Live Review: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado - Part Two

[Zane]

Words & Photos by: Zane & Josh Merva
Editors, GM-Trucks.com
10/29/2014

 

Welcome to part two of our 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Live Review. In part one, we showed you the specific Colorado we’re driving this week, which features it is equipped with, and how much it costs. Today we’ll focus on showing your what the interior of the new Colorado is like and what features it offers the driver and passengers.

 

Didn't read Part One? Read our introduction to this 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Live Review

The interior design of the 2015 Colorado is awfully familiar. That’s because it’s meant to closely resemble the interior of the Silverado. The multi-toned mix of surfaces is heavily focused on function. We would have preferred a layout more interesting to our eyes but you can’t argue with a design that works well.

 

As a driver, you’ll spend most of your time looking here - at the gauge cluster. Like the rest of the interior, it’s about reading numbers clearly over flashy design.

 

Chevrolet MyLink

Chevy MyLink is Chevrolet's smartphone connectivity and infotainment system. It uses hard buttons on the dash alongside a touch screen interface.

 

This is the home screen of MyLink. There are a lot of options to staying connected on the road.

 

Our Colorado has the optional Navigation system.

 

The audio screen shows a lot of information and is easy to control with large on-screen buttons.

 

With a SiriusXM Subscription, you can even use MyLink to stay informed on the weather. Yes, that's a live radar map!

 

Our Mylink system was paired with the optional, and well worth it, Bose Audio system. At $500, we think it's a great option for anyone who enjoys their music.

 

The MyLink Screen also doubles as the display for the rear view backup camera. This is one of the Colorado's most useful features on a daily basis, especially if you are hooking up a trailer. Guide lines shift as you steer, giving you an idea of where you are headed.

An Informed & Comfortable Driver

The center gauge cluster has a mono-tone driver information center. We've been using it as a digital speedometer most of the time.

The DIC also shows trip information.

You can monitor tire pressures and transmission temperature, too.

Staying on top of fuel economy is easy too.

Automatic climate control keeps the cabin comfortable and large dials make small adjustments easy.

Our LT trimmed Colorado featured leather appointed power driver and passenger front seats.

This piano-key switch panel is similar to the control panel in the Silverado. Heated seat controls are found directly below.

While the Silverado has stayed with a wheel mounted gear selector, the Colorado's shifter is on the center console

The driver's window and door switches have a premium feel and are identical to those in the full-size trucks.

Interior backlight brightness, headlight and 4x4 control switches are located to the bottom and left of the steering wheel.

Storage & Passenger Space

Each door is loaded with storage cubbies. The Colorado has plenty of places to set things and we like it!

Like any truck should, the Colorado has a large glove box and a useful arm-rest storage area.

Charging options for mobile devices are numerous. Our Colorado had 4 USB slots but only two 12-volt outlets.

Our Crew cab Colorado has plenty of room to bring along passengers. It feels more roomy than a Silverado Double Cab. Chevy even includes under seat storage.

Our Colorado also featured Chevy's $395 Safety Package. It consists of Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert systems. You can turn both on or off, independently. Neither system is active, only alerting the driver to emergencies through warning tones played through the speaker system.

The Colorado's key fob controls locking and unlocking as well as remote-start. It's the same design used in the Silverado.

Our biggest complaint is the hard plastic dash. It looks great in color and texture but is as hard as a rock. The GMC Canyon has a soft touch dash and we wish the Colorado did too.

AT&T 4G LTE WiFi HotSpot

We tried to use OnStar's 4G WiFi hotspot but it didn't go well. Connecting to the hotspot is easy, however there's no indicator to show signal strength. As a result, when we tried to load any website on our tablet, nothing happened. This is probably because the system uses AT&T service, which has poor coverage in our area of New Hampshire. We'll travel to a more populated area and try again for our Friday update. We wish GM would have stuck with Verizon Wireless.

Interior Conclusion

We're really digging the driver and passenger experience inside the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. Comfortable seating and a connected experience deliver a daily commuter capable vehicle. In fact, the pickup is so comfortable, it doesn't even feel like you're driving a truck. With heated leather seats, Bose audio, and a quiet ride, we could spend all day inside. Long trips should be easy.

For all we like inside, we're still not sold on Chevy's lane departure and collision warning systems. They are entirely passive and only create distracting beeps when you're in danger. We would love to see GM's vibrating alert seat in the Colorado. We're also very disappointed in OnStar 4G coverage with AT&T. In vehicle WiFi is only useful if it works.

On Friday we will explore the Colorado's 305-horsepower 3.6L V6 and how see well it serves as the optional engine in a pickup. We'll share fuel economy, daily driving observations, and towing performance. We will also explore the chassis, braking, transmission, and 4x4 system.

Your turn

Time for you to take part. Ask us anything! We'd love to share what driving this truck is like and will try our best to answer any questions you have about the 2015 Colorado.

[Nargg]

Hadn't tested the MyLink WiFi thingy in my 2015 yet. So just ran out and gave it a quick speedtest.net test. In a moderate connection area (2 bars on my cell phone), I got a 150ms ping, 2 Mb/s down and 3 Mb/s up. Not too shabby. I'll have to test it on the road sometime, that's where the big test will be I think for my kid to use it on trips, etc etc. Doubt I'll use it much if at all, as the data cost is quite high.

 

Keyfob is interesting in that it appears to house two more buttons than my Silverado, though they are not labelled. Wonder what they'd be for? Tailgate? and what?

[PMurray]

I've stayed with the K1500 as I tow a couple of heavy trailers and feel safer at speed with the wider stance and longer wheelbase. I know you can't test everything, but do you have an impression....?

[MikeNH]

Hadn't tested the MyLink WiFi thingy in my 2015 yet. So just ran out and gave it a quick speedtest.net test. In a moderate connection area (2 bars on my cell phone), I got a 150ms ping, 2 Mb/s down and 3 Mb/s up. Not too shabby. I'll have to test it on the road sometime, that's where the big test will be I think for my kid to use it on trips, etc etc. Doubt I'll use it much if at all, as the data cost is quite high.

 

Keyfob is interesting in that it appears to house two more buttons than my Silverado, though they are not labelled. Wonder what they'd be for? Tailgate? and what?

Those speeds aren't that impressive honestly. That's barely better than I saw on Verizon with 3G.

 

As for the remote, if memory serves, the guts of the unit are the same remote GM uses on other vehicles so there may not be any truck-specific functions that are missing. I know on the SUV remote you have the release for the tailgate and just the upper class.

 

That said, I do hope GM adds the power tailgate lock like Ram. That's one of those things that is so simple you wonder why it took till 2013 for anyone to make it standard.

[hicountry]

Those speeds aren't that impressive honestly. That's barely better than I saw on Verizon with 3G.

 

As for the remote, if memory serves, the guts of the unit are the same remote GM uses on other vehicles so there may not be any truck-specific functions that are missing. I know on the SUV remote you have the release for the tailgate and just the upper class.

 

That said, I do hope GM adds the power tailgate lock like Ram. That's one of those things that is so simple you wonder why it took till 2013 for anyone to make it standard.

 

Couldn't agree more on the power tailgate lock, I had a 2009 Avalanche LTZ that had this and loved it. When I bought my '14 High Country Silverado I assumed it would have the same since it advertised a locking tailgate, was really disappointed to find it can only be locked and unlocked with the key! Who came up with that and why?

 

I also don't like the design of the new remotes as well as the previous ones. With the older ones I could operate them just by feel, with the new ones I usually have to look at it to even tell which side the buttons are on.

[Cowboyman]

Thanks for doing this, I've enjoyed reading it a lot.

 

I was wondering about the step in height.....how does it compare to the Silverado?

 

My parents are liking these trucks a lot if the step in is lower.

[Carder09]

That center console planted or does it wobble any?

[Nargg]

Those speeds aren't that impressive honestly. That's barely better than I saw on Verizon with 3G.

 

As for the remote, if memory serves, the guts of the unit are the same remote GM uses on other vehicles so there may not be any truck-specific functions that are missing. I know on the SUV remote you have the release for the tailgate and just the upper class.

 

That said, I do hope GM adds the power tailgate lock like Ram. That's one of those things that is so simple you wonder why it took till 2013 for anyone to make it standard.

 

Impressive no, but very usable. It was a poor area that usually gets less with my cell phone so I was impressed a little. I tested it in a better location and got 15Mb/s down, peaking much higher.

 

Ford also has the tailgate remote option now in the new '15s, and it also lowers when unlocked remotely. Smoothly just like the '14+ GMs, just with auto on the remote. If GM does add this soon (along with all the other goodies that Ford seems to be blowing them away with) maybe we could add it into our current models.

[Zane]

I've stayed with the K1500 as I tow a couple of heavy trailers and feel safer at speed with the wider stance and longer wheelbase. I know you can't test everything, but do you have an impression....?

Part three will address how the Colorado feels while towing.

[Zane]

Thanks for doing this, I've enjoyed reading it a lot.

 

I was wondering about the step in height.....how does it compare to the Silverado?

 

My parents are liking these trucks a lot if the step in is lower.

You are welcome!

 

I compared the step in height to our 2011 Sierra and it's very similar. I was surprised and would have guessed it would have been lower.

 

There's definitely less knee room. I've banged mine a few times getting in. I'm used to the larger space in our Sierra.

[Zane]

That center console planted or does it wobble any?

Very solid! Didn't move at all when I gave it a good push/pull.

[Cowboyman]

You are welcome!

 

I compared the step in height to our 2011 Sierra and it's very similar. I was surprised and would have guessed it would have been lower.

 

There's definitely less knee room. I've banged mine a few times getting in. I'm used to the larger space in our Sierra.

 

Appreciate the info, that is surprising !

 

I can see where it would be tight if you were used to the regular size truck.

 

I can't wait to see and drive one of these myself.

[Stex]

With the rear seat storage. looks like ice chest in the rear of the cab is out. Looks like the storage supports the seat???