2015 Chevrolet Colorado
All-new Chevrolet Colorado returns to Gulf Coast
By Don Armstrong
American-made is set to battle the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier in the mid-size truck segment, with the return of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, but this time with swagger and stats that will bring outdoorsmen back to the showroom.
Starting with a clean sheet of paper, GM engineers and designers were tasked with delivering a mid-size truck with guts, capability and visual appeal. Something that wasn’t part of the old Colorado DNA, it’s now at a price that starts below its full-size stable mate, Silverado.
This all-new Colorado is available in 3-trim levels, WT, LT or Z71. It comes in extended and crew cab models, with 5 or 6-foot beds – depending on cab style – and 2 or 4-wheel drive. You’ll also select from 2 power plants; a 2.5-liter I-4 that delivers 200-HP and 191-lb.-ft. of torque or a 3.6-liter V-6 that generates 305-HP and 269-lb.-ft. of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard on most Colorado’s. A manual is available on the 4-cylinder work truck.
Available towing capacity is 7,000-lbs when properly equipped with automatic grade braking and tow/haul mode.
Like the full-size Silverado, the Colorado comes with triple-seal doors. Now this may not mean much to you, but it makes a noticeable difference in interior quietness. Coupled with active grille shutters, both help improve fuel economy.
Not only is the interior considerably quieter than past models, it has all the modern features we’ve come to love in passenger cars, including an optional eight-inch diagonal color touch screen and multiple USB drives and a 3.4-inch diagonal driver information screen in the instrument cluster. Also available are the next-generation OnStar and MyLink enhancements with gesture recognition, natural language voice recognition and navigation.
Other options include 4G LTE with a built-in WiFi hotspot; Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning; and the GearOn™ accessory system for organizing and carrying bikes, paddle boards and other equipment.
Granted, as with anything these days, start piling on the options and there goes that bargain price. In fact, it’s pretty easy to get the Colorado up into the Silverado price range when option-adding overcomes you.
For those that have a smaller rig to tow, or perhaps an older garage that just doesn’t accommodate a full-size truck, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado may be just ticket. It arrives at dealers in the fourth quarter of 2014 with a base price of $20,995.
