Yahoo Autos 2024 Chevrolet Colorado Review: This midsize truck is a big winner
Pros: Stellar exterior design; easy-to-use and modern tech; epic ZR2 off-road variant
Cons: Interior feels cheap on lower trims; low-output engine is a bummer
The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado stands tall as our favorite midsize pickup truck this year for a host of reasons. For one, it drives exceedingly well with a stout engine, solid ride and superb off-road variants for whatever use case. The interior is jam-packed with tech that both looks great and works even better. And sure, the lower trims feel a bit cheap, but a base Colorado Work Truck can be had at a respectably low price if you’re just looking for what the name implies: a work truck.
It's hard not to hype up the ZR2 straight off the top, too, because this is hands-down our favorite version of the Colorado for having fun and arriving in maximum style. Think of it as a mini F-150 Raptor with a more reasonable powertrain – the chassis and suspension is that good for off-road ventures. And while the Z71 trim does luxury halfway decently, GM has another answer for those who desire a ritzier midsize pickup: the GMC Canyon that we review here. It’s basically the Colorado’s better-dressed twin.
Compared to other midsize trucks, the Colorado stacks up well in a specs comparison. It has the qualities you want with excellent power, great towing (maxes out at 7,700 pounds) and all the interior goodies. The new Toyota Tacoma with its hybrid powertrain has it beat for efficiency, and a Honda Ridgeline will still take the crown for best ride, but we like the Colorado as one of the best overall values and simply the best all-around midsize truck in the game for 2024.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2024?
Just like the GMC Canyon, the Chevrolet Colorado adds an AEV-upgraded off-road trim to the mix with the ZR2 Bison model – you can read all about it here. The 2024 Colorado also ditches the smaller 8-inch digital cluster to make the 11-inch version standard on all trims, and the mid-level turbocharged four-cylinder engine is discontinued. Various package shuffling takes place, but there aren’t many changes simply because the Colorado was all-new for 2023.
What are the Colorado’s interior and in-car technology like?
The Chevrolet Colorado’s interior ranges from cheap-feeling with lots of hard plastic in the Work Truck to surprisingly nice in the upper trims. No matter the trim, though, it’s a massive improvement in quality and appearance versus the previous generation. The first thing you’ll notice when you step up into the cabin is the screens right in your face. Every version of the Colorado gets an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. Every trim also gets the same the same 11-inch digital instrument panel. All the screens feature easy-to-use controls, quick responses to inputs and run Google Built-in software. That means you have Google Maps as your native navigation system and the ability to download additional apps from the Google Play Store.
The cabin isn’t all screens, though, as Chevy sticks with hard buttons/knobs for vital items like climate controls, drive modes and volume control (weirdly, the headlights are found hidden in the touchscreen, which isn’t great). A hefty, traditional PRNDL shifter is slotted in the center console; there is plenty of space in both the cupholders and door pockets for your beverage necessities.
Unlike the GMC Canyon with its various interior upholstery colors, the Colorado is really only available in various shades of black (the ZR2 goes wild with a gray option). The Z71 trim is a little more exciting with red stitching and red accents throughout the cabin, but this lack of vibrancy is one way to tell the trucks apart. Another is the air vent design and general plushness of the surfaces – the LT and Z71 get padded surfaces, while the Work Truck and Trail Boss are stuck with hard plastic.
How big is the Colorado?
The Colorado falls in the midsize class of pickups, and it’s on the larger side of the segment in overall footprint. It only comes in one body style: a crew cab with what would usually be considered a short bed, measuring 5 feet, 1 inch.
Inside, the front row of the Colorado feels mighty spacious and affords a commanding view of the road ahead as you sit high off the ground. The rear seat, as they tend to be in the midsize pickup segment, is a little cramped but still totally workable and comfortable for an average adult at 34.7 inches of rear legroom. Child seats are possible, especially when forward facing, but the rear latch anchor is difficult to use, and we highly recommend seeking professional help to securely fasten a seat in place.
The bed itself might look like a regular pickup’s bed at first glance, but its tailgate is hiding a neat storage trick. A shallow bin of sorts on the inside of it can be flipped up and small items stowed in there. We could see it being helpful for things you always want on hand but don’t want flying around the bed, and possibly even convenient for tailgate parties as an additional place to put things. Less convenient is the ZR2 Bison's bed-mounted spare tire. Sure, it looks rad, but it takes up a ton of space and nearly eliminates rear visibility.
What are the Colorado’s fuel economy and performance specs?
All Colorados are powered by a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but there are two engine outputs available. Both the Work Truck and LT trims are fitted with the lower output version that produces 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. These trims are available with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive optionally, and every Colorado is fitted with an eight-speed automatic. Fuel economy for the rear-drive trucks is listed at 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. These drop to 18/23/20 with 4WD.
