The Chevrolet Colorado is a series of compact and mid-size pickup trucks manufactured and marketed by General Motors Company for its Chevrolet marque since 2004. The Chevrolet S-10 was replaced by these new compact trucks in 2004. Colorado, a state in the United States, inspired the name.
History of the Chevrolet Colorado
First Generation Chevrolet Colorado (2004–2012)
Since Chevrolet's previous trucks were classified as compacts, the Colorado marked the company's first serious attempt to break into the mid-size truck market. When the Chevrolet S-10 was discontinued, the Colorado was introduced as its replacement for international markets. It was assembled in Thailand and Shreveport, Louisiana, on a platform also used by Isuzu. The first-generation Colorado had three different cab sizes and three different trim options. Also, three distinct suspension configurations added various degrees of capability to the Colorado. The Z85's ride quality was average, whereas the Z/71 Off-Road suspension was designed with towing in mind. Vehicles with the ZQ8 Sport suspension were lower to the ground and had better handling than those with the standard Z85 suspension.
Cab Configurations
Regular Cab
Along with the Ford Ranger and the Dodge Dakota, Chevrolet had something to say about the market for light-duty pickups. But Chevy was still the favorite brand of fleet operators, so the bow tie manufacturer tried to meet their requirements. The two-seat interior of the Colorado Regular-Cab model was designed for carrying cargo while on the job. It was Chevrolet's least expensive and least heavy truck. The Colorado single cab shared its ladder chassis with the four-door Hummer H3 and the four-door Isuzu D-Max, allowing it to tow up to a ton without breaking a sweat or bending a leaf spring. Chevrolet's Regular-Cab model was created to be used in fleets. Therefore, the company equipped it with a small, inline-four engine and a five-speed manual transmission to maximize fuel economy. The alternative was a powerful inline-five engine borrowed from the more luxurious Hummer H3.
Extended Cab
Chevrolet's Colorado series, which debuted in 2003 for the 2004 model year, is a continuation of the automaker's long-standing presence among light-duty pickups like the Ford Ranger and the Dodge Dakota. GM started working on a venture with the Japanese automaker Isuzu, in which GM held a minority investment. Several automobiles emerged, such as the Isuzu D-max and the Chevrolet Colorado. The latter came with a range of cab sizes, the Extended-Cab sitting squarely in the middle. Headlights were separated by a horizontal slat that ran across the front fascia of the car from one side to the other. Chevrolet equipped its base trim with a bench seat or bucket seat for the interior. The bow-tie producer put anything from an economic inline-four 2.8-liter unit to a big 3.7-liter inline-five engine under the hood. To put it another way, the latter was unheard of in a typical American truck. Nevertheless, it was made available, and though it did not sell in significant quantities, it made quite an impression.
Double Cab
An all-new chassis was developed by GM and is used by both that company and Isuzu. Chevrolet had a harder time breaking into the U.S. market, whereas the Japanese brand did well selling the D-Max internationally. The compact sport utility vehicle could pick from one of three different interior configurations. The Dual Cab was conceived primarily as a recreational pickup, making it ideal for families. In 2005 and 2006, the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado outsold the all-time class leader, the Ford Ranger.
Second Generation Chevrolet Colorado (2011–Present)
At the Bangkok International Motor Show in March 2011, Chevrolet debuted the concept version of the all-new Colorado. Some cutting-edge features were displayed, such as an enlarged cab with a rear access mechanism. General Motors unveiled crew cab adventure concepts from Chevrolet and Holden in 2011; the former debuted in June in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the latter debuted in July at the Australian International Motor Show. There are three distinct cab configurations for the production vehicle: Regular Cab (Single Cab), Extended Cab (Space Cab) and Crew Cab (Double Cab). The factory that produces the Duramax engine found in the Colorado was launched by General Motors (Thailand) on September 9, 2011. A manual and an automatic gearbox are available with the engine, which is a rebadged VM Motori turbodiesel of either 2.5 or 2.8 liters. There were three available engines for the Colorado, each tailored to a particular market. The base model was powered by a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, while the range-topping variant was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine. Both were paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, with an automatic transmission as an additional option. Chevrolet offered a 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel motor in select markets.
Third Generation Chevrolet Colorado (2023–Present)
In July 2022, for the 2023 model year, the third-generation Colorado and Canyon were introduced.
Price
For the 2022 model year, Chevrolet retails the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $27,230 for the Work Truck (base) model and $44,695 for the top-of-the-line ZR2 trim.
Features of the Chevrolet Colorado
Exterior Features
The Colorado pickup has never been flashy, but the latest redesign leaves little room for debate. A massive center bar bearing the iconic Chevy golden bowtie gives the front fascia a brash, menacing appearance. Between the massive, polygonal headlights and the supplementary daytime running lights is a horizontal bar that visually splits the ridged black grille down the middle. These are halogen bulbs in the standard WT and LT, whereas in the Z71 and ZR2, they are upgraded to projector beams. Additionally, from the Z71 on higher, fog lights are included. The ZR2, the highest trim level, features a bigger grille, exclusive badging, and a black bowtie. The WT comes standard with steel wheels that have been painted silver, while the LT upgrades to 17-inch alloys. Compared to the Z-trims, which are limited to 17-inch wheels, these two grades offer the option of larger (18-inch) alloys. Additionally, the exterior appears very different based on whether you pick the extended or crew cab and the shorter or extended cargo bed.
Interior Features
The Colorado's cabin is similar in size to that of full-size pickups, so drivers who are comfortable in those vehicles will feel at home in the Colorado. It will be snug for more than two people in the optional crew cab's back seat, and the inside materials appear like General Motors lifted them straight from a 1994 Chevy S-10 truck. A large storage area is located under the back seat of the crew cab, and there is also a large bin in the center console. The Colorado's short box is 41 cubic feet, while the long box is 50 cubic feet; the other trucks have a maximum of 34 cubic feet. The Colorado has the largest cargo bed, but the Toyota Tacoma comes in second with 38 cubic feet in its short bed and 47 cubic feet in its long truck.
Standard Features
Base
- Manual Single-Zone Climate Control
- Power Accessories
- Four-Way Power Driver's Seat
- Rearview Camera
- Monochrome 3.5-Inch Driver-Information Display
- Manually Tilting Steering Column
LT
- Base features
- Six-Way Electrically Adjustable Driver's Seat
- Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
- Sun Visors
- Cruise Control
- Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror
- Manually Tilting/Telescoping Leather-Trimmed Steering Wheel
- Overhead Console
- Keyless Entry
Z Trim
- Above Features
- Color 4.2-Inch Driver-Information Display
- Reading Lights
- Powered Driver-Seat Lumbar Adjustment
- Remote Start
- Cloth/Leatherette Upholstery
- Automatic Single-Zone Climate Control
- HD Rearview Camera
- Teen Driver System
- Rear Parking Sensors (Z71)
- Lane Departure Warning (option)
- Forward Collision Avoidance (option)
Infotainment Features
Base
- Seven-Inch Touchscreen
- Six-Speaker Sound System
- Bluetooth Streaming
- SiriusXM
- Apple Carplay
- Android Auto
LT Trim
- Above Features
- Eight-Inch Display
- Wi-Fi Capable
- Front USB Ports
- Two Rear USB Ports
Z71
- Above Features
- High-Definition Display
- Voice Recognition
- In-Vehicle Apps
- Wireless Charging (option)
- Built-in Navigation (option)
- Wi-Fi Hotspot (option)
- Seven-Speaker Bose Premium Sound System (option)
Safety Features
Base
- Rearview Camera
- Stability Control
- Electronic Traction Control
- Tire-Pressure Monitoring
- Teen Driver Function Included
Higher Trims
- Above Features
- HD Rearview Camera
- Rear Parking Sensors
- Forward-Collision Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
- Dual Front Airbags
- 2 Front Side Airbags
- 2 Side Curtain Bags
Release Date
General Motors has been producing the Chevrolet Colorado for its Chevrolet division since 2004. The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is anticipated to enter production sometime in the first week of January. Although we don't have official numbers just yet, we can safely assume that the base price of the 2023 model will be higher than the $27,230 of the base 2022 model.