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Midsize Pickup Truck
Chevrolet Colorado
⚠ Caution
Mixed signals, know the tradeoffs
⚠ Elevated risk
Reported risk: systematic failures reported in 8.6% of posts (23 of 268).
GM's midsize contender pairs a punchy turbo four-cylinder with an 8-speed that can't decide what gear it wants and software that freezes mid-commute. The 2024 redesign earned a sales stop within months, infotainment screens go dark, remote start is a gamble, and one ZR2 owner burned through three torque converters before 15,000 miles. The previous generation splits owners into camps: some sailed past 180k with zero drama, others became dealer regulars. The ZR2 off-road package impresses when the truck cooperates, but you're betting GM patches the bugs before your warranty expires. If you need a midsize that starts reliably and doesn't strand you hunting for cell service on a trail, the Frontier costs less and the Tacoma holds value better. Buy this if you like the look enough to gamble on future software updates, and spring for the extended warranty.
The generation that matters
This product isn't one story — here's how each era is regarded.
2015–2022 (2nd generation)
2015–2022
Solid
Praised for diesel efficiency (30 mpg highway) and winning Truck of the Year twice (2015, 2016). Users note reliability issues with the 5-cylinder and some electrical problems, but the diesel 2.8L Duramax was well-regarded. Fuel economy on the V6 disappointed some, matching full-size trucks.
2023–present (3rd generation)
2023–present
Mixed
Won 2024 Truck of the Year and praised for turbo-four power, improved interior, and off-road capability. However, widespread software bugs led to sales halts, with users reporting screen failures, remote start issues, and being stranded. Removal of CarPlay and diesel option also criticized. Strong on paper, but execution concerns dominate real-world feedback.
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Common complaints6 issues−2024 models plagued by systematic software bugs, infotainment freezes, remote start failures, CarPlay/Android Auto issues
−8-speed automatic transmission shudder/slip reported across multiple owners, dealer difficulty replicating
−GM dropped CarPlay/Android Auto for proprietary system that owners find buggy and inferior
−Sales stop issued for 2024 models due to software quality issues
−Fuel economy on V6 models disappointing, barely better than full-size trucks
−Transmission reliability concerns, some owners report multiple torque converter replacements under 15k miles
✓
What owners praise7 strengths✓
2.7L turbo engine delivers strong power (430 lb-ft torque) and competitive towing capacity
✓
ZR2 and Bison off-road trims highly capable with quality suspension components
✓
Modern interior design with useful features like tailgate storage compartment
✓
Diesel models (discontinued 2020) achieved excellent fuel economy, 30+ mpg highway reported
✓
Some owners report 180k+ miles with only routine maintenance on older generations
✓
Comfortable ride quality and good daily driver characteristics when working properly
✓
Regular cab versions serve well as affordable fleet/work trucks
📊 How this score was calculated — 6-dimension rubric
Moderate confidence▼
268 sources analysed — limited long-term owner data
268 sources analysed — strong data quality
Reliability & Durability(22%)5.0
No long-term owner data available — score is provisional
User Sentiment(22%)4.1
856 positive upvotes vs 1,247 negative upvotes
Complaint Severity(16%)6.8
Complaints: 12 cosmetic, 47 functional, 23 systematic, 0 safety
Consensus Strength(8%)2.4
Opinion is use-case dependent — product divides opinion by intended use
Value for Money(15%)3.9
12 'worth it', 8 'overpriced', 15 mention better-value alternatives
Owner Advocacy(17%)6.3
2 repurchased/gifted, 18 unprompted recommendations, 7 regrets
⚠ Systematic failure pattern reported by multiple independent owners
Scores are percentile ranks: 5.0 is the median product in existence. 8.5+ is reserved for genuinely exceptional products (top ~10%). The score reflects consensus quality, what owners say about the product. Risk is tracked separately and shown above the summary when present. Both are calculated deterministically, so the same signals always produce the same score.
Specifications2026
▼Pricing
Starting MSRP
$32,400
Range
$32,400 - $62,795
Capability
Towing capacity
7,700 lbs max
Payload
1,620 lbs
Ground clearance
12.2 in (ZR2 Bison)
Fuel economy
19 mpg overall / 20 city / 24 hwy MPG (up to), 17/17 mpg on ZR2 models
Drivetrain
RWD standard / 4WD available with Auto mode
Dimensions & capacity
Seating
5 passengers
Cargo
5-foot bed (61.7 in bed length), crew-cab short-bed configuration only
Powertrains
2.7L Turbo I-4
TurboMax version standard on all trims for 2025-2026
310 hp · 430 lb-ft
2.7L Turbo I-4
Base tune on 2024 WT and LT trims only
237 hp
Trim pricing
Work Truck (WT)
Base trim, RWD standard, 4WD optional
$34,495
LT
Second-tier trim, RWD standard, 4WD optional
—
Trail Boss
2-inch lift, limited-slip rear diff, 32-inch all-terrain tires, fender flares
—
Z71
Limited-slip rear diff, off-road focused
—
ZR2
Multimatic DSSV dampers, locking front/rear diffs, 17/17 mpg
—
ZR2 Bison
12.2 in ground clearance, 35-inch tires, hydraulic bump stops, AEV components, boron steel skid plates
$62,795
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How it ranks in Midsize Pickup Truck
10 products compared
1
Nissan Frontier
8.8/10
✓ Buy
2
Honda Ridgeline
8.4/10
✓ Buy
3
GMC Sierra 1500
7.9/10
→ Consider
4
Ford Maverick
7.7/10
→ Consider
5
Ford F-150 Lightning
7.5/10
→ Consider
6
Toyota Tacoma
7.4/10
→ Consider
7
Nissan Titan
7.3/10
→ Consider
8
Ford Ranger
7.2/10
→ Consider
9
Hyundai Santa Cruz
7.2/10
→ Consider
10
Ram 3500
6.9/10
→ Consider
If you're buying
Know what others paid before you walk in.