There’s a striking focus on off-roading, perhaps inspired by the attention-grabbing success that competing brands have garnered with their trail-centric trucks and SUVs. Just two of the five available trims (WT and LT) can be had in two-wheel drive. All trims are available with four-wheel drive, with a range of hardware upgrades to expand their abilities.
All versions use a new chassis that stretches the wheelbase by 3.1 inches compared to the previous short-bed crew cab, which is used to reduce the front overhang and improve the truck’s ability to approach steep inclines in off-road situations. Overall length is the same.
And more importantly, each trim now comes with a comprehensive suite of active safety features, something that was absent on the previous truck.
We bought a Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD with the 310-hp engine to test. We expect this will be the most popular configuration.
If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the Chevrolet Colorado is available to you below. We since completed 2,000 break-in miles and put the Colorado through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical measurements of acceleration, braking, handling, car-seat fit, and usability. CR members have access to the full road-test results.
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What we bought: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD
Powertrain: 310-hp, 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; eight-speed automatic transmission; four-wheel drive
MSRP: $34,900
Options: LT convenience package II with engine upgrade, $2,450; LT convenience package, $1,270; Trailering package, $480; auto-lock rear differential, $325; generator. $150
Destination fee: $1,495
Total cost: $41,070
