Chevy Colorado pickup is so-so Chevrolet took a major step to beef up its truck lineup this year with the introduction of the all-new 2004 Colorado, a midsize pickup that is bigger and, in some cases, more powerful than the outgoing S-10.
In terms of its rugged exterior design theme, the perfectly named Colorado hits just the right note, but the sparse cabin leaves much room for improvement. We drove a moderately equipped two-wheel-drive Colorado LS extended-cab model, priced at
$23,620. SHE: I always used to wonder why your mom drove pickups all the time and seemed to love them. After spending several days in the new Colorado, I think I finally know the answer. It's all about freedom. I went out the other night and bought
$200 worth of flowers to plant in our yard, and just had the nursery load everything in the bed of the Colorado. No seats to fold down, no newspapers to spread out, nothing to clean up. It was the same testing the new Ford F-150 last year. I found a chair
on sale that I really liked, and we simply tossed it into the back of the pickup and brought it home. HE: Sounds like you should be warning husbands that pickup trucks may be potentially hazardous to their wallets. SHE: It was my money, silly.
I also think the Colorado is the perfect size for a woman, especially the extended-cab version that we tested. The tailgate is not too heavy. The truck is easy to park. And there's lots of room behind the front seats to store more stuff. In fact, those
rear seats are much better suited for hauling cargo than people. HE: You seem far more enthusiastic about the Colorado than I felt after driving it for several days. Like you, I love the exterior styling, especially that bold Chevy family face. It's
a nice, tough look that seems appropriate for this vehicle. SHE: It's also a classic design -- nothing goofy or trendy -- so that if you decide to keep your Colorado for 10 years, it won't look dated. HE: Well, that's the problem. For all the
good things about the Colorado -- lots of head, hip and leg room for the driver and front passenger, for instance -- there are a number of quirks that really turn me off. Perhaps the biggest problem is the cabin, which looks like it was finished in cheap
materials that don't match the $23,000 price tag. The hard plastic is pulling away from the headliner in one spot, and the trim pieces don't match up in several other places. You mentioned the F-150, which really set the bar for truck interiors. In this
category, the Colorado just doesn't measure up. SHE: I was struck by how uncomfortable the driver's seat was, especially the seat back, which felt too hard and bulgy. Visibility was also a problem, especially when backing out of a parking space,
with those thick center pillars blocking your vision. The radio in the Colorado looks like it came from an old General Motors Corp. parts bin. A
nd I was surprised by the amount of noise in the cabin when we were driving on the freeway, particularly the wind noise. HE: The engine also churns out lots of noise at higher speeds. It's a pretty big four-cylinder displacing 2.8 liters that makes
175 horsepower and 185 pounds-feet of torque. With only one person aboard and no cargo, the four-cylinder is adequate, but most buyers are going to prefer the optional 3.5-liter five-cylinder. Curiously, Chevrolet decided not to offer a V-6 in the
Colorado, which really puts it at a disadvantage next to such competitors as the Dodge Dakota and the Toyota Tacoma. The Environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy ratings on the four-cylinder with the five-speed manual transmission aren't much better
than average, at 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 on the highway. SHE: GM hasn't raised the bar in terms of safety features. Antilock brakes are standard, but be prepared to pay extra for side-curtain air bags and tr
ction control. I wouldn't dream of owning a rear-wheel-drive pickup without traction control. HE: I think the new Colorado is far and away the best-looking contender in the mid-size truck segment. But its chintzy cabin and lack of a V-6 engine
greatly reduce its appeal. 2004 Chevrolet Colorado 2WD LS Type: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive, four-passenger mid-size pickup Price¹ : Base, $21,545; as tested, $23,620 Engine: 2.8-liter I-4; 175-hp; 185 lb-ft torque EPA fuel
economy: 20 mpg city/ 27 mpg highway Key competitors: Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Mazda B-series, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma 12-month insurance cost²: $1,187 Where built: Shreveport, La. 1: Includes $635 destination
charge; 2: Estimated by AAA Michigan. Rates may vary depending on coverage and driving record. Rating system: 1- unacceptable; 2- subpar; 3- acceptable; 4- above average; 5- world class Anita's rating: 4 out of 5 Likes: Classic look and
proportions, nothing goofy or trendy. Perfect size for a woman. Rear seat better for stashing gear than hauling people. Easy to operate and park. Dislikes: Excessive wind and engine noise. Some visibility problems from thick center pillar. Seat back
unusually uncomfortable. Radio looks like it came from the old parts bin. Paul's rating: 3 out of 5 Likes: Rugged exterior styling with strong Chevrolet family face. Lots of head, leg and hip room for driver and front passenger. Big
four-cylinder engine makes 175 hp. Surprisingly smooth ride. Dislikes: Not many amenities for $23,000. Can't get a V-6 engine. Cheap and shoddy-looking cabin. Hard plastic trim pulling away from headliner. Too much brake pedal travel. Lacks room for
adults in rear.
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