Over years of testing in off-road races, the Chevrolet Colorado was developed for consumers.
The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is here and ready to take on its competition. With a bold new look, a powerful engine, and plenty of features, the new Colorado is sure to make waves in the truck market. The exterior of the Colorado has been completely redesigned for the 2023 model year.
Whether you or on road or off road, the all-new 2023 Chevrolet Colorado has something for you in a variety of trim levels that match what you need from a mid size truck. Many of these developments have come from hard racing over hundreds of miles in the desert where a stock Colorado ZR2 is put through the test as it races with Chevrolet Performance and Hall Racing which ultimately brings their lessons learned to you as the consumer.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado Overview
The Chevrolet Colorado is an impressive mid–size pickup truck that has been a favorite of American drivers since its debut. This vehicle has been praised for its reliability, ruggedness, and affordability, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a dependable and stylish truck. Now, the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is set to be released and it looks to be an even more impressive upgrade from the previous model.
The 2023 Colorado offers a great combination of power, comfort, and convenience. The body is made from lightweight aluminum, which makes it incredibly lightweight, yet incredibly strong. The lines of the body flow together nicely, and the overall look is one of refinement and sophistication. In terms of available colors, the 2023 Colorado offers a wide range of options, including several bold and eye-catching shades. Its exterior is bold and sporty, with a strong and aggressive stance that looks great on the road. It also comes with some impressive and innovative features, such as a bed–view camera and a power tailgate. Inside, the Colorado has a modern and stylish interior, with comfortable seating and plenty of room for passengers and cargo.
When it comes to performance, the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado has plenty to offer. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, and it is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The available engine is a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, and it is also paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Both engines provide ample power for daily driving and towing, and the Colorado is capable of towing up to 7,000 pounds when properly equipped. The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado also offers excellent off-road capability. It has an available off-road package that includes skid plates, all-terrain tires, a locking rear differential, a two-speed transfer case, and an off-road suspension system. The Colorado also has an available four-wheel-drive system that provides excellent traction and control in a variety of off-road conditions.
When it comes to safety, the 2023 Colorado has plenty of features to keep you and your passengers safe. It comes with a standard rearview camera, as well as available features like forward collision alert and lane keep assist. It also has an available Teen Driver mode, allowing parents to set speed and audio volume limits for their teen drivers. And with its strong frame and airbag system, the 2023 Colorado is an incredibly safe vehicle.
The infotainment system is excellent, with a large touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and excellent sound quality.
Trim Levels and Options
The four trim levels of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado are: Work Truck, LT, Z71, and ZR2.
Work Truck: The Work Truck trim is the base model and is designed for drivers who need a reliable truck for work and daily errands. It comes with a 2.5L I–4 engine, 6–speed automatic transmission, and rear–wheel drive. It also has basic safety features such as automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera.
LT: The LT trim adds several features to the Work Truck trim. It has a 3.6L V6 engine, 8–speed automatic transmission, and four–wheel drive. It also has a few extra safety features such as forward collision alert, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.
Z71: The Z71 trim adds more power and capability. It has a 3.6L V6 engine, 8–speed automatic transmission, and four–wheel drive. It also has several off–road features such as locking rear differential, skid plates, and hill descent control.
ZR2: The ZR2 trim is the top–of–the–line model and is designed for off–road enthusiasts. It has a 3.6L V6 engine, 8–speed automatic transmission, and four–wheel drive. It also has several off–road features such as a suspension lift, electronic locking differentials, and rock sliders.
Overall, the four trim levels of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado have different engine options, transmission, and safety features. The Work Truck and LT trim levels are designed for everyday use while the Z71 and ZR2 trims are designed for off–road enthusiasts.
2023 Colorado Z71
Without having the ability to drive the Colorado ZR2, if you are the outdoors enthusiast, the Z71 is the truck for you especially considering the value you get from the cost.
The standard engine for the Z71 is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that produces up to 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. The engine performance of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 is impressive, delivering plenty of power and torque for a truck of its size. The 2.7-liter engine provides adequate acceleration and plenty of power for highway driving and off-roading.
The 8-speed transmission helps to ensure smooth and efficient changes, while the four-wheel drive system helps the Colorado Z71 tackle any terrain with ease. The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 also offers excellent fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. This is impressive for a truck of its size, and it’s even more impressive considering the power and performance the engine offers.
The Colorado Z71 also offers a maximum towing capacity of 7,000 lbs, allowing you to bring along your camping gear, ATVs, and more.
Built From Racing
Back in 2019, Chevy announced that it would take the Silverado full-size pickup and enter it on the Best in the Desert racing series along with the Colorado ZR2 that had been used in previous races. Since then, Hall Racing led by Chad Hall has been the proving grounds for Chevy Performance racing. From races like the BlueWater Desert Challenge, to the Mint 400, Vegas to Reno race and most recently the King Shocks Laughlin Desert Classic, all races that make up the Best in the Desert series.
Last week, the Hall Racing team once again proved to be the best in the desert winning another Mint 400.
“Off-road racing is a benchmark for durability,” said Chad Hall. “We race over the most extreme terrain through dust and mud and in scorching temperatures. The Mint 400 race is notoriously rough – it’s probably the equivalent of years of regular driving. For our customers, this means their Chevy truck is capable of more than they’ll likely ever need. The environment we run in is the most grueling in the world and what we learn in the desert carries over into the same trucks that customers buy in the showroom. We have GM engineers and technicians embedded with the Hall Racing team at each race to see firsthand how the trucks perform. We also use racing to develop and test Chevy performance parts that our truck customers can buy. Everything from skid plates to shocks, drivelines to steering components. In the mid-size truck class, the team has finished every race it has started – 38 races since since 2017. Our goal is to keep keep up this streak, to keep learning. Off-road racing is the ultimate proving grounds and allows Chevy to build the best trucks and performance parts for its customers.”
Regarding the 2.7 Liter engine, Hall is impressed. “I was impressed with the performance from the 2.7L turbo High Output motor. It pulls very well through deep silt beds and on the wide open sections. With 310 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft of torque, the 4-cylinder is both powerful and light weight. Both of these are important in racing. And, we didn’t make any modifications to it – this is the exact same engine that comes standard in the production Colorado ZR2.”
