With the debut of the 2023 Colorado pickup, Chevrolet is seeking to establish a beachhead as it takes on a soon-to-change Ford Ranger, a long-in-tooth Toyota Tacoma, and a stagnant Jeep Gladiator. YouTube channel The Fast Lane Truck highlights Chevy's all-new midsize truck, including the addition of a Trail Boss trim.
Fewer Choices, More Power
Outside the new Colorado's sweeping changes in the looks department, the most significant update happens under the hood. Chevy axed the previous generation's four-banger, 3.6-liter V6, and Duramax Diesel engines. Instead, engineers stuff a turbo 2.7-liter inline-four in the engine compartment. It's the same power plant from the Silverado, but with a reworked block and crankshaft.
Notably, the 2023 Colorado gets three versions of this engine with varying amounts of output. In the base WT (Work Truck) and mid-tier LT, the unit produces 237 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. Under the 2.7-liter Turbo Plus banner, the engine cranks out 310 ponies and 390 lb-ft of torque for the Z71 and Trail Boss (it's an upgrade for the lower trims). Exclusive to the ZR2 is a high-output version that squeezes out an extra 40 lb-ft of torque.
Keeping The New Colorado In The Family
Chevy redesigned the new Colorado to more closely resemble the larger Silverado. A more upright front end mimics what's found on the automaker's bestseller, and the “B” style taillights come right from the Silverado playbook. The same goes for the angular cabin.
All Colorados come in the crew cab/short box body style. Along with the new body is a wheelbase that's 3.1 inches longer. This creates more cabin space and clears the path for Chevy to introduce a compact pickup to target the Ford Maverick.
Colorado Changes Include Redesigned Cabin
Unsurprisingly, the third-gen Colorado gets a tech-heavy cabin with influences from the Silverado. The interior's centerpiece is an 11.3-inch touchscreen, which Chevy touts as the largest in its class (but that may change when the new Ford Ranger hits the streets). An 8-inch digital instrument cluster completes the dashboard.
Other tech goodies include a standard drive-mode selector with positions for normal, tow/haul, off-road, terrain, and Baja. A 10-view camera system and off-road performance display supports off-pavement travel.
Pricing and more details about the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado will be available closer to production, which the automaker is projecting by mid-2023.
Sources: YouTube/TFL Truck, Chevrolet