Stagnant. Boring. Neglected. There are plenty of adjectives that can be used to describe the mid-size truck market the past few years, but “exciting” certainly isn’t one of them. With hardly any manufacturers left in the class, save for Toyota and Nissan, it’s as if the mid-size segment parallels the fading sport of boxing – it once garnered the attention of fans the world over, but now many have left and moved on to something else.

Where some see a dying segment, Chevrolet sees opportunity. Parrying questions and counterpunching the doubters, Chevy looks to deliver a roundhouse kick to the head of the mid-size truck market much like UFC did with professional fighting. UFC could see the potential of mixed martial arts if it presented the right product, and Chevy has that same vision of the mid-size market, and it believes it has constructed a head-turner with the all-new Colorado. Chevy appears to have produced a fighter worthy of entering the mid-size truck Octagon for 2015, and all of the sudden it looks like we have a fight on our hands.

Tale of the Tape
The all-new 2015 Chevy Colorado is clearly what prompted this test, and like Bruce Buffer hailing the start of a UFC main event fight, “It’s time!” to kick off our Mid-Size Truck Shootout. Putting these mid-size fighters to the test would be Powersports Editorial Director Sean Alexander, Editor-in-Chief of our sister site DirtBikes.com Scott Rousseau, and Off-Road.com Editor-in-Chief Josh Burns.

The newcomer Colorado enters the ring with its chest puffed out and its head held high, thanks to its class-leading 305 horsepower produced by its 3.6-liter V6. The Colorado’s motor is the thriftiest at the pump as well. Even Chevrolet would agree that the last version of the Colorado wasn’t quite up to the challenge of earning the segment’s belt, so the team hit the gym to chisel a truck with more style, muscle, refinement, and improved agility. The question is: Did Chevy build an also-ran competitor, or is this the next mid-size champion?

During the 10-year lifespan of the second-generation Tacoma, Toyota could draw comparisons to Anderson Silva’s long run of dominance in the Octagon. Since its introduction in 2005 the Tacoma has yet to be knocked down in the ring and has retained the belt for best-selling truck each and every year during that time. Available with either a five-speed automatic or a (rare and hard-to-find) six-speed manual transmission, the Tacoma’s 4.0-liter V6 motor may produce the lowest horsepower and torque figures of the bunch, but it enters the ring with a huge lead in consumer confidence and all the sales to back it up. For our test, Toyota provided its 2014 T/X Baja Series package, highlighted by a race-inspired Bilstein shock and spring package, TRD wheels fitted with BFGoodrich T/A KO all-terrain tires and an upgraded TRD exhaust. We expect this truck to deliver knockout blows in the dirt, but will it have enough all-around performance to retain the class title?

Although the Frontier hasn’t won the battle against the Tacoma in last few years, the Nissan still has plenty left in its tank with its focus on providing value. A wily veteran with a few tricks up its sleeve, our 4x4 PRO-4X is the only truck in the class to feature a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, backup sensors (which can easily be switched-off) and a roof rack for added storage up top. Much like the Tacoma, the second-gen Frontier is saddled with dated styling... it was first introduced in 2005 and only received a minor facelift in 2009. The Frontier’s 4.0-liter V6 produces a class-leading 281 lb.-ft. of torque and sits mid-pack in horsepower with a respectable 261. However, but its combined 17 mpg is the lowest EPA fuel economy rating of the group. The Frontier is powered by a five-speed automatic transmission, and like the Tacoma it also has an optional six-speed manual. Will its value-minded proposition be enough to keep it in the fight?

Mid-Size Truck Shootout Shortcuts
Jump to: Engine, Speed Testing

Jump to: Handling, Suspension

Jump to: Towing, Ergomomics & Features

Jump to: Additional Features, Conclusion

Next Page... 2015 Mid-Size Truck Shootout