Their hasn’t been much going on with the domestic truck manufactures. However, General Motors is showing some more interst and bringing back the Canyon and this Colorado nameplates with pretty good success. I only had a short time in the Colorado ZR2 but was impressed with the refinement and the fact that it is the only mid-size truck to have an available diesel. I only had a few hours behind the wheel so this is just some quick thoughts.
Even when equiped with amore aggressive tire and suspension package this smaller Colorado is smooth and reasonably quiet. The interior is a good balance of simple work use and the latest connectivity. As with all trucks their is a lot of plastic; it’s easier to keep clean. You can get 4G LTE hotspot, OnStar and either an 8-inch display auto system that doubles as a standard backup camera. Their is also available Android Auto and Apple Car Play. This kind of connectivity is class leading and will be a major factor for some people when considering what truck to buy.
This ZR2 is higher and the front grille and hood have an agressive looking black insert. Most Colorado trucks are available with an extended cab or a 4-door crew cab with bed sizes ranging from 5 “1 to 6″2. The most fascinating part of this truck though is the available 2.8L turbo 4-cylinder diesel. You can also opt for a 2.5L 4-cylinder or 3.6L V6 gasoline engine.
When it comes to trucks, its the torque that matters most. The diesel delivers 369lb-ft compared to the V6 with 275lb-ft. The diesel is rated at 12.5L/100km in the city and 10.7 on the highway when paired to the 6-speed automatic. When you combine all that torque to an off-road capable unit like this, it makes slow rock climbing much easier.
This is almost too much truck for me. I appreciate the available comfort features like heated seats
The Colorado starts at close to $24,000 for a base two-wheel drive model. The AWD models start at $32,000 and the ZR2 starts at $46,505. The bad news is that GM charges over $4000 for the diesel, it would be nice to have for about half of that. However, keep in mind you can still get this rugged truck with a V6 and save yourself some money.
