Chevy Colorado vs Nissan Frontier

Before you visit your nearest East Valley car dealership, it’s essential that you have an idea of what vehicle you want. When it comes to trucks, there are two great choices: the Chevy Colorado and the Nissan Frontier. Both have amazing features, making it difficult to choose between them.

So which comes out on top when you compare the Chevy Colorado vs Nissan Frontier? Let’s take a look.

Feature Comparison

If you spend a lot of time traveling, you’re bound to run into bad weather now and again. Exterior features are essential to providing visibility and keeping you safe in less-than-ideal conditions.

Additionally, exterior features are important if you need to carry cargo, especially if you do so for work. Both the Colorado and the Frontier are designed for hauling, but depending on their features, one may better fit your needs.

Colorado Features

If you check out this model at your local East Valley dealership, you’ll have access to different trims that have additional features. However, for simplicity, we’re looking at the standard trim in this section.

The Chevy Colorado comes with several helpful features:

• Locking tailgate
• Daytime running lights
• CornerStep rear bumper
• Cab-mounted cargo-area lights
• Cargo box lights

The locking tailgate ensures that you don’t lose any cargo on the ride, keeping the road safer for everyone and saving you the stress of trying to locate or replace lost cargo. The numerous lights are a lifesaver in stormy conditions or darkness, as they allow you to haul when you need it most.

Additionally, the Colorado also comes with halogen headlights. Low visibility is a major concern when you’re traveling, especially if you’re on a long trip. These lights enable you to drive confidently and react quickly to whatever comes your way.

Frontier Features

The Frontier standard trim has fewer features; in fact, it doesn’t have any of the cargo lights that aid in loading and unloading. However, it does offer four in-bed tie-downs, which are helpful in restraining cargo.

Items that are taller than the bed’s walls are at risk of toppling, damaging themselves or other cargo, so tie-downs are a great feature if you often haul bulky objects.

Power Comparison

One of the most important things to know when comparing the Colorado vs Frontier is power. The strength of your engine determines how much you can haul; if you often pull a trailer or boat, you want a powerhouse under the hood.

Colorado Engine Power

The Chevy Colorado has three engine options:

• 8 turbo diesel
• 6 DOHC V6
• 5 DOHC 4-cylinder

The 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder comes standard, while the other two are optional and may increase the price of the vehicle. In terms of power, the 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder delivers 191 pound-feet of torque and 200 horsepower. It also boasts 26 MPG on the highway and 20 MPG in the city.

What does this mean for you? The Colorado can accelerate quickly while offering up to 7,700 pounds in towing capacity. The excellent fuel economy also means more dollars in your pocket.

Frontier Engine Power

The Frontier also offers different engines but doesn’t have a diesel option. Instead, customers can choose between the 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder, which comes standard, or the 4.0 DOHC V6.

When we compare the Frontier’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder to that of the Colorado, it doesn’t perform favorably: It only offers 171 pound-feet of torque and 152 horsepower. That translates into 6,710 pounds of maximum towing and slower acceleration. Additionally, the fuel economy is only 22 MPG on the highway and 17 MPG in the city, meaning you have to spend more to tow less.

Safety Features Comparison

Safety is a huge concern and manufacturers have risen to the challenge of keeping drivers and passengers safe.

As part of this effort, both Nissan and Chevy have included new technology to prevent accidents and mitigate danger in the event of a collision. Of course, some of these features are optional and cost more to have them added to your vehicle. We’ll look at both the standard features and optional features when determining which truck offers greater safety.

Colorado Safety Features

The Colorado comes with many features on the standard trim:

• Traction control
• Four-wheel antilock brakes
• Plastic fuel tank
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Front shoulder belts that are height-adjustable
• Side-impact head airbags, front side-impact airbags and frontal airbags for driver and passenger

Additionally, this model has a rearview camera, which is great for backing up or parking. Rearview mirrors can have blind spots, which pose a risk when children or pets are nearby; a rearview camera, on the other hand, gives you a full view of the space behind your vehicle.

Parents may also be happy to hear that the Colorado offers a back seat reminder.

This new technology activates if the rear door was opened before driving; when drivers exit the vehicle later, this reminder prompts them to look in the backseat to prevent children, pets or items being left behind. Since the interior of a car can reach deadly temperatures, this feature has the capacity to save lives.

If you want additional safety measures, you can get OnStar by upgrading from the standard trim. With this technology onboard, you get the following benefits:

• GPS location for emergency personnel to track
• Remote unlocking
• Driving directions

Frontier Safety Features

In contrast, the Frontier has fewer features, even among the upgraded trims. For example, OnStar is not available, nor is the backseat reminder.

However, this model does have the safety features listed in the bullet points, as well as a rearview camera. While these are helpful, customers may understandably want more from their vehicles.

Technology and Comfort Comparison

Today’s truck has to provide more than hauling power — it needs to meet passengers’ technological needs. The standards for technological integration are at an all-time high and when you shop for a vehicle at your East Valley dealership, you’re probably keeping an eye out for models that have more to offer than a simple stereo.

Additionally, vehicle owners want comfort from their commute, especially if they spend a great deal of time behind the wheel. A model’s interior can make or break your driving experience.

Colorado Technology

The Colorado is incredibly roomy with 35.8 inches of legroom in the second row, ensuring that passengers don’t feel cramped. The rounded dashboard also makes for a modern aesthetic.

When it comes to technology, this model excels with the following:

• 4G LTE Wi-Fi
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 7-inch touchscreen

The infotainment system lets you play music, listen to podcasts, look up driving direction, and more. The wi-fi is especially useful if you have kids since it allows them to watch YouTube or access other sites on their mobile devices, thereby keeping them occupied while you focus on the road.

Frontier Technology

Unfortunately, the Frontier lacks in the technology department. While it does have a 7-inch touchscreen set into the dashboard, it doesn’t offer Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, nor does it have wi-fi. As far as comfort goes, legroom for the second row only measures 33.6 inches.

Looking for a truck in Arizona? Then check out Valley Chevy. We can point you to the nearest Chevy dealer in your city.