Chevrolet Colorado

Chevrolet Colorado at a glance

The Colorado sits below the full-size Silverado in our Chevrolet catalogue. Its predecessor in North America was the compact S-10.

Generations

First generation (2003-2012). Built on the GMT355 platform at Shreveport, Louisiana, for North America and at Rayong, Thailand, for most other markets, the Colorado replaced the S-10 and was offered with three cab styles. North American trucks used four- and five-cylinder petrol engines: a 2.8 and later 2.9 I4, a 3.5 and later 3.7 I5. The engines were renewed for 2007, and a 5.3-litre V8 with 224 kW (300 hp) was added for 2009. Markets served from Thailand received Isuzu turbodiesels of 2.5 and 3.0 litres. Trims were Base, LS and LT, with Z85, Z71 off-road and ZQ8 sport suspension packages. The twins were the GMC Canyon, the Isuzu i-Series sold only in the USA from 2006 to 2008, and, from 2008, the Holden Colorado in Australia and New Zealand.

Second generation (2011 onwards). GM split the second generation by region. Production started in 2011 in Rayong, Thailand (until 2020) and São José dos Campos, Brazil, and the Holden Colorado for Australia was sourced from Thailand from 2012, with a facelift in 2017. North America got its own version from 2014 as a 2015 model, built at Wentzville, together with a new GMC Canyon. Engines in the USA were a 2.5 I4, a 3.6 V6 and, from 2016, a 2.8 Duramax turbodiesel; Australia and New Zealand took only the 2.8 diesel. The off-road ZR2 arrived later in this generation, and South Korea sold the Colorado from 2019 to 2024.

Third generation (2022 onwards). Revealed in July 2022 for the 2023 model year, it is a crew cab with a single bed length only, built on a frame related to the full-size Silverado's. The diesel was dropped, every truck uses the 2.7 turbo and an eight-speed automatic, and the trim line-up is WT, LT, Z71, Trail Boss and ZR2. The Colorado was Motor Trend's Truck of the Year in 2015 and 2016 and again in 2024.

Engines, transmissions and performance

In the first year of the third generation, the 177 kW tune was fitted to the WT and LT, the 529 Nm version to the Z71 and Trail Boss, and the 583 Nm version to the ZR2. Canadian specification sheets for the 2025 model list even the WT 4x2 with 231 kW and 583 Nm, so check the exact output of the truck you are looking at. WT and LT come with rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive; from the Z71 upwards, four-wheel drive is standard.

The second generation offered a six-speed manual until 2019 and a six-speed automatic. The first generation offered manual and automatic gearboxes, with a four-speed automatic standard on Z71 crew cabs.

Dimensions, bed and towing

The third-generation truck is about 76 mm (3 in) longer than its predecessor in the same cab and bed configuration. At more than 5.4 m long, it is longer than most European parking spaces; our garage fit tool helps you check before you import one.

Fuel economy and running costs

There are no EU consumption figures because the Colorado is not type-approved for Europe. Canadian ratings for the 2025 Colorado WT 4x2 with the 231 kW engine are 12.4 l/100 km in town, 10.3 l/100 km on the highway and 11.5 l/100 km combined. The 2023 ZR2 4x4 is rated at 14.3 l/100 km and in Canada pays a gas-guzzler tax. Chevrolet said the 2.7 turbo is more efficient than the old naturally aspirated 2.5. To turn these numbers into a yearly budget, use our fuel cost calculator.

Trims and equipment

The third generation is sold as WT (Work Truck), LT, Z71, Trail Boss and ZR2. The Trail Boss sits between Z71 and ZR2 but does not get the ZR2's Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers. A ZR2 Desert Boss package adds beadlock-capable wheels, a front safari bar and a bed rack with a light bar. Inside, an 11.3-inch touchscreen shows up to ten camera views, including an underbody view, plus off-road data such as pitch, roll and tyre pressures; premium models get a fully digital instrument cluster.

In Canada, the 2025 Colorado WT 4x2 was listed at CA$38,999 (about EUR 25,000) before fees, and the 2023 ZR2 4x4 at CA$56,003 (about EUR 38,000).

Safety

The Colorado has never been tested by Euro NCAP. For the first generation, the IIHS rated the extended cab Good and the crew cab Acceptable in the frontal offset test, while the crew cab was rated Poor in the side impact test, with or without the optional curtain airbags. Side curtain airbags became standard on every Colorado for 2010; side torso airbags were never offered on that generation.

Reliability and known issues

The first generation's 2007 engine update followed cylinder head problems with the earlier units, according to Wikipedia's account of the model. Beyond that, we have no verified reliability data in European sources and do not list unconfirmed faults. On any used pickup, check the frame for corrosion, the four-wheel-drive system and the towing history.

Sales

In the USA, combined Colorado and Canyon sales reached 163,204 in 2005, fell to about 33,000 by 2012, recovered to about 168,000 in 2018 with the second generation and stood at about 144,000 in 2025. In Canada the pair peaked at about 14,000 in 2018. Thailand sales peaked at about 18,000 in 2018 and had almost disappeared by 2021.

Rivals

In North America the Colorado's main rivals are the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier. For European buyers who need a double-cab pickup, our comparison tool lists the models that are actually on sale here.

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