2015 Chevrolet Colorado – Global Entry

New truck breathes life into a stale segment

Over the last 10 years, the biggest change in the compact/midsize truck category is that it has gotten a lot smaller. There once were 11 compact trucks sold in the United States, and as of 2014, that number is down to two. All the while, we have seen global pickups introduced that we cannot get in the U.S.: the Volkswagen Amarok, global Ford Ranger, and global Colorado being a few of the standouts. However, that soon is going to change, as Chevrolet is bringing a version of its global Colorado to the U.S. and Canada for the 2015 model year, going on sale in fall 2014.

Instead of seeing this as a rehashed truck from another market, though, it’s more accurate to view it as a scaled-down Silverado, as few of the chassis components are shared with the global truck. The frame is about 40 percent lighter than the global Colorado’s, while the new unit is fully boxed and uses liberal amounts of high-strength steel.

Comparing crew cab to crew cab, the Colorado is 900 pounds lighter, 5 inches narrower, 3 inches lower, and 16 inches shorter than the Silverado. The Colorado will use a coil-over front and leaf-spring rear suspension, fitting Duralife disc brakes with ABS. It will have electric power steering and an impressive 41-foot turning radius.

The truck will come as an extended cab or crew cab, with a 6-foot bed behind the extended cab and a choice of a 5- or 6-foot bed behind the crew cab. Trim levels will be the WT, LT, and Z71, with RWD or 4WD. As with the Silverado, the doors are inlaid and triple-sealed. Six airbags and a rearview camera will be standard, and forward collision alert will be available. It will come with StabiliTrak, trailer sway control, hill-start assist, and, on Z71, hill-descent control.

At launch, there will be two engines powering the Colorado: a 2.5-liter I-4 with an estimated 193 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter V-6 with an estimated 302 hp and 270 lb-ft. We have seen these engines in other GM products (Impala, Malibu, Equinox), but they have been retuned here for truck applications, with more bottom-end torque. Both feature direct injection and variable valve timing, will use active aero grille shutters, and will be backed by a six-speed automatic.

There will be a third engine added to the options list for the 2016 model year: a 2.8-liter Duramax I-4. Chevrolet hasn’t announced power numbers yet, but in the global truck it produces 197 hp and 369 lb-ft. It’s likely that the diesel’s hp and torque will be slightly lower here, as emissions requirements are tougher in the U.S. than in the rest of the world and the use of aftertreatment can reduce power. Chevrolet anticipates the American market version will be much quieter than the global unit. Unless one of the other manufacturers pulls off a big surprise in the next year, the Colorado will be the first midsize truck sold in the U.S. with a diesel engine.

The interior is a huge step up from the previous Colorado, using many of the features seen in the new Silverado’s cabin. There is a driver information screen within the gauge cluster and an 8-inch color touch screen in the center stack. OnStar, MyLink, and navigation will be offered. Seats will be stain-resistant cloth or leather.

The new midsize truck’s appearance is much more global Colorado than it is little Silverado. There were some changes, including a new front end and higher bedsides. Chevrolet’s capability goals, lofty and attainable, align it more with the Silverado. This truck will have best-in-class horsepower, payload, and towing capacity. GM expects a 6700-pound towing capacity at launch (higher with the diesel). The Colorado will also be the first in its segment to offer a trailer brake controller. GM’s CornerStep rear bumper and 13 tie down locations are standard, and the EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate and spray-in bed-liner are options.

A few factors will be key to the Colorado’s success. If the truck comes in at a price that is enough lower than the Silverado’s, it should do well. If GM is correct in its bet that midsize trucks cater to a different buyer from full-sizers’, and that there is a bigger market for smaller trucks than is being served at the moment, the Colorado could bring people back to this segment. It could also mean buyers would be willing to pay more for a well-optioned Colorado than they would for an entry-level Silverado. Not everyone has the space to park a ½-ton truck, nor the desire to drive one in the city. And who knows? If the Colorado sells well here, maybe Ford and Volkswagen will bring their global trucks to the U.S., too.