2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs, Release Date, Interior

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs, Release Date, Interior   –   Thanks to the midsize truck’s comeback, a plethora of choices are now at your fingertips. Every type of vehicle, from daily drivers to weekend warriors, is catered to by these options. You can select any of these options whenever you like. Smack dab in the middle of the surprisingly booming market is the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Trail Runner, a pickup truck that manages to combine the best of both worlds: the functionality and the good looks of a pickup.  2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

As for the Colorado’s interior design, it’s clear that it’s a generation old thanks to the exposed switchgear found all around the cabin. Early in the twentieth century, construction began on the Colorado. In contrast, the console-mounted gear selector seems cheap and makes me long for a column shifter—the proper style of shifter for a truck. To be fair, the Colorado does have some rather clumsy and juvenile controls—like those rubberized knobs and plastic toggle switches on the dashboard—that stand out from the crowd of class vehicles. However, I still think the Colorado is a great vehicle overall, and I wouldn’t let that dampen my enthusiasm for it.  2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

The orange that my tester was finished in is actually rather attractive, although I think it would look better on a Camaro or something. It brings back fond memories of the CN Rail trucks of yesteryear whenever I spot it on the Colorado. However, we may move forward with our company if you provide it to me in either blue or either shade of red. In addition to its already impressive appearance, the Trail Runner package adds even more eye-catching details like knobby tires, a blacked-out grille, and rock rails.

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

Keep in mind that the Trail Runner isn’t a dedicated machine like the Colorado ZR2; instead, it’s a simple accessory that can be installed on Z71 versions like the one I got my hands on. The ZR2 is often at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to pickup trucks, but the Trail Runner package gives you a taste of the truck’s style and substance without going overboard. The ZR2 is superfluous in comparison to this.

Its foundation in the Z71 makes it an adequate starting point for its use. One interpretation is that it is a four-wheel drive-only, Canadian-exclusive off-road light variant. It has a skid plate for the transfer case, hill descent control, a more robust suspension, and an automatically locking rear differential. The ZR2 is, without a doubt, a remarkable pickup truck. Its adventure-ready kit, which includes adjustable dampers, locking differentials, a taller suspension, and a vicious front bumper, makes it even better. However, after considering how specialized and concentrated that particular Colorado model is, I would gladly forego nearly $7,000 by keeping with the Z71.  2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

Engine and Performance

I got my hands on the truck’s gasoline-powered V6 engine, which was under the hood. Although it is not the engine I would personally purchase, there are many aspects of it that I appreciate. For my needs, the 2.8-liter turbo diesel is ideal. There are many aspects about it that I adore. The 3.6-liter normally aspirated engine in this vehicle is perfect for a truck of its size, producing 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Although it may appear fast at first glance, the Colorado is actually quite slow. Instead of delivering torque all at once, it builds up to its top speed of 4,000 rpm gradually. When compared to the identical engine found in the Chevrolet Blazer (5,000 rpm) and the Chevrolet Camaro (5,300 rpm), this is a huge improvement.

Connected to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it usually knows what gear it should be in the majority of the time. While it’s possible that it will become distracted when passing on the highway, it’s also possible that it will forget to downshift and provide the revs needed to complete the task. Keeping in the meaty part of the powerband requires a little more vigilance when tow/haul mode is engaged, thus it holds gears for a little longer. The purpose of this is to keep the powerband steady. 2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Fuel Economy

Everything must be considered in relation to the amounts of gasoline used. Even if my cumulative rating of 11.9 liters per hundred kilometers after a week of testing isn’t particularly impressive, it is higher than the 12.2 liters per hundred kilometers assigned to it by Colorado Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) for the same period. Just so things are even, I did most of my driving in two-wheel drive, exploring winding back roads north of the GTA.

Thanks to its V6 engine, the Colorado achieves gas mileage that is roughly par for the course for a car of its size. Fuel efficiency is where the Colorado really shines, especially when compared to other midsize trucks like the Gladiator, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma. Contrarily, when contrasted with other items that use the same engine, this one seems to do poorly. In a week-long test, for instance, the Blazer RS I drove a few weeks ago averaged 11.5 liters per hundred kilometers, which was somewhat better than the one I drove before that.  2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Safety Features

While considering a pickup truck’s fuel efficiency won’t be high on most people’s list of priorities, it’s still important. We can only hope that this holds true in terms of the advanced safety measures, given that there aren’t many sophisticated safety features on this vehicle. Despite its recent relaunch, the Colorado was unable to get the type of equipment that is both in great demand and easily accessible elsewhere. This is so even though it was only recently returned to service. This rules out the possibility of features like autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, or lane-keeping assistance in the car.

However, there is a safety upgrade package that enables the installation of several safety-related components, such as lane-departure warning systems, front collision warning systems, and rear parking sensors. Also included as standard equipment are electronic traction and stability control systems, six airbags strategically placed around the interior, and a backup camera, which is mandated by the government.

Aside from the Colorado’s poor showing in the assessment of the short front overlap on the passenger side, most of the IIHS crash test results were positive. The non-profit organization noted that “the passenger’s survival space was not maintained well,” which led to a negative evaluation of the safety cage’s structure and integrity. The safety cage was criticized for both of these features.  2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Price and Release Date

When opting for the enlarged box option, the usual price of the Colorado Z71 crew cab is $40,798 plus an extra $600. When you consider the V6 engine tucked under the hood of the truck, that is actually quite respectable performance for a modern pickup. (Meanwhile, the price will go up by a whopping $5,85if you choose with diesel power.) You can find a similarly equipped Ford Ranger for almost the same price, but it has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine instead of a diesel. However, while both the Tundra and the Tacoma come standard with the identical set of amenities, the Tacoma is priced far higher. Just in case you were wondering, there was also the vintage Nissan Frontier from Friends’ last season. The Nissan Frontier made an appearance this season, in case you’ve been keeping up.  2026 Chevrolet Colorado Specs

The Trail Runner package, upgraded paint, spray-in bedliner, and a few other extras brought the total cost of my tester to $48,183 before taxes. Prices did not include taxes. In this figure, the $5,385 that was spent on optional equipment was included. Although this is still a substantial amount of change, considering the benefits it gives in terms of usefulness and usability makes it a tolerable quantity.