Pros: Refined road manners for a pickup truck; good selection of modern comfort, safety, and technology features
Cons: Rear seat space is tight, especially in extended-cab models; prices rise quickly as options are added; Colorado doesn’t offer the more-sophisticated full-time 4-wheel drive system that is available on the GMC Canyon
CG Says: After a two-year hiatus, Chevrolet’s compact pickup truck returns as an all-new model. Both the Chevrolet Colorado and its upscale cousin, the GMC Canyon, are really more midsize than compact. However, they are notably smaller than the typical full-size pickup, which makes them a bit easier to manage in tight quarters. Both 4-cylinder and V6 power is available, as are extended-cab and crew-cab body styles. A standard cab is not offered. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are a shot in the arm to the dwindling compact-pickup segment. They outclass their long-in-the-tooth competitors (namely the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma) by offering up-to-date technology features and better all-around refinement. Though pricing on top-line Colorados reaches into the realm of some lesser-equipped full-size pickups, the smaller, more-tractable dimensions should make Colorado a practical alternative for many big-truck intenders.
Class | Compact Pickup Truck |
Body Style(s) | extended-cab, crew-cab |
Passenger Count | 5 |
Drive Wheels | rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive |
Manufacturer | Chevrolet |
Nation of Manufacture | USA |
Base Prices | (Only select models listed) Base Ext. Cab: $20,120 WT Crew Cab, 5-ft. box: $24,330 LT 4×4 Ext Cab: $29,220 Z71 4×4 Crew Cab, 6-ft. box: $34,415 |
Base Engine 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
Horsepower 200 |
Std. Transmission 6-speed manual (ext. cab only) |
Avail. Transmission 6-speed automatic |
EPA City Range (mpg) 19-20 |
EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 25-27 |
Optional Engine 3.6-liter V6 |
Horsepower 305 |
Std. Transmission 6-speed automatic |
Avail. Transmission NA |
EPA City Range (mpg) 17-18 |
EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 24-26 |