Mid-size pickups such as the 2025 Chevy Colorado are having a moment. No longer considered consolation prizes for those who couldn’t swing a full-sizer, they now trade on their own merit of capability and performance. In the case of the Colorado, that means a standard 310-hp 2.7-liter turbo four paired with an eight-speed automatic and enough trims to satisfy almost any need. Every Colorado is a four-door crew cab with a five-foot bed, but you can go basic with the WT, lujo-rugged with the Z71, take a full-on off-road approach with the ZR2 and beefed-up ZR2 Bison, or stop somewhere in between. A recent redesign brought a long overdue modernization to the cabin, and 2025 sees a minor upgrade in the standard equipment level across the board. Available in either rear- or all-wheel drive, the Colorado can tug up to 7700 pounds, opening the possibilities to a wide range of industrial and recreational towing opportunities. Though its chief competitors, the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, have also recently benefited from similar updates, the Colorado remains a strong choice with a solid resume.
Where This Vehicle Ranks
#5 in Best Mid-Size Pickup Trucks
Competitors:
- 1. Toyota Tacoma – STARTING AT: $32,995
- 2. Toyota Tacoma Hybrid – STARTING AT: $47,795
- 3. Ford Ranger Raptor – STARTING AT: $57,215
- 4. Ford Ranger – STARTING AT: $34,315
- 5. Chevrolet Colorado – STARTING AT: $32,000
- 6. GMC Canyon – STARTING AT: $37,895
What’s New for 2025?
For 2025, the Colorado’s engine roster is simplified. All models now come standard with the most powerful version of the turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four. The rest of the lineup receives a steady stream of minor updates and a reshuffling of features. A new Midnight Edition is joined by two new colors (Reef Blue Metallic and Sunrise Orange); Nitro Yellow Metallic, Glacier Blue Metallic, and Sand Dune Metallic paint options have been discontinued. The WT and Trail Boss adds a standard sliding rear window, rear defroster, and cruise control. The Advanced Trailering package is now standard on the Trail Boss and Z71. The ZR2 gets standard perforated leather seats with ventilated front cushions, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado is expected to start around $32,000 and go up to $62,000 depending on the trim and options.
While the high-riding Colorado ZR2, with 10.7 inches of ground clearance and chunky 33-inch tires, is the marquee attraction here, we think the budget-minded Trail Boss delivers almost as much mud-flinging fun for a lot less. The Trail Boss comes with 32-inch all-terrain tires and fender flares that make it look like a tough truck. It even has an extra 1.5 inches of front suspension travel versus the WT, LT, and Z71, with an additional inch of travel in the rear. The Trail Boss doesn’t have the ZR2’s sweet Multimatic spool-valve dampers and lockable front and rear diffs, but it shares a limited-slip rear diff with the Z71.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Every Colorado is powered by Chevy’s turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder, which makes 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque and pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 237-hp version that previously motivated the WT and LT models has been discontinued. The Colorado’s engine output might sound familiar because it’s the same engine offered with Chevy’s full-size Silverado 1500. The Colorado also has more power and torque than the Jeep Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline’s V-6 and the Tacoma’s nonhybrid turbo four. The new Colorado continues to use an independent front suspension with a solid rear axle with leaf springs. The ZR2 has upgraded Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers up front, with the rear units now mounted to the outside of the frame. WT and LT trucks use an open rear differential, while Trail Boss and Z71 pickups get a limited-slip setup. Only the off-road-optimized ZR2 comes with power-locking front and rear diffs. The ZR2 Bison is the toughest off-road Colorado, and it rides on mondo 35-inch tires—the largest in the mid-size pickup segment. At 12.2 inches of ground clearance, the Bison has better breakover and departure angles for conquering rocky stuff, and the Bison even has hydraulic front and rear bump stops to soften the landing from jumps.
0–60-MPH Times
The last Colorado ZR2 we tested raced from zero to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and cleared the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 88 mph. Those times are nearly identical to those produced by the Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
Towing and Payload Capacity
The Colorado offers the highest towing capacity in the mid-size pickup segment, with a max rating of 7700 pounds. That’s more than any Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, Ranger, or Tacoma. However, max towing drops to 6000 pounds for the Colorado ZR2.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The rear-wheel-drive Colorado has the best EPA-estimated fuel-economy figures, earning 20 mpg city and 24 highway. Colorados with all-wheel drive have estimates of 18 mpg city and 22 highway. The ZR2 is rated at 17 mpg in the city and on the highway, both of which are one more than the ZR2 Bison. When we have the chance to test a Colorado on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route—part of our extensive testing regimen—we can evaluate its real-world mpg. For more information about the Colorado’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Colorado is only offered as a four-door crew cab, and its interior is considerably more modern than the previous generation. The cupholders are located directly in front of the center console instead of being tucked opposite the gear selector, and there’s a new gauge cluster, infotainment screen, and steering wheel. Overall, headroom has dropped by an inch versus the last Colorado, but legroom and shoulder space are roughly the same. Taking a slice from the Ridgeline’s book of tricks, ZR2 models come standard with a shallow 45-inch-wide lockable storage box in the tailgate.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All Colorados have an 11.3-inch touchscreen that acts as the hub for the infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are a pair of USB ports and 12-volt outlets. Available as a subscription service, the Colorado can be equipped with Google built-in to handle navigation, music, and other vehicle functions personalized through your Google account. The standard audio setup features six speakers, but a premium Bose system is available on higher trims.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
A list of driver-assistance features for the Colorado, as part of its standard Chevy Safety Assist package, is generous and includes basics such as forward-collision warning as well as more advanced tech such as lane-keeping assist. For 2025, Chevy adds Blind Zone Steering Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Braking and Rear Park Assist on the base WT and up. For more information about the Colorado’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Chevrolet provides a competitive limited and powertrain warranty for the Colorado. While Toyota has better complimentary maintenance, General Motors covers the first visit for free.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
Specifications
2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear/4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $48,295/$53,280
Options: Technology package (adaptive cruise control, rear pedestrian alert, surround-view cameras), $950; ZR2 Convenience package (perforated and ventilated leather front seats, driver’s-seat memory settings, heated steering wheel, wireless charging, rear center armrest), $1490; power sliding-glass sunroof, $1000; Bose 7-speaker stereo system, $500; underbody cameras, $500; removable assist step, $495; yellow seatbelts, $50
ENGINE
Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 166 in3, 2727 cm3
Power: 310 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 430 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/rigid axle
Brakes, F/R: 13.4-in vented disc/13.3-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT
285/70R-17 116/113Q TPC Spec 2808 POR
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 131.4 in
Length: 212.7 in
Width: 76.3 in
Height: 73.8 in
Curb Weight: 4926 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.1 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.5 sec @ 88 mph
100 mph: 23.3 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.3 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.1 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 100 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 187 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.73 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 16 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 16/16/16 mpg
