NEW CHEVROLET COLORADO
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Car and Driver website visitor rankings:
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| Here's how our visitors have reviewed this vehicle. |
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Average Rating |
| Overall |
8.9 |
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| Vehicle Styling |
9.67 |
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| Braking |
9.08 |
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| Handling |
8.25 |
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| Fuel Economy |
7.83 |
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| Interior Comfort |
7.92 |
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| Acceleration |
9 |
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| Dependability |
9.17 |
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| Fit and Finish |
8.17 |
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| Transmission |
8.83 |
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| Ride |
8.17 |
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| Rating Scale: 1= worst 10= best
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| To read other User Road Tests or to submit your own review click here |
(Read more of Car and Driver's review here)
 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
It has the features and the looks necessary to become the dominant truck in the compact class, but next to the all-new pickups from Dodge, Nissan and Toyota, the Colorado comes up short in power, interior room and overall fit and finish.
Pros
Versatile size, fuel-efficient engine lineup, available side curtain airbags and locking differential, standard ABS.
Cons
Not much low-end torque, no six- or eight-cylinder engine option, low tow ratings, subpar build and materials quality.
What''s New for 2005
No major changes this year.
Overview
Introduction:
Slightly larger than the S-10 truck that it replaced, the Colorado is bigger, bolder and more refined than any compact Chevy truck in years. Built on a tough ladder frame chassis, the Colorado offers three body styles, two- and four-wheel drive and a choice of two Vortec inline engines. Derived directly from the 4.2-liter straight six found in the TrailBlazer SUV, the Colorado''s all-aluminum four- and five-cylinder power plants are the most technologically advanced engines ever offered in a compact Chevrolet truck. Both engines use dual-overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and electronic throttle control to deliver a broad range of peak torque that extends from 1,200 to 5,600 rpm on the standard 2.8-liter four-cylinder, and from 1,400 to 5,200 rpm on the optional 3.5-liter five-cylinder. Both engines offer a choice of a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual. The suspension consists of a solid rear axle with leaf springs and an independent coil spring front suspension. An off-road package swaps out the coil springs for torsion bars, while a sport package adds an anti-sway bar in back. Off-road enthusiasts will also appreciate the Colorado''s dual-speed push-button transfer case as well as the optional locking rear differential. Since the majority of compact truck buyers purchase their vehicles for personal use, the Colorado was given a more refined and feature-laden cabin than the previous S-10. The overall design is simple, with rotary dials for the climate control system and a large radio faceplate for easy control of the XM Satellite Radio-compatible audio system. Although improved in some respects over the S-10, the Colorado''s build and materials quality still tends to be below average compared to that of other small pickups. Extended cab models feature reverse-opening rear doors on both sides for easier access to the backseats, while the larger crew cab models offer a 60/40-split-folding rear seat that can seat three adults. Segment-first side curtain airbags are available that provide head protection in the event of a side impact or rollover accident. Standard antilock brakes and optional traction control on 2WD models further contribute to the Colorado''s complement of safety features. All things considered, the Colorado offers all the necessary ingredients to satisfy the majority of compact truck buyers. Its range of engines provides both efficiency and power, and with three body styles to choose from in both two- and four-wheel drive, finding a perfect fit shouldn''t be too difficult. Although its old-tech S-10 predecessor has kept Chevrolet off the minds of many compact truck buyers as of late, the Colorado has the hardware to make the brand a legitimate competitor in this segment once again. However, with all-new trucks arriving at Dodge, Nissan and Toyota dealerships this year, Chevrolet is apt to reconsider its decision not to offer six- or eight-cylinder power in its compact pickup.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The Colorado comes in regular, extended and crew cab body styles, and all are offered in both two- and four-wheel drive. Regular and extended cab models have a six-foot bed, while the crew cab gets a five-foot bed only. There are two basic trim levels: base and LS. Base models come standard with air conditioning, a 60/40-split cloth bench seat and an AM/FM stereo. Upgraded LS models add titanium-colored trim, tilt steering, cruise control, full carpeting and a CD stereo. Both the Z85 heavy-duty and Z71 off-road packages add a torsion bar front suspension with heavier-duty shocks. Of these two packages, the Z71 offers the tallest ride height, along with a locking rear differential, oversize tires and skid plates on 4WD models. There''s also a ZQ8 sport package that features a lowered suspension, quicker-ratio steering, 17-inch alloy wheels wearing 235/50 performance tires and color-keyed wheel flares, grille and bumpers. Other notable options include OnStar, a power convenience package that provides power windows, locks and mirrors, along with keyless entry, XM Satellite Radio and a six-disc CD changer.
Powertrains and Performance:
Two engines are available: a 2.8-liter inline four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter inline five-cylinder. Both are built out of lightweight aluminum and both feature dual-overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and electronic throttle control. The 2.8-liter engine is standard on all models and is rated at 175 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. The optional 3.5-liter engine offers 220 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but a four-speed automatic is also available on all models. Four-wheel-drive models feature a dual-range transfer case with push-button controls.
Safety:
The Colorado is the first compact truck to offer roof-mounted side curtain airbags. Dual-stage driver and front-passenger airbags are standard along with four-wheel antilock brakes. Traction control is optional on 2WD trucks. In government crash tests, the Colorado earned four stars (out of five) for both the driver and front passenger in frontal impact testing, and four out of five stars in side-impact testing for front passengers, and five stars for rear passengers.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
It may be a fresh design, but it''s still a compact pickup so don''t expect anything fancy in the Colorado''s cabin. Simple rotary climate controls and a large stereo faceplate make the interior seem instantly familiar as soon as you get in. The gauges are similarly basic, but functional in their design.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
The new inline engines deliver smooth, refined power, but their off-the-line punch and odd exhaust note is a little disappointing. Still, either engine provides the kind of midrange torque and higher-rpm horsepower necessary for most day-to-day driving. Shifts from the four-speed automatic are firm and well timed, and although it''s still fairly vague through the gears, the new five-speed manual gearbox is about as good as you''re going to find in a compact truck. The stock suspension tuning is on the soft side, but if you''re intent on going fast or bashing boulders, the sport and off-road packages provide suitable performance.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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