By The Numbers: 2015 Chevy Colorado Vs Tacoma, Frontier, New Ford Ranger

The 2015 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are injecting much-needed excitement into the mid-sized truck segment. Here's how they measure up, down, and sideways against the 2014 Toyota Tacoma, 2014 Nissan Frontier, and your forbidden love: 2014 Ford Ranger.

Why is the new Ranger, still unavailable in America, on this list while other non-US pickups are ignored? Simple: we all love the Ranger and wish we
could have it. In fact, I might even wager more of you pine for it than any other non-US vehicle. At any rate, we're all keen to see how it compares to the small trucks we do get.

If there's a spec we skipped that you want to discuss, bring it up in the comments and we'll take the analysis further!

• There's a daunting range of configurations available for all these trucks; so we're going to compare two versions of each: the smallest, cheapest, lightest 2WD version and the largest, loaded, 4WD version.

• All measurements of "smallest" and "largest" are therefore hinged on being the most-striped or most-loaded model. That means a model's "maximum" isn't always represented, but this method provides a more direct comparison.
  For example; the "largest" Nissan Frontier is the luxury SV, so that's the vehicle our "largest" stats are based on. It's approach angle is lower than the PRO-4X, but is a more accurate overall-package comparison.

• The only spec we ignored that stipulation on is the "smallest bed." Since the "smallest" version of every truck has the long bed, we're looking at bed sizes independent of the trucks trim. The "smallest" bed is simply the smallest possible bed available on a given model range.

• All specifications sourced from GM, Nissan, Toyota, and Ford Australia. The Aussie version of the 2015 Ranger will be our benchmark there.

• The 2015 Chevy Colorado and 2015 GMC Canyon are mechanically identical, therefore and are interchangeable on these specifications.

Measured Configuration

Smallest

Largest

Chevy Colorado

Base Extended Cab 4x2 Manual (2.5 I4)

Z71 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed Automatic (3.6 V6)

Nissan Frontier

S King Cab 4x2 Manual (2.5 I4)

SL Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed Automatic (4.0 V6)

Toyota Tacoma

Access Cab 4x2 Manual (2.7 I4)

Double Cab 4x4 Long Bed Automatic (4.0 V6)

Ford Ranger

4x2 XL Single Pick-Up (2.2 I4 Diesel)

4x4 Wildtrak Double Pick-Up (3.2 I5 Diesel)

No mid-sized US-market truck will be available with a regular cab for 2015, including the Tacoma "Extended cabs" — which have two little seats behind the front and are as small as it gets.

Overall Length

Smallest Configuration

Largest Configuration

Chevy Colorado

212.7"

224.9"

Nissan Frontier

205.5"

219.4"

Toyota Tacoma

208.1"

221.3"

Ford Ranger

201.2"

210.7"

Overall Width

Smallest Configuration (inches)

Largest Configuration (inches)

Chevy Colorado

74.3"

74.3"

Nissan Frontier

72.8"

72.8"

Toyota Tacoma

72.2"

74.6"

Ford Ranger

72.8"

72.8"

Curb Weight

Smallest Configuration (lbs)

Largest Configuration (lbs)

Chevy Colorado

3,960

4,450

Nissan Frontier

3,708

4,711

Toyota Tacoma

3,615

4,285

Ford Ranger

3,944

4,850

Turning Circle

Smallest Configuration (feet)

Largest Configuration

Chevy Colorado

41.3'

44.6'

Nissan Frontier

43.42'

47.5'

Toyota Tacoma

42'

44'

Ford Ranger

39'

41.7'

Horsepower

Smallest Configuration (Peak)

Largest Configuration (Peak)

Chevy Colorado

200 @ 6,300 RPM

305 @ 6,800 RPM

Nissan Frontier

152 @ 5,200 RPM

261 @ 5,600 RPM

Toyota Tacoma

159 @ 5,200 RPM

236 @ 5,200 RPM

Ford Ranger

148 @ 3,700 RPM

197 @ 3,000 RPM

Torque

Smallest Configuration (Peak)

Largest Configuration (Peak)

Chevy Colorado

191 @ 4,400 RPM

269 @ 4,000 RPM

Nissan Frontier

171 @ 4,400 RPM

281 @ 4,000 RPM

Toyota Tacoma

180 @ 3,800 RPM

266 @ 4,000 RPM

Ford Ranger

278 @ 1500-2500 RPM

347 @ 1500-2750 RPM

Average Fuel Economy

Smallest Configuration (Average MPG)

Largest Configuration (Average MPG)

Chevy Colorado

22.5

20.5

Nissan Frontier

21

18

Toyota Tacoma

23

18.5

Ford Ranger

31 (Diesel)

25 (Diesel)

This number comes from an average of EPA claimed highway and city mileage. The Ranger's is derived from translating "liters per 100 kilometers" to "miles per gallon" through some mathmagical science I found on some website. Looks close enough to me.

Towing CapacitySmallest Configuration (lbs)Largest Configuration with Tow Package (lbs)Chevy Colorado3,5007,000Nissan Frontier3,5006,100Toyota Tacoma3,5006,400Ford Ranger5,5167,716

The "largest" configuration here assumes the truck is fitted with an optional tow package, which is applicable to all four trucks.

PayloadSmallest Configuration (lbs)Largest Configuration (lbs)Chevy Colorado1,4101,520Nissan Frontier9531,104Toyota Tacoma1,2851,215Ford Ranger2,5042,204

Cargo Bed VolumeSmallest Configuration* (cubic feet)Largest Configuration (cubic feet)Chevy Colorado41.349.9Nissan Frontier27.133.5Toyota Tacoma35.643.4Ford Ranger??~42

This is the only category where we deviate from a straight cheapest-to-cheapest and biggest-to-biggest comparison. That's because the cheapest/smallest truck usually has the "long bed" option, as does the largest. See the problem? So we're looking at the smallest bed option here, not the bed option on the cheapest version of the truck.

As for the Ford Ranger's bed volume... I'm working on it. Ford Australia has yet to get back to me but I'll fill this slot in as soon as I get in touch with them. The estimate of the long bed is based on the approximate length x height x width (which is off because a bed isn't a perfect rectangle.) Meanwhile, anyone have any idea?

Ground ClearanceSmallest Configuration (Inches)Largest Configuration (Inches)Chevy Colorado8.4"8.1"Nissan Frontier7.6"8.9"Toyota Tacoma7.9"9.1"Ford Ranger7.9"9.3"

Approache AngleSmallest Configuration (Degrees)Largest Configuration (Degrees)Chevy Colorado17.717.1Nissan Frontier27.831.5Toyota Tacoma2735Ford Ranger2229

Departure AngleSmallest Configuration (Degrees)Largest Configuration (Degrees)Chevy Colorado22.622.2Nissan Frontier2122.6Toyota Tacoma2025Ford Ranger2420

Breakover AngleSmallest Configuration (Degrees)Largest Configuration (Degrees)Chevy Colorado2218.6Nissan Frontier1820.6Toyota Tacoma2020Ford Ranger1725

Any comparison tables we're missing? Let us know or make your own and put it in the comments! (Cut-and-paste straight from a GoogleDrive spreadsheet works).

So... find any of these stats impressive, or have I just cursed you with more want than ever for a new a Ford Ranger?

Images: Andrew P. Collins, Ford Ranger graphic: Dr Dan Saranga/The-Blueprints