When it comes to the mid-size pickup market in the US, it is pretty obvious who the top dog is: the good ole’ Toyota Tacoma. Not only is it one of the cheapest options out there, but you also get the lasting promise of Toyota reliability. However, Chevy has made their move to bring the mid-size crown back to the US with the redesigned 2023 Chevy Colorado! Does the Colorado finally have what it takes to take down the Tacoma? Keep on reading to find out!

What’s New for 2023

  • New design for 2023
  • Updated interior with new tech and more standard features

Trim Structure

WT -> LT -> Trail Boss -> Z71 -> ZR2 (not covered in this article)

Chevy Colorado Front Z71
Chevy Colorado Front
Chevy Colorado Bed
Chevy Colorado Interior

Exterior Design

Front

The 2023 Chevy Colorado gets a whole new face in this redesign, and it looks more rugged and “trucky” than ever! The focal point of this vehicle is the rugged looking grille and fascia, where the designs vary based on trim.  The WT and Trail Boss trims will almost be entirely wrapped in black plastic, adding to the utilitarian and off-road nature of these trims. The LT and Z71 have more painted elements, as these will be the road-oriented trims. The Z71 also adds a nicer bumper accented with red recovery hooks. LED headlights and fog lamps will only be standard on the Z71, which was quite the disappointment. All trims will come with a standard lift, with the Trail Boss achieving an impressive 9.5-inches for the mainstream models.

Side and Rear

Heading to the side of the Colorado, you will find each trim level with a different set of wheels for 2023, ranging from 17-inch steel wheels, 17-inch alloys, and 18-inch alloys. The braking specs are as follows:

Brakes: Front: NA

Up to the mirrors, heating and Blind Spot Monitoring can be optioned on with an additional package on all trims. The side retains the boxy look of a mid-size pickup, offering a single cab configuration of a crew cab with a 5-foot bed. The Trail Boss will have flared, matte black wheel arches as compared to the other trims.

Heading to the rear, LED taillights will once again only be standard on the Z71 trim. The tailgate will have a nice design with “Chevrolet” stamped into the multi-dimensioned surface. As all pickups are, each one has a slightly different look for the rear fascia, however none will have exposed exhausts. Towing is rated at a maximum of 7,700lbs for the Colorado.

When it comes to the features of the tailgate/bed itself, all Colorados will have a dampened liftgate with a side-step for easy access. There will also be tie-downs, a 110V outlet, and a segment first “StowFlex” storage area: a 45-inch wide, 4-inch deep drainable storage area in the tailgate itself.

Safety and Warranty

The Colorado will be equipped with Chevy’s 3-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Additionally, the first maintenance visit will be free. The Colorado for 2023 will come standard with most of Chevy’s basic safety systems, including:

  • Automatic forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, auto high beams, lane-keeping assist
  • Z71: regular cruise control (optional for all other trims)
  • Available on all trims: Adaptive Cruise Control

Next, we’ll head to the interior, where Chevy has continued to throw in plenty of updates.

Chevy Colorado Interior

Interior Design

Materials and Basic Features

To get inside the 2023 Chevy Colorado, push button start will be standard on all models, smart entry will be standard on the LT and up, and remote start is an option for all. When it comes to interior materials, the breakdown is as follows:

  • WT/LT/Trail Boss: Cloth or Optional EvoTex Leatherette | Jet Black only
  • Z71: Standard cloth/leatherette or optional perforated leather | Jet Black w/ Red accents

All seats will be standard buckets with 10-way power on most trims with 2-way lumbar as an option on all trims. Memory will only be an option on the Z71.

Specs: Legroom: 45.2-inches | Headroom: 40.3-inches

All Colorado models will have a standard 8-inch digital gauge cluster, a new and welcome addition for this redesign. Sitting in front of the gauges will be a steering wheel that is manual adjusting and leather wrapped on the LT and Z71, with heating as an option. The Colorado will come with a standard shifter with no paddles available.

2023 Chevy Colorado Tech and Luxury

Technology will be plentiful within the Chevy Colorado’s cabin considering the price, starting out with standard manual automatic climate, optional heated seats, optional ventilated seats, and available wireless charging on most trims. All trims will have a non-branded six-speaker sound system. At the center of the Colorado’s cabin is a class-leading 11.3-inch digital display on all trims. A backup camera is standard, with parking sensors, a 360 camera, and various trail cameras available on all trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be standard as well as Google software built in, a welcome addition for this price point. An auto-dimming mirror is available on all trims, as well as a moonroof for the first time.

Chevy Colorado Bed

Rear Spaces

The rear seats will continue to capitalize on the Colorado’s Crew Cab configuration, with the specs as follows:

Legroom: 34.7-inches

Headroom: 38.3-inches

Rear amenities will be far and few between since the Colorado wasn’t made to haul people, but rear vents are available for the rear passengers, as well as a variety of clever storage options.

Chevy Colorado Front Z71

 Powertrain & Driving Impressions

Chevy has greatly trimmed down the available engine options for the Colorado. No longer will there be a Diesel or V-6 option, but only three variations of a 2.7L Turbo I-4, with specs as follows:

  • BASE: 2.7L Turbo I-4: 237 hp | 259 lb.ft
  • Standard engine on WT, LT
  • PLUS: 2.7L Turbo I-4: 310 hp | 390 lb.ft
  • Standard on Trail Boss, Z71
  • Optional on WT, LT
  • More HP and Torque than previous V6
  • HIGH OUTPUT: 2.7L Turbo I-4: 310 hp | 430 lb.ft
  • Standard on ZR2 only

All of these engines will be paired with a very smooth and responsive 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Trail Boss and ZR1 come standard with 4WD, with 4×2 being standard for all other trims. Fuel economy figures have not been released at this time, but we expect the Colorado to perform better than the previous V-6.

Behind the wheel of the Colorado, we found the driving dynamics to be quite comfortable and responsive, especially for a mid-size pickup. The I-4 may be a disappointment to some, but Chevy has put in extra work to ensure it sounds similar to a V-6. To get an in-depth perspective on our full driving impressions and more, watch our full review down below!

2023 Chevy Colorado Pricing

Chevy is happy to keep the most Colorado trims under $40k this year. All prices are for 4×2 unless stated otherwise:

WT: $29,200

LT: $31,600

Trail Boss 4×4: $37,000

Z71 4×4: $39,900

ZR2 4×4: $46,800

Overall, this 2023 Chevy Colorado really impresses when it comes to comfort and technology, asserting itself as a viable competitor to the Toyota Tacoma. With the addition of new technology and this sharp redesign, the Tacoma better take notice! Compared to the competition, the Chevy Colorado sure seems like a winner to us!