Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Hilux - Pick one up

The companies which are already in the pickup business have a tough time. No, don’t get us wrong! The pickup market is booming and for good measure. It not only is burgeoning but also has many companies competing for space. Why then is it hard for the pickup makers? It is because they not only have to cater to the load carrying populace but also to those who actually end up using a pickup as their first vehicle. 

In essence, a pickup then has to also be the ideal family car with lots of niceties as well as efficiency dialled in. A tall order, isn’t it? Of the two pickups that you see here, one is a left-field choice. Yes, we are referring to the Chevrolet Colorado. The Toyota Hilux, of course, is the natural selection for many customers. So, what happens if you have to choose the oddball or go with the flow? We put the 2018 Toyota Hilux and the Chevrolet Colorado 2018 in an all-out war for dominance.

Design and interior

The Hilux is the older design here. It has that butch look from the first-generation Fortuner facelift. If you look at the Toyota Hilux specifications, then you realise that there are projector headlights for base trims and LEDs for the higher ones. Toyota also offers power windows, door lock-unlock as well as power mirror adjustment. There are also LED DRLs, side step as well as graphics available, and 18-inch alloys on offer. The vehicle dimensions are 5,335 mm in length, 1,855 mm in width, and 1,815 mm in height. Inside the cabin, there is a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is USB, Bluetooth and AUX compatible. There is an illuminated entry system, cup holders for the front and back, push-button start as well as multi-information display. The wheelbase is 3,085 mm. As far as Toyota Hilux colors are concerned, there are six options - Silver Metallic, Grey Metallic, Attitude Mica Black, Orange Metallic, Crimson Spark Red Metallic, and Freedom White.

The Chevrolet Colorado specifications suggest that it is feature loaded too. The headlights are halogen projectors and come with auto on function. There are also LED DRLs. The Colorado looks more butch than the Hilux. It also has all-terrain two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels. The tail lamps are again LED units. Inside the cabin, one will find a multi-function display, a touchscreen infotainment system with MirrorLink, electrically powered driver’s seat, three electrical outlets, electrochromic mirror as well as tyre pressure monitoring system. The Chevrolet Colorado features list also says that it has touch up and down power windows. The length, width and height of the Chevrolet Colorado are 5361 mm x 2132 mm x 1798 mm respectively. The wheelbase for Colorado though isn’t specified. The Chevrolet Colorado colors splashes include - Black Meet Kettle, Switchblade Silver, Pull Me Over Red, Mountain Blue, Summit White, Auburn Brown, and Stain Steel Grey.

Powertrain options

Both the Toyota Hilux as well as the Chevrolet Colorado offer two diesel engines each. First up, the Hilux has a 2.4-litre turbo diesel that produces 147 PS of max power and 400 Nm of torque. The cab chassis variants get the same engine but with only 343 Nm of torque. One can order the Hilux with this engine and 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The bigger 2.8-litre engine 174 PS and 450 Nm. In this too, for the 4x2 Conquest trim, the torque is lower and stands at 420 Nm. There again is a choice of 6-speed automatic or manual transmissions.

A Duramax 2.5-litre and 2.8-litre diesel engines do duty under the hood of Colorado pickup. The former makes 183 PS of power and 380 Nm of torque. This one can be ordered only with a 6-speed manual. As far as the bigger engine is concerned, it produces 200 PS of power and 500 Nm of torque. This state of tune can be ordered with a 6-speed AT. There is also another state of tune that is 200 PS and 470 Nm and can be availed with a 4x2 and a 6-speed manual.

Both the vehicles here run double wishbone front suspension with leaf springs at the back.

Safety features

The new Toyota Hilux brings in seven airbags, ABS with EBD, Vehicle Stability Control, Active Traction Control, Hill-start Assist Control, Trailer Sway Control, Brake Assist, reverse parking sensors as well as ISOFIX child seat tethers.

In the new Chevrolet Colorado, one gets dual airbags, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, reverse camera with parking sensors, front parking sensors, electronic cruise control, traction control, hill assist, brake assist, and ABS with EBD.

Price and verdict

The Toyota Hilux price starts from Php 814,000 and goes up to Php 1,491,000. In contrast, the Chevrolet Colorado price starts from Php 1,248,888, with the top end model costing Php 1,571,888. While Colorado has more kit up its alley as well as a higher power output powertrain, the Hilux has got reliability and a far lower price tag to boot. If your budget permits, Colorado is the better as well as the more modern car of the two.