Live Review: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado - Part Three

[Zane]

 

Words & Photos by: Zane Merva & Josh Merva
Editors, GM-Trucks.com
10/31/2014

Welcome to the third and final part of our week long 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Live Review. We hope you've enjoyed the photos and impressions we've shared so far. Today we will share our impressions about how well the 2015 Colorado drives, how well it tows, what fuel economy the 3.6L engine can get, and if we could live with it on a daily basis.

 

If you have not read our previous two parts to this Live Review, consider giving them a look!

 

Part One: Introduction to our review and this 2015 Chevy Colorado

Part Two: A look at the interior options, features, and comfort in the 2015 Colorado Crew cab

 

Our Colorado came equipped with the larger and more powerful 3.6L V6 engine. It is rated at 305-horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine you'll find in the Equinox and Camaro, although the tuning has been altered to move to the torque curve lower in the RPM range. This 3.6L has a good punch of low end torque, which is much needed for a truck.

 

The optional 2.5L I4 engine that we experienced during our First Drive review isn't as peppy as the V6 but offers an economical option for someone who won't tow or haul very much. The inline four-cylinder produces 200-horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque. While it doesn't sound like a lot, this nearly matches the output of a late 90's 4.3L V6!

 

Chevy claims the mid-size Colorado can do much of what a full-size Silverado can. So we hooked up a trailer and gave this pickup a small workout. With a light 1,000lb load, we barely knew the trailer was behind us. Because of its smaller size, tight maneuvers and backing up with a trailer are easier than with a full-size.

 

Our Colorado came with the "Trailering Equipment Package." Chevy includes an integrated hitch receiver and a 4-pin/7-pin electrical connection. For the price of $250, it seems well worth it.

 

These side mirrors are sleek and low on wind noise but not so great for towing. They don't extend far enough to give a great view of what's behind you while pulling a large trailer. However, for every day use, we've got no complaints and appreciate the blind spot areas.

 

Colorado's four-wheel Duralife disc-brakes make a noticeable difference. Our 2011 Sierra's brakes don't feel nearly as responsive and solid as this.

 

During our week of driving we saw a wide range of fuel economy, depending on what we were doing. In the city and while towing we averaged around 18 miles to the gallon. On the highway and lonely urban roads we able to achieve nearly 28 miles to the gallon!

 

Our 4X4 Colorado was at home off the beaten path. With a minimum of 8.1-inches of ground clearance, this pickup will take you deep down the local trail but probably won't do well crawling rocks. We would imagine the Colorado would do well in the snow.

 

This truck also does well in urban and city roads. A tight turning radius and smaller footprint give the Colorado a leg up over the less maneuverable full-size Silverado. Parking, tight corners, and narrow roads are all much less stressful.

 

With a comfortable, almost crossover like ride, we wouldn't think twice about using the Colorado as a daily driver and a weekend warrior. The communicative steering impressed us. Chevy engineers tuned the Colorado to drive with a level of responsiveness we're not used to in a truck. The rear end never felt light and we were never bounced around.

 

The 4X4 system in the Colorado is has three options- 2WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low. It engaged cleanly, smoothly, and didn't change the way the Colorado drove. Even in two-wheel-drive, the Colorado's traction control handled more than we expected and engaged smoothly.

 

Final Thoughts

Every day we drove the 2015 Colorado we grew to love it even more. A slightly smaller pickup that has nearly all the capacity of a full-size is an idea waiting to be executed well for a long time. Chevy has done it with the mid-size Colorado.

 

Our time with this long wheel base crew cab excited us even more about the future prospects of a Duramax Diesel as an available engine next year. GM's 8-speed transmission will also likely end up in the Colorado sooner or later.

 

While the Colorado offers nearly all of the size and capability of the Silverado, that means it also comes at nearly all of the price. Our well optioned example came at a stiff $38,870. For nearly $40,000 we wish some aspects of the Colorado, such as the hard plastic dash, were made to feel more premium. On the other hand, we were impressed at how well the Colorado drove and handled. If you are in the market for a truck but don't plan on loading it to capacity every time you leave the house, you might be surprised how well the Colorado will suit you.

[newdude]

18 mpg city and towing? Holy...Just imagine what the Colorado Diesel will do... Honestly, Ram can have their EcoDiesel and all but I see a diesel Colorado as a big threat to the EcoDiesel. More mpg, the right size package, weight, etc. This truck may well be a big sleeper come 2016 model year. Hopefully GM can exploit it right.

[Silverado-Hareek]

18 mpg city and towing? Holy...Just imagine what the Colorado Diesel will do... Honestly, Ram can have their EcoDiesel and all but I see a diesel Colorado as a big threat to the EcoDiesel. More mpg, the right size package, weight, etc. This truck may well be a big sleeper come 2016 model year. Hopefully GM can exploit it right.

 

I completely agree. If it weren't for my 2007 Silverado burning oil, I would still be driving it and waiting for the Diesel Colorado to come out instead of driving this 2014 Silverado. I'm anxiously waiting to check out the new Diesel Colorado! GM really dropped the ball not pursuing diesel engines sooner but better late than never. Hopefully the full size trucks will get a diesel option soon too to compete with Nissan, Toyota, and Ram who will all have diesel options come next year.

[truckofwinandawesome]

18 mpg city and towing? Holy...Just imagine what the Colorado Diesel will do... Honestly, Ram can have their EcoDiesel and all but I see a diesel Colorado as a big threat to the EcoDiesel. More mpg, the right size package, weight, etc. This truck may well be a big sleeper come 2016 model year. Hopefully GM can exploit it right.

 

just imagine the Sales if GM plays their cards right, and offers the 6 speed manual with the Diesel; the Line to order that option would be Out the door, and around the block!

[MikeNH]

 

just imagine the Sales if GM plays their cards right, and offers the 6 speed manual with the Diesel; the Line to order that option would be Out the door, and around the block!

 

 

If manuals sold that well, truck makers would sell manuals. But since the take rate of manuals is abysmal, they don't.

[Imcrazy]

28 mpg is impressive. The Canyon is the looker of the two though.

[white1500]

These trucks are awesome and fulfill nearly all of the needs for most of us. My only gripes are that the interior on the Colorado reminds me of the gm eras and that is a nasty thought in and of itself. And the "compact" truck ends up being huge with the norm bed and crew cab configuration, the same applies to the price.

 

I hope the duramax engines don't dissapoint!

[Stex]

These trucks are awesome and fulfill nearly all of the needs for most of us. My only gripes are that the interior on the Colorado reminds me of the gm eras and that is a nasty thought in and of itself. And the "compact" truck ends up being huge with the norm bed and crew cab configuration, the same applies to the price.

 

I hope the duramax engines don't dissapoint!

That is just what I thought when I saw the shift knob/handle for the automatic. Circa 90s grand am...I will look at the GMC version and the Sierra when the 8 sp trans are in them. Just something about a V-8 though.

[truckofwinandawesome]

That is just what I thought when I saw the shift knob/handle for the automatic. Circa 90s grand am...I will look at the GMC version and the Sierra when the 8 sp trans are in them. Just something about a V-8 though.

 

I actually sat in a Colorado at the Nashville Auto Show yesterday, and the Shift button is actually on the FRONT of the Shifter, the place where you THINK it would go (on the left side), is where they put the TapShift Buttons!

[fiero]

I would like to hear your experience towing 5000 pounds or more with Colorado or Canyon crew with V6.

 

Swaying. Surging. Acceleration. Stopping.

 

I'm considering downsizing from Silverado xcab 5.3 to pull a 3500 pound dry weight single axle camper.

 

I know the rated tow capacity. But past experience tells me handling gets squirly approaching factory rating. Do you feel comfortable towing with these trucks?