Compact pickup trucks are among the top choices for those in the market for a versatile vehicle. Why? Because, for those that need a decent work truck, they can carry and tow loads. They provide interior space and comfort for long rides with multiple passengers. And, for the rugged and adventurous of heart, they can handle almost any on or off-road conditions.

The Chevy Colorado is a compact pickup that is among the most reasonable in its class for hauling capability, economic price, comfort, and best gas mileage. This makes it particularly appealing to buyers in the market for a new truck.     

Feature Overview

The Colorado is available with two, or four, wheel drive in three cab styles: regular cab, extended cab, or crew cab (the most common work truck style). The crew cab includes a 5 foot lockable tool/cargo box, while the other styles offer a 6-footer.


Primarily, there are three types of trims (the base model, LS, and LT) that have two suspension packages (the Z85 and Z71).

A standard Chevy Colorado includes a four-cylinder 2.9 liter engine with 185 horsepower, 190 lb-ft of torque, and a standard manual transmission. The optional five-cylinder 3.7 liter engine produces 242 lb-ft of torque and includes a standard automatic transmission.

The gas mileage on a 4-cylinder regular cab ranges from 18 miles-per-gallon in the city to 24 mpg on the highway. That range drops steadily to 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the crew cabs. Optional 4-wheel drive models feature push button controls, and locking rear differential.

The towing capacity of the Colorado is anything up to 4,000lbs, a range that is adequate for most light duty requirements, but would perhaps not be enough for someone that needed a work truck to haul heavy loads.

Under this Chevy’s frame is a four wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS), wishbone front suspension system with a stabilizing bar, coil springs, and rear beam suspension with leaf springs.

Handy miscellaneous features on the base Colorado model include a 12v power outlet, tinted glass on the cabin and rear windows, fixed front seat cup holders, height adjustable 3-point reel seatbelts, door pockets and bins for the driver and passenger doors, driver and passenger airbags, and delayed courtesy lights.


Safety Rating

Governmental agencies gave the Chevrolet Colorado a perfect 5 star rating for driver and passenger safety in frontal impact collision tests. Side impact collisions on crew cab models were rated four stars for front passengers, and five for rear passengers. In frontal-offset crash tests the Colorado was awarded the highest rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Pros and Cons

The main advantages to the Colorado are that it is affordable, dependable for on and off-road handling, that it has top marks in safety crash testing, and has good gas mileage.

The main disadvantages, when compared to other models in its class, are that its engine lacks power, that it has limited towing capacity when it comes to larger loads, and that the interior is not as plush and finished as its counterparts. 

After weighing the Colorado’s features, advantages, and disadvantages, with individual needs, many prospective buyers have decided that the Chevrolet Colorado is the best option for their overall needs and basic truck requirements.