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The 2021 Ford Ranger on the trails

These 2021 Toyota Tacoma Alternatives Are Cheaper Pickup Trucks

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is a compact pickup truck with a loyal fanbase. But not everyone can afford a brand new Tacoma. These Toyota Tacoma alternatives are cheaper pickup trucks. While there are few vehicles that can rival the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and its off-road capability, there are definitely other compact pickup trucks that …

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is a compact pickup truck with a loyal fanbase. But not everyone can afford a brand new Tacoma. These Toyota Tacoma alternatives are cheaper pickup trucks.

A gray 2021 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition parked on brown dirt in front of green and brown mountains
2021 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

While there are few vehicles that can rival the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and its off-road capability, there are definitely other compact pickup trucks that are worth buying. The 2021 Ford Ranger, for example, or the 2021 Chevy Colorado. The 2021 Nissan Frontier is also a Toyota Tacoma alternative. And these trucks have one thing in common––they are all cheaper pickup trucks.

How much is the 2021 Ford Ranger?

The 2021 Ford Ranger’s starting price is around $25,000 according to U.S. News and World Report. For this price, you get the Ranger XL with its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. This engine gets 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

2021 Ford Ranger
2021 Ford Ranger | Ford

While this 2021 Toyota Tacoma alternative is just shy of the Taco’s base price of $26,150 the 2021 Ford Ranger’s base engine offers more power for less money. On the Ford Ranger XL you get a pretty basic compact pickup truck. But it does include standard safety like the forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. In addition, there are a few packages that add more features like Ford’s full safety suite.

The 2021 Chevy Colorado

Although this truck rates a little lower for reliability, it’s also the cheapest one on this list. Starting at $21,300 ( U.S. News ), the 2021 Chevy Colorado WT base trim comes equipped with a 4-cylinder engine. However, this trim can be had with the optional V6 that gets up to 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque.

2021 Chevy Colorado LT trim driving through the city
2021 Chevy Colorado LT Trim

With the V6 upgrade, the 2021 Chevy Colorado is priced around $26,685. Keep in mind that in order to get the 2021 Toyota Tacoma with the optional V6 you’ll have to spend about $28 grand. The Chevrolet Colorado is a cheaper pickup truck with either engine.

The 2021 Nissan Frontier is a reliable alternative

If the reliability ratings of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma are part of the attraction, consider the 2021 Nissan Frontier. Nissan USA shows a starting price of $27,090 for this compact pickup truck option. And, while it’s not technically a cheaper pickup truck, it does come standard with V6 power.

2020 Nissan Frontier parked in grass
Nissan Frontier | Nissan

On the base model 2021 Nissan Frontier S, buyers get the V6 as standard equipment. This engine produces 281 pound-feet of torque and 310 horsepower. This model also boasts a 7-inch touchscreen. However, the only feature that you can really add to the 2021 Nissan Frontier S is four-wheel drive.

Compact pickup truck alternatives

While the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is a great truck, it’s not the only compact pickup truck out there worth checking out. In fact, some of the alternatives are actually cheaper trucks. The 2021 Ford Ranger, 2021 Chevy Colorado, and 2021 Nissan Frontier are all good enough to consider instead.

2021 Toyota Tacoma parked
2021 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

If you care about V6 power, especially, there are cheaper ways to get it than the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. Still, if you’re a Taco person you’re a Taco person. Even with other great options out there, you may not personally find any of them to be true alternatives. In this case, just stick with the Tacoma.

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