2021 Chevrolet Colorado: Review, Trims, Specs, Price, New Interior Features, Exterior Design, and Specifications

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Rear Angle View 1

Photos

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Review: Better Looking, But Just As Capable

Show us an American that doesn't love a pickup truck, and we'll show you a weirdo. There are few cars that sell as well in the USA, and the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado is just the latest in a long line of successful trucks from the homebred brand. Its lasting appeal is largely thanks to its rugged looks, off-road capabilities, dependable towing capacity, and high value proposition. As with just about any pickup, the Colorado is highly customizable, with three engine options on offer. The most potent is the V6, which develops 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, but the turbo-diesel is the one that empowers the Chevy with its 7,700-pound tow rating. Despite this appealing spec sheet, the 2021 Colorado is still not a shoo-in for your next pickup, since there is stiff competition from the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, to name just a few.

Read in this review:

Exterior Design 8 /10
Performance 8 /10
Fuel Economy 9 /10
Interior & Cargo 8 /10
Infotainment & Features 9 /10
Reliability 9 /10
Safety 8 /10
Value For Money 9 /10

8.5

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2021 Chevrolet Colorado Changes: What’s The Difference vs The 2020 Colorado?

For the latest model year, the second-gen Colorado pickup truck sports a whole new look. This takes the form of a new front fascia on the lower trims, comprising new center bars and front skid plates. Both the WT and LT receive a new gold bowtie, while the Z71 opts for a black version. The top-of-the-range ZR2 gets the largest number of updates, including a new flow-through front fascia with Chevrolet lettering, and eye-catching red tow hooks. Both Z models are available in a new color - Sand Dune Metallic. Unfortunately, there are no mechanical changes to enhance the pickup's capabilities, and there are only minor changes in the features list, such as the addition of an auto-dimming rearview mirror on the LT. Also, the Base has been deleted, leaving the Work Truck as the entry point to the range.

Pros and Cons

Three engines, including a potent V6
Highly competitive towing capacity with turbo-diesel
Genuine off-roading capabilities
High reliability and safety rating
Reasonable pricing

Base engine is underwhelming
Limited number of advanced safety features
Gets pricey if you want more than the basics

Best Deals on 2021 Chevrolet Colorado

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Z71

$45,000

31,703 miles

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Work Truck

$30,455

42,974 miles

Fair Deal

$2,200 below

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Work Truck

$46,455

39,385 miles

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Work Truck

$35,999

27,638 miles

See All Colorado For Sale

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Trims

See trim levels and configurations:

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drivetrain	Price (MSRP)
Work Truck	2.5L Inline-4 Gas 3.6L V6 Gas	6-Speed Automatic 8-Speed Automatic	Rear-Wheel Drive Four-Wheel Drive	$25,200
LT	2.5L Inline-4 Gas 3.6L V6 Gas	6-Speed Automatic 8-Speed Automatic	Rear-Wheel Drive Four-Wheel Drive	$27,700
Z71	3.6L V6 Gas	8-Speed Automatic	Rear-Wheel Drive Four-Wheel Drive	$34,800
ZR2	3.6L V6 Gas	8-Speed Automatic	Four-Wheel Drive	$42,600

See All 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Trims and Specs

2021 Colorado Exterior

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Front Angle View

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Front View Driving

See All 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Exterior Photos

Dimensions

Length 212.7 in
Wheelbase 128.3 in
Height 70.4 in
Max Width 74.3 in

2021 Colorado Performance

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Front View Driving 1

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Front View Driving 2

Engine and Transmission

Engines

2.5L Inline-4 Gas, 2.8L Turbo Inline-4 Diesel, 3.6L V6, 3.6L V6 Gas
Transmissions

6-Speed Automatic, 8-Speed Automatic
Drivetrains

4X4, RWD

2021 Colorado Interior

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Infotainment System

See All 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Interior Photos

Seating and Interior Space

Seating capacity

4-seater

Front Leg Room 45.0 in
Front Head Room 41.4 in
Rear Leg Room 28.6 in
Rear Head Room 36.7 in

2021 Colorado Trunk and Cargo Space

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Driving Back View

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Driving Front Angle

2021 Colorado Safety and Reliability

Warranty

Warranty Note:
Preliminary 2021 Warranty \
Basic:
3 Years \ 36,000 Miles
Drivetrain:
5 Years \ 60,000 Miles
Drivetrain Note:
Qualified Fleet Purchases: 5 Years \ 100,000 Miles
Rust-Through:
6 Years \ 100,000 Miles
Corrosion:
3 Years \ 36,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance:
5 Years \ 60,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance Note:
Qualified Fleet Purchases: 5 Years \ 100,000 Miles
Maintenance Note:
1 Year \ 1 Visit

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Overall Rating
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Side Crash Rating
Rollover Rating

Verdict: Is the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado A Good Truck?

Having been around for about a decade, the Colorado pickup has had a lot of time to win over consumers, and it's done a pretty good job of it. Looks have never been a problem, but the latest facelift ensures that this rugged vehicle appeals to every trucking enthusiast. It certainly doesn't hurt that the Chevy delivers an impressive maximum towing capacity and some off-roading capabilities.

Rugged and sturdy design translates to high reliability expectations, but the NHTSA and IIHS reviews of the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado are a little less generous. Its safety rating is decent, but not stellar, and the lack of many modern advanced driver assists hurt it in the eyes of discerning shoppers. Many of these features can be added, but doing so raises the reasonable starting price to uncomfortable heights.

The Chevy pickup is starting to feel its age, even if it doesn't look it, thanks to the latest facelift. It's still a hardy and dependable truck, but more modern rivals are starting to offer better overall value. That said, the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado is still a great choice if you want to keep costs down, and if you don't mind the sparse list of standard features.

What Chevrolet Colorado Model Should I Buy?

Picking the right model of pickup truck is a very personal process. This is because most automakers supply you with a lot of customization options, and everyone's needs are different. If you simply want to do some honest labor with it, then the Work Truck equipped with a 2-door cab and the beefy V6 is a cheap but capable setup. The price of the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado pickup with this build is $26,685 before destination fees. If you absolutely need that extra 700 lbs of towing capacity, the Duramax engine forces you to pair it with a 4-door cab on the LT trim or higher, so it costs quite a bit more. The Z71 and ZR2 have access to both the more capable powertrains, but they ask for more investment than we are comfortable with, especially considering the additional features and luxuries are minimal at best.