Short answer: no. Long answer: no, because reasons. What kinds of reasons? Well for one thing, most long-term Chevy-lovers aren’t about to switch to a Nissan, but you already know that. That’s an emotional reaction; a gut reaction—there are also other reasons, hard number, and logic reasons, which you can also use to justify your preference when it comes to the 2019 Chevy Colorado vs 2019 Nissan Frontier.
What kinds of numbers are in favor of the Colorado? Well, how about horsepower and torque? The 2019 Chevy Colorado has the 2019 Nissan Frontier beat on both fronts—so if power is important to you, then stick with your Chevy. How about payload and towing capacity? The Colorado wins on both of those fronts as well—not to mention fuel efficiency, where the available turbo-diesel in the Colorado blows everything else away.
Don’t take my word for it though, look at the numbers and see for yourself how the 2019 Chevy Colorado stacks up against the Frontier. Nissan-lovers out there, you might want to look away.
The Engines—Horsepower and Torque
There’s no need for emotional judgments or appraisals here—cold, hard facts and figures will tell the whole story. First off, consider this: there are three engines available for the 2019 Chevy Colorado, while the 2019 Nissan Frontier has only two engines available. To me, that’s already a point in favor of the Chevy contender, but to be fair, let’s see what they can do—after all, sometimes two engines is enough.
The 2019 Chevy Colorado starts off with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that provides up to 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. So far so good. There is an available 3.6L DOHC V6 engine that offers up to 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, which is the best option if you are interested in horsepower first and foremost. But there is also an available Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel engine that offers up to 181 hp and an impressive 369 lb-ft of torque for unbeatable towing capacity.
By comparison, the 2019 Nissan Frontier starts off with a 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder engine that provides up to 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque—so in terms of the starting engines, the Chevy offering is more powerful. There’s also an available 4.0L DOHC V6 engine that offers up to 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the Chevy’s V6, it falls short in terms of horsepower and just slightly edges ahead with torque, but the Chevy’s turbo-diesel blows it away in torque. No matter how you stack them up, Chevy comes out on top.
The Engines—Fuel Efficiency
Powerful engines are great and very important for getting work done, but fuel efficiency is also important since it can save you a lot of money over the years. The three engines of the 2019 Chevy Colorado offer the following estimated fuel economies: 2.5L – 20/26 mpg; 3.6L – 18/25 mpg; and the 2.8L Turbo-Diesel – 20/30 mpg.
On the other hand, the two 2019 Nissan Frontier engines offer the following: 2.5L – 19/23 mpg; and 4.0L – 16/23 mpg. If you compare starting engines, then the Chevy Colorado comes out on top, and if you compare the available V6 engines, then the Colorado wins again. And that’s without even looking at the Colorado’s turbo-diesel that offers up to 30 mpg on the highway, far surpassing anything the Frontier has to offer.
Performance—Payload and Towing
Looking at raw numbers from engines is smart; horsepower and torque are important, but perhaps even more important are what those numbers mean. When it comes to getting just about any kind of job done with a pickup, then a high payload and towing capacity are essential. So let’s look at how these two trucks stack up in that department.
The 2019 Chevy Colorado has a maximum payload of up to 1,574 lbs and a maximum towing capacity, when properly equipped, of up to 7,700 lbs. By comparison, the 2019 Nissan Frontier has a maximum payload of up to 1,460 lbs and a maximum towing capacity, when properly equipped, of up to 6,720 lbs. To be fair, that is not a huge difference in terms of payload, which isn’t surprising considering these are both comparable mid-size trucks.
When it comes to towing capacity, however, that is a very notable difference. The 2019 Chevy Colorado can pull about 1,000 lbs more weight behind it when setup for maximum trailering compared to the Frontier. That’s a big difference for mid-size pickups where every pound can matter, and can easily make the difference between hauling everything you need in one or two trips, and needing three or four to get it done. Over time, the difference that can make in work hours is substantial.
Interior—Technology and Features
Engine power, fuel economy, and towing capacity are all important for getting work done, but what about your comfort? What about the weekend? That’s why it’s also very important to look at the interior features these trucks have to offer and see how they compare. To keep things simple, let’s consider the very best features you can get in each of these trucks at their highest trim levels.
The 2019 Chevy Colorado has an 8-inch HD color touchscreen Infotainment display with available Navigation, available Bose premium sound system, and an HD rear vision camera. There is a 4-inch driver information center display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. There is also a wireless charging console, 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat, 6-way power adjustable driver seat, and automatic climate control.
By comparison, the 2019 Nissan Frontier has an 8-inch touchscreen display, a Rockford Fosgate sound system, and auto-dimming rearview mirror. It has a 4-way power adjustable passenger seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, but no wireless charging option. There is automatic temperature control, but no digital display in the driver information area.
Safety—Available Features and Options
Both of these are safe trucks, but how do their features really compare? Once again, let’s look at everything available, not just the minimum options.
The 2019 Chevy Colorado has numerous airbags, an available lane departure warning, and rear park assist. There is also an available forward collision alert and StabiliTrak with electronic stability and traction control. The Colorado includes a Teen driver system, which lets you enable or disable certain features to help encourage safe habits for new drivers.
By comparison, the 2019 Nissan Frontier includes numerous airbags, has a Vehicle Dynamic Control system with traction control, and an available rear sonar system. Beyond that, however, there aren’t really any more available or included safety features. The Colorado simply brings more to the table, especially if you choose as many available options as possible, and the Teen driver system is a great choice for anyone with a young driver.
What’s Left to Say?
At the end of the day, the numbers are clearly in favor of the 2019 Chevy Colorado. It has more power, can get more work done, offers better fuel efficiency, and provides you with more options for interior luxury and overall safety features. So Chevy fans, you can rest assured that you have picked the right pickup truck if you chose the Colorado over the 2019 Nissan Frontier. And if you haven’t bought a new truck, but you’re looking for a mid-size option, then the choice seems pretty clear.
