By Derek Price
Automotive Writer
Without getting too deep into the psychology behind it, it’s safe to say many people in the pickup truck world assume bigger is better.
If a half-ton truck is good, a one-ton truck is better. If the RockCrusher 1500 is good, the RockCrusher 2500 is better. So goes their logic, at least.
Well, the Chevrolet Colorado is making the case that smaller pickups can be a better fit for many of today’s truck drivers. Like its cousin from GMC, the Canyon, it’s showing a new generation of buyers that there are some big-time advantages to driving a smaller truck.
The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado is the first all-new midsize truck to hit the market in many years. It’s dramatically raising the bar in this segment and winning awards like Motor Trend’s “Truck of the Year” in the process.
It’s easier to maneuver. It gets better gas mileage. It doesn’t feel so bulky over the road, giving you a more controlled ride than any full-size truck for sale today.
It’s such an eye-opener, in fact, that the folks at Motor Trend magazine shocked the world by naming the 2015 Colorado their “Truck of the Year.” Everyone — and I mean everyone — assumed the Ford F-150 would be a shoo-in for the big award after getting a much-lauded overhaul with a new, advanced aluminum body.
Nope. The prize went to the humble new Chevy instead.
And after driving the Colorado for a week, I see exactly why.
Not only does it have all the advantages of a smaller truck, making me wonder why so many people pay the big bucks for a full-size pickup that burns more fuel and isn’t as enjoyable to drive, but it also can do a lot more work than its “midsize” label would suggest.
With a V6 engine and the towing package, it’s rated to pull up to 7,000 pounds. And with a brilliant lineup of optional storage accessories called GearOn, its bed can be configured to haul all kinds of large, bulky items, including 4-by-8-foot sheets of plywood above the wheelhouses.
In other words, it’s a serious truck that makes the old, trusty Ford Ranger look like a joke.
Granted, the Colorado benefits from some unusually weak competition. The tiny Ranger is long gone now, and both the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma have limped along with only minor changes for many years, making them look like shrines to hard plastic and rough rides at a time when the rest of the automotive industry has moved on to soft-touch materials and more sophisticated suspension dampening.
New, vastly improved versions of the Tacoma and Frontier are reported to be on their way soon, but for now, GM’s midsize twins are in a class by themselves.
The Colorado’s interior and ride quality are lightyears ahead of the competition. Tight construction, some use of soft-touch materials and a modern layout make it the only up-to-date midsize truck on the market — at least for now.
My Colorado tester was as quiet, comfortable and modern feeling as most crossover vehicles, yet its 4×4 system and 305-horsepower V6 eclipsed the capability of some full-size trucks.
Unfortunately, so did its price. The base Colorado starts around $20,000, but my test vehicle rang up at $36,710, which is $10 grand more than a base Silverado. You can get a crew-cab Silverado for roughly the same price as my well-equipped Colorado tester, but the Silverado would feel stripped down in comparison.
A premium Bose stereo and a navigation system with eight-inch touchscreen made the Colorado feel like a more upscale truck. As for me, I’d much rather drive the midsize Colorado every day than its full-size counterpart. It’s easier to live with.
The Colorado can do the jobs most people need from a truck without the heft and fuel bills of a bigger pickup, which makes for a great combination.
Motor Trend, you’ve made your point.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2015 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Z71 Crew Short Box ($34,115). Options: Premium Bose audio system ($500), Chevrolet MyLink with Navigation ($495), spray-on bed liner ($475), trailering equipment package ($250). Price as tested (including $875 destination charge): $36,710
Wheelbase: 128.3 in.
Length: 212.7 in.
Width: 74.3 in.
Height: 70.6 in.
Engine: 3.6-liter direct injected V6 (305 horsepower, 269 lbs.-ft.)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Estimated Mileage: 17 city, 24 highway
RATINGS
Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 7
Handling: 8
Ride: 8
Comfort: 8
Quality: 8
Overall: 9
Video Review:
2015 Chevrolet Colorado
bit.ly/2015colorado
Why buy it?
It’s the obvious standout in the midsize truck category, offering impressive capability in a pickup that’s easier to live with and gets better gas mileage than its full-size counterparts.