The Chevrolet Colorado is Chevy’s entry in the highly competitive compact pickup segment. As with most of its modern competitors, the Colorado is closer to midsize than compact, and thus offers a reasonable amount of hauling capability without requiring one to upgrade to a more expensive, less maneuverable full-size truck. The Chevy’s affordable price makes it particularly appealing to budget-minded truck buyers and fleet managers. The Colorado’s aggressive, angular styling makes big promises of power, ruggedness and capability. Although it handles capably on-road and off, Chevrolet’s rear suspension parts compact pickup doesn’t really deliver on the power front, due to its weak four- and five-cylinder engines. As the years have worn on, those engines have gained some power, but they don’t hold a candle to the more refined V6 powerhouses of rivals. A V8 is now available, thankfully.
Other downsides to the Chevy Colorado are the abundance of hard plastics in its cabin, inconsistent build quality and a near absence of style. While fleet buyers and budget-minded consumers just looking for an inexpensive small pickup truck may not care about the Colorado’s general lack of refinement, we feel the majority of shoppers will do better with one of the other trucks in this segment.
The Colorado can be equipped with either two-wheel drive or a four-wheel-drive system with a dual-range transfer case. There are several suspension options, including the Z85 heavy-duty and Z71 off-road packages that add a torsion-bar front suspension with heavier-duty shocks. There’s also the street-oriented ZQ8, which features a lowered, performance-tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels and performance tires, and cosmetic modifications. Reviews of the Chevrolet Colorado have been lukewarm at best. Although this truck is roomier and better-handling than its predecessor, its engines, cabin accommodations and overall build quality have always fallen short alongside the more complete packages from Dodge, Nissan and Toyota.