Is the Chevrolet Colorado a Good Truck?
By the numbers, the 2017 Colorado checks off most of the requirements to be a good truck. Its two available gasoline engines emphasize either fuel efficiency or power, and its optional turbodiesel offers both (for a higher purchase price). The Colorado has one of the highest tow ratings among compact pickup trucks at 7,700 pounds, matched only by its cousin, the GMC Canyon. Its maximum payload capacity is also very good.
Taking into consideration its low starting price and respectable list of standard amenities, and the availability of affordable options, the Colorado presents a great value. This appealing blend also illustrates why the Colorado earned our award for the Best Compact Truck for the Money in 2015 and 2016. Topping off the Colorado's attributes is its history of above-average reliability.
The main area where the Colorado stumbles is safety. Every other model (save for the analogous Canyon) outranks the Colorado with higher crash test scores. It's worth noting that the Colorado now comes standard with the Teen Driver safety system, valuable when you loan your truck to unexperienced drivers. The Colorado still has very good safety ratings, they're just not as high as those of some competitors.
The Colorado is also the 2017 Best Compact Truck for the Money award winner because it continues to have the best combination of quality and value in its class. The Colorado is on a three-year winning streak for this award-- something no other compact truck has done.
Should I Buy the Chevrolet Colorado?
If you're looking for a small truck that's both durable and affordable, the Chevy Colorado is a good place to start. Even with the base model, you get a good amount of amenities without having to shell out extra dough (unlike with the Nissan Frontier, which has nothing notable for standard tech features). The Colorado's included USB port lets you play music from your phone on the six-speaker audio system. A rearview camera and 4.2-inch display screen are also standard. These included amenities-- paired with the Colorado's below-average starting price of around $20,000-- make the Colorado a great value and helped it earn our award as the Best Compact Truck for the Money in 2015 and 2016.
Other attributes of the Colorado that make it a good buy are its stellar reliability scores, class-leading towing abilities, and well-rounded list of options, which includes an available turbodiesel engine-- a rarity in this class.
If you're still struggling to decide if the Colorado fits you best, take a look at Which Compact Pickup Truck Is Right for You?
Compare the Colorado, Canyon, and Frontier "
We Did the Research for You: 26 Pieces of Data Analyzed
Shuffling through the countless pieces of information online can leave you dizzy. That's why we've collected everything you need in one spot. Side-by-side comparisons, model specs, information on different trims and options, safety scores, and more can all be found in our comprehensive review. Altogether, we gathered and analyzed 26 pieces of data on the Chevy Colorado to give you everything you need to know in one location.
After a short hiatus, Chevrolet reintroduced the Colorado for the 2015 model year. It received a new turbodiesel engine for 2016 and has a new V6 engine for 2017 (both optional), but it has seen no other major changes. As a result, this overview includes applicable reviews and research from the 2015 through 2017 model years.
Why You Can Trust Us
Buying a car is a big decision. To find the best car for you, you need more information than you'll find with one expert opinion, and more accurate details than you'll get with a hastily written review published by a newbie blogger. At U.S. News & World Report, our automotive team has a combined 75 years of experience in the auto industry, and we've been ranking and reviewing cars for nearly a decade. We tap into that knowledge to create each of our thorough reviews. We don't accept lavish trips or gifts from car companies, so you can rest assured that our reviews are unbiased and accurate.
How Much Does the Chevrolet Colorado Cost?
With its starting price of $20,055, the 2017 Colorado is one of the least expensive models in our compact pickup truck rankings. The Nissan Frontier slides in a little below (at $18,390), and the GMC Canyon is just above (at $20,940). At the top end are the Toyota Tacoma ($ 24,120) and Honda Ridgeline ($ 29,475). Pricing for Colorado models (before adding options) tops out at $35,930 with the Colorado Z71 4x4. This is less than the highest-priced trim of every other competitor in the class.
The Colorado comes standard with a decent amount of tech, including a rearview camera, a 4.2-inch display screen, and a USB port. The Frontier, in comparison, doesn't even have standard power windows or locks. This combination of a low price and a healthy dose of included amenities makes the Colorado a great value. Chevy also offers affordable packages and add-ons; for example, you can gussy up the affordable WT trim with niceties like Bluetooth, a 7-inch touch screen, and Apple CarPlay for only $375.
To get the lowest price in your region on a new Chevrolet Colorado, use our U.S. News Best Price Program. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Chevrolet deals page.
Chevrolet Colorado Versus the Competition
Which Is Better: Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon?
Chevrolet and GMC are two branches of the same General Motors family tree, which is why you'll find a lot of similarities between the Colorado and the Canyon. Both have similar standard infotainment specs: a USB port, a 4.2-inch display screen, a rearview camera, and a six-speaker audio system. These trucks also share the same engine options, and both can tow up to 7,700 pounds (the highest capacity in the class).
As the premium brand, GMC has traditionally created more of an upscale feel in its cabins than Chevrolet has. However, Chevy has been closing this gap in recent years, and the current Colorado receives lots of praise for its handsome, quiet interior. Refinements like leather upholstery and a seven-speaker Bose audio system are available in the Colorado and Canyon alike, further diminishing any advantage in elegance the Canyon previously held in the lower trim levels.
The final mark against the Canyon is price. The Colorado undercuts the Canyon's starting price by about $900. You can ultimately buy a more luxurious small pickup truck through GMC with the Canyon Denali, which tops out with a price tag that is more than double the starting cost (at $43,120). Unless you desire the swankiest of small trucks (like the Canyon Denali) or prefer GMC's styling over Chevrolet's, you'll get a better value with the Colorado.
For more details on how these two trucks compare, take a look at our side-by-side comparison, Chevrolet Colorado vs. GMC Canyon.
Which Is Better: Chevrolet Colorado or Toyota Tacoma?
Price and value also heavily come into play when comparing the Chevrolet Colorado and the Toyota Tacoma. You'll pay more for a base Tacoma, but you'll get more as well. Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and a GoPro Camera mount are standard features with the Tacoma, but not with the Colorado. The Tacoma's base display is a 6.1-inch touch screen, versus the Colorado's 4.2-inch display screen. There's a heavy cost attached to these amenities, though; the Tacoma's starting price is about $4,000 higher than the Colorado's.
Interior dimensions are about the same-- the Colorado has a little more rear legroom, but the Tacoma is a bit wider. The Tacoma has a slight edge with safety and dependability, posting marginally higher crash test ratings and predicted reliability scores. Where the Tacoma noticeably outshines the competition is beyond the pavement. If you're serious about off-roading, there's no better compact truck than a Tacoma TRD Off-Road or TRD Pro to tackle a trail. Prepare to shell out $40,760 for the ultimate Tacoma TRD Pro. If the specs on the TRD Off-Road meet your requirements, this trim is actually more affordable than the Colorado Z71 4x4, which has milder off-road components and a pricier $35,930 starting cost. Unless you plan on traversing some serious off-road trails, though, the Colorado will be a better buy for you. Its ride is smoother, its cabin feels more upscale, and its lower price translates to significant savings.
Check out our Head to Head: Chevrolet Colorado vs. Toyota Tacoma to dig even deeper into how these two trucks compare.
Compare the Colorado, Canyon, and Tacoma "
Colorado Interior
How Many People Does the Colorado Seat?
A base 2017 Colorado only holds two people, as no rear seat is included. All other Extended Cab models have dual folding rear seats and can seat up to four people. Crew Cab models come with a rear bench seat, which increases seating capacity to five and offers more room in the back seat.
The Colorado's seats are more comfortable than what you'll find in many small trucks. Cloth upholstery and power adjustments for the driver's seat are standard, and you can add options like leather upholstery and heated front seats. As is true of most extended cab models, quarters are a bit cramped for grown-ups riding in the back of a Colorado Extended Cab. Crew Cab models come with more headroom (38.3 inches versus 36.7) and more legroom (35.8 inches versus a stingy 28.6), which larger passengers will certainly appreciate. Alongside a Toyota Tacoma Double Cab, the Colorado Crew Cab is more generous with head and leg space, though the Tacoma offers passengers a little more side-to-side room.
Colorado and Car Seats
In Colorados with rear seats, the outboard seats offer both lower and top tether anchors for child safety seats. Crew Cab models come with an additional top tether anchor for the middle seat. The base Colorado-- which has no rear seats-- has one top tether anchor for the front passenger seat.
Even in Crew Cab models, the Colorado realistically holds only two car seats. You'll get the best fit if you're using forward-facing convertible or booster seats. Though the lower anchors are pretty easy to find, a limited amount of space in the rear seating area means you'll have to move the front seats forward if you want to clip in any rear-facing seats. The top tether anchors are not very user-friendly; you'll have to fold down the rear seatback to find and use them.
Colorado Interior Quality
In side-by-side comparisons with its rivals, the Colorado stands out for its carlike comfort and convenience. While other pickups feel coarse and utilitarian, the Colorado feels more upscale. It comes with high-quality materials and a handsome cabin, and it is distinctly quiet on the highway.
Colorado Cargo Space
The 2017 Colorado has two bed sizes to pick from. The 6-foot-2-inch Long Box is available in both Extended Cab and Crew Cab models, and you can also outfit Crew Cab models with the 5-foot-2-inch Short Box. There's only 44.4 inches (about 3.7 feet) between the wheel housings, so a 4-foot-wide sheet of plywood won't lay flat. However, the Colorado's bed is almost 2 inches deeper than the Toyota Tacoma's (20.9 inches versus 19.1). This extra height is advantageous to help contain oversized cargo.
Whether you have a base Colorado (no rear seats), an Extended Cab version (with dual folding seats), or a Colorado Crew Cab (with a foldable bench seat), you can create a large storage area behind the front seats. That's perfect for carrying cargo that's too fragile to ride in the bed, or for when you want to lock belongings inside the cab. Extra storage cubbies are built in under the rear seats, and there's a sizable floor console between the front bucket seats.
Colorado Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation
If you are used to driving something smaller, you'll feel at home inside a Colorado, with its carlike tech features and layout. The design is classy, the gauges are easy to read, and its buttons and knobs are clearly marked and within reach. For most, the available MyLink infotainment interface is relatively responsive and straightforward, though you'll need to click through some extra menus to find certain settings.
The Colorado's standard infotainment system comes with a 4.2-inch display screen, a six-speaker audio system, and a USB port. In comparison, the Toyota Tacoma also includes Bluetooth and Siri Eyes Free in its base pickup. However, you can add these features to the Colorado WT trim with the $375 WT Convenience Package and still be under the $24,120 starting price of a Tacoma. Most features you can add to a Chevy car or SUV-- including a Bose premium sound system, an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hot spot-- are also available in the Colorado. (To learn more, read What Is Apple CarPlay? Then, see the Best Cars With Apple CarPlay.).
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