New & Used: 9673 Kings Auto Mall Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249
Used: 435 E Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45215
Sales:
(513) 741-1111
Service:
(513) 697-5200
Starting at
Starting at
| 310 | Horsepower | 310 |
| 430 lb-ft | Torque | 281 lb-ft |
| 7,700 lbs | Towing | 6,640 lbs |
Midsize trucks have become increasingly popular these days, as the combination of sleek style, impressive performance, and modest size they deliver is hard to beat. While we know plenty of people who will never give up the unbeatable power and capability of full-size trucks like the Chevy Silverado 1500, there is no denying that midsize pickups offer something special. This is why there are a growing number of great midsize options out there these days, which can make it difficult to pick the right one with everything you need. We find it often helps to narrow things down a bit and just look at one or two at a time—such as the 2024 Chevy Colorado vs 2024 Nissan Frontier—to see how they stack up.
While we would never call the Nissan Frontier a poor truck, one good look is all it takes to see that it repeatedly comes up short when compared to the powerful Chevy Colorado. With any truck, few things are as important as their engines and the kind of power they can deliver. The Frontier has a 3.8L V6 that offers 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque; this is impressive as a standard engine, but since it lacks any upgrade options, it falls short of the Colorado's available TurboMax engine with its 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Not only can you get far superior performance from the Colorado, but the TurboMax also gives you much greater towing capacity: up to 7,700 lbs compared to the Nissan Frontier's maximum of 6,640 lbs.
The increased torque of the Chevy's available TurboMax engine is perfect for heading off-road and hitting the trail—something that midsize trucks are ideal for. You can choose a ZR2 trim for the Colorado, which gets you incredible off-road performance thanks to a three-inch factory lift, DSSV Multimatic suspension dampers, and more that far surpasses the Nissan Frontier's available PRO-4X off-road trim. Best of all, you also get a more well-appointed interior with the Colorado, including a standard 11.3-inch infotainment display in every model; the Nissan Frontier comes up short with a standard 8.0-inch infotainment display and a 9.0-inch available screen. At the end of the day, there are just too many ways that the Chevy Colorado comes out on top as the superior truck.
When looking at a couple of trucks, one of the best things to focus on is the kind of performance they deliver and how that translates into tangible functionality. Midsize trucks can still be great for getting tough tasks done, hauling gardening supplies home from the hardware store on the weekend, and any other way you like to enjoy your time off. You deserve a powerful truck that can tackle all of these things for you and much more, which largely comes down to the engine you find in a pickup. Chevy offers two different engines for the 2024 Colorado, while the 2024 Nissan Frontier has a single engine available.
Looking at the Frontier, Nissan has given it a 3.8L V6 engine that provides 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. While we would like to see more options in a truck, we admit that this is a solid starting point with an impressive horsepower figure, although the torque is a bit lacking. The standard engine on the Chevy Colorado is a 2.7L turbocharged I-4 that offers 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which is not quite as powerful as what Nissan offers. That being said, the available TurboMax engine for the Colorado delivers 310 hp and a very impressive 430 lb-ft of torque, giving you incredible power for any feat you expect to encounter.
Not only are the numbers from Chevy impressive on paper, but they also translate into excellent real-world capability. The Nissan Frontier offers 1,620 lbs of payload and 6,640 lbs of towing capacity. The Chevy Colorado, with its standard engine, can handle up to 1,684 lbs of payload, giving it a slight edge over the Frontier; with the available TurboMax engine, too, the Colorado can handle up to 7,700 lbs of towing, which far surpasses the Frontier by more than 1,000 lbs; this can make a big difference when you need to pull some serious weight behind your truck.
One of the biggest reasons folks choose midsize trucks is the impressive off-road capability and performance these models can provide. Although not every midsize pickup offers the same level of trail-ready drivability, the right model can be the perfect choice for getting to your favorite campground or leaving the road behind for a weekend of play. Both the Chevy Colorado and Nissan Frontier have four-wheel drive (4WD) available for great performance on trails, as well as dirt and gravel roads, but the Colorado goes much further.
The Colorado and Frontier both have dedicated off-road trims available, and comparing the two is a great way to see what each model can do. For the Nissan Frontier, there is the PRO-4X trim (the 4WD version of the PRO-X trim), which comes with 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, a switch-operated two-speed transfer case for the 4WD system, and an electronic locking rear differential to help boost traction with the rear wheels. Bilstein off-road performance shock absorbers help ensure greater comfort and capability from the PRO-4X trim, which is good because it does not have much else in terms of off-road features.
The Chevy Colorado has numerous off-road variants available, including a Trail Boss and Z71 trim, but we want to highlight the top-tier ZR2 trim. The Colorado ZR2 takes off-road performance to another level thanks to its three-inch factory-installed lift with a high-performance suspension that includes DSSV Multimatic dampers for added comfort and fantastic articulation and flexibility out on the trail. You get an off-road fascia, rear bumper, and fender flares on the ZR2, plus 17-inch wheels, off-road rocker protectors, and much more. To really take things to the next level, check out the ZR2 Bison Edition for the Colorado, which comes with hot-stamped boron steel skid plates, massive 35-inch tires, and much more.
No matter what kind of truck you are interested in, you deserve something that is fun to drive, which means an interior that you look forward to getting into each day. The 2024 Nissan Frontier has a pretty good interior, but some aspects of it feel dated and could use an upgrade. The starting trim for the Frontier features manually adjustable front seats, a urethane steering wheel, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, and a 7.0-inch multi-function driver display. A four-speaker sound system is standard, though an enhanced Fender sound system is available along with a larger 9.0-inch infotainment screen. Ultimately, these features are fine, but they end up lacking when compared to the Colorado.
The 2024 Chevy Colorado has superior standard features inside, with even more available to further elevate your driving experience, giving you a fantastic truck you will enjoy driving for many years to come. A gorgeous 11.3-inch infotainment display with Google Built-In is standard inside every Colorado, with support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a six-speaker sound system and an 11-inch color Driver Information Center display. Available features on higher trims—such as the gorgeous Z71 trim—include Jet Black/Adrenaline Red cloth/Evotex seating, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a wireless phone charging pad, and much more. Add in a stunning available Bose Premium sound system and you have a truck that you will look forward to driving every day.
With so many options out there these days, finding the perfect truck is not always easy, but Chevy keeps things simple by delivering everything you could want with the Colorado. The Nissan Frontier is a fine truck in its own right, but it cannot keep up with the robust performance, impressive capability, and powerful off-road design that the Chevy Colorado brings to the road and trail. No matter what you are looking for in a midsize truck, the Colorado has you covered and you'll get an amazing pickup that you'll enjoy driving for many years. Of course, with numerous trim levels, special editions, and options available, finding everything you want in the Colorado can be tricky—but that's where we come in.
Here at McCluskey Chevrolet, we are committed to providing you with the best truck-buying experience possible, getting you everything you need and having you on the road in no time. Whether you already know exactly which trim level and options you want in your Colorado or you are still figuring things out and have a lot of questions, we are here to help. We will answer all your questions, take you through different Colorado trims and packages, and even make the financing process simple and hassle-free so you can start enjoying your new truck right away. Call or visit us today to learn more about the best trucks on the road, and we will help you find the perfect pickup for work, play, and everything between.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
