2023 Chevrolet Colorado – First Look
Chevy says the Colorado rides on an all-new chassis. Instead of offering multiple cab and wheelbase configurations, every Colorado will be a crew cab riding on a single (longer by 3.1-inches) 131.4-inch wheelbase chassis. That means the old crew cab, long pickup box is history as is the extended cab model. The new Colorado is offered in four trims, WT, LT, Z71, ZR2 and a new Trail Boss.
The base 2.7-liter Turbo is standard in WT and LT models and develops 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. The 2.7-liter Turbo Plus makes 310 hp at 5,600 rpm and 390 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm and comes standard on Z71 and Trail Boss. It’s optional on WT and LT trucks. The top ZR2 comes standard with the Turbo High-Output with 310 hp at 5,600 rpm and 430 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. Every engine is hooked exclusively to an updated 8L90 8-speed automatic with new ratios including a slightly taller 4.56:1 First gear vs 4.61:1 in the old trucks.
Those horsepower and torque numbers are exciting. But consider that this new Colorado is no lightweight. Comparing old and new Z71 models, the 2023 truck is nearly 500 lbs. heavier. Still, payloads are about the same or slightly better on some new trucks. Colorados with the top two engines can tow 7,700 lbs, except the ZR2 which is capped at 6,000 lbs. And all Colorados receive larger disc brakes than the past models too.
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