Sitting below the Silverado, the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado is a mid-size pick-up truck that challenges the Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma for a share of an increasingly popular part of the market.
What's New for 2018
A new high-performance ZR2 trim, dedicated to off-road pursuits, joins the Colorado range for 2018.
Choosing Your Chevrolet Colorado
The Colorado range starts with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. Depending on the variant, you get a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic, with rear-wheel drive standard. The other gas-powered engine option is a 3.6-liter V6 churning out 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. It gets a six-speed automatic gearbox with rear-wheel drive or an eight-speed automatic with all-wheel drive.
Finally, there is the 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that develops 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, allowing for a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. Like the V6, a six-speed automatic transmission comes standard with the rear-drive configuration and an eight-speed auto is standard with the all-wheel drive configuration.
Unsurprisingly, the diesel engine is the most fuel-efficient offering, providing 22 miles per gallon in city and 30 mpg highway. The 2.5-liter petrol engine returns 19 miles per gallon in city and 26 mpg highway, while the V6 offers 18/25 mpg. In other words, there's virtually no reason to buy the four-cylinder.
Chevy offers the Colorado in five trims and two body styles with two bed lengths. There's a Colorado Base and WT for budget buyers, a volume LT, a well-equipped Z71, and the high-performance ZR2. The most affordable body features an extended cab with two full-sized doors in front and a pair of half doors in back – it's only available with the longer 6.1-foot bed. A crew cab features four full-sized doors, and is available with either the 6.1-foot bed or a 5.1-footer.
With three engines, the choice of rear- or four-wheel drive, two body styles, two bed lengths, and five trims, there are a huge number of configurations available for the 2018 Colorado. In fact, there are more than we can list here. So instead, the prices we show will be for the most popular powertrain/body style combination for that trim, unless otherwise noted. As a general rule, if we're mentioning a price for a V6, four-wheel drive, or a Crew Cab body, it isn't likely the most affordable starting price.
CarsDirect Tip
The ideal Colorado depends on your budget and requirement. For daily drivers, though, we'd recommend the LT trim with the V6 engine at the very least – if your commute includes long, uninterrupted freeway stretches, grab the LT with the diesel engine. As for body styles, the Crew Cab with the long bed is the most versatile, although the short bed has more attractive proportions and a lower starting price.
The Silverado’s smaller counterpart is the Chevrolet Colorado, one of several models comprising the rejuvenated mid-size pickup truck market. The Colorado offers strong engine choices, a comfortable cabin, and a wide range of options along with two cabin sizes.
Best Value
Chevrolet offers the Colorado in extended and crew cab body styles. We think the latter is the most sensible choice for anyone who wants to carry more than two passengers. The Z71, available as a four-wheel drive model, is our “best value” choice, as it offers a robust package of amenities along with off-road capabilities.
The Colorado Z71 with the long box starts at $33,970 (including a $995 destination charge). Standard features include a V6 engine, off-road suspension, an automatic locking rear differential, transfer case shield, and unique wheels set within all-terrain tires.
Model: 2018 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Long Bed
Engine:3.6-liter V6
Output:308 hp/275 lb-ft
Transmission:Eight-speed automatic
Drivetrain:Four-wheel drive
MPG:17 city/24 highway
Options: The Colorado Z71 comes well equipped, so we looked at individual options that make sense for most owners. The soft-folding tonneau cover ($595) and the Trailering Package ($250, trailer hitch and seven-pin connector) are two choices we think are most important.
Base Price: $33,970 (including the $995 destination charge)
Best Value Price:$34,815
Performance
The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 produces 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque from its 3.6-liter V6 engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission works alongside this engine.
The V6 is strong, delivering ample off-the-mark acceleration and passing power. Pulling power is 7,000 pounds and that’ll cover the needs of most pickup truck shoppers. Some customers may opt for the available 2.8-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine has an output of 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Two benefits of the diesel engine are its 7,700-pound towing capacity and 30 mpg highway rating (28 mpg with four-wheel drive). On the flip side, you’ll pay $3,469 to make the upgrade and that’s the reason why it isn’t included as our best value model.
The Colorado with a V6 engine makes an EPA-estimated 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. That’s not too far off the mark from the diesel and nearly matches the standard engine’s 19/24 mpg city/highway rating.
Interior and Exterior
The Chevrolet Colorado looks very much like its larger sibling, and that’s a design pleaser for pickup truck buyers. An upright grille, square hood, and slab sides contribute to its rugged look. A CornerStep rear bumper supplies ease of access to the truck bed. The Z71 looks beefier than models below it, although it doesn’t peg the macho meter to the same degree as the ZR2.
Inside, the Colorado features a symmetrical dashboard with high-mounted controls, including helpful toggle switches. Cloth seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Chevrolet MyLink with an 8.0-inch color touch-screen, and a six-speaker audio system are among the standard features.
The Best and Worst Things
The Chevy Colorado in four-wheel drive guise is an off-road warrior. The Z71 package provides the body protection needed for serious off-pavement pounding. At the same time, your cost can rapidly increase, pushing toward $45,000 with every package option taken. Cheaper versions are available, but at some cost to interior trim and capability.
Right For...
The truck buyer who wants a pickup truck without the big footprint of a model such as the Chevrolet Silverado. The V6 does for the Colorado what a V8 supplies for the Silverado.
Wrong For...
Individuals whose payload and towing needs are above 1,500 and 7,700 pounds, respectively. Chances are, though, most people will find the Colorado meets their needs.
The Bottom Line
The current-generation Chevrolet Colorado is a strong improvement over the previous model and is a big reason why this truck and its GMC Canyon counterpart are helping spark new life into the segment.
Read Less
Specs & Features
Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
2.5L I-4 / 200 HP / 191 ft.lbs.
Transmission
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
6-spd man w/OD
Drive Type
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
Rear-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
20 / 26 / 23 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
2
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
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