Review of the Chevy Colorado 2020
What’s new with the 2020 Chevy Colorado? Chevrolet has one of the best off road trucks that money can buy. It’s called the Colorado. For 2020, it does way more than rock climb.
The Chevy Colorado has three fuel efficient powertrains and several special edition models for added style points. The 2020 Chevy Colorado isn’t the flashiest mid-sized pickup truck, but it just might be the most well-rounded.
The Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator were no match for the #ChevyColorado #ZR2 Bison, which was named The Overland Truck of the Year by @overlandjrnl. pic.twitter.com/mkr0rr56Zh
— Chevy Trucks (@ChevyTrucks) February 26, 2020
Introduction to the Chevy Colorado
The Chevy Colorado is a versatile mid-sized pickup truck that takes the guesswork out of buying a new workhorse. The Colorado has a handsome exterior, lots of powertrain options to suit different needs, and a top tier off-roader that can compete with any vehicle on the market. However, this pickup truck doesn’t get refreshed often and can seem a bit dated in certain areas.
The 2020 Chevy Colorado comes in five different models and a host of special edition variations. The LT base model comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display and HD rearview camera. The WT model adds utility to the interior with under seat storage and folding rear bench.
The next level is called LT and this model offers all the advanced safety features and upscale upholstery. There are two off-road models – the Z71 and ZR2. Both are capable off roaders with the ZR2 offering higher ground clearance and purpose built Goodyear Duratrac tires.
Exterior Style
The 2020 Chevy Colorado has an attractive exterior but might pale in comparison to flashier pickup trucks from rival manufacturers like Dodge and Toyota. The Colorado truck has a masculine, upright stance with pronounced fenders, but doesn’t overcrowd the paneling with garish cuts and contours.
The Colorado has several models and special editions that add their own subtle tweaks to the bland base model platform. There are no fewer than 10 different exterior paint colors and some of them are quite bold. If you put orange Crush on the ZR2 Bison special edition, it would be hard to miss your Colorado truck in the crowd.
The special edition Colorado trucks earn the most style points. The RST edition spells out Chevrolet in the front grille and adds 20-inch gloss black wheels. Ironically, the Redline edition adds subtle black trim all around the exterior. The Colorado Custom edition aims at upscale buyers with a body color front grille, door handles and metallic painted 18-inch wheels.
Performance Capabilities
The 2020 Chevy Colorado has three different powertrain options. There’s the 2.5 Liter four-cylinder engine that comes with the base model. It has 200 horsepower and a 3,500 pound towing capacity.
The 3.6 Liter V6 engine has best in class horsepower (308) and can tow up to 7,000 lbs. Finally, there’s a Duramax 2.8 Liter turbo-diesel powertrain that gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway and 7,700 lb. towing capacity. The top range for payload is 1,500 pounds for this mid-sized pickup truck.
The Colorado can be equipped with front-wheel or four-wheel drive. The base model has a six-speed manual or automatic, but it doesn’t fare well when tasked with towing or hauling. The V6 powertrain has an 8-speed automatic while the turbo diesel is managed by a 6-speed automatic.
The Z71 and ZR2 models are built for off-roading. The Z71 gets the job done, but for people who can’t ignore the call of adventure, there’s no substitute for the ZR2 Colorado truck and the available Trailblazer and Bison editions. The ZR2 is the Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice for Best Off-Roader.
Get muddy but don’t get stuck
Here’s a bit more about the ZR2 Colorado truck. It comes with the turbo diesel powertrain or the 3.6 Liter V6. The ZR2 has Multimatic shocks as well as full locking front and rear differentials, a trailering package and a transfer case shield. The ZR2 Colorado has a raised suspension, skid plates, rock sliders, a wider stance and knobby tires.
The Bison edition adds Boron steel skid plates, stamped steel front and rear bumpers, and a front winch.
Interior Amenities
The 2020 Chevy Colorado comes as an extended cab or crew cab pickup truck. The Colorado has 41.4 inches of front headroom and 45 inches of front legroom. For the sake of comparison, the 2020 Ford Ranger has 39.8 inches of front headroom and 43.1 inches of legroom.
The 2020 Colorado truck has room to stretch out, but the interior feels dated and built with economy in mind. Hard, durable plastics were favored in the design. Cloth or vinyl are your seating choices for the base model and the work truck. The LT and above get options for leather and heated seats. You can also add a sunroof and leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The central dashboard houses the infotainment system and touchscreen. Lower model trims get a 7-inch touchscreen, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto still come standard. That’s a plus. The LT trim has an 8-inch touchscreen, Bose audio, and additional USB ports.
Safety Gear
Safety features aren’t the strong suit of the 2020 Chevy Colorado. The base model Colorado comes without advanced safety features. You get a rearview camera, electronic stability and traction control, and a full complement of air bags. To equip any further safety options, you need to skip the base model Colorado and the WT.
Once you reach the higher model LT, then the Colorado has an available safety package at an extra cost of $690. This safety bundle has rear parking assist, forward collision alert, and lane departure warnings. Unfortunately, you won’t find automatic emergency braking on any of the 2020 Colorado mid-sized trucks.
Crash scores are fair to middling. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) give the 2020 Colorado four stars, but the International Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) give the mid-sized truck a marginal score in passenger side small overlap tests and even a poor score on its headlights.
The Takeaway
The base and WT models are skippable unless you’re really on a budget. The LT model provides the most economical blend of features and style upgrades. It can get a bit pricey beyond that because you’re getting into off-road territory. However, the 2020 Colorado really shines when in Z71 or ZR2 guise. It’s the perfect rival for the rugged Ford Raptor truck.
Related: What’s New with the 2020 Ford Raptor?
The Colorado from Chevrolet is one of the most versatile trucks on the market. It has three powertrain options, front wheel and all wheel drive, plus decent technology in the cabin. It lags behind in the safety column though.
It doesn’t have enough standard equipment to compete with rivals like the Ford Ranger and Honda Ridgeline. Plus, the safety test scores are nothing to brag about. It would be interesting to see if there will be a comprehensive update or refresh in the near future. However, the 2020 Chevy Colorado does quite well without one. It’s quite simply a bad ass!
