Chevrolet Colorado Review

2008 Chevrolet Colorado LS Regular Cab Shown

The Chevrolet Colorado is Chevy's entry in the highly competitive compact pickup segment. As with most of its modern competitors, the Colorado is closer to midsize than compact, and thus offers a reasonable amount of hauling capability without requiring one to upgrade to a more expensive, less maneuverable full-size truck. The Chevy's affordable price makes it particularly appealing to budget-minded truck buyers and fleet managers.

The Colorado's aggressive, angular styling makes big promises of power, ruggedness and capability. Although it handles capably on-road and off, Chevrolet's compact pickup doesn't really deliver on the power front, due to its weak four- and five-cylinder engines. Slightly larger, more powerful versions of the motors were introduced for 2007, but there's still no V6 option despite the fact that all of the Colorado's competitors offer one. This lack of low-end grunt holds towing capacity to just 4,000 pounds.

Recent upgrades to the Colorado's interior make today's version more hospitable than in previous model years. However, plenty of evidence of cost-cutting remains in the form of hard plastics, inconsistent build quality and a near absence of style. While fleet buyers and budget-minded consumers just looking for an inexpensive small pickup truck might not be overly put off by the Colorado's general lack of refinement, we feel the majority of shoppers will do better with one of the other trucks in this segment.

Current Chevrolet Colorado

Launched for the 2004 model year as a replacement for the smaller S-10 pickup, the Chevrolet Colorado is in its first generation. It's available in standard-cab, extended-cab and crew cab configurations. Both extended-cab and crew-cab models have four doors -- short rear-hinged doors on the extended cab and longer, front-hinged doors on crew cabs. Regular- and extended-cab models have 6-foot cargo beds, while crew cab models get an abbreviated 5-foot box.

Standard-cab models seat up to three on their bench seat. Extended-cab models technically seat five, but few will find either of the tiny, forward-facing jump seats tolerable for very long, as this space is better suited to storage than seating. Crew cabs seat up to six, though the relatively narrow cab makes three-across seating quite snug for adults. A couple of children will be fine back here, though.

The Chevrolet Colorado comes in three trim levels: Work, LS and LT. Work and LS models come with unexpected features, including standard cruise control, tilt steering, air-conditioning and automatic headlights, with the LS getting cloth upholstery in place of the Work model's vinyl. The Chevy Colorado LT is the top of the line, featuring upgraded materials, a better stereo and an even lengthier options list. Work and LS models are available in regular and extended cabs, while crew cab models are only available in the LT trim level.

Standard on all except the four-wheel-drive crew cab is a 2.9-liter, 185-horsepower four-cylinder engine. A 242-hp, 3.7-liter five-cylinder engine is optional. You can get a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission with either engine. Most of the Colorado's competition, both import and domestic, offer powerful optional V6 engines as well as one additional transmission gear.

Like its peers, the Colorado can be equipped with either two-wheel drive or a four-wheel-drive system with a dual-range transfer case. Additionally, there are several suspension options. Besides the standard setup, Chevrolet offers Z85 heavy-duty and Z71 off-road packages that add a torsion-bar front suspension with heavier-duty shocks. There's also the street-oriented Xtreme Package, which features a lowered, performance-tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels and performance tires, and cosmetic modifications.

Reviews of the Chevrolet Colorado have been lukewarm at best. Although this truck is roomier and better-handling than its predecessor, its engines, cabin accommodations and overall build quality have always fallen short alongside the more complete packages from Nissan, Toyota and Dodge.

Past Chevrolet Colorado Models

The Colorado was all-new for 2004. Prospective buyers should note that up until 2007 the four-cylinder engine displaced 2.8 liters and made 175 hp, while the five-cylinder was a 3.5-liter good for 220 hp. Chevrolet's previous compact pickup was known as the S-10.

SELECT A SPECIFIC CHEVROLET COLORADO MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.