2019 Chevy Colorado Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

New Infotainment 3 software, with more USB ports front and rearHigh-definition rearview cameraPart of the second Colorado generation introduced in 2015

　　Although full-size trucks deservedly rule the roost in terms of sales, the midsize pickup segment has started to come into its own. The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado exemplifies this evolution with flexible configurations that cover both work and play. The Colorado starts off as one of the least expensive bare-bones truck on the market. But it can be optioned up to be an out-of-the-box adventure machine with a lifted suspension that boasts trick shocks and fully lockable differentials. And let's not forget technology features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. No matter which version of Colorado you choose, you'll get well-mannered handling and respectable fuel economy.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado 4dr Extended Cab SB w/Prod. End 12/18 (2.5L 4cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$167/mo  for Colorado Base

　　Colorado Base

　　4dr Extended Cab SB w/Prod. End 12/18 (2.5L 4cyl 6M) - $20,600 MSRP4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $21,300 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Extended Cab SB w/Prod. End 12/18 (2.5L 4cyl 6M) - $24,100 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $24,800 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 5.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $26,700 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 6.2 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $28,400 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $28,700 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.1 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $31,700 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.2 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,000 MSRPLT 4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $27,600 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 5.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $29,600 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 6.2 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $31,200 MSRPLT 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $31,300 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.1 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,300 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.2 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,600 MSRPZ71 4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $30,700 MSRPZ71 4dr Crew Cab 5.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $32,600 MSRPZ71 4dr Crew Cab 6.2 ft.SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,000 MSRPZ71 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $34,300 MSRPZ71 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.1 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $37,000 MSRPZ71 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.2 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $37,300 MSRPZR2 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $41,300 MSRPZR2 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.1 ft. SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $42,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$218/mo

　　Avg. Compact Truck

　　But the Colorado isn't alone in this segment, and the competition is fierce. Toyota's Tacoma starts at a higher price, but it excels in rough off-road terrain and has a higher resale value that levels out the value proposition. And then there's the Honda Ridgeline, which is more comfortable and roomy, though it can't tow or handle tough off-road trails as well as the Colorado. Ford is also getting back into the game with its new Ranger. The decision is tough, but picking a winner will primarily come down to what you want out of your next truck. The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado is worth a look.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 as one of zzdcar' Best Off-Road Trucks, the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado Diesel as one of zzdcar' Best Off-Road Trucks, and the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado as one of zzdcar' Best Off-Road Trucks and Best Off-Road Trucks for this year.

　　

What's it like to live with?

To learn more about the Chevrolet Colorado, read our Best Off-Road Trucks, which our editorial team lived with for more than two years. We took the off-road variant of this popular pickup on grueling off-road adventures and enlisted it for help on DIY home improvement projects. Yes, this version of the Colorado is as rugged as it looks. But is it the right truck for you? Note that while we tested a 2017 truck, the 2019 Colorado is of the same generation and most of our reporting still applies.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.6 / 10

　　The Colorado is a bit of an odd duck. It has a nice powertrain and offers the looks and the compromises of a pickup truck, but without the practicality or off-road capability that truck buyers usually expect. It also isn't that far off the price of a significantly more capable full-size truck.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Chevrolet Colorado Z71(3.6L V6 | 8-speed automatic | 4WD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.6 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.5
Technology	8.5

　　

Driving

8.0

　　The V6 engine is lively, and the eight-speed automatic is well-behaved. Past the praiseworthy powertrain, the Colorado also handles decently well for a truck, even if the steering lacks feedback. If off-roading is important to you, the Colorado shouldn't be your first choice.

　　

Acceleration

8.5

　　The Colorado's 3.5-liter V6 produces a strong 305 horsepower, and that helps make the truck feel light and eager. It never feels breathless at full tilt even though its measured 0-60 mph time of 7.3 seconds does lag behind the Ranger a little. On rare occasions it can display a slight lack of low-end grunt if the transmission refuses to downshift.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　The Colorado's brakes are predictable and easy to modulate in routine driving, but the pedal tends to go vague and syrupy in harder stops. Despite this, we noted good stability and little nosedive during our 60-0 mph panic-stop test. The 141-foot result was worse than you'd expect in a family car, but in line with expectations for the optional off-road tires that were fitted to our test truck.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering offers good on-center feel for highway driving and precise control. The steering effort is appropriately weighted even if the assistance feels a bit artificial. Feedback is nearly nonexistent.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　Body roll is tamed by a firm suspension, so the Colorado corners quite well for a truck. With an unloaded bed, the light rear end can be easy to break traction, but stability control always keeps that manageable. The Colorado feels more car-like than most rivals, but it's ultimately still a truck.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　The eight-speed transmission is well-matched to this engine, and a smooth throttle tip-in makes it easy to get the acceleration you want. There's no real issue of the transmission hunting for gears, and it holds speed easily on hills — although it is occasionally reluctant to downshift on flat roads.

　　

Off-road

8.0

　　The low airdam hanging from the front bumper is good for mileage, but it's bad for clearance, to the point where rocky off-highway travel would break it off. But you can remove it in about 30 minutes. Once we did, we discovered the Colorado has fairly decent articulation. And even though there's no locking rear differential, the Z71's standard single-mode traction control can cope with wheel lift in rocky terrain.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　The Colorado offers a better ride than many of its competitors. Noise isolation, climate control and seat adjustability are rudimentary, but the Colorado is designed well enough that drivers with pickup-truck expectations will be comfortable.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　The front seats are nicely molded, if a little firm, and offer an upright and comfortable position. There's not a lot of adjustability, however. Also, big-boned folks may find them a little narrow. The rear bench cushioning is harder, and the backrest is a bit too upright.

　　

Ride comfort

8.0

　　The ride is smoother and better-damped than most of the competition, and the Colorado does a good job of dealing with large bumps and small cracks alike. It's not nearly as buttery smooth as the Ridgeline, but you won't be disappointed.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　The Colorado's cabin has a bit of wind, road and engine noise, but nothing close to levels that will cause passengers to raise their voices. The top gear of the eight-speed transmission does a lot to keep the engine settled, and the Z71's knobby off-road tires are much quieter than they look like they'd be.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　The climate controls are easy and intuitive to use, and the system is more than a match for most weather conditions. However, it's only a single zone. The heated seats and steering wheel work well and are easy to operate.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　As befits a midsize truck, the driving position and controls offer upright simplicity. Even as a crew cab, the Colorado is best up front. The rear seat is cramped and difficult to access, especially since side steps are optional extras. The large roof pillars create some problematic sightlines.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　Everything is easy to reach, and there's plenty of well-labeled and generously sized switchgear. The oversize toggles in the center console can be operated even when wearing heavy gloves.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　This vehicle is relatively high, and steps are optional extras. The big front door opening helps, and the step-up isn't too high for adults of average height. The rear door is much narrower and has a slightly shorter opening, so getting in and out of the back seat is noticeably more difficult.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The driving position in the Colorado is appropriate for a truck: upright and commanding yet comfortable. Everything is accessible and visible. There's also generous adjustment range in both the seat and steering column to suit all types of drivers.

　　

Roominess

7.5

　　The front seat offers lots of room all around. Taller drivers won't run out of headroom. The crew cab's rear seat is tight: Legroom is limited, and there's insufficient headroom for taller passengers.

　　

Visibility

7.5

　　Forward visibility is generally good, but the thick roof pillars and broad-shouldered hood can cause problems, especially when pulling out of a driveway at an angle. The side mirrors are a decent size and help a lot in lane-changing situations. Generally, you should feel confident driving the Colorado.

　　

Quality

7.5

　　The cabin is full of hard plastics and generally cheap-feeling surfaces. But it's solidly put together, and it feels significantly more modern than the Frontier and even the new Ranger.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　The Colorado offers high towing and hauling ratings, but it can't match the Ridgeline for usability. The bed is narrower, even if it boasts a higher total volume. The rear seats don't fold flat, and there are no clever compartments for enclosed storage of larger items.

　　

Small-item storage

7.5

　　There are plenty of places to stash things in the cabin, including a cellphone tray next to the USB port. The door pockets are cleverly tiered to help organize small items, and the cupholders are generously sized. Rear passengers only get seatback pockets and cupholders if there's no middle passenger.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　The rear half of the Colorado's crew cab is a mixed bag. It is easy to fold the rear seat bottoms up, but the floor that's revealed is marred by obstructions; you couldn't put large boxes or a pet bed here. You can easily fold the seatback down, too, but the resulting surface is fairly high and not quite horizontal.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

　　The outboard rear seats both offer LATCH points, although the tether anchors are difficult to access. Larger rear-facing seats will impinge on front-seat travel. The rear-seat height means getting seats and infants into the rear requires lifting, which may be troublesome to shorter buyers.

　　

Towing

9.0

　　Midsize trucks aren't normally the first choice for those who tow, but the Colorado is arguably the pick of the segment. It can tow 7,000 pounds with the V6 gasoline engine and 7,700 pounds with the optional diesel engine — which should not only tow effortlessly but use far less fuel in the process. But the Colorado has another ace in the hole: It offers a built-in trailer brake controller.

　　

Hauling

8.0

　　The crew-cab 4WD short-bed Colorado carries more payload than the Tacoma by a wide margin and pips the Ridgeline and Ranger, too. As for the bed itself, tall sides impede reach-in access. And it's a plain steel affair that requires an extra spend for a textured bedliner. There are only four fixed tie-down loops, but more can be added if you purchase accessories. The best part is the standard corner bed access steps built into the corners of the rear bumper.

　　

Technology

8.5

　　Chevrolet offers solid in-car technology thanks largely to its Infotainment 3 system, which is easy to use and feature-rich. Unfortunately, the Colorado lags behind in terms of useful on-road active safety technology.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.0

　　The sound quality from the premium Bose system is acceptable but nothing special. It does reach higher volumes without causing distortion. Chevy's Infotainment 3 system is responsive and has sharp graphics and a straightforward interface.

　　

Smartphone integration

9.0

　　Chevy does a good job offering charging options. Our test truck had USB ports up front and two in back, as well as 110-volt outlets front and back. Bluetooth is easy to set up and works well. The Infotainment 3 system also features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

　　

Driver aids

7.5

　　Our tester was optioned with forward collision alert and lane departure warning. Both work as advertised, but the forward collision system can be overly sensitive. At least it doesn't return completely false positives the way some systems occasionally do. Blind-spot monitoring would be welcome.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　The Colorado's voice control is one of the less frustrating mainstream systems, even though it requires relatively specific phrasing. Commands are displayed on the touchscreen, which is helpful, and the system does its best to help you along when things go wrong.

　　

Which Colorado does zzdcar recommend?

　　The Chevrolet Colorado LT is ideal for buyers who want car-like amenities such as keyless entry and an 8-inch infotainment screen at a reasonable price. A long list of options and features are available to tailor your truck to your needs. Get the V6 instead of the four-cylinder if you can. Its extra power is worth the cost. It's nearly as fuel-efficient, too. The expensive diesel-powered engine option might have some appeal if you do a lot of towing, but otherwise we say skip it.

　　

2019 Chevrolet Colorado models

　　The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado is a midsize pickup offered in extended-cab and crew-cab body styles. There are two bed lengths and five trim levels: Base, Work Truck (WT), LT, Z71 and ZR2. For a no-frills truck, the Base and Work Truck models have limited features and low prices. The midrange LT offers extras such as a larger touchscreen and a standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, while the top-of-the-line Z71 combines some basic off-road prowess with top equipment. The ZR2 model features significant suspension and body changes that give it improved off-road capability.

　　The entry-level model, known simply as Base, covers the truck basics without a lot of extras, but it still has a decent amount of equipment. It's offered only as an extended cab, and standard features include a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine (200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque), a six-speed manual transmission, 16-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, vinyl upholstery and floor covering, a four-way power driver's seat with manual recline, front bucket seats, a tilt-only adjustable steering wheel, and power windows. You also get a rearview camera, a 7-inch infotainment system (GM's new Infotainment 3 system), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system.

　　There aren't too many changes when you step up to the Work Truck (WT) model. But it does come in both extended-cab and crew-cab body styles and adds fold-up rear jump seats (extended-cab models only), cloth upholstery, carpeting and floor mats.

　　The most significant difference between the Base Colorado and the Work Truck trim is the latter's list of available options. Essentially you can equip the Work Truck with a few tech items, optional engines and exterior trim that make it feel less basic. From the WT level on up, you can get a six-speed automatic transmission for the base four-cylinder or one of the Colorado's two optional engines: a 3.6-liter V6 (308 hp and 275 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission or a 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine (181 hp and 369 lb-ft) paired to a six-speed automatic.

　　Notable options for the WT include remote keyless entry, cruise control, an EZ-Lift tailgate, and OnStar telematics (roadside assistance, turn-by-turn navigation, automatic crash response) and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity.

　　If you don't want to sort through all the WT's options sheets, you can simply spring for the LT, which gets you most of the above items, plus 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, OnStar and additional USB ports.

　　More options are available for the LT, the most notable being heated front seats, automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, and forward collision and lane departure warning systems. For LT models and above, there's an available seven-speaker premium Bose audio system and a navigation system.

　　For more luxury items and some mild off-road ability, you'll want to check out the Z71. It comes standard with most of the LT's optional equipment, plus it adds dark-tinted 17-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires (instead of all-season tires), an off-road-oriented suspension, a locking rear differential, hill descent control, unique cloth and simulated leather upholstery, and other model-specific trim pieces.

　　Even with the off-road-oriented suspension, the Z71 is still more oriented toward street use. For more capability off the beaten path, the ZR2 is your truck. The ZR2 has a raised suspension with special dampers, bigger all-terrain tires, fender flares, special bodywork for improved approach and departure angles, a spray-in bedliner (optional on other trims), and an electronically locking rear differential. Chevy offers the V6 or the diesel engine for the ZR2.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Colorado articles

　　

2019 Colorado Highlights

Type: Crew CabExtended CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: Work TruckLTZ71ZR2Work Truck

　　

Base MSRP	$26,700
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$167/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	7,600 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles