Comparing the 2023 Nissan Frontier vs 2023 Chevy Colorado? The answer isn’t a simple one with a surprising amount of items to discuss.
The Nissan Frontier was redone in 2022 with an all-new interior and exterior while using the same 3.8-liter V6 and 9-speed automatic. For the Chevy Colorado, it is all new for the 2023 model year with a complete overhaul of the interior, exterior and the 2.7-liter turbocharged engine with a 10-speed transmission as found in the Chevy Silverado. This 4-cylinder engine has been on the market for five years with good reviews.
I recently had the chance to drive the 2023 Nissan Frontier and then, a few weeks later, drive the 2023 Chevy Colorado. It was a great experience to drive both trucks within a matter of weeks.
For this comparison, click play to watch the full video below, it really hit me on how these two competitors stack up.
First, the Colorado only comes in crew cab, short bed while the Nissan Frontier can be had in many different cab and bed configurations including a crew cab, long bed.
Second, the debate over the engines is going to be a tough question for many buyers. The naturally aspirated Nissan engine is often seen as more reliable since it doesn’t have a turbocharger, however, today’s turbochargers aren’t nearly as unreliable as they used to be in the 1970s and 1980s. This improved reliability and better performance off the line than the naturally aspirated engine should be enough to win skeptics over, but it is hard to change people’s minds until they experience both of them.
Third, the Nissan Frontier is cheaper than the Chevy Colorado when you start to add options to the Colorado. You can easily add several thousand dollars to the purchase price for things like heated steering wheel, only available in the upgraded package. While Nissan has started making those options standard like Crew Cab Long Wheelbase model adding the SV Convenience Package.
In a nutshell, the Frontier has more cab/bed options, less overall options, cheaper, naturally aspirated engine and is cheaper. The interior feels cheaper as well.
The Colorado has a striking new exterior design, a really nice interior with better materials, more powerful engine feeling to the average driver with the turbocharged engine, newer technology and a higher price for all of it. Plus, you have more factory off-road setups like the Trailboss trim with 2″ lift and wider stance thanks to a wider chassis.
The bottom line
Both trucks could fit your needs really well and it really comes down to personal preference. They are much closer in comparison than I think people give Nissan credit for these days and I could see both selling well.