2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2024 Toyota Tacoma

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 boasted a design that was somewhat divisive. Some of Chevy's past truck designs, like the split-bar grille of the 1990s and the 2015 redesign, aged quite gracefully. The current generation's styling, however, might have caused mixed reactions with its small headlights and body panel jutting into the grille—a look that might have seemed aggressive to some. This aggressiveness aligned well with other Chevrolet vehicles, exuding a “Transformers” aesthetic. To enhance visual appeal, various appearance packages were available, including the Rally Edition, Midnight Edition, and Redline Edition.

Inside, the Silverado provided a more functional and user-friendly cabin. The dashboard layout varied depending on the trim, encompassing WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2—with the new-for-2023 Bison package. The WT and Custom trims retained interiors from pre-2022, featuring a small screen and more manual controls. Meanwhile, the higher trims boasted a modern, high-tech dash with a large, intuitive touch screen.

The WT trim included vinyl upholstery, bench front seating, rubberized flooring, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moving up to the Custom trim added cloth upholstery, wireless smartphone integration, and 20-inch alloy wheels. Higher trims like the LT included a high-tech infotainment system, digital instrument panel, dual-zone climate control, and more. The LTZ offered leather upholstery and a power tailgate, while the High Country provided luxury-level features such as heated and ventilated front seats.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma, meanwhile, retained a familiar yet refreshed look. Its new hexagonal grille added a menacing front, and the overall design leaned more angular and blocky while maintaining the recognizable Toyota truck appearance. Standard 17-inch “steelies” wheels upgraded to 17- or 18-inch alloys on higher trims like TRD Sport and Limited.

Inside, the Tacoma experienced a significant redesign influenced by the Ford F-Series, adopting a more squared-off dash and a bulky gear shift knob. The inclusion of MOLLE panels emphasized a functional design. Even the Limited trim, though outfitted with heated and ventilated SofTex-trimmed seats, featured noticeable plastic grids, focusing on practical over form.

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s base engine was a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder, generating 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The available 5.3-liter V8 offered 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, while the more powerful 6.2-liter V8 produced 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The six-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel also provided ample power with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard, with four-wheel drive (4WD) as an option. The base engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while all other engines utilized a ten-speed automatic. When equipped with the Max Towing package, the Silverado could tow up to 13,300 pounds, with payload capacity reaching 2,260 pounds for the base engine with RWD.

During tests, the turbo-four engine surprised with its power delivery, despite some harsh mechanical noise. The V8 engines, particularly the 6.2-liter, provided energetic performance, and the ten-speed automatic was refined. Handling was commendable for a truck of its size, though steering was less communicative compared to competitors. The Silverado demonstrated excellent off-road capability, especially in trims like the Trail Boss and ZR2.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma adopted an all-turbo engine lineup, featuring the standard 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (i-FORCE) producing 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The base Tacoma SR’s version of this engine offered 228 hp and 243 lb-ft, a significant improvement over the previous generation. An eight-speed automatic transmission replaced the old six-speed, delivering smooth and timely shifts. A six-speed manual was still available but was tricky to manage in tight maneuvering situations.

Toyota emphasized trim differentiation, with multiple suspension setups tailored for specific trims. The new coil spring multi-link rear suspension was standard on most trims, enhancing ride quality. TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and Limited trims offered varying suspension tuning, with the Limited featuring an adaptive variable suspension for improved comfort. The hybrid i-Force Max powertrain promised higher capability, available on trims like TRD Pro and Trailhunter with specialized shocks and off-road features.

Newly standard disc brakes and electric power steering improved driving dynamics and allowed for additional driver-assistance features. The electric power steering addressed the former model's vagueness, providing a more connected driving experience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered several body styles, including a regular cab with standard or long bed, double cab with standard bed, and crew cab with short or standard bed. The short bed measured 5 feet 8 inches, the standard bed 6 feet 6 inches, and the long bed 8 feet. Regular cabs were suited for work-focused trims like WT and Custom, seating up to three passengers with a front bench seat that doubled as a center console.

The double cab model featured conventional doors and sufficient rear headroom but limited legroom, ideal for occasional rear-seat use. The crew cab provided expansive rear headroom and legroom, with the rear bench folding upward for significant in-cabin cargo space, perfect for storing valuable tools or items protected from the elements.

Toyota’s 2024 Tacoma eliminated the small rear seats, introducing the "XtraCab" two-door configuration for cargo space behind the front seats. Lockable storage compartments and a work surface in the passenger seat catered to solo contractors. The four-door Double Cab models improved seat comfort, with front and rear legroom near identical to previous models. The Double Cab gained additional storage under the flat-folding rear seats.

The Tacoma continued to offer 5-foot or 6-foot beds, with the XtraCab available only with the larger bed. A 440-watt outlet for gas models and a 2400-watt version for hybrids expanded functionality, with deeper beds improving storage volume by seven percent.

In terms of payload and towing, the Silverado excelled with up to 13,300 pounds of towing capacity and a maximum payload of 2,260 pounds. The Tacoma's specifics on payload and towing were pending, but it promised improved capabilities with the introduction of the hybrid powertrain.

The 2023 Silverado 1500 provided a base 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in WT and Custom trims. Higher trims featured a modern dash centered around a 13.4-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration, vivid graphics, and a fully digital instrument panel. The Custom trim added a Wi-Fi hot spot, while the LTZ included wireless device charging and extra USB ports.

The 2024 Tacoma saw notable technological improvements. The base model now had an 8-inch touchscreen, with higher trims featuring a 14-inch display running Toyota’s Audio Multimedia system. The system was responsive but minimalist. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a well-positioned Qi wireless charging pad. The optional 10-speaker JBL sound system included a removable portable Bluetooth speaker. Pre-wired auxiliary switches and a trailer brake controller added functional convenience.

The 2023 Silverado 1500 came equipped with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. The LTZ trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view camera, and front and rear parking sensors. Optional safety tech included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and GM’s Super Cruise. The Silverado achieved a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and high crash test scores from the IIHS.

The 2024 Tacoma introduced new safety technologies with standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including Lane Tracing Assist, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. New features included road-sign assist and an emergency stop system. Enhanced adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were standard on most trims. Safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were pending, but Toyota aimed for improved safety recognition.