Chris Brewer: Chevy has red-hot truck in Colorado
Long before the Red Hot - that's the actual factory color name, but I'm sure it will become a pun before the end of this review - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Z71 arrived in my driveway I already had an affinity for the vehicle.
Recently winning Motor Trend's coveted 2015 Truck of the Year award, the Chevy Colorado's triumphal return after a three-year hiatus was felt throughout the industry. Apart from press releases and peer reviews, my personal experience with the midsize pickup was limited to a short ride at a press event in Miami. However, even in that brief time, I had gained an appreciation for Chevy's approach in creating a budget-friendly but extremely capable pickup.
My week with the well-equipped Colorado confirmed my initial conclusions; Chevy has built an incredible truck for the 2015 model year.
My review vehicle came equipped with the top-tier Colorado power plant - a 3.6-liter dual overhead cam V-6 with variable valve timing (VVT), 305 horsepower, and 269 pound-feet of torque.
Coupled with a smooth shifting six-speed automatic, the Colorado never lacked for power. Zero to 60 mph zips by in an inspiring 7.4 seconds, which feels really quick in a smaller pickup. The V-6 can carry up to 1,590 pounds of payload and boasts a best-in-class 7,000-pound towing capacity.
If your emphasis is toward economy, the Colorado is also available with a fuel-sipping and conservatively priced 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder. In 2016, Chevy will roll out the highly anticipated 2.8-liter turbo diesel inline-4 to U.S. markets. If current iterations of the Colorado mean anything, next year's launch of the turbo diesel is going to be the talk of the town.
The Z71 off-road suspension package proved to be equally impressive. Even under the sloppiest most challenging off-road conditions, the Z71-equipped Colorado shined. Never missing a beat, the fully automatic locking rear differential worked invisibly, keeping the truck firmly planted and moving forward. The Z71 Colorado's skid plate provides an extra level of confidence, protecting the truck's underbody components during off-road adventures.
Braking, thanks to the four-wheel anti-lock discs that come from the factory with long-lasting Duralife rotors, is excellent. The Duralife rotor, a relatively new technology for GM, is treated with an FNC (Ferritic Nitro Carburizing) coating process that strengthens the brake rotor while simultaneously helping the rotor resist corrosion. Duralife rotors resist steering wheel jiggling warp and have about twice the life of conventional parts.
Clean-car freaks like myself will also appreciate that the rusty appearance that brake rotors often get after sitting a day or two is non-existent. Fortunately, GM is using this practical and money-saving technology in many of the 2014-2015 models, including the Corvette.
Handling in the Colorado is confidence building, making time behind the wheel quite fun. Although the Chevy provides the driver with that, "I'm the king of the world" experience that I have come to enjoy from factory-lifted trucks and SUVs, the 4WD Z71 feels completely planted. I would imagine that this dynamic driving characteristic will be what draws many to purchase the Colorado over the competition.
Even after a brief test drive, you get the feeling that you are cheating a little; a pickup should not feel this comfortable in traffic and crowded parking lots.
If you have seen a Chevy commercial in the past year, you've probably noticed the disproportionate amount of press that the company is dedicating to celebrate the technology that they are packing into their new vehicles. While the OnStar system has been around for nearly two decades, the implementation has never been better. I found myself talking to the operators whenever I had the chance. Not only did the system make getting directions a cinch, but it took away the lonely feeling that getting lost instills. I know it sounds a little pathetic, but interaction with a real human being is comforting.
If OnStar feels like yesterday's news, the addition of OnStar 4G LTE WIFI brings it back to the headlines. I had the opportunity to take three teenagers on a road trip from Jacksonville to Ormond Beach and back in the span of seven hours, four of which were in the truck. I called the OnStar representative and set up a wireless hotspot in the car. Within minutes, all three were online posting to Instagram, checking email, Tweeting, and even watching Netflix. The 4G works flawlessly. I even used my own iPhone to stream music from the Pandora app to the excellent-sounding premium Bose Mylink Audio system, a $500 option that also includes a decent navigation system.
While the 4G hotspot may not help drive the car, boost horsepower or give you better gas mileage, I can't think of a more popular feature with my kids. I've reviewed much fancier and more expensive cars, vans, and SUVs, but none of them received the kudos that the Colorado's WIFI and four USB ports did.If you have teenagers and want to be a hero, forget Blu-ray players and illuminated sill plates and opt for the 4G package.
The interior of the 2015 Colorado Crew Short Box is well designed and comfortable. Seating material is a great compromise between long lasting, as you would expect from a rugged off-road capable truck, and plush. I wouldn't go so far as to call the interior luxurious, but it is certainly attractive and ergonomic. Heating and air conditioning are automatic and easily configurable. The heated driver and front passenger seats work quickly. The standard remote vehicle start means that having a toasty truck, windshield clear of ice and ready for your drive to work takes little more than a click of the key fob button.
Rear-seat passengers have plenty of leg room, but I would suspect that three adults would feel cramped, even on short treks across town. That said, the back seat is bigger than you would expect when you view the crew cab from the curb. The interior of Chevy's four-door pickup is more along the lines of a midsize sedan than the traditional compact pickup truck.
If your primary use of the pickup is hauling materials, I would recommend the longer bed of the non-crew cab Colorado. I predict the four-cylinder will become a fleet staple for many companies. But if you are looking for a small-to-midsized truck that feels huge, has excellent towing and hauling capabilities, can be driven off-road and still fit in most garages, the red hot 2015 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Z71 Crew Short Box is a great choice.
For more coverage of the Colorado and addition road tests, visit AutomotiveAddicts.com.
See you at Cars and Coffee
I hope to see many of you Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. for Automotive Addicts Cars and Coffee at the Florida Times-Union, located at 1 Riverside Ave. December's turnout was record-breaking; let's see if we can do it again!
