Buyers at dealerships like the Chevy dealer in Smelterville could be forgiven for thinking the Chevy is an American truck trying to look global, and the 2019 Toyota Tacoma is a global truck trying to look American. That's not strictly true as the Colorado itself is a global model, and it shows in its styling. The Colorado looks rugged, macho and thoroughly modern, while the Tacoma is quite obviously a model that's been continually updated. The Chevy is definitely a more attractive model, and when it's dressed up a little it could easily be the best-looking truck of any type in the market.

Both models have a standard four-cylinder engine and an available V6. In both cases, the Colorado engines are the more powerful units. The Chevy’s four-cylinder develops 200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.6-liter V6 offers 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. The Toyota's standard 2.7-liter inline-four produces just 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and the V6 is rated at 278 hp and 265 lb-ft. The Colorado is also available with a turbodiesel engine, which is an option that's not available with the Tacoma.

Capability is another area where the Chevy beats the Toyota. When properly outfitted, the 2019 Toyota Tacoma is rated to tow a maximum 6,800 pounds, which is quite a bit less than the 7,700-pound rating of the Colorado.

Passengers in the Toyota Tacoma have more room than they'd get in a number of its rivals, but not as much as they can enjoy inside the Chevrolet Colorado. Although the exterior dimensions of the two trucks in crew cab formats are almost identical, there's more legroom for everyone in the cabin of the Chevy. The Tacoma has 42.9 inches of legroom in the front and 32.6 inches in the back, but in the Colorado, there's 45 inches in the front and 35.8 inches for rear-seat passengers.

The entry-level crew cab versions of these two trucks cost almost exactly the same, but the Colorado has a more impressive list of standard features and equipment. The Toyota's infotainment screen is only a 6.1-inch unit, but buyers get a larger seven-inch screen in the Chevy that makes viewing and operation a little easier. Even the most expensive versions of the Tacoma are not available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, but entry-level versions of the Colorado have it as standard equipment.

At first glance, these two midsize trucks might seem quite evenly matched. But when you look in a little more detail, it quickly becomes apparent the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado is a better and more contemporary pickup than the 2019 Toyota Tacoma in just about every meaningful way.