Overview
After seven years of the same old Colorado, Chevy’s midsize pickup enters its third generation for 2023 with an all-new model that’s grown in width, wheelbase and maturity. The Colorado is powered exclusively by a 2.7-liter inline-four and eight-speed automatic transmission. Horsepower and torque vary depending on trim level from the 237 hp base engine, all the way up to the high output version of the ZR2 310 horsepower with a muscular 430 pound-feet of torque. The interior is a major area of improvement, including a new large 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard equipment. Regardless of occupation, the Colorado now has the edge in terms of power and technology over other seniors in the aging mid-size segment, such as the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger and Honda Ridgeline.
What’s New for 2023?
The Colorado is all-new for 2023, with a redesigned body, updated powertrain options and a significantly improved interior. The Colorado is sold as a crew cab with a short 5-foot-2-inch bed, but is still available in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive configurations. V-6 and Duramax diesel powertrains will not be offered for the new Chevy midsize truck.
Price and Which One to Buy
While our hearts beat for the high-flying ZR2 trim with its 10.7-inch ground clearance, 33-inch tires and enough LED lighting to light up the stage at a techno concert, we think the budget-minded Trail Boss could do just as much. mud slinging fun and do it for less. The Trail Boss comes with 32-inch all-terrain tires and fender flares that make it look like a tough guy. In fact, it also gets an extra 1.5 inches of front suspension travel compared to the WT, LT, and Z71 trims, with an extra inch of travel in the rear. It lacks the ZR2’s sweet Multimatic spool-valve dampers and lockable front and rear differentials, but shares its rear limited-slip differential with the Z71, and it’s significantly cheaper.
Engine, Transmission and Performance
Every 2023 Colorado is powered by Chevy’s turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four engine with various outputs determined by trim level. An eight-speed automatic serves as the transmission for all Colorados. WT and LT models come standard with 237 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. That’s a lot more than the 159-hp four-cylinder in the base Toyota Tacoma. Better-equipped Z71 and Trail Boss models use a 310-horsepower version of the same 2.7-liter turbo with 390 pound-feet of torque, giving it more power and torque than the V-6 powertrain found in the Jeep Gladiator, Honda Ridgeline, and Tacoma. It is also available as optional equipment for WT and LT trims. The crown-jewel ZR2 powerplant delivers 310 horsepower but boosts torque to 430 foot-pounds. If those numbers sound familiar, that’s because they’re the same engine offered in Chevy’s full-size Silverado 1500. The V-6 and Duramax Diesel previously available in the Colorado are no longer offered. The new Colorado continues to use an independent front suspension with a solid rear axle with leaf springs. However, the ZR2 mounts large Mutlimatic DSSV dampers up front, with the rear DSSV now mounted to the outside of the frame. The WT and LT trucks use an open rear differential, while the Trail Boss and Z71 pickups get a limited-slip unit; only the off-road ZR2 comes with power-locking front and rear differentials.
Towing and Payload Capacity
The Colorado offers the most towing in the mid-size pickup segment, with a maximum capacity of 7700 pounds. While the base 237-hp engine found in the WT and LT trims manages just 3500 pounds of tow, the Colorado Z71 and Trail Boss can tow up to 7700 pounds. That’s more than any Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. Maximum towing drops to 6000 pounds for the Colorado ZR2.
Real World Fuel Economy and MPG
Neither the EPA nor Chevrolet has said how fuel-efficient the 2023 Chevy Colorado will be in the city or on the highway. We expect it to use the powertrain without all the extra off-road accessories to manage about 26 mpg on the highway. Once the EPA releases the actual estimates and we have a chance to run one on our 75 mph highway fuel economy route—part of our extensive testing regimen—we can assess our real-world mpg. For more information on Colorado fuel economy, visit the EPA website.
Interior, Comfort and Cargo
The new Colorado makes a leap in terms of interior design. Every Colorado is a four-door crew cab. Inside, there’s a new center console, the shifter has moved closer to the passenger side of the cab, and the cup holder sits directly in front of the center console instead of being placed opposite the gear selector. A new gauge cluster, infotainment screen and steering wheel complete the updated design. Overall headroom has decreased by an inch compared to the last pickup, but legroom and shoulder room are about the same. Borrowing part of the Honda Ridgeline’s book of tricks, the ZR2 model comes standard with a shallow 45-inch-wide lockable storage box in the rear door.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every new Colorado gets a large 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard equipment, the largest display in the segment. The Colorado 2023 also gets wireless phone charging capability but still retains the USB port should your smartphone need it. Available as a subscription service, the Colorado can be equipped with Google Built-In to handle navigation, music and other personalized vehicle functions through your Google account. Every Colorado comes standard with Android Auto and wireless Apple Carplay.
Safety Features and Driver Assistance
List of Chevys driver assistance features for Colorado is part of its standard chevy Safety Assistance package. For more information about Colorado crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) website. Key safety features may include:
- Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
- Standard lane departure warning and lane keeping assist
- Adaptive cruise control is available
As more information becomes available, we’ll update this story with more details about:
- Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
More Features and Specifications