Chevrolet becomes the only manufacturer in the U.S. to offer a range of three different pickup trucks with the introduction of the all-new mid-size Colorado. It may have been designed as the junior member of the family, but Chevy has applied the same attention to detail and strength to the Colorado as it does to the Silverado and Silverado HD.
A choice of 193hp 2.5 liter four-cylinder and 302hp 3.6 liter V6 engines is offered, and Chevy plans to add a 2.8 liter Duramax four-cylinder in the future as well. Six-speed automatic transmissions are standard, and maximum towing capacity is 6700 pounds.
The Colorado’s got burly styling that makes it look larger than it is at first glance. The cab’s raked beltline and tall bedsides are enhanced by Chevy’s big fender flares. A choice of extended-cab and crew-cab configurations is offered, with five- and six-foot bed lengths on the crew. The hood is aluminum, to reduce weight, and the Colorado shares some of the Silverado’s convenience bumper CornerStep, EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate and provisions in the bed for two-tiered loading. Bed rail and tailgate protection is standard.
The interior has done away with the austere, cheap look of the previous Colorado in favor of a more carlike look that’s still functional. The center console is big enough to store a tablet computer, and rear under-seat storage is standard. Available driver aids like a forward collision warning and lane departure warning are inherited from the larger trucks as well.
