Overview: Big Capability Standard With More Available
The Chevrolet Colorado is a mid-size pickup truck that can tow up to 7,700 pounds. Shoppers looking for a more adventurous definition of “capable” have four off-road trim levels to choose from. While some competitors offer multiple cab and bed combinations, the Colorado is only available with a crew cab and a 5-foot bed.
Trim Levels: WT, LT, Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2 Compared
- WT: Simple work truck with steel wheels, cloth upholstery, rear-wheel drive and manually adjustable front seats
- LT: Adds basic luxuries, including 17-inch aluminum wheels, body-color exterior trim, heated front seats and dual-zone climate control
- Trail Boss: Base off-road trim with a 2-inch suspension lift, all-terrain tires and recovery hooks. Includes four-wheel drive and a locking rear differential
- Z71: Blend of off-road performance and luxury. Sits a half-inch lower than the Trail Boss, but adds synthetic leather upholstery and wireless device charging
- ZR2: For serious off-roaders. Raised an inch higher than the Trail Boss and gets specialized shock absorbers, 33-inch mud tires and a locking front differential, as well as luxury equipment like ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
- ZR2 AEV Bison Edition: Option package that builds on the ZR2. Adds 35-inch off-road tires, a full-size bed-mounted spare tire, underbody skid plates and stamped-steel bumpers.
What’s New for 2026
- No significant changes
Performance: Turbocharged 2.7-Liter Engine, 4WD Standard on Most Trims
There’s only one engine available in the 2026 Colorado, but it’s plenty powerful. The turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder puts out 310 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet of torque, which is more torque than the Ford Ranger’s optional engine and nearly as much twist as the Toyota Tacoma’s available turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder powertrain. Only the WT and LT can be had with RWD; 4WD is standard on the rest of the lineup.
Technology and Safety: Comprehensive Standard Safety Suite
Chevy’s Safety Assist and Safety Package are standard on every 2026 Colorado. The former consists of forward collision alert with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, as well as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane departure steering assist. The latter includes blind spot intervention, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and blind spot warning with trailer coverage are optional.
Is the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado a Good Mid-Size Pickup?
With its powerful engine, class-leading towing capacity and variety of off-road trims, the Chevrolet Colorado does truck stuff right. It’s also a comfortable commuter, with a composed ride and generous standard safety tech. Some cheap plastics in the cabin and tight backseat legroom are the major knocks against the truck. The ZR2 and AEV Bison trims boast seriously impressive off-road hardware, but they’re priced deep into full-size truck territory.
