The Chevrolet Colorado entered its third generation in 2023 with a complete overhaul, including a consolidated lineup, new tech, and a single engine. The Colorado sits in the midsize truck segment, and its primary competitors are the Ford Ranger, the GMC Canyon, the Toyota Tacoma, the Jeep Gladiator, and the Nissan Frontier. Those who want more comfort than capability might also consider the Honda Ridgeline. The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado has six trims: WT, Custom, LT, Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2.
2026 Chevrolet Colorado Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado
With the 2023 redesign, the Chevrolet Colorado received an all-new exterior and interior design and a simplified body-style lineup. As of the 2026 model year, it hasn’t received a mid-cycle refresh, but the ZR2 Bison version arrived in 2024 and the TurboMax engine tuning became standard in 2025. So, 2026 is essentially a carryover with a new White Sands paint and new wheel options.
Design
The 2026 Colorado has an upright stance that closely resembles the Silverado with squared-off wheel openings, more pronounced hood lines, and a bold grille. It's only offered with a crew cab and short bed configuration. Standard wheels are 17 inches, but 18-, 20-, and 22-inch wheels are available depending on trim. There are a number of appearance packages, starting with the WT Custom Appearance package on the Custom trim, which includes hood decals and black-out badges, while the Trail Boss offers a Stars and Steel Appearance Package with special graphics and blacked-out badges. The Trail Boss offers a full-on Stars and Steel Special Edition that includes the appearance package, a slew of convenience and tech features, and a bed-mounted sports bar and red recovery hooks. The ZR2 also offers a Bison Edition with a bed-mounted spare tire, special decals, and AEV-branded gear such as skid plates, steel bumpers, and wheel flares. The Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 all offer a Midnight Edition with blacked-out accents and badging, as well as a bed-mounted sport bar.
Powertrain
The Colorado is equipped with a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that delivers 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard but four-wheel drive (4WD) is available, and the Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 are standard with 4WD. The maximum tow rating is 7,700 pounds for everything but the ZR2 trim, which can tow up to 6,000 pounds. Fuel economy varies based on drivetrain, tires, and trim, but city fuel economy ranges between 16 mpg on the ZR2 Bison and 19 mpg on the most fuel-efficient RWD models. Highway fuel economy rings in at 16 mpg and 24 mpg, respectively. The Colorado offers three off-road trims that range in capability from extra ground clearance and selectable drive modes on the Trail Boss to the ZR2, which adds things such as Multimatic DSSV suspension dampers, a three-inch lift, off-road front and rear fascia, a wider stance, and mud-terrain tires.
Interior
The Colorado's interior ranges from bare-bones to blingy depending on the trim, but one thing is for sure: Chevy didn’t scrimp on the screens, as it put a digital cluster and large infotainment screen in all trim levels. Standard seating surfaces are black cloth, though leatherette is available in lower trims, and leather becomes standard in upper trims. The Colorado seats five passengers, though rear legroom is average and it's not as adult-friendly as a Jeep Gladiator or a Honda Ridgeline. The Colorado offers under-seat storage in the back, but one of the more interesting storage spaces is the available StowFlex tailgate—a weather-sealed storage bin hidden in the truck's tailgate.
Technology
A lot of base trucks get little in the way of tech, but the Colorado has no shortage, even in its base WT trim. It comes with an 11-inch digital cluster, an 11.3-inch infotainment screen, Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two front USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot (subscription required), rear parking sensors, a six-speaker audio system, and OnStar services (subscription required). Available tech features include keyless entry and push-button start, a Bose premium audio system, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a keyless entry keypad, rear USB ports, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a wireless phone charger, driver memory seats, heated front seats and steering wheel, and under-body cameras.
