The Chevy Colorado has been round for 20 years, but it is solely simply entered its third technology. It was a much-needed substitute to the S-10 again in 2003. The Colorado continues because the smallest Chevy pickup obtainable, however immediately it faces some robust competitors from mid-size rivals such because the Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator.
The Colorado is obtainable as a four-door cab with a five-foot-two-inch field irrespective of how far over its $30,695 beginning worth you dare to climb. The brand new Chevy changed the outgoing 308-hp V-6 and Duramax Diesel powertrain choices with a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four bolted to an eight-speed computerized transmission.
The 5 trims supplied fluctuate from work truck to rock-crawling plaything. We have pushed 4 of them (in just a few months Chevy will give us the keys to the ZR2 launched later this yr). So naturally, we spent our lunch break poring over the net configurator for the brand new Colorado, doing a bit window buying earlier than we needed to clock again in. Here is how a few of our employees would spec the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado.
Ezra Dyer’s $32,600 Rear-Wheel-Drive Colorado WT
For my 2023 Colorado, I am envisioning a fundamental place to begin for a truck that can be constructed right into a monster—particularly, a prerunner. With the brand new Colorado’s sharper strategy and departure angles and punchy turbo energy, it will make an awesome candidate for off-roading of the Mint 400 selection, even in two-wheel-drive type. So I am beginning with a two-wheel-drive WT and including the upgraded engine with 310 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque ($1050). Hell, give me the entrance middle console ($135) so I am going to have someplace to relaxation my proper elbow throughout blasts throughout the Warp Zone lake mattress. And I am going to seize the automated locking differential ($325)—or, as I name it, “poor man’s four-wheel-drive.” My solely frivolous spend, when you can name it that, is for Glacier Blue Metallic paint ($395), as a result of the opposite WT colours are boring. That places me at $32,600 all in, leaving me loads of imaginary price range for long-travel suspension, fiberglass bodywork, and bed-mounted spares. —Ezra Dyer
Drew Dorian’s $33,110 Rear-Wheel-Drive Colorado WT
Ezra’s proper. There’s one thing charming concerning the base Work Truck trim. Positive, the Colorado is obtainable in higher-end trims which can be extra targeted on off-roading too, however the WT has a lovable blue-collar, straight-from-the-fleet look. I significantly prefer it in Sand Dune Metallic which, mixed with the 17-inch metal wheels, provides it a good-looking look.
I might keep on with rear-wheel drive as a result of, actually, I am placing this factor to work, not taking it to the paths, so why hassle? The 237-hp model of the turbo 4 is ok too. The place I’d spend some cash, although, is on a number of choice packages, as a result of consider it or not Chevy will allow you to add some very non-WT choices to the WT.
First, I might begin with the WT Comfort and WT Comfort II packages ($415 and $545, respectively), the primary of which provides a distant locking tailgate, a guide sliding rear window, and a rear window defogger. The second provides an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar and a tailgate with an built-in storage cubby. I might then add the Security package deal ($505), which incorporates heated and power-adjustable exterior mirrors with black-painted caps, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automated emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Lastly, the Expertise package deal ($950) provides adaptive cruise management, rear pedestrian alert, and a 360-degree exterior digital camera system.
Contemplating the Colorado comes normal with that huge 11.3-inch touchscreen and a digital gauge show, you are getting a really not-basic base truck right here, and the full is simply $33,110. Leaping as much as one of many Colorado’s costlier trims places it in Silverado 1500 worth territory, so when you’re good you will keep on with the WT too. —Drew Dorian
Austin Irwin’s $41,200 Colorado Path Boss
I do not like getting bossed round. I need to be the one calling the photographs. If it had been as much as me, I would not be brainstorming on Zoom all afternoon I might be within the kitchen constructing a grilled-cheese triptych. True genius takes time and, in some circumstances, many slices of cheese.
That is why I might select the Colorado Path Boss. It is Chevy’s personal good sandwich. It is received the off-road perspective of the costlier ZR2 however prices lower than the Z71. You possibly can’t get the LED headlights, which is a big bummer, however you do get 1.5 inches of additional suspension journey up entrance with an additional 1.0 inch within the rear. Plus it has four-wheel drive and the limited-slip differential from the Z71. I might get mine painted in Nitro Yellow Metallic ($395), which is shut sufficient to the colour of Kraft Singles. The usual gloss-black 18-inch wheels are advantageous, however wrap them in 32-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires ($495).
The Path Boss additionally will get the 310-hp engine and 7700 kilos of towing, which makes including the Superior Trailering package deal’s ($620) built-in trailer brake controller vital. It is a bit foolish that cruise management and a guide sliding rear window are an choice on a mid-size pickup that prices $41,200, however typically you need to pay the associated fee to be the boss. One other additional is Chevy’s chemically bonded sprayed-on bedliner ($475). The one superfluous (a brand new phrase I discovered from a latest Zoom assembly) choice I might get could be the darkened identify plates and badges ($195). I can hear the salesperson now, “Sir, at $8 a letter, you want to get this on your truck.” Hey buddy, do not inform me what to do! —Austin Irwin
Andrew Krok’s $42,545 4-Wheel-Drive Colorado LT
Within the curiosity of making an attempt to maintain issues considerably inexpensive, I selected an LT, which is the following step above the bottom trim work truck. I did go for the beefier engine tune ($1050), which places out 310 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, for a bit extra around-town moxie. I’d’ve beloved so as to add all of the bells and whistles within the LT Comfort Package deal III, however as an alternative, I settled for LT Comfort II, which forgoes stuff like a heated steering wheel in favor of the thicker-sidewalled 17-inch wheels, since Michigan’s roads are rubbish. I capped it off with the Tech package deal for the 360-degree cameras, the Security package deal for a bit additional peace of thoughts, a spray-on bedliner, and the Bose seven-speaker audio improve. The Harvest Bronze Metallic paint is a freebie and is a category above an in any other case boring number of free paint selections. —Andrew Krok
Katherine Keeler’s Colorado ZR2 Desert Boss
Ordinarily, I’d spec a truck virtually and prudently. However very similar to the mid-size Colorado that lives in a full-size world, I too endure from a Napoleon complicated. With a bit assist from a stool and a few seize handles, I might soar into the boss of all bosses, the Colorado ZR2 Desert Boss. It is not obtainable immediately, however Chevy is not going to disregard you when you flash a rucksack filled with Benjamin Franklins at them.
To make the ZR2 (and myself) really feel much more particular, I might spend additional for Radiant Pink Tintcoat paint ($495). The Desert Boss package deal is the quickest option to cowl the ZR2 with equipment, in need of crashing one into an O’Reilly Auto Components retailer. Sadly, Chevy’s configurator does not reveal how a lot they’re charging so as to add the heavy-duty entrance bumper, winch, LED roof lights, and underbody digital camera. It is also the one option to get the best-looking wheels supplied, these 17-inch beadlock-capable models with the Tech Bronze floor.
That gear, plus the 430 pound-feet of torque from the ZR2’s high-output engine, is loads to tug Mother’s automotive out of the ditch, ought to she find yourself there, once more. Love you, Mother! Like others, I’ve added the Security package deal ($445), to maintain myself secure from larger vans. The yellow seatbelts ($50) had been too good to miss, and to avoid wasting an important for final, I picked the off-road steps ($495) over coming into the Colorado with a working begin. Crap, did I point out I am a bit afraid of heights? Mother? —Katherine Keeler