2026 Chevrolet Colorado

It’s not easy to stay competitive in the midsize truck segment, but the Chevrolet Colorado shines by offering something for everyone. Its ride is comfortable, and the cabin is inspired by the combination of amenities and design you would find in an SUV. The Colorado ties its GMC brethren for the best towing in the midsize truck segment, plus excellent payload capacity. And for those who want to venture off-road, there are four variants to choose from. The Colorado comes with one bed, one cab, and one engine, yet has a wide enough range to satisfy most truck shoppers.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize trucks, including the Chevy Colorado.

There are new wheel designs, and the White Sands paint color essentially replaces Harvest Bronze. Otherwise, the 2026 Colorado is basically a carryover from 2025.

The Chevrolet Colorado’s prices by trim level are competitive with rivals like the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Ranger. The Colorado’s base price is higher than the Tacoma and Frontier. However, the 2026 Chevy Colorado is the most affordable crew cab in this segment.

Before buying the Chevrolet Colorado, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. To date, the Chevy Colorado has a slightly less-than-average track record for retaining its value. The segment leader in this regard is the Toyota Tacoma. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

For the most part, there is no problem with Chevy putting all its eggs in one basket with the Colorado’s sole engine choice. It has plenty of horsepower and loads of usable torque. It would be nice if, along with the elevated price tag of the incredible ZR2, you got more power as an added bonus.

With any truck, it’s not easy to design a suspension that is compliant and comfortable, both empty and loaded (with a trailer or payload), but the Colorado does just that. You won’t have to add a few hundred pounds of payload to the bed to have a smooth, settled ride. Also pleasantly surprising is how civilized the ZR2’s ride feels on the highway. While it does have 10.7 inches of ground clearance, a 3-inch suspension lift, and mud-terrain tires, its Multimatic DSSV shocks provide excellent articulation off-road and arguably the best on-road ride of any Colorado. Across the board, the Colorado’s steering is nicely weighted and smooth.

Depending on the model, the Colorado offers up to five selectable drive modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road (more for gravel and dirt roads), Terrain (for more serious rock crawling), and Baja — a dedicated desert mode.

Fuel Economy

The Colorado’s fuel economy is about average for the segment. With rear-wheel drive (RWD), the Colorado gets 21 mpg combined, which drops to 19 with 4-wheel drive (4WD). As you would expect, fuel economy is lowest in the ZR2 and ZR2 Bison at 17 and 16 mpg, respectively. You can find more Colorado fuel economy info on the EPA’s website.

When the Colorado was reintroduced for 2015 and redesigned in 2023, its SUV-inspired interior stood out for its comfort and refinement. While the rest of the segment has caught up in terms of interior design, the Colorado’s cabin still impresses with its seat comfort, controls that are within easy reach, and standard and optional features. All Colorados come with an 11.3-inch color touchscreen with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and more.

The Chevy Colorado uses a crew cab, short bed configuration. That’s the combo most truck people shop for, and it does make it easier to find the right combination when you have a simplified list of choices.

Chevy makes it easy to get good use out of the short bed, with plenty of helpful cargo-securing features. There are eight fixed tie-down cleats, with up to nine more movable points, make quick work of tying down loads. The tailgate has an adjustable mid-position for carrying longer items. Furthermore, there are bed pockets, plus an optional storage area in the tailgate itself. A handy 120-volt outlet is also available, and the standard Corner Step rear bumper makes it easier to access the bed.

ZR2 Bison
This is the ultimate off-roading Colorado, offering several upgrades designed to maximize any off-road experience. They include a raised suspension, larger wheels and tires, unique off-road dampers, and more. We’ve done some rock crawling and high-speed off-roading in this truck, and it is phenomenal.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Phone integration without the cable. What a concept. It’s great not to have to monkey around with cables. Wireless charging with an extra-large pad is also available.

Infotainment touchscreen
Chevy’s infotainment interface is one of the more user-friendly systems, made even better by the huge standard 11.3-inch touchscreen. We found that operating it while driving was fairly easy to master, thanks in part to Google built-in and its voice activation.

Trail Boss
Priced almost $10,000 lower than the ZR2, the Colorado Trail Boss offers off-road enthusiasts a more accessible option in midsize off-road pickups. It has beefy all-terrain tires, a 2-inch lift, a 2-speed transfer case, and an off-road performance display.

HD Surround Vision
Part of the optional Technology package, this feature provides drivers with a view all around the truck, which makes backing into a narrow parking space child’s play.

The standard — and only — engine in the Colorado is a 4-cylinder 2.7-liter turbo that puts out 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard in the two lower trims with 4-wheel drive available as an option. The top trims come standard with 4-wheel drive. The engine is backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Payload and Towing

The Chevrolet Colorado has a maximum payload capacity of 1,700 pounds with a segment-leading maximum towing limit of 7,700 pounds. That’s the same tow rating as the available diesel in the last generation of the Colorado. For comparison, the Ford Ranger can tug up to 7,500 pounds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Chevrolet’s factory bumper-to-bumper limited warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is typical for the class. Chevy also tosses in the first scheduled service for free.

Safety Ratings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Colorado an overall score of four out of five stars in its battery of safety tests. The GMC Canyon and Nissan Frontier earn the same score, while the Honda Ridgeline earns the top 5 Star rating. Every Colorado comes with forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and high-beam assist.