 2024 raises longevity questions that nobody has answers to quite yet —and this may have some shoppers considering the competition. Fortunately, there's a lot to look at.Like the Tacoma, the Frontier started out as a much smaller truck before growing into the larger model we see on the roads today. Around the mid-2000s, both models switched gears to compete in the mid-size segment rather than the compact segment. It probably comes as no surprise, then, that the two trucks cost within $500 of one another and offer five- or six-foot bed lengths.
The Frontier, unlike the Tacoma, relies on a naturally aspirated V6 engine as its sole offering. The 3.8-liter mill churns out 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, considerably more than the Tacoma's base turbo-four, which makes 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. That alone could sway some shoppers, especially when you consider that even stepping up to the optional Tacoma engine will still leave the truck winded by comparison, with an output of 278 horsepower.
Hybrid off-road and limited models, all of which cost considerably more than any Frontier trim, do offer a superior 326 horsepower.
Nissan's rig continues to demonstrate superiority thanks to its towing capacity, which tops out at 7,150 pounds compared to the Tacoma's 6,500 (hybrid models tap out at 6,000 pounds). The trade-off comes in fuel economy, with four-wheel drive Tacomas getting 20 mpg city/23 mpg highway, while four-wheel drive Frontiers manage just 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway. For dedicated off-roaders, the Tacoma offers Trailhunter and TRD Pro trim lines starting from $62,735. The Frontier PRO-4X comes with less extreme but functionally similar accouterment for $20,000 less.Inside, both trucks offer similar equipment. An 8.0-inch touchscreen, cloth seats, keyless entry, and a basic four-speaker sound system are all you get as standard equipment. The dimensions are similar, but the Tacoma is three inches longer and wider. Both offer identical front headroom, but the Tacoma is more generous to backseaters, albeit barely. With the guaranteed reliability of old Tacomas no longer in play with this new generation, the Frontier has a better case than ever.
The Ranger is another former compact truck that left the US market for nearly a decade before returning in 2019 as a mid-size truck. Since then, it's been a fairly competent rival to the Tacoma, although it only offers a five-foot bed and a cabin for five—likely not a problem for most buyers. Possibly more surprising is that its base MSRP of $33,080 is actually slightly higher than the Tacoma's $31,590 price tag.
However, the Ranger builds value quickly. All-terrain tires come standard instead of the all-seasons most Tacomas come with. The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine is time-tested and fairly stout, offering considerably more power and torque than the base Tacoma powerplant. The Ranger's 10-inch central display is a cleaner install and larger than the 8.0-inch unit you find in Toyota's truck. The Ranger measures up nicely, too, being three inches shorter and two inches wider with more front head and leg room and almost identical second-row space.
Even at the top of the trim lineup, the Ranger makes a remarkable case for itself. The Ranger Raptor starts at $55,820, which is eight grand less than the top-dog Tacoma TRD Pro. It gets a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 making 405 horsepower, 80 more than the TRD Pro's four-cylinder. The max towing capacity does get trimmed down to 5,510 lbs, though, which is 490 pounds less than the TRD Pro.
Like the TRD Pro, the Ranger Raptor enjoys off-road-ready dampers, a moderate lift, unique fender flares, and an all-terrain wheel and tire setup.At the entry-level and higher trim levels, the Ranger consistently offers a better value than the Tacoma, with better standard equipment on base models and a significantly lower price tag higher up the trim ladder. No matter what your budget is, the Ranger deserves a seriously close look.
The Chevrolet Colorado is yet another compact-gone-midsize. It was sold as a compact truck until 2011, when it left the US, only to return in 2015 in its current guise. Today, its base price is almost identical to the Tacoma's and, like the Ranger, only offers a 5-foot bed/crew cab setup.
When it comes to performance, there's hardly any question of which truck reigns superior. For 2025, the Colorado comes standard with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder making 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, handily besting every Tacoma except the hybrid models.
Its max towing capacity is 7,700 pounds, 1,200 more than Toyota's rig. At the top of the lineup, the ZR2 with the optional $12,000 Bison Edition add-on matches the TRD Pro and Trailhunter variants with AEV add-ons, beadlock-capable wheels, and lots of other rugged running gear for a few thousand dollars less.
Value continues to build when you consider that even the base WT trim – which literally stands for "work truck" – beats out the Tacoma in a few key areas. The larger 11.3-inch touchscreen dwarfs the tacked-on 8.0-inch unit in Toyota's truck. The Chevy has four more inches of front legroom, too, despite similar overall dimensions. Both trucks offer similar driver aids as standard and lock their lightest off-road offerings behind a $40,000-ish price gate.The Colorado gives up a bit more to the Tacoma than some of the other trucks discussed here, but it's still a worthwhile rival. Its clear-cut advantages lie in its aggressive standard engine and towing specs, both of which are the best, or tied with the best, across the trucks compared here.
Jeep's reentry into the mid-size truck segment happened in 2019, breathing new life into the defunct Gladiator nameplate that ran from the 1960s until the mid-1980s. Its biggest selling point for most enthusiasts was an available manual transmission, but today's truck doesn't offer it anymore. Similar to the other American trucks on the list, the Gladiator is only available as a four-door truck with a shorter, 5.5-foot bed.
Things start off well since all the Gladiators rely on a familiar Pentastar V6 under the hood. The 3.6-liter mill makes 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which is better power but less torque than the four-cylinder Tacoma's 317 pound-feet. Sadly, there are no other engine options, but there is something to be said for the simplicity and familiarity of the Pentastar. The Jeep is tied with the Colorado for best towing at 7,700 pounds.The Jeep is perplexingly more expensive than the Tacoma. Its starting price is $38,695, which is on par with the $38,120 Tacoma TRD PreRunner but $7,000 more than the base truck. However, it makes up some ground in terms of personality, thanks to removable doors and a soft top exclusive to this truck segment.
The Jeep is five inches longer and over an inch taller. It offers more front headroom and significantly more space for second-row passengers. However, being a few inches narrower means the hip and shoulder rooms are slightly down.
While both trucks have a cult following, Jeep probably has the more active community and will likely be cheaper to modify over time. These perks can offset the higher start price, but only for the right buyer. The Gladiator doesn't really compete with trims lower than the PreRunner, and for that reason, it's a great pick for serious off-roaders or die-hard Jeep fans who plan on frequently venturing off the pavement.
All four of these trucks give the Tacoma a solid run for its money, but the Ranger certainly seems to stand head and shoulders above the rest. The Frontier, too, offers a commendable value proposition, especially if you aren't interested in everything the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models offer on the trails. No matter what you value, one of these trucks is bound to do something better than the Tacoma, so choose wisely.
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