2022 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2022 Chevy Colorado is a mid-size pickup available in a wide range of combinations ranging from basic delivery-style truck to serious off-roader, with a mainstream family-hauler parked right in the middle.

The Colorado is largely unchanged for 2022, though some features may not be available at various points in the model year due to the ongoing computer chip shortage.

Chevy offers 4- and 6-cylinder power, plus a turbodiesel choice. Four-wheel drive with a transfer case including a mode suitable for dry-pavement use is optional.

Fuel economy runs the gamut. Turbodiesels come in as high as 20 mpg city, 30 highway, 23 combined. The more popular V-6 rates 18/25/21 mpg, or 17/24/19 mpg with four-wheel drive.

The Colorado isn’t available with automatic emergency braking. A four-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a “Marginal” score in one of the IIHS’ tests are disconcerting.

Model Lineup

The Colorado comes in rear- or four-wheel drive form with a choice between extended- and crew-cab configurations. Chevy offers a bevy of trim levels, with the widest availability reserved for the crew-cab, short-bed, four-wheel-drive body.

The base WT costs $27,000 to start and lives up to its name “Work Truck” with few amenities, though it is hardly spartan thanks to power features, air conditioning, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The LT costs $2,500 more and piles on alloy wheels, an upsized 8.0-inch touchscreen, more USB ports, and cloth upholstery. It’s also the gateway to more options, including the Trail Boss package that adds a 1.0-inch lift to the suspension, skid plates, and tow hooks.

Light-duty off-roaders will find special shocks and a locking differential in the Z71, which costs just south of $40,000 in popular crew-cab, four-wheel-drive form.

ZR2 models go the farthest with special exterior trim including a domed hood, Multimatic dampers, and proper off-road tires, plus standard leather upholstery. Adding the Bison package – $5,750 – grabs what some owners might have sought from the aftermarket with special trim and beefy skid plates from American Expedition Vehicles, a Montana-based upfitter.

Exterior

For a mid-size pickup, the Colorado has relatively sleek, curvy lines. It comes in extended or crew-cab versions, the latter offering the most practical body and a choice between either 62- or 74-inch bed configurations (only a 74-inch bed is available with the extended-cab). Integrated corner steps are a nice touch.

The Colorado wears clean, simple details in contrast to the closely related GMC Canyon, but there’s enough muscle in its fenders and bed sides to hint at its available performance.

ZR2 versions go farthest with a brash front bumper that improves the approach angle, plus a domed hood visible even from the driver’s seat. Various styles of 17-inch wheels wrapped in different tire types are available.

Interior

The Colorado is decidedly car-like inside, discarding the chunky lines Chevy adds to its bigger trucks. Its touchscreen display is mounted up high, with easy climate knobs and various toggle-like switches for secondary controls below. There’s little fuss to its layout.

Front bucket seats separated by a relatively wide console can be upholstered in either cloth, vinyl, or leather. Crew-cab versions have 60/40 split-folding rear seats that offer decent short-distance comfort but limited rake for longer rides. A child seat is easy to squeeze through the rear door openings. Extended-cab trucks have rear-hinged doors that open up to reveal small jump seats.

Driving Impressions

The Colorado offers considerable breadth for a mid-size pickup. Base trucks use a 200-hp inline-4 best-suited to delivery use. The 308-hp 3.6-liter V-6 is a worthwhile upgrade, and it performs well with its 8-speed automatic transmission. A costly 2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-4 bumps the towing rating to 7,700 pounds and nets 30 mpg on the highway, though it can sound a little gruff.

Most shoppers grab the V-6, and for good reason. Its 7,000-pound towing capacity is more than adequate for a truck of this size, and it delivers good passing power.

The Colorado has nicely weighted steering and a more composed ride than most truck-based rivals, though it’s not as comfortable in day-to-day use as the SUV-like Honda Ridgeline.

In its off-roadiest ZR2 trim, the Colorado really comes into its own, though. Its lifted suspension and wider track manage to deliver a supple enough ride in town while reserving serious chops for outdoors exploration.

Final Word

It may be an aging design, but the Chevy Colorado has notable merits including a refined V-6, a great transmission, and lots of trim choices.

—By Andrew Ganz, with driving impressions from The Car Connection