2023 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2024 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss was designed to impress with its rugged off-road appearance. It featured a factory suspension lift, box-flared fenders with charcoal gray trim, and a deeply sculpted hood, all contributing to its popular blacked-out look. The styling was well-executed, offering a balanced and expressive design without going overboard. Inside, the Colorado drew inspiration from the Camaro, evident in the dashboard toggle switches and round air vents. However, the base Work Truck (WT) and Trail Boss trims had a gray front fascia and a cheap interior that detracted from the overall design. The Trail Boss did include a front skid plate, but the interior lacked color contrast, with plastic surfaces dominating the cabin. The Colorado offered both two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, with prices ranging from $30,695 to $48,295, including destination charges. Our Trail Boss model, with its red paint and additional packages, had an MSRP of $42,150.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado embraced a bold, new look, drawing inspiration from the Camaro with its aggressive, futuristic design. The rakish headlights and sharply angled grille gave it a distinctive appearance. Inside, the Colorado continued the Camaro-inspired theme with circular climate control vents and a clean, horizontal dashboard layout. The trim levels included WT, LT, Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2, with the WT offering a digital instrument panel, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, an 11.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite radio. The LT trim added features like alloy wheels, a remote locking tailgate, and a full front center console. The Trail Boss and ZR2 models were designed for off-road enthusiasts, with features like lifted suspensions, all-terrain tires, and advanced chassis enhancements. The ZR2 Bison, an upgraded version of the ZR2, included unique bodywork and protective gear for off-road adventures.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado was equipped with a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. In the WT and LT trims, it produced 237 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque from 1,200 to 4,000 rpm. The Trail Boss and Z71 trims offered a more powerful version, delivering 310 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 391 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. The ZR2 matched the 310-hp rating but boasted 430 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard across all trims. The Trail Boss and ZR2 featured a two-speed transfer case with 4WD Lo, while the WT and LT had a single-speed transfer case. The Trail Boss had a 2-inch suspension lift, and the ZR2 had a 3-inch lift, both with wider front tracks. The ZR2 also had exclusive Multimatic DSSV dampers for superior off-road performance. The Trail Boss and Z71 had all-terrain tires, while the ZR2 had mud-terrain tires. The Colorado offered up to five driving modes, including Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, Terrain, and Baja, with hill descent control standard on the Trail Boss. The Trail Boss excelled off-road, with minimal rear-wheel slip and impressive ground clearance. On pavement, it was quiet and handled well, though the engine note was less engaging than competitors. The fuel economy was disappointing, with an EPA rating of 19 mpg, but our testing averaged 17 mpg.

The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado also featured turbocharged four-cylinder engines, both displacing 2.4 liters. The base version produced 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the Turbo Max version delivered 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing solid low-end power for city driving and off-road adventures. The ZR2 Bison, with its upgraded powertrain, offered strong acceleration and a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, with a payload capacity of 1,710 pounds. The Bison was designed for off-road capability, featuring Multimatic DSSV dampers for exceptional shock absorption. On paved roads, it provided a comfortable ride, though firmer than typical SUVs due to its off-road suspension. The truck handled corners with stability, despite some body roll, and absorbed road imperfections for a smoother ride.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss offered comfortable seating for four, with the option to squeeze a fifth passenger in the back. The standard cloth upholstery attracted pet hair, and the eight-way power driver's seat provided a proper driving position. The front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, but the power driver's seat was comfortable. The back seat had limited legroom but offered good thigh support. The air conditioning system cooled the cabin quickly, and the Trail Boss had a manually adjustable system. Soft-touch surfaces were limited, and storage space was lacking, with small trays and bottle holders in the door panels. The cargo bed measured 41.9 cubic feet, with an EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate and a StowFlex storage panel.

The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado was available in a four-door quad cab with a 5-foot, 2-inch bed. The car-like seating position provided a comfortable driving experience, with ample front-row legroom, headroom, and shoulder room. The layout allowed for a user-friendly design for the shifter and controls, though the cup holders were positioned low in front of the center console. Second-row legroom was tight, especially for taller passengers. The high bed wall and floor made loading items more challenging, but the open tailgate was convenient for projects or tailgate parties. The redesigned Colorado featured larger bed steps for easier access, though the ZR2 Bison's spare tire mounted in the bed reduced usable space.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado came with digital instrumentation and an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in technology. The instrumentation displayed on an 8-inch screen, except for the ZR2, which had an 11-inch screen. The infotainment system supported Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, OnStar, and Chevrolet connected services. Wireless charging was available, and the standard six-speaker stereo was decent. The system included trailer-towing technology and high-definition cameras for easier hitching and off-roading.

The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado featured an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a logical layout and hard-button controls. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a digital dock for easy navigation. The system had a digital home button and a volume dial for user-friendly operation. Other standard tech features included an 11-inch digital instrument panel, USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and satellite radio. The LT trim added wireless device charging and additional USB ports, with the LT Convenience Package offering more power outlets.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado offered a comprehensive list of standard and available safety features. OnStar provided SOS emergency calling and automatic crash notification. The Teen Driver system offered a report card for young drivers, and the Buckle to Drive function prevented the truck from moving if occupants weren't buckled up. Chevy Safety Assist included forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The forward-collision warning system had issues with false alerts, which could be mitigated by adjusting the gap setting.

The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado came standard with a comprehensive collection of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Teen Driver system allowed for speed and volume limits. The LT Convenience Package III added reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The ZR2 offered an underbody camera feature, and adaptive cruise control was available on certain trims. The NHTSA crash-tested the Colorado, awarding it four out of five stars for frontal crash testing, five stars for side crash testing, and three stars for the rollover test.