Head For The Mountains: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup Is Here To Tear It Up
Chevrolet’s new 3rd-era, mid-dimension 2023 Colorado pickup truck doubles down on functionality with functions and design and style tweaks cribbed from the total-dimension Silverado. Available exclusively as a crew cab with a small bed, the 2023 Colorado gets a host of contemporary off-street enhancements on the Z71 and ZR2 trims and a new Path Manager product. A ZR2-only Desert Manager package deal ups the ante with 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, an off-highway bumper, mild bar and extra.
The overall lineup, such as reduced-spec Function Truck (WT) and LT models, now totals 5 distinctive offers. The Colorado ditches the outgoing generation’s turbo-diesel 4-cylinder and gasoline V6 engines in favor of a shared turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four (also borrowed from Silverado) that pumps out 310 horsepower and 430 pound-toes of torque in prime spec. The stylistic and powertrain revisions, as effectively as up to date infotainment and driver’s aids, really should assist Colorado maintain up with rigid level of competition from other compact entire body-on-frame vehicles like Toyota’s Tacoma, Ford’s Ranger, and Jeep’s Gladiator, as effectively as unibodies from the Honda Ridgeline and to a lesser extent, the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado: A person Engine, Three Tunes
Climbing from WT to LT, Z71, Path Manager or a maxed-out ZR2 comes with substantial energy gains along the way, despite all 5 trims sharing the identical 2.7 liters of displacement. The engine makes 237 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque for common WT and LT trucks, when the “2.7L Turbo Plus” in the Z71 and Path Boss cranks out an amazing 310 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Last but not least, the leading-spec ZR2’s “2.7L Turbo Superior-Output” earns the similar horsepower score but bumps torque up to a hearty 430 pound-feet. The different electrical power stages do, nonetheless, end result in towing capacities of 3,500 lbs for WT and LT or 7,700 lbs . for the higher-output tunes.
All trims share an 8-velocity automatic transmission Chevy says the turbo-4 cylinder’s broad torque attributes mesh completely with the up to date 8-speed and make adopting the 10-velocity device in the Silverado needless. Four-wheel drive is out there across the lineup, but conventional on Z71, Path Boss and ZR2. As a facet take note, Chevrolet states that while absent, the diesel is “not useless,” and it is normally re-assessing the market.
Chevrolet calls the chassis all new but tells us it “utilizes some features of the existing frame.” Regardless, the new chassis setup stretches the Colorado’s wheelbase by 3.1 inches vs . the outgoing second technology. To compensate, Chevrolet shortened the entrance overhang to boost the trucks’ over-all tactic angle.
3 distinctive suspension setups further differentiate the design designations. Chevrolet made the decision to stick with leaf springs for the solid rear axle somewhat than switching to coil springs, but the Path Boss gets a two-inch manufacturing facility carry. In addition, a 3.4-inch broader track—compared to WT, LT, and Z71 trucks—is realized with new management arm and steering knuckle styles. ZR2 characteristics a 3-inch carry and the identical wider stance, in addition a established of the Multimatic DSSV dampers that proved critically extraordinary on the Silverado ZR2. On ZR2 only, the dampers are moved outside the body rails for far better regulate, with no decline of articulation, in accordance to Chevrolet.
Interior & Tech Enhancements
Atop the attractive redesigned sprint, an 11.3-inch touchscreen employs Chevrolet’s intuitive Google Developed-In infotainment technique across all trims. The equipment shifter scoots proper when compared to the older Colorado, permitting for a new push method dial on the middle console with selections for Usual, Tow/Haul, Off-Highway, Terrain, and the at any time-well-known Baja designation. A configurable gauge cluster pairs with off-road-precise show choices on the principal screen.
Chevy’s suite of driver assistance technological know-how features de rigeuer expectations like lane departure warning, forward collision warn, adaptive cruise management and rear cross-site visitors alerts. Still, GM’s industry-foremost Super Cruise semi-autonomous system, now available on the full-sizing Silverado High State, is not still scheduled to show up on any Colorado product. Even so, ten obtainable digital camera sights add to a new trailering app, with new Hitch Steerage and Hitch Watch angles plus a nifty underbody shot on the Z71 and ZR2.
ZR2 and ZR2 Path Manager Direct Off-Street
Colorado’s well-known ZR2 Bison spec exits phase remaining, and alternatively, the 3 off-road types cap off with a new Desert Manager package accessible on the ZR2. In which decrease-spec WT and LT vehicles use open differentials, the Trail Boss and Z71 get a confined-slip rear diff and the ZR2, of course, employs electronic entrance and rear lockers. Trail Manager arrives regular with 32-inch all-terrain tires that move up to 33-inch mud-terrains on the ZR2, which, paired with the a few-inch carry, provides a optimum of 10.7 inches of floor clearance (compared to 7.9 inches for WT and LT). The ZR2’s approach angle increases to 38.3 levels, with 25.1 levels of departure and a breakover angle rated at 24.6 degrees.
In the modern era, even the most hardcore off-street autos deploy a good deal of techy driver support, and Colorado proves no distinctive. Hill descent regulate seems on Path Boss and Z71, while a g-force meter, wheel slip gauge and shows for pitch, roll and GPS all healthy into the mix. The ZR2-precise Desert Boss package deal contains 17-inch beadlock wheels, a revised bumper and entrance fascia, a manufacturing unit gentle bar and a athletics bar with a sail panel.
Other enjoyable facts across the Colorado lineup consist of a watertight in-tailgate storage process (equipped with a drain, although no mention of insulation so much), tire grooves in the entrance bed wall for motorcycle or bicycle tires, and option packing containers to tick for splash guards, off-street lights, tailgate audio and a 110-volt power outlet.
Chevrolet guarantees to launch further more data and pricing for third-generation 2023 Colorado nearer to the start out of output in the 1st 50 % of 2023.