2012 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab

Tailgate
The Colorado's tailgate can be set at a 55-degree angle so that items can rest flat on the tops of the wheel wells and align with the tailgate.

Side Curtain Airbags
Standard side-curtain airbags are an important safety feature worth having.

The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado offers a no-frills interior that is highly functional and easy to maintain. Seating is comfortable for front-seat passengers, with good thigh support from the firm cushions. However, the Extended Cabs tiny jump seats are not fit for human occupancy over any great length of time, and while the Crew Cab offers true 2-person seating, rear-seat legroom is tight. Base models have an overabundance of gray plastic and gray cloth seats, neither of which is very inviting. Higher-level models can be equipped with cloth or leather cashmere colored seating and feature a bit more dash and door-panel embellishment to brighten the interior.

While the Colorado's look is not exactly ground-breaking, it is unmistakably Chevrolet. Like its Silverado big brother, the 2012 Chevy Colorado displays its strength through bulging fender flares, slab-sided doors and bright machine-finished alloy wheels. Regular and Extended Cab models feature a 6-foot bed, while the Crew Cab offers a slightly shorter 5-foot, 1-inch bed. Thanks to the tall side walls, the Colorado's bed offers best-in-class volume, and the clever tailgate has a 2-position setting that allows it to either lay flat or be propped at a 55-degree angle. When in the propped position, the top of the tailgate is parallel with the tops of the rear wheel wells inside the bed making it easier to load and carry, for example, sheets of plywood or dry wall. Regular Cab models ride on a 111.3-inch wheelbase while Extended and Crew Cab models are on a 126.0-inch wheelbase.

Engine choices for the 2012 Chevy Colorado include 4- and 5-cylinder powerplants, as well as a V8 engine on the LT trim. The standard 2.9-liter 4- and the optional 3.7-liter 5-cylinder engines might seem small, but they are both big on power. The 2.9-liter 4-cylinder produces an impressive 185 horsepower and offers up most of its 190 pound-feet of torque between the ranges of 1,200 and 5,600 rpm. That's enough power to muscle any lightly-equipped 4-wheel-drive vehicle through the toughest terrain. The optional 3.7-liter engine makes 242 horsepower. Both of these engines produce class-leading horsepower while returning good fuel economy. The big 5.3-liter V8 is powerful but not easy on gas and is best ordered only when towing is a priority.

2.9-liter in-line 4
185 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
190 lb-ft of torque @ 2,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25 (2WD), 18/24 (4WD, manual), 17/23 (4WD, automatic)

3.7-liter in-line 5
242 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
242 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 (2WD), 17/23 (4WD), 16/21 (4WD, Crew Cab)

5.3-liter V8
300 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
320 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20 (2WD), 14/19 (4WD)}

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado ranges from around $18,000 for a WT Regular Cab to about $24,500 for a Crew Cab LT. A fully loaded LT Crew Cab with 4-wheel drive tops out at close to $34,000, while the base Regular Cab model can be loaded with options and still remain around $21,000. To help make your best deal, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase price. It shows what the Colorado is typically selling for in your area, a valuable piece of information when negotiating. As for resale potential, the Colorado falls far short of the values held by the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. Kelley Blue Book expects the Colorado to retain less-than-average residual values.

To find out what consumers are really paying for this vehicle, first select a style to see the Fair Purchase Price| Calculate payments for this vehicle