2020 Chevrolet Colorado- Best-in-class towing
- Highly customizable cabin/box configurations
- Three engine options available, including diesel
- Pricing starts at $23,490 (including $1,095 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Chevrolet Colorado models for sale near you
In this year’s Best Buy evaluations, the midsize pickup truck category was one of our most hotly contested. Taking the top prize is the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado, with its three engine options, myriad cabin/box configurations and solid resale values.
Just because these aren’t full-size trucks doesn’t mean they don’t work. The Chevrolet Colorado is among the most capable of the crop with best-in-class towing and second-best payload capacity. It also boasts the lowest base price of other competitors.
It Works Hard for the Money
Outfitted with the 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel that makes 181 horsepower and churns out a robust 396 lb ft of torque, the Chevrolet Colorado proves capable of towing up to 7,700 pounds when properly optioned. As of our testing the Colorado is the only midsize truck with a diesel option, though others are coming, so perhaps this will be a different story next year.
A payload capacity of 1,578 pounds is achieved when configuring the Colorado with the 3.6-liter V6 with its 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. While this truck might not pull and haul as much as its big brother the Silverado, it’s also more easily maneuverable on the road and is still a workhorse for those who don’t need the added capacity.
Count the Ways
Of all the midsize trucks out there, the Colorado proves to be the most customizable of the bunch. When other trucks give buyers the option of a crew cab with only a shorter bed, the Colorado can be had with both crew cab and extended 74-inch bed. Cab and bed configuration choices include an Double Cab (aka extended cab) model with a 74-inch bed, a crew cab with a 62-inch bed and a crew cab with a 74-inch bed. With the tailgate down, the longer bed allows hauling of 8-foot-long items. Rear space in the second row of the crew cab feels capacious compared to some of the other offerings in the category. Seats are comfortable with creative storage throughout.
The Colorado is available with either two- or four-wheel drive with an independent coil-over suspension with twin-tube shocks. The rear suspension is a solid axle setup with semi-elliptic two-stage multi-leaf springs, but with a beefier G80 automatic-locking axle standard on the off-road Z71. This more robust suspension is an option on both WT and LT trim levels.
Easy on the Wallet
Chevrolet’s midsize workhorse is also the least expensive of the pack. Price on the base truck starts at $21,300, not including a $1,095 destination fee. That includes the base 2.4-liter engine, a capable six-speed automatic transmission and a locking tailgate. The higher LT trim adds a body-colored rear bumper, Chevrolet’s Infotainment 2 system with an eight-inch touchscreen and a six-way power adjusted front seat for $28,795. Climb up the trim ladder to the Z71 with an off-road suspension, automatic rear-locking differential and EZ Lift & Lower tailgate and you’re looking at $34,995. The highest, and most robust off-road ZR2 trim, which includes a more robust off-road suspension, Multimatic damping system and better ground clearance, starts at $42,495.
In addition to initial truck costs, the Colorado gets the best gas mileage of the group. When equipped with the 2.8-liter diesel, the EPA estimates a 30 combined mpg. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder puts up 20 mpg city/26 highway and the 3.6-liter V6 boasts 18 mpg city/25 highway numbers.
On the Inside
Just because one might expect hard work from their truck doesn’t mean that comfort and convenience aren’t equally important. We might argue it makes those things even more so. A seven-inch color touchscreen comes standard on the WT model but gets upgraded on the LT and above to an eight-inch version with clear high-def graphics. Two USB ports come standard on the WT trim with four on the LT, Z71 and ZR2 trim levels. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard across all trim levels.
Other amenities including wireless charging, wi-fi hotspot, and navigation, as well as safety features such as forward collision alert and lane departure warnings, come available on the higher LT, Z71 and ZR2 trims. A teen driver technology that monitors young drivers, Bluetooth audio streaming for up to two devices as well as XM satellite radio and other downloadable apps enhance the in-cabin experience.
From the outside this Chevrolet sports a handsome appearance but isn’t too precious that it looks like it can’t take a beating. Exterior extras from a corner step rear bumper, to body-color mirror caps and door handles on the LT, 17-inch painted wheels and all-terrain tires for the Z71 off-road Colorado, and the special off-road appearance package on the ZR2, including a special grille and body cladding, enhance the Colorado’s already stout mien regardless of trim level.
Photo Tour: 2020 Chevrolet Colorado
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Build and price your own 2020 Chevrolet Colorado to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Chevrolet Colorado models for sale today at dealers near you.
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