Compact pickup truck; Built in USA
  • crew cab long bed
  • crew cab short bed
  • ext. cab
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $16,800 – $32,200*


2015 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab


2015 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab


2015 Chevrolet Colorado


2015 Chevrolet Colorado extended cab

Pros:
  • Handling/roadholding
Cons:
  • Price with options
  • Rear-seat room

In what’s left of the midsize-pickup market, the Colorado stands out as being more refined and offering modern features the others don’t.

Overview

Both the Chevrolet Colorado and its upscale cousin, the GMC Canyon, were really more midsize pickup than compact. However, they were notably smaller than the typical full-size pickup, which made them a bit easier to manage in tight quarters. Both 4-cylinder and V6 power were available, as were extended-cab and crew-cab body styles. A standard cab was not offered. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon were a shot in the arm to the dwindling compact-pickup segment. They outclassed 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 reached into the realm of some lesser-equipped full-size pickups, the smaller, more-tractable dimensions should made Colorado a practical alternative for many big-truck intenders.

Yearly Updates

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive

Two engines and two transmissions are available in Colorados: a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine. Both engines are teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual transmission is offered with the four-cylinder on the 2WD extended cab.

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.6/217
Engine HP
Engine Torque (lb-ft)
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

18/26

18

dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.5/150
Engine HP 200
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 191
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed manual
6-speed automatic
19/26
20/27

Road Test

Chevrolet put effort into providing a stout structure and quieter ride for Colorado. The box-section frames (as used in full-size trucks but rarely in midsize ones) suffer less torsional twist, thereby providing a more solid platform, and numerous sound-deadening measures have been taken. Indeed, the trucks seemed solid and quiet over the San Diego streets driven during our preview test drive – though our rougher Chicago-area roads will be a better test – and there was only a whisper of wind noise at highway speeds.

Local roads will also be a better indication of ride quality, which seemed solid and reasonably compliant, though still with some of the “nervousness” over bumps that is endemic to pickups. Handling and steering were both perhaps a step above the class norm.

The 4-cylinder engine provides sufficient oomph, at least with automatic transmission in a 2WD extended cab. The V6 is noticeably stronger, and though it doesn’t catapult the truck off the line, acceleration is more than adequate. With both, the transmission kicks down very quickly for more passing power.

There’s ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, even for taller folks. But the same can’t be said for the rear seats. The extended cab offers just two forward-facing jump seats, and unless the front seats are well forward, even kids would lack legroom back there. The crew cab is much better – and can accommodate adults – but it’s hardly roomy. Furthermore, even the 2WD models tested sat rather high off the ground, making ingress and egress a bit awkward for all but taller adults.

Once inside, drivers face a somewhat stylized dashboard with clear round gauges and – on all but low-line models — a central 8-inch touchscreen. The audio system is mounted high within easy reach; volume and tuning are by separate knobs, with band and station selection done through the screen. Like many such systems, some operations that used to be “one touch” simple now require multiple steps. Climate controls are likewise easy to reach, but are even easier to use. Temperature and fan speed are adjusted with rotary knobs, while mode is by individual pushbuttons. Interiors are dressed with bright accents and available two-toning that gives an upscale appearance – at least by “truck” standards.

Interior storage space is quite good. There’s a decent-sized glovebox, a deep console box with USB port, a forward console tray with USB/Aux/12-volt plugs, two open cupholders, a small rear console tray, a tiny open dash bin, and small upper and lower pockets in the doors.

At the business end, Colorado offers a decidedly user-friendly cargo box. Not only are there four “solid” tie-down hooks, there are also 13 ports that can hold additional hooks, and there are optional racks for such things as bikes and kayaks that can be purchased through the dealer. Also nice is a damped, easy-open (and lift) tailgate, along with a step built into the rear bumper.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Z71 Crew Cab

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 6
60%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 5
50%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Front - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Rear - 5
50%
Cargo Room - 3
30%

Other

Value - 6
60%

Total: 51

Specifications

crew cab long bed
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
140.5 224.9 74.3 70.6 4230
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1540 21.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
41.4 38.3 45.0 35.8
crew cab short bed
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
128.3 212.7 74.3 70.7 4010
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1590 21.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
41.4 38.3 45.0 38.5
ext. cab
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
128.3 212.7 74.3 70.4 3960
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1580 21.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
41.4 36.7 45.0 28.6
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2015 Colorado extended cab ext. cab

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Engine noise
Description: Some engines have main bearing or rod bearing failure.

Recall History

2015 Coloroado
Description: A poor electrical connection could cause a loss of power steering assist.
2015 Colorado
Description: The front brake calipers could leak brake fluid which increase stopping distances.
2015 Colorado
Description: The hooks that secure the front seats to the floor might not be properly anchored. There would be an increased risk of injury during a crash.
2015 Colorado
Description: The inflator of the driver-side airbag might be misaligned. During a crash, the airbag might not inflate properly and flying metal fragments could injure passengers.
2015 Colorado
Description: The driver-side airbag might not be wired correctly and the airbag would not deploy as designed.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

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