2023 Chevrolet Colorado

The volume LT uses the base 2.7L Turbo tune as standard. The all-new 2023 range offered two stronger 310-hp calibrations.

The LT's standard 2.7L Turbo produces 260 lb-ft; its optional Turbo Plus makes 391 lb-ft, while the ZR2's High-Output tune makes 430 lb-ft.

The representative value uses the slow end of Car and Driver's 6.0-7.2-second tested range because the LT's standard 237-hp engine is materially less powerful than the 310-hp Turbo Plus LT tested at 6.0 seconds by MotorTrend.

Low-rpm torque gives responsive everyday performance with little lag, but the standard LT tune sounds gravelly and is noticeably coarser than the Turbo Plus under load.

The eight-speed is generally smooth and its grade logic is useful, though reviews found occasional light bucking and premature upshifts on grades.

Properly equipped WT, LT, Trail Boss, and Z71 models reach the lineup maximum; the base engine is limited to 3,500 lb and ZR2 to 6,000 lb.

Chevrolet's final 2023 brochure lists the highest comparison payload at 1,710 lb for WT configurations; heavier trims decline to 1,280 lb for ZR2.

A strong optional suite includes Hitch Guidance/View, integrated brake control, Tow/Haul mode, and an in-vehicle trailering app, but lacks the full-size Silverado's most advanced transparent-trailer and scale functions.

Four-wheel drive is available on WT and LT and standard on all three off-road trims. WT/LT use a single-speed Autotrac case, while Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 gain a two-speed case with low range.

Three dedicated off-road trims culminate in a genuinely serious ZR2 with a 3-inch lift, DSSV dampers, front and rear electronic lockers, 33-inch tires, skid plates, and 10.7 inches of clearance.

The redesign eliminated the prior V6 and diesel and offers only one 2.7L turbo-four and eight-speed automatic, though three output calibrations span 237 hp/260 lb-ft through 310 hp/430 lb-ft. There is no hybrid, diesel, manual, or EV choice.

The volume trim is represented by the LT 2WD with its standard 237-hp 2.7L Turbo. For this all-new third-generation model, Chevrolet offered the stronger Turbo Plus as an LT option rather than standard equipment.

The EPA city rating applies to the standard-engine, rear-drive LT configuration selected as the volume trim.

The standard-engine 2WD LT receives the highest highway rating in the 2023 Colorado range; the optional Turbo Plus 2WD is rated at 23 MPG highway.

The EPA record does not populate a total-range value for this gasoline truck, so range is calculated from the official EPA combined rating and Chevrolet's model-year tank capacity.

This is the EPA's current standard-assumption annual fuel-cost estimate for the exact 22-MPG regular-gas configuration.

The 2.7L turbo runs on inexpensive, widely available 87-octane regular unleaded across the lineup. It is not FlexFuel and gasoline above E15 is prohibited, which slightly limits flexibility but adds no meaningful cost burden.

NHTSA gives the redesigned 2023 Colorado Crew Cab 4WD four stars overall, with four-star frontal, five-star side, and three-star rollover results.

The third-generation Colorado has no IIHS safety award. Tests explicitly applicable to 2023-26 models rate small-overlap front and updated side Good, but the updated moderate-overlap test is Marginal because of rear-passenger protection.

Every trim, including the volume LT, has AEB, forward-collision alert, pedestrian/bicyclist braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and auto high beams. Blind-zone steering, rear cross-traffic braking, and adaptive cruise are optional rather than standard.

Chevrolet provides broad camera-based AEB coverage, including pedestrians and bicyclists, on every trim. IIHS has not published vehicle-to-vehicle or day/night pedestrian avoidance performance grades for this generation, so it cannot earn an Advanced/Superior-level score here.

The available system is stronger than an alert-only setup: it can steer against an unsafe lane change and brake for rear cross traffic. However, both functions require the Safety Package on the LT and are not standard fleet-wide.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning is standard, but it supplies intermittent departure correction rather than continuous lane centering. The 2023 Colorado offers no integrated hands-on highway-centering system.

Camera-based adaptive cruise is available on the LT, but only through the Technology Package after selecting prerequisite convenience, safety, and Bose equipment. It is not paired with true lane centering, limiting its highway-assist capability.

No hands-free highway-driving system was offered on the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado. Super Cruise availability on the related GMC Canyon does not carry over to this Chevrolet.

Auto high beams are standard, but the volume LT uses basic headlamps unless equipped with the costly LT Convenience Package III, which adds LEDs. IIHS has not published a 2023-specific headlight performance grade, preventing a higher evidence-based score.

Natural outward visibility is good for a midsize pickup, without unusually large truck blind spots. Optional HD Surround Vision meaningfully improves close-quarters coverage, though it requires the Technology Package on the LT.

The crew cab supplies LATCH positions and can accommodate multiple child seats, but the compact rear legroom makes rear-facing seats compromise front-passenger space. The routed top-tether arrangement behind the rear seat is less intuitive than exposed anchors.

The redesigned 2023 Colorado is Crew Cab-only, and the representative LT seats five. This is the first model year of the third generation, not a carry-over.

The official no-sunroof measurement is used for the volume LT as instructed and applies across the 2023 lineup.

Front legroom is exceptionally generous for a midsize pickup and is common to all 2023 Colorado trims.

The Crew Cab's second-row headroom sits near the low end of the truck normalization band.

Despite the Crew Cab-only body, rear legroom is tight for the segment; road tests also report limited knee room.

The 2023 redesign eliminated other cab and bed choices, leaving one approximately five-foot box across the lineup.

The single short box provides useful midsize-truck capacity but cannot match longer-bed configurations offered by some rivals.

Cabin small-item storage is mediocre, with small door pockets and limited under-seat space, but the available first-in-class lockable, drainable StowFlex tailgate compartment and available bed/console power outlets are genuine innovations. A deep two-level console, phone slots, multi-tier bed loading and numerous bed pockets add utility.

The LT can add an 8-way power driver seat and lumbar adjustment, but multiple tests find the cushions flat or firm and the rear bench cramped and upright. Comfort is adequate rather than a segment strength, especially over long distances.

The redesigned Colorado is notably composed for a body-on-frame pickup, smoothing bumps without an excessively stiff unladen ride and controlling body motion well. This is one of the truck's clearest comfort advantages, though it stops short of truly plush.

Noise isolation is mixed: one instrumented review found the cabin relatively quiet for a midsize truck, while highway wind noise and the volume LT's harder-working turbo four are recurring complaints. It is acceptable for the segment but not serene.

The volume LT offers dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, remote start and a heated steering wheel through stacked convenience packages, rather than making them standard. Ventilated seats are reserved for optioned Z71/ZR2 models, and the truck lacks rear-zone climate control.

The redesigned 2023 Colorado launched as a crew-cab-only third-generation truck, with WT 2WD as the entry configuration. This is the model-year-specific price including destination.

LT is the mainstream volume trim; 4WD and the mid-output Turbo Plus engine represent a typical truck-market configuration. The value is the published $33,095 LT 2WD price plus $3,300 for 4WD and $1,285 for Turbo Plus.

CarEdge's current model-level projection covers maintenance and repairs during the first five years. It is not broken out by 2023 LT configuration, so confidence is medium despite the directly retrieved figure.

MotorTrend's 2023 truck residual analysis projects strong retention for the Colorado, though it is a model-level estimate rather than an LT 4WD-specific residual. The first-year third-generation redesign is correctly reflected in the cited model year.

Chevrolet's basic coverage is at the lower bound of the truck normalization range.

The gasoline Colorado receives Chevrolet's standard powertrain term, at the lower bound of the truck normalization range.

One year of complimentary maintenance and five years/60,000 miles of roadside assistance constitute useful but short-duration ownership coverage. The 10-year Connected Access term adds diagnostics and dealer-maintenance notifications, while the entertainment/data trials are brief.

$37,680 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (66.5% retained, or about $25,057) leaves about $12,623 in depreciation. Add the projected $3,348 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $15,971 in total.

This is the first year of the all-new third-generation Colorado, with a new turbo-four-only lineup and new electronics architecture. Consumer Reports' owner survey now rates the 2023 truck less reliable than other vehicles of the same model year, with faults spanning powertrain, cooling, electronics, leaks, and trim.

Chevrolet's recent brand record is mixed: J.D. Power has placed it near the top in some dependability studies, while Consumer Reports' multi-model results have generally been less favorable. That supports a mid-pack score rather than Toyota/Honda-level confidence.

Three safety recalls are not extreme for an all-new truck, but the unwanted automatic-emergency-braking campaign affected nearly the entire 2023 Colorado population and could cause unexpected braking. Numerous launch-year service communications for software, infotainment, and transmission behavior keep this below average.

The volume LT's standard 237-hp 2.7-liter L2R turbo four is derived from GM's 2.7-liter truck-engine family introduced for 2019, but this lower-output variant and its Colorado installation lacked a long high-mileage record in 2023. The eight-speed automatic also has shift-quality and noise service bulletins, producing a mixed rather than alarming outlook.

The redesigned cabin is modern and well equipped, but the volume LT still uses extensive hard plastic on the dash, doors, and console. Multiple professional reviews explicitly criticize the amount and appearance of those materials even above the base trim.

Reviewers generally found the cabin pieces properly assembled, but launch-year owner evidence includes door-panel rattles, squeaks, leaks, and trim complaints. It is acceptable assembly quality undermined by first-year consistency and software polish.

Chevrolet has one of the densest franchised dealer networks in the country, including strong coverage in rural truck markets, so warranty and routine service are readily accessible. Service quality varies by dealer, preventing a top-tier score.

Shared GM powertrain and service components, high Colorado/Canyon volume, and a large aftermarket make mechanical parts and independent repair support easy to find. The new-for-2023 body/electronics and turbocharged powertrain add cost, and model-level repair spending runs slightly above the midsize-truck average.

The volume LT uses the same standard 11.3-inch center touchscreen as every 2023 Colorado trim.

The Google-based interface is quick, clear and highly usable, though too many secondary controls are buried in the touchscreen and the far-left volume knob is awkward for passengers.

Both wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard across the entire lineup, including the volume LT.

Google built-in brings native Google Maps, connected apps and natural voice recognition to the standard screen; a service plan and data are required for some connected functions.

LT has an ordinary six-speaker system as standard; a seven-speaker Bose upgrade exists but requires multiple option packages, and long-term testing found its tuning bass-heavy with some trim rattles.

A crisp, customizable 8-inch fully digital color cluster is standard on the volume LT and nearly all trims; ZR2 upgrades to 11 inches.

The Colorado can receive vehicle software and radio updates over the air, broader than maps alone, although the 2023 rollout had documented reliability problems rather than a mature feature-adding cadence.

The myChevrolet ecosystem supplies useful status, diagnostics, location and remote-access functions, but remote start depends on vehicle equipment and services, and there is no phone-as-key.

The LT provides two front USB ports and a 12-volt outlet, but rear charge-only USBs, wireless charging and the 120-volt cabin/bed outlets require costly LT Convenience packages.

The LT has proximity Keyless Open, push-button start and a remotely locking tailgate as standard, but remote engine start is bundled in LT Convenience Package II and phone-as-key is unavailable.

The LT starts with a sharp rear camera plus hitch guidance/view, while rear sensors and the excellent up-to-10-view HD surround system are available but require stacked Safety, Convenience, Bose and Technology packages.

No head-up display was offered on any 2023 Colorado trim or package.

The crew-cab-only body, four full doors, two outboard LATCH positions, split-folding rear bench, and under-seat storage make family use viable, but the upright rear seat and 34.7 inches of rear legroom make rear-facing seats tight. The exposed bed also needs a cover to serve as weatherproof stroller storage.

Every LT gets a useful six-feature Chevy Safety Assist suite and Rear Seat Reminder, a strong baseline for an affordable midsize truck. IIHS results are mostly strong, but the updated moderate-overlap test is only Marginal and blind-zone assist, rear cross-traffic braking, adaptive cruise, and surround view cost extra.

Standard rear vents, a roomy 41.9-cu-ft bed, and five seats cover medium trips, but adults face limited knee room and an upright rear backrest. On the LT, dual-zone climate control, rear USB ports, a rear armrest, and weather-secure bed storage require packages or accessories.

The redesigned LT has a smooth ride, good forward visibility, a responsive turbo engine, an improved driving position, and a standard 11.3-inch touchscreen. Comfort is only average, and adaptive cruise, power lumbar adjustment, and several convenience features are optional rather than standard.

The LT's regular-gas turbo-four and automatic stop/start keep costs typical for a gasoline midsize pickup, but roughly 22 mpg combined in rear-drive form is far from economical commuter-car territory. Four-wheel drive and heavier off-road configurations consume more.

At 213 inches long, the single crew-cab/short-bed Colorado is manageable for a truck but still cumbersome in tight urban spaces. A standard rear camera helps, while HD Surround Vision and the full camera suite are locked behind option-package dependencies on LT.

The volume LT's standard 237-hp/260-lb-ft engine is limited to 3,500 pounds of towing but still carries about 1,460 pounds in 2WD. Selecting the available Turbo Plus and trailering hardware raises LT payload to about 1,680 pounds and maximum towing to a class-competitive 7,700 pounds.

A fully boxed frame, work-oriented WT sibling, and strengthened engine internals support hard-use potential. However, 2023 is the first year of an all-new generation, chassis, and Colorado application of this powertrain, so it had not established fleet durability in this configuration.

Eight standard tie-downs, plentiful stake/pocket provisions, CornerSteps, Hitch Guidance/View, and a 500-pound mid-position tailgate make the bed exceptionally adaptable. The StowFlex compartment, spray-in liner, 400-watt bed outlet, extra tie-downs, and integrated brake controller are useful but optional on LT.

A smooth ride, 21.4-gallon tank, rear vents, and strong highway economy for a gas pickup make the LT a capable tourer with roughly 500 highway miles of theoretical range. Average seat comfort, a cramped rear bench, and optional adaptive cruise keep it from being a first-rate mile-eater.

Even the LT offers 4WD with recovery hooks, low-range gearing, substantial payload, and strong available towing, making it a genuine camping and toy-hauling platform. The standard rear-drive LT has only 7.9 inches of clearance and an open rear differential, while the factory lifts, locking/limited-slip differentials, all-terrain tires, and underbody cameras belong to higher trims.

The 41.9-cu-ft bed, 61.7-inch floor, folding rear bench with under-seat storage, hitch availability, and unusually versatile tailgate/pocket system handle bulky gear exceptionally well. The main limitation is that secure, weatherproof cargo space needs StowFlex, a tonneau, or another accessory.

The all-new 2023 chassis delivers notably controlled body motions and secure cornering for a body-on-frame mid-size pickup. The volume LT is composed rather than sporty, but it ranks toward the better end of the class.

Steering is accurate, appropriately weighted, and easy to place, but feedback remains limited in typical pickup fashion. It inspires confidence without becoming a genuinely communicative highlight.

The four-wheel-disc system provides reassuring, progressive everyday stopping, though the volume LT was not located in a comparable instrumented braking test. Pedal behavior drew no major criticism in the principal launch reviews.

The LT's standard 237-hp turbo-four has strong low-speed torque and the eight-speed automatic generally responds cleanly, but this base calibration is less eager than the 310-hp versions and can hesitate or hunt under demand. Overall drivability is capable rather than polished.

The turbocharged four-cylinder is acceptably isolated in routine use but sounds coarse and distinctly trucklike when worked. It lacks the smoother, more pleasant character of the outgoing V6 and the best rival powertrains.

The sole Crew Cab/short-bed body has a relatively tight turning diameter for a mid-size pickup, making the volume LT notably manageable in parking lots and urban maneuvers.

The redesigned cabin provides a natural upright driving position, straightforward primary controls, and good forward sightlines. A high hood and thick rear pillars complicate close-in visibility, while some functions routed through the touchscreen keep it short of class-leading ergonomics.

Even the road-oriented LT benefits from the new truck's responsive torque, tidy size, and composed chassis, giving it more character than a basic work pickup. The coarse engine note and numbness at the wheel prevent genuine enthusiast-level engagement.

The volume LT included an 11.3-inch touchscreen, an 8-inch digital cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and the Chevy Safety Assist suite at a competitive price. Heated seats, power-seat adjustment, wireless charging and several other comfort features still required layered LT Convenience packages, keeping it just short of loaded-at-base territory.

The LT started from a modest low-$30,000s MSRP and combined class-leading standard screen tech with useful safety equipment and available 310-hp performance and 7,700-pound towing. Options could inflate the LT and upper trims, but the capability and technology return remained a segment strength.

Five well-spaced trims, rear- or four-wheel drive and three chassis stances covered work, street and serious off-road uses. However, the redesign eliminated extended-cab and long-bed choices and offered only one crew-cab/short-bed body and one engine family, a substantial limitation for a pickup.

Colorado finished 2023 second in the US midsize-pickup segment, showing strong acceptance of the new generation despite launch and model-change constraints. Its 71,081 sales were down 20.3 percent from 2022 and far behind Tacoma, so it was a strong runner-up rather than a leader.

Chevrolet's deep US truck credibility and the ZR2/Trail Boss off-road halo gave the redesigned Colorado a tougher, more desirable identity than a generic mainstream pickup. The bowtie remains broadly respected rather than aspirational, and Colorado does not match Tacoma's resale-led loyalty.

The newly redesigned truck generally sold around sticker during its constrained launch, so ordinary buyers had little broad negotiating leverage. A $1,500 conquest/lease bonus appeared later, but it was conditional rather than a widely available cash discount.

The 2023 Colorado inaugurated the third generation with a new chassis, new body and interior, new turbocharged powertrain strategy and modernized safety and infotainment technology. It was as fresh as a production model could be, with only its late rollout preventing a perfect score.

The clean-sheet redesign immediately became one of the class benchmarks and earned two major truck awards tied to this generation. Reviews praised its technology, capability and rounded road manners, though isolated test-truck faults and later comparison losses keep it below a perfect score.