2016 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado comes in three trims: the WT or Work Truck which ranges from $25,480 to $30,815, the LT trim which ranges from $28,410 to $33,345, and the top of the line the Z-71 trim which is more off-road oriented and ranges from $30,925 to $35,450 depending on the configuration. Standard features across all trims include automatic headlamps, 16-inch wheels, DRLs, power windows, rearview camera, front bucket seats, cloth upholstery, and floor mats. The car comes in a short bed (128.3 inches) and a long bed (140.5 inches) configuration. Both configurations get RWD and 4WD.

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The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado LT trim is the most suited trim of all. It does not gain the off-road usability on the Z71 trim, but it comes well-equipped with great mechanicals to handle most terrains as well. It has good interior features on offer and comes with a lot of optional packages.

The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado comes with a 2.5L I-4 engine that makes 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. This comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. This engine is available on the short bed 2WD versions. The other 3.6L V6 engine outputs 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. There is a choice of a 2WD or a 4WD drivetrain. When well-equipped, the Colorado can tow up to 7,000 pounds.

The 2016 Colorado is an easily maneuverable truck. It’s nimble on its feet, with a very comfortable ride quality that’s brilliant thanks to the suspension and the chassis setup. The handling is precise, with very sharp steering that turns as instructed. The truck has some body roll around corners, but it’s something that can’t be helped. The engine and transmission work well, but the transmission feels clunky. The Colorado has a 0-60 mph time of 9.2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 16.9 seconds.

The Chevy and the GMC make the most power and torque among these four cars. However, the Tacoma, torque is quicker to access and the effect of this advantage is seen in the 0-60 mph time at 7.3 seconds. The Frontier comes in second at 8 seconds, whereas the GM twins take a sweet 9.2 seconds. The same result is obtained in the quarter-mile run as well.

The 2016 Colorado with the 2.5L I-4 engine and a manual gearbox managed to return 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. With the automatic transmission, the economy improves at 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. The car comes with a 21-gallon tank that gives it a combined range of 462 miles.

The GMC offers the same economy as the Chevy. Both the cars have the same tank capacity and the same range as well, at 399 city miles and 546 highway miles. The Nissan and the Toyota have the same tank capacity at 21.1 gallons, slightly more than the other two. This gives the cars a range of 400.9 city miles and 485.3 highway miles. The Chevy and the GMC have a longer highway range.

The Chevrolet Colorados cabin is among the best in this class and a lot better than the rivals. The design of the controls and knobs is simple, but it appeals to the driver. The layout is neat, disciplined, and has a sense of procedure to it. The center console does not feel cluttered, and the quality of the materials feels above par. Fit and finish are top-notch. 

The seats on the Colorado are a mixed story. At the front, the seats offer great headroom and legroom, and with the seats providing well-rounded support and comfort even for long drives. At the rear, the comfort is not great, but it’s better than most. The rear’s not the place any adult would want to be for long. That said, the outward visibility is great and the ingress and egress are well thought as well.

These trucks are similar-sized with not much difference in terms of headroom and legroom. The GMC and the Colorado offer the most legroom upfront. At the rear, the cabin is the most spacious in the Colorado. It can however feel narrow when compared to its rivals but the ample amount of headroom makes up for it. The Colorado has the same cargo bed capacity as the Canyon which is 49.90 cubic feet. The cargo capacity is more than the rivals as well. Some interior features are:

• Cloth upholstery
• Multi-level heating driver seat
• Cruise control
• Tilt only steering wheel
• 4-way power driver seat.
• Air-conditioning

How intuitive is the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado’s infotainment unit?

The Chevy Colorado’s infotainment unit is pretty simple and easy to use. The interface is neat, while navigating through the menu a very straightforward task. Standard features on the infotainment unit include a 4.2-inch color display, USB and auxiliary inputs, AM/FM radio, and a 6-speaker system. Higher trims get an 8-inch touchscreen apart from the Chevrolet MyLink system, Bluetooth connectivity, voice controls, Apple CarPlay, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system. Some infotainment features are:

• Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity
• Voice controls
• Navigation
• Chevrolet’s MyLink system
• 4.2-inch color display/8-inch touchscreen
• Navigation

The Chevy Colorado does not feature the traditional boxy look seen on other pick-up trucks. The front has a slimmer and smaller grille. The fenders are boxy no doubt, but it fits very well with the overall design of the truck. The front also has a sporty touch to it. Along the side, the truck is pretty much just plain, with a rising beltline. At the rear, the look is completed with vertical taillights and a large Chevrolet logo in the center.

When compared with the rivals, there are not many differences between the dimensions of the four trucks. Placed side by side, they feature similar height and width and wheelbases. The Frontier is the heaviest of the lot. It also has the least length, 7 inches less than the other 3. The Toyota has the highest ground clearance of them all. Some exterior features on the Colorado are:

• 16-inch wheels
• Automatic headlamps
• DRLs
• Chrome door handles
• Assist steps
• Summer tires
• Rear-window defroster

The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado gets decent safety scores at 4-stars from the NHTSA and a rating of ‘Good’ from the IIHS. Standard safety features on the Colorado include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, airbags, and a rearview camera. The OnStar telematics system (standard on upper trims) provides emergency crash notification, stolen vehicle notification, and remote locking and unlocking services. Some of the Safety Features are-

• Traction control
• Trailer sway control
• 6 airbags
• Rear Vision Camera
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Lane Departure warning system
• Forward collision warning (opt)

The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado is an excellent pickup truck that offers a balance between performance and range, interior and tech, towing, and safety. It is slightly pricier than the competition, but the added features and the great ride quality do make it worth it. If you don’t need a full-size truck but want something better in terms of a midsize truck, the Colorado is the best option.