Professionals: Stellar exterior design; easy-to-use and fashionable tech; epic ZR2 off-road variant
Cons: Inside feels low-cost on decrease trims; low-output engine is a bummer
The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado stands tall as our favourite midsize pickup truck this 12 months for a bunch of causes. For one, it drives exceedingly nicely with a stout engine, strong trip and excellent off-road variants for no matter use case. The inside is jam-packed with tech that each appears nice and works even higher. And certain, the decrease trims really feel a bit low-cost, however a base Colorado Work Truck might be had at a respectably low value if you happen to’re simply in search of what the title implies: a piece truck.
It is laborious to not hype up the ZR2 straight off the highest, too, as a result of that is hands-down our favourite model of the Colorado for having enjoyable and arriving in most model. Consider it as a mini F-150 Raptor with a extra cheap powertrain – the chassis and suspension is that good for off-road ventures. And whereas the Z71 trim does luxurious midway decently, GM has one other reply for individuals who want a ritzier midsize pickup: the GMC Canyon that we evaluate right here. It’s mainly the Colorado’s better-dressed twin.
In comparison with different midsize vehicles, the Colorado stacks up nicely in a specs comparability. It has the qualities you need with glorious energy, nice towing (maxes out at 7,700 kilos) and all the inside goodies. The brand new Toyota Tacoma with its hybrid powertrain has it beat for effectivity, and a Honda Ridgeline will nonetheless take the crown for finest trip, however we just like the Colorado as among the finest total values and easily the most effective all-around midsize truck within the recreation for 2024.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gasoline Economic system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2024?
Similar to the GMC Canyon, the Chevrolet Colorado provides an AEV-upgraded off-road trim to the combo with the ZR2 Bison mannequin – you may learn all about it right here. The 2024 Colorado additionally ditches the smaller 8-inch digital cluster to make the 11-inch model normal on all trims, and the mid-level turbocharged four-cylinder engine is discontinued. Varied package deal shuffling takes place, however there aren’t many modifications just because the Colorado was all-new for 2023.
What are the Colorado’s inside and in-car expertise like?
The Chevrolet Colorado’s inside ranges from cheap-feeling with plenty of laborious plastic within the Work Truck to surprisingly good within the higher trims. Regardless of the trim, although, it’s a large enchancment in high quality and look versus the earlier era. The very first thing you’ll discover once you step up into the cabin is the screens proper in your face. Each model of the Colorado will get an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that features wi-fi Apple CarPlay and wi-fi Android Auto. Each trim additionally will get the identical the identical 11-inch digital instrument panel. All of the screens function easy-to-use controls, fast responses to inputs and run Google Constructed-in software program. Which means you will have Google Maps as your native navigation system and the power to obtain extra apps from the Google Play Retailer.
The cabin isn’t all screens, although, as Chevy sticks with laborious buttons/knobs for very important objects like local weather controls, drive modes and quantity management (weirdly, the headlights are discovered hidden within the touchscreen, which isn’t nice). A hefty, conventional PRNDL shifter is slotted within the heart console; there may be loads of house in each the cupholders and door pockets to your beverage requirements.
In contrast to the GMC Canyon with its numerous inside upholstery colours, the Colorado is admittedly solely accessible in numerous shades of black (the ZR2 goes wild with a grey possibility). The Z71 trim is a bit more thrilling with pink stitching and pink accents all through the cabin, however this lack of vibrancy is one method to inform the vehicles aside. One other is the air vent design and normal plushness of the surfaces – the LT and Z71 get padded surfaces, whereas the Work Truck and Path Boss are caught with laborious plastic.
How massive is the Colorado?
The Colorado falls within the midsize class of pickups, and it’s on the bigger facet of the section in total footprint. It solely is available in one physique model: a crew cab with what would normally be thought of a brief mattress, measuring 5 ft, 1 inch.
Inside, the entrance row of the Colorado feels mighty spacious and affords a commanding view of the street forward as you sit excessive off the bottom. The rear seat, as they are typically within the midsize pickup section, is somewhat cramped however nonetheless completely workable and cozy for a median grownup at 34.7 inches of rear legroom. Little one seats are potential, particularly when ahead dealing with, however the rear latch anchor is troublesome to make use of, and we extremely suggest searching for skilled assist to securely fasten a seat in place.
The mattress itself may seem like an everyday pickup’s mattress at first look, however its tailgate is hiding a neat storage trick. A shallow bin of kinds on the within of it may be flipped up and small objects stowed in there. We might see it being useful for belongings you at all times need readily available however don’t need flying across the mattress, and presumably even handy for tailgate events as a further place to place issues. Much less handy is the ZR2 Bison’s bed-mounted spare tire. Certain, it appears rad, however it takes up a ton of house and practically eliminates rear visibility.
What are the Colorado’s gas financial system and efficiency specs?
All Colorados are powered by a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, however there are two engine outputs accessible. Each the Work Truck and LT trims are fitted with the decrease output model that produces 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. These trims can be found with both rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive optionally, and each Colorado is fitted with an eight-speed computerized. Gasoline financial system for the rear-drive vehicles is listed at 19 mpg metropolis, 24 mpg freeway and 21 mpg mixed. These drop to 18/23/20 with 4WD.
The high-output model of the four-cylinder (normal on the Path Boss and Z71) produces 310 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The ZR2 trim will get much more torque, although, at 430 pound-feet. These vehicles come normal with four-wheel drive, and gas financial system drops to 17/21/19 mpg for the Path Boss and Z71. That determine drops even additional for the off-road-focused ZR2 at 16/16/16, the penalty for giant all-terrain tires and its different off-road advantages.
What is the Colorado prefer to drive?
Beginning with the bottom engine, the Colorado feels on the gutless facet and suffers from excessive throttle delay accompanied by an awfully mushy pedal. Perhaps it was simply our explicit take a look at truck, however we expect this model of the engine might have some tweaking. Improve to the higher trims and their extra highly effective engine, and the Colorado is on the short and gutsy facet of issues. Its eight-speed computerized transmission shifts a lot better with added energy, although we discovered it nonetheless upshifted somewhat too shortly now and again. For individuals who tow, the high-output model right here encompasses a tow/haul mode not discovered on the lower-output model that ought to make the transmission a lot smarter when the added torque is required. And as long as you just like the sound of diesels, you’re going to love the sound of this engine, as a result of it’s very whistly and gravelly.
This body-on-frame pickup on its base/ street-oriented trims with rear leaf springs comports itself nicely when it comes to each trip and dealing with. It’s fairly composed, comfy and civilized. A Path Boss with the optionally available mud terrain tires didn’t add as a lot further noise as we have been anticipating, however you do discover the firmer reactions to pavement imperfections that in flip ship extra vibrations by means of the truck’s body. In the meantime, the ZR2 with its big tires and Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers fully modifications the sport when it comes to trip high quality. It’s going to be the most effective performer each on and off the street. And if you happen to really need the most effective off-road efficiency, there’s the ZR2 Bison that takes issues even additional.
What different Chevrolet Colorado opinions can I learn?
2023 Chevy Colorado First Drive Evaluate: Little truck will get a giant overhaul
Our first shot on the new Colorado the place we dissect the engineering and check out a number of variations of the truck.
2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison First Drive Evaluate: Crawls on rocks, jumps gorges
We take a look at out essentially the most excessive ZR2 Bison and are available away wildly impressed at its capabilities.
2023 Chevy Colorado Path Boss Street Take a look at: On a regular basis adventures
Right here we deal with the middling Path Boss trim so see what a modest Colorado has to supply.
What’s the 2024 Colorado’s value?
The 2024 Chevrolet begins at an affordable $32,145 for the Work Truck trim. It comes with a reasonably low stage of ordinary gear with some highlights being 17-inch metal wheels, halogen headlights, power-adjustable mirrors, material seats, guide tilt steering column (no telescope), single-zone local weather management, 11.3-inch infotainment with wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, guide entrance seats and a 6-speaker audio system.
The LT provides extra gear to the social gathering, however the Path Boss is a giant step up with massive modifications like a 2-inch elevate, 3-inch wider observe, 18-inch wheels wrapping 32-inch all-terrain tires, the higher-output engine and a complete host of look objects each inside and out of doors the truck. The Z71 is mainly a extra luxurious Path Boss.
The ZR2 is the highest trim with the entire distinctive off-road goodies – quantity a kind of being the Multimatic DSSV dampers. The checklist of elements that makes the ZR2 particular is an extended one, however go try our full evaluate of the ZR2 Bison to be taught extra about this superior off-road Colorado variant.
All the costs and their corresponding trims are listed under, together with the $1,495 vacation spot cost.
- WT: $32,145
- LT: $33,495
- Path Boss: $38,895
- Z71: $41,795
- ZR2: $48,395
- ZR2 Bison: $60,540
What are the Colorado’s security rankings and driver help options?
The Colorado comes with a big suite of driver help techniques as normal gear together with ahead collision warning and computerized emergency braking with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, auto high-beams, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping help. Optionally, you may add blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning techniques with steering help, rear pedestrian alert, adaptive cruise management and a 360-degree digital camera.
The 2024 Colorado had not been crash-tested by a 3rd social gathering on the time of this writing.
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