The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is one of the larger compact pickup trucks (or one of the smaller midsize pickups) on the U.S. market. That gives it a bit of an advantage over other compacts when it comes to hauling capacity, and a bit of an advantage over other midsized models when it comes to fuel efficiency.

Hefty cargo doesn't present a problem for the '05 Chevy Colorado: Its payload is reckoned at 1,733 pounds for regular cab models. If you choose the Crew Cab or Extended Cab versions, you'll sacrifice a bit of that hauling muscle.

There are a dizzying range of trims and configurations available for the 2005 Colorado. Buyers can choose among Standard Cab, Crew Cab, and Extended Cab and have a choice of Z71, Z85, and ZQ8 trims. Add an Xtreme package and the rear-wheel drive versus 4WD dilemma, and it turns into an Abbott and Costello routine!

One place where there isn't too much choice is under the hood. The '05 Colorado is manufactured with only two engines: a base model 2.8-liter inline-4 with 175 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque, or a 3.5-liter inline-5 offering 200 horsepower and 225 lb.-ft. of torque.