The compact pickup truck class is often overshadowed by the bigger full-sized truck range, but Chevrolet’s 2021 Colorado has several great features to help it stand out from the competition. From an engine lineup to suit various buyers to outstanding off-roading abilities, the Chevy Colorado is a wise choice if you’re in the market for a mid-sized truck. Let’s run through some of its best features.
Powerful Engine Lineup
The Colorado’s base engine is a 2.5-liter V-4 with 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. If you’ll mainly be driving your pickup around town or on the highway, this engine, which is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, is well equipped for your needs.
If you’re planning on towing heavy loads or venturing off the beaten track, the Colorado’s two more powerful engine options give you what you need. Your first option is a 3.6-liter V-6 that’s good for 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. To reach the pinnacle of the Colorado’s towing capabilities, you’ll want the 2.8-liter turbodiesel, which can put out 191 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
Great Towing Strength
The Chevy Colorado’s towing capacity is an impressive 7,700 pounds when it’s properly equipped, which is tied for the best in the class. For modest towing assignments, like pulling a small boat to the lake, the standard engine’s towing capacity of 3,500 pounds will probably do just fine. It also provides you with a maximum payload of 1,440 pounds of cargo.
The V-6 engine can tow up to 7,000 pounds and haul a maximum payload of 1,574 pounds. The turbodiesel engine boosts your towing capacity to the 7,700-pound limit, so long as your truck is configured in rear-wheel drive. The towing capacity drops back slightly to 7,600 pounds in four-wheel-drive models powered by the turbodiesel engine. The turbodiesel engine has a slightly lower maximum payload for hauling than the V-6 at 1,511 pounds.
Strong Off-Roading Capability
Your best choices in the Colorado lineup if you enjoy off-roading are the Z71, ZR2, or ZR2 Bison trims. They all come equipped with various features to help you manage rough terrain, including hill descent control, heavy-duty suspension, and locking front and rear differentials.
The Z71 comes standard with the more powerful V-6 engine, recovery hooks, and a locking rear differential. The ZR2 takes off-roading to the next level, with a two-speed transfer case, a rocker protection, a transfer case shield, and standard four-wheel drive. For an additional $5,750, you can upgrade to the ZR2 Bison sub-trim, which adds a front bumper with a winch, rear tow hooks on the back bumper, skid plates, fog lamps, and 17-inch wheels.
Decent Gas Mileage
The Colorado combines excellent off-roading and impressive towing power with decent gas mileage for the class. This makes it a good all-rounder, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a powerful pickup while maintaining reasonable gas costs.
With its base engine, the Colorado manages 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Adding four-wheel drive sees both estimates drop by 1 mpg. To get the best gas mileage, you’ll want to select the 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine, which achieves 20 mpg on city roads and 30 mpg on the highway.
Versatile Bed and Cab Combinations
There are two bed lengths and two cab designs available in the Colorado lineup, meaning there’s something to meet most buyers’ needs. The extended cab seats up to four, although the compact rear seats are best used for short journeys. The extended cab will suit you well if you don’t regularly have rear-seat passengers, or if you want the longer cargo bed and don’t want your Colorado to get too long.
The crew cab adds a middle seat in the rear row and provides back-seat passengers with more legroom for comfort. It also has front-hinged rear doors, which will make it easier for rear-seat passengers to get in or out.
The two bed options measure 6 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 2 inches in length respectively. The extra foot of length is ideal if you need to carry larger, heavier loads. Just bear in mind that you can’t pair both bed lengths with both cab designs in every trim. For example, the top ZR2 trim is not available in the crew cab/long bed configuration.
User-Friendly Infotainment
The Colorado’s infotainment system gets praise for being easy to operate, whether it’s the standard seven-inch touch screen or the controls located in the central stack. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come standard, making it simple for you to link your phone with your truck’s entertainment system. The base infotainment system is completed with Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system.
For extra features, you can add an eight-inch screen, a seven-speaker premium audio system, more USB ports, and wireless device charging. The option of having a wireless hotspot is also sure to come in handy if you and your passengers want to stay connected while you’re on the go.
Spacious Front Seats
Whether you opt for an extended cab or crew cab, the Colorado benefits from plenty of legroom up front. The driver’s seat is in a raised position so you get a good view of what’s up ahead.
The base WT trim is equipped with synthetic upholstery. You can change that out for cloth upholstery by stepping up to the LT trim. If you’re looking for more luxury in your cabin, the Z71 adds cloth and synthetic leather upholstery, while the range-topping ZR2 is the one to go for if you want genuine leather seats. We hope our rundown of the seven best features of the 2021 Chevy Colorado has helped convince you that it’s the right mid-sized truck to meet your needs. If you still have questions about the Colorado, or you’d like to arrange to see one, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Here at Herb Easley Chevrolet, our team of auto experts can’t wait to assist you in picking out your next pickup truck.
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