2023 Chevy Colorado: Fewer Models But Greater Customization

As the first 2023 Chevy Colorados begin rolling off the line at General Motors’ Wentzville, Missouri, assembly plant, you might be curious about what has actually changed in this mid-sized pick-up. Or maybe you’re in the market for a new, off-road capable, and rugged vehicle that can tow and haul on the side, and were considering the Colorado . Either way, this article is for you.

The first thing to know is that everything about the 2023 Colorado is new; interior, exterior, technology, and style, it’s all a noticeable departure and/or upgrade from the previous line of Colorados. The second thing to know is that some pretty substantial cuts have been made to the models offered, but the actual customization options are much greater to compensate. Those limitations aren’t trivial, either. GM is only making the Colorado in one configuration; four-door cab and 5 ft 2 in bed length. In contrast, the previous 2015 model and its annual updated derivatives offered the choice of a smaller cab and/or a larger bed as options. The engine choices are also narrowed down to one.

However, it is quite a powerful engine for the class, a turbocharged 2.7L four-cylinder that also can be found in the heavier, yet still quite capable full-size Chevy Silverado pickup. GM is no longer offering the four-cylinder diesel or the gasoline V6 as it did in previous models, nor does there seem to be any indication that the company plans to add any hybrid or electric options either.

GM claims to have pursued three goals when making the Colorado, and seems to have achieved each fairly well: elevated design, enhanced performance, and new and useful technology. Here’s a quick break-down on how they did it: The body work on the Colorado is lovingly done, giving the truck a more aggressive, rugged look that is certain to turn heads on the trail, especially the all-new ‘Tralboss’ package. There are also the Work Truck (WT), LT, Z71, and ZR2 models to consider, offering more choices than previous Colorado iterations.

Add in three distinctive chassis choices (Standard, 2 inch ultra wide, and 3-inch high performance, all factory spec) which can be put on any model, and you have more customization options than any Colorado thus far. Whether viewed from the front, sides, or rear, you just know you’re looking at a tough truck.

Inside, however, there is a much more refined and elegant feel, perfect for long hauls cross-country and road trips. The whole console is built around the large center stack screen, which is a Chevy standard 11.3 inch-diagonal touch screen that fits the vehicle well. It comes with customizable menu options, built-in google maps support, connection to exterior cameras when parking and reversing, and so much more. There are four brand-new interior trim options to choose from, each with a different feel. To fully customize the driving experience, The Colorado has 5 driving modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, Terrain, and Baja.

As standard, all Colorados have the Chevy Safety Assist package, which comes with everything you would expect from lane assist and departure warning, automatic high beams, and other collision and proximity alerts. All models also have the option to upgrade for additional features, including adaptive cruise control and HD surround vision cameras.

For your towing needs, Chevy’s got you covered with ‘hitch guidance’ and ‘hitch view’ options as standard. There is also a special trailering app put out by the company with additional tips and tricks on how to haul, as well as a help-line you can call if needed. The app works both through the central console and on your smartphone.

Of course, you also have to look at what’s under the hood, especially when evaluating a pick-up truck, and here the Colorado does not disappoint. As mentioned above, the A 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder engine has already proven to be an excellent engine in the Chevy Silverado, and three variants are available on the Colorado, each one more powerful than previous models. Everything about the engine housing, from the cylinder-block to the crankshaft to the undercarriage, had to be toughened up to handle the power, and Chevy even had to resort to pulling in materials normally reserved for diesel vehicles to make sure the new Colorado could handle the strain, which means this is one beefy truck.More horsepower, more torque, and more choices is the name of the game, with an eight-speed automatic transmission keeping all that power flowing smoothly for more comfort and control no matter what the driving conditions. Coupled with the five drive modes mentioned earlier, and the 2023 Colorado is more powerful and more smooth than any previous Colorado Chevy has ever built.

In conclusion, the 2023 Colorado is very tough, with an attractive blend of powerful capabilities and rugged looks outside, but a softer, sleeker inside that really brings up the comfort and control. There may be fewer models, with only one cab and bed size, and one engine, but GM is betting the huge increase in options and customizations within that one model will more than make up the difference, and, frankly? I’m inclined to agree with them. Even with having only one model, there’s more to excite and entice a pick-up buyer to a 2023 Colorado than ever before.