With gas prices fluctuating wildly, many truck drivers are considering downsizing from a fullsized pickup to something smaller. The 2012 Toyota Tacoma and 2012 Chevrolet Colorado are two of the last midsized pickups still available in the U.S, along with the Ram Dakota and Nissan Frontier. The Tacoma and Colorado are the last two pickups available with four-cylinder engines now that the Ford Ranger has been discontinued.

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The Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Colorado are capable enough in any trim to handle what you’ll need from them. The Tacoma with the 185-hp four-cylinder 2WD is rated at a 3,400 lb max towing capacity and a 1,235 payload. The Colorado’s 159-hp four-banger 2WD is rated at a 2,400 lb towing capacity with a 1,216 max payload. With the 236-hp V6 engine, the 2012 Tacoma has a 6,400 lb towing
capacity and a 1,295 payload. The Colorado five-cylinder, 242-hp model has a 6,000 lb towing capacity and an 1,170 max payload.

Buyers concerned with gas mileage will probably opt for the four cylinder models, and neither of these trucks disappoint. The Tacoma 2WD four-cylinder gets 18-mpg city and 25-mpg highway. The Colorado four-cylinder rear-wheel drive is rated at 19-mpg city and 25-mpg highway.

Inside, the Tacoma and Colorado are pretty evenly matched, though the Tacoma might be a better choice for larger people. The Colorado has 39.3 inches of head room up front while the Tacoma has almost an inch more at 40.2 inches. The Colorado has a half inch more leg room with 42.2 inches to theToyota Tacoma’s 42.2. Hip and shoulder room are both higher in the Toyota with 53.6 and 57.7 inches. The Chevy Colorado has 53.3 inches of hip room and 57.1 inches of shoulder room.

The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado starts at $17,395. the Tacoma’s base price is $16,875.