The Cherolet Colorado debuted in 2004 as the replacement to Chevy's first-ever, American-built compact pickup: the S-10 (the LUV that predated the S-10 was an Isuzu product). The Colorado continued with only minor changes through the 2012 model year when it was abruptly discontinued. Little did we know at that time, this was more of a break than a discontinuation of the model, as the covers were pulled off the totally redesigned 2015 Chevy Colorado at the 2013 LA Auto show->ke211 joining the still fresh Silverado->ke1787 and Silverado HD. The Colorado is based on the global truck platform, but is highly ‘Americanized’ with many key components swapped out for heavier-duty items based on the new Silverado.

The Colorado->ke1193 rides on a fully-boxed, hydroformed steel frame giving it a sturdy platform for hauling and towing. Initially the Colorado will come with two gasoline engine options with a diesel debuting the following year. This diesel engine shows just how serious Chevy is in making the new midsize pickup a class-leader. We suspect that other automakers will soon follow suit and offer diesels in their midsize pickups.

Updated 09/22/2014: General Motors has announced the EPA fuel economy estimates for the Colorado. At its best, the midsize truck achieves 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. GM also released payload ratings, listing the V-6 Colorado at 1,590 pounds. Both stats are class-leading.

Click past the jump for photos and details of the all-new 2015 Chevy Colorado

2015 Chevrolet Colorado

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  • Segment: Array
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 200
  • Torque: 191
  • Transmission: six-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Official Reveal Live Stream

Update History

Updated 08/08/2013: General Motors unveiled today the first teaser image of the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon that will be put into production in early 2014. The model was described by General Motors Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann as "capable, versatile and fuel-efficient alternatives to full-size pickups."

Updated 11/11/2013: General Motors has officially revealed that it will display the all-new Chevrolet Colorado at the 2013 LA Auto Show. According to the press release, GM said that the new Colorado "will redefine the midsize pickup market with great looks, fuel efficient engines, and the versatility active customers are looking for."

Updated 11/12/2013: GM has released the YouTube link to the live reveal of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. You can see the countdown and the official reveal, which takes place on November 20th, in the above video. You can check out the live feed by clicking here, or by simply clicking the "Play" button in the video after the jump.

Updated 11/19/2013: A 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show promotional video from Edmunds.com gave us the first official images of the upcoming 2015 Chevrolet Colorado -- Edmunds removed the video once they noticed the mistake. You can see the official image above, and we must say that the new Colorado looks real, real nice. Stay tuned for the truck's official debut set for tomorrow morning. (Carscoops)

Updated 06/18/2014: Chevrolet announced specifications for the 2015 Colorado which will go on sale this fall. With output starting from 200 horsepower, the new Colorado will be the most powerful in the midsized truck segment. Full details after the jump.

Updated 08/05/2014: Chevrolet announced prices for the 2015 Colorado which will be put on sale later this fall. Prices will range from $20,995 for the base version and up to $34,990 for the Colorado Z71 crew cab 4x4 with the 5-foot box.

Rendering Versus Reality

We created this speculative rendering way back in July 2013, based off of heavily camouflaged test models. Considering the amount of camo the models we based the rendering on and how little information we had at the time, we did a fairly decent job in duplicating what GM rolled out today. We hit the body line on the base of the doors dead on, the fog-light surrounds are also pretty spot on, and the basic headlight shape is close, though not dead on.

We did miss the mark n the grille shape, the definition in the hood and the plastic insert on the lower, center of the bumper. Hey, we never claimed to be perfect, right?

Exterior

We have to admit we love the exterior styling. It looks young, eager, and much sportier than its big brother Silverado -- not to mention light years ahead of its competition. Speaking of which, that is pretty much the only thing the Colorado is lacking. Ford->ke31 and Ram->ke4211 is stagnant in the midsized truck segment while Nissan->ke62 has let the Frontier have run their course without much updating. The Toyota->ke88 Tacoma has seen a few minor updates, but rides on the same platform and powered by the same 4.0-liter, V-6 engine in has for almost a decade. Sales for the Colorado should be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Offered in both extended and crew cab configurations, the Colorado is case study material in a Goldilocks situation - its just big enough and just small enough. The extended cab comes only with a six-foot bed while the larger crew cab comes with a five-foot bed. The six-foot bed is an option on crew cab models.

The extended cab still features rear suicide doors that require opening the front doors for access. The design might be old, but with a smaller cab, structural rigidity is less of an issue than in the larger Silverado. Both cabs have inlaid doors set within the roof structure for greater NHV control.

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The two-tier loading system greatly increases the amount of gear the Colorado can carry. The optional rack system fits snugly into the standard pre-formed bed pockets to hold anything from bicycles and kayaks to ladders and construction equipment. Extended cab WT models also offer a rear seat delete option for extra storage of bulky items; perfect for tradesmen and service professionals.

The bed is the business end of a truck and Chevrolet spend a lot of time making sure the Colorado worked for its customers. The CornerStep and bed-rail hand-grab system is borrowed from the Silverado and comes standard on both bed sizes. Chevy's EZ-lift and lower tailgate is available as is an optional factory spray-in bed liner.

Z71 Grille Detail

Rear Styling Detail

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Interior

The dashboard features many appearance cues from the Silverado, like the large center stack and controls. An optional eight-inch touch screen is home to the latest MyLink software. A 3.4-inch display resides in the instrument cluster for viewing all the important vehicle information, like fuel consumption. Six airbags come standard, including a head side curtain airbag designed to keep occupants from being ejected in a roll over crash.

"Good enough" is the term that comes to mind when looking at the dashboard's styling. Yes, it carries the same design language from the Silverado, but it just seems to lack soul. We're not saying it's bad, but its just on the boring side. But with it being a truck and sold to customers who do work or dirty outdoor activities, the choice of a no-frills dash is probably the right one.

A center console gear shifter brings a little class to the mid-size truck and frees up valuable dashboard real estate. Directly forward of the gear shifter is a compartment with the multimedia connections and USB ports for charging phones and other devises. As of yet, the Colorado does not offer push-button starting, but rather uses GM's new flip-open style conventional key.

Crew cab models offer back seat occupants enough room to stretch out for decently long trips. It's no Ford F-150 in terms of rear leg room, but it's enough to be comfortable. An under seat storage compartment helps keep gear organized as well.

Powertrain

Powering the Colorado will be two engine options: the standard engine being a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder and the optional 3.6-liter V-6. Both engines are variations on current GM engines, but are now optimized for truck duty. Direct fuel injection, variable valve timing on the dual overhead cams, and oil-jet piston cooling within the Aluminum engine blocks ensure both the I-4 and V-6 will hold up to abuse.

What’s more, both engines have higher power outputs than originally thought. The standard 2.5-liter I-4 will produce 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque and the larger 3.6-liter V-6 will produce 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. For the I-4, that represents seven extra horsepower and pound-feet of torque. The 3.6-liter V-6’s horsepower rating gets an extra three ponies, but is downgraded from the original 270 pound-feet of torque to 269 pound-feet.

General Motors still hasn’t made any further announcements regarding the highly anticipated 2.8-liter I-4 Duramax Turbo Diesel that is scheduled for launch in 2016. That engine is still suspected to make at least 200 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque like the European-spec version. Besides the obvious power advantage, the diesel should also offer great fuel economy as well. For example, Ram’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 has been confirmed to return an impressive 28 mpg on the highway – and that’s a V-6 in a full-size truck!

Also up is the truck’s maximum tow rating, increasing from 6,700 pounds to an even 7,000. That’s an impressive 1,100 pounds more than the base towing capacity of the 4.3-liter V-6 Silverado. Of course, the Colorado has to be properly equipped with the 3.6-liter V-6, two-wheel-drive, and the tow package. The truck is also able to handle 1,590 pounds of payload in the bed.

Mated to both engines is a six-speed automatic transmission. Like the powerplants, the tranny is optimized for truck duty. It includes Tow/Haul mode and Auto Grade Braking. A six-speed manual is also offered, though only with the 2.5-liter I-4 and in extended cab trucks configured in two-wheel-drive.

Other handy features include trailer sway control, downhill decent (on Z71 models), Stabilitrak, electronic stability control with rollover mitigation, hill start assist, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, and GM's tried-and-true G80 mechanically-locking rear differential.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado - Drivetrain/Specifications

Engine Type:

2.5L DOHC I-4

3.6L V-6 VVT DI

Displacement (cu in / cc):

150 / 2457

217 / 3564

Block material:

cast aluminum

aluminum

Cylinder head material:

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

Valvetrain:

DOHC with four valves per cylinder; continuously variable valve timing

DOHC with four valves per cylinder; continuously variable valve timing

Fuel delivery:

high-pressure direct injection and electronic throtle control

high-pressure direct injection and electronic throttle control

Compression ratio:

11.3:1

11.5:1

Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm):

200 / 149 @ 6300

306 / 227 @ 6800

Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm @ rpm):

191 @ 4400

269 / 365 @ 4000

Recommended fuel:

regular unleaded

regular unleaded

Transmission

six-speed manual/automatic

six-speed automatic


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2015 Chevrolet Colorado - Fuel Economy

The Colorado’s fuel economy ratings are equally impressive. At it’s best, the Colorado is rated by the EPA to achieve an estimated 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Achieving those numbers are done with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder backed by the six-speed automatic on two-wheel-drive trucks.

Even in four-wheel-drive guise, the Colorado achieves respectable numbers at 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Those trucks equipped with the six-speed manual transmission (available only in 2wd) land in the middle ground, achieving 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined.

Transmission

Drive

City

Combined

Highway

6-speed automatic

2wd

20

22

27

6-speed automatic

4x4

19

21

25

6-Speed manual

2wd

19

22

26


Suspension and Brakes

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The Colorado is held up by an independent front suspension and a live rear axle. Up front is a standard coil-over shock doing the work while an anti-roll bar keeps the truck level through the corners. Aluminum knuckles help keep down unsprung weight. Out back is a tried-and-true live rear axle with a leaf spring setup. Twin-tube shocks help smooth out the rear’s ride.

Disc brakes reside at all four corners. Depending on trim levels, the Colorado comes with 16-inch steel wheels, 16- inch aluminum wheels, or 17-inch aluminum wheels. GM’s AutoTrac four-wheel-drive system allows the truck to shift from two- to four-wheel-drive while underway. Low range is available for jobs needed extra torque as low speeds.

Pricing And Availability

Model

Price

Chevrolet Chevrolet Colorado extended-cab

$20,995

Chevrolet Colorado LT crew cab with 2WD

$27,985

Chevrolet Colorado Z71 crew cab 4x4

$34,990


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Competition

Toyota Tacoma

The Tacoma is not a bad truck, it's just the better part of a decade old. The venerable 4.0-liter V-6 makes a reasonable 236 horsepower and gets 16/21 city/highway.

The Tacoma's size is perhaps its biggest advantage. Much smaller than its big brother Tundra, the Tacoma fits the needs of buyers looking for the handiness of a truck, the reliability a Toyota, and the extra room of a large crew cab. The Tacoma is also the only midsize truck to still offer a single cab. Base asking price starts at $17,875. If we were in the market for a mid-size truck (until today), our money goes to Toyota.

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Nissan Frontier

The Frontier->ke547 is in a similar situation as the Tacoma. Brand new in 2005, the Frontier also has a 4.0-liter V-6 making 261 horsepower and gets roughly 15/21mpg city/highway. Offered in extended and crew cab configurations, the Frontier is a flexible truck that - like an eager puppy - will do whatever you need it to. Styling on the Frontier is classic Nisan and pays homage to the larger Titan pick-ups. Starting price lands at $17,990 for the base four-cylinder model.

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Honda Ridgeline

Honda Ridgeline has been around since 2006 and currently comes in three trim levels: RT, RTL and RTS. All three versions are offered with a 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 engine that delivers a total of 250 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 247 pound-feet of torque at 4,300 rpm.

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Conclusion

The Colorado had a good run at first, but it quickly fizzled along with many other midsize pickups after only a few years. This modernization and resurrection of the Colorado is certainly a welcome sight for all those truck buyer who do not have the need for a full-size pickup, but need more than just an SUV. The new engine lineup, specifically the future diesel engine, is also a welcome sight, but we were hoping to see a V-8 engine make another appearance under the hood.

History

Chevrolet unveiled the Colorado name back in 2004 when it was jointly designed by GM North American, GM's Brazil and Isuzu.

Initially, the base Colorado came with a 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower, but there was also a 3.5 liter in-line five-cylinder engine with 220 horsepower.

In 2007, GM revised the line of Colorado engines, bumping the base engine to a 2.9-liter four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and the optional engine to a 3.7-liter I-5 with 242 horsepower. Also added for 2007 were new tire and wheel combinations.

The 2009 model year brought the most powerful Colorado to date, as GM managed to shoehorn its 5.3-liter V-8 engine into the Colorado's engine compartment, pushing the output to 300 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. Also added for 2009 was a ZQ8 handling package to help the midsize pickup handle better, thanks to a sport suspension and 18-inch wheels.

The second generation was shown at the 2011 Bangkok Motor Show and despite initials plans to offer it on the U.S. market, it still hasn't arrived here.