With news of the 2019 Ranger’s soon-to-be Raptor trim sparking interest in Ford’s small truck, we felt it necessary to look at the blue oval’s arch nemesis, the Chevy Colorado. We’ll keep the summary simple: This truck is badass in every measure. It’s stylish, it’s powerful, it can tow a lot, it looks like it can plow through a foot of loose mud, and it does so effortlessly.
The Colorado won Truck of The Year, and it’s easy to see why
Diesel Power
That’s all thanks to GM’s Duramax 2.8L turbo-diesel motor, an engine that helps the Chevy Colorado hold the title as America’s most fuel-efficient pickup, while pumping out a best-in-class 369 torques at just 2,000 RPM.
Even the standard 2.5L inline four boasts 200 horses on the nose while the available 3.6L DOHC V6 offers up 308 horses – more than any other small truck available in the states currently (until that mythical Ranger Raptor gets on the prowl). We’re particularly excited to see how long Duramax-equipped Colorados stay on the preowned market, considering the motor features forged internals and fixed timing.
The Colorado’s Towing is Impressive
There’s really no way to put that in fancy or eloquent terms. The Chevy Colorado tons a helluva load – 7,700 pounds, to be exact (with the Duramax). That makes the Colorado capable of towing just about any residential camper or personal watercraft on the market with a wheelbase of just 128”.
The Colorado’s front end provides space for an integrated winch
Proper 4×4 Packages Available
Factory accessories have always been gimmicks to us, and you’ve probably left the dealership in your shiny new ride chuckling at how overpriced that tonneau cover was. But the story is different with the Chevy Colorado. The Trail Boss trim package, available for the Colorado Z71, includes a very well-built off-road light bar mounted just behind and over the top of the cab, secured to the bed rails.
The Colorado’s “Xtreme” package shows off some of the available 4×4 and bed accessories
IP68 waterproof LED lights are thrown in. Oversized fender flares help provide needed clearance when mudding or crawling, and factory Wrangler DuraTec A/T tires help keep the Colorado chugging through sand, dirt, and snow. Chevy’s StabiliTrak traction control helps the Colorado overcome just about any trail obstacle the wheelbase can rear, and slippery conditions mean little risk.
A Well-Equipped Cab
The Colorado is a compact utility truck and it starts at just $20,000 on the dot, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be packed with goodies and techies. Chevy’s MyLink interface with a 7” or 8” color and touch display freshens up the archaic options found in other compact trucks, with AppleCarPlay, Androidauto, and 4G LTE WiFi optioned so passengers can be entertained at the campsite or shore.
We like the myChevrolet Mobile App, which provides remote lock and unlock, engine start and stop, horns and lights, GPS destination linking, and diagnostic information on your smartphone. This is properly utilitarian tech that feels like luxury without any quirks.
Safety Matters, Too
Chevy doesn’t skimp out on safety features with the Colorado, making it a great work truck or just generally a safe vehicle. Available forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and OnStar automatic crash response come in one package, with a rearview camera, all-surround airbags, and a properly fully boxed frame standard.
