2023 Chevrolet Colorado

There was nothing exceptional about the old Colorado, but it was a strong player in its segment with various cab designs and engine choices. So the rationalization of the all-new Chevrolet Colorado mid-size truck into a single body style and engine (with varying outputs) may seem like a step back. The extended cab and long bed may be gone, but the sole remaining crew cab with the short bed was the most popular configuration anyway, and it reduces production-line complexity. For 2023, there is only one engine - a 2.7-liter four-cylinder turbo shared with the Silverado, replacing the NA four-cylinder, V6, and turbo-diesel options offered previously - but it's a modern, efficient, versatile, and powerful unit. Under the skin, it's all good news, with a rugged, bespoke new frame, and six-lug-nut hubs just like the Silverado 1500; tough it certainly is. The 2023 Colorado is now a force to be reckoned with - and should give rivals such as the Nissan Frontier sleepless nights. The forthcoming redesigned Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger will arrive just in time to join the fight: Let the games begin.

The MSRP of the Chevrolet Colorado Work Truck starts at $29,200, while the LT will cost you $31,600. These are the prices for the 2WD derivatives with the 237-hp engine; speccing 4WD will add $3,300 to the price in each case, while upgrading to the 310-hp Turbo engine adds $1,420 to the WT and $1,285 to the LT.

The Trail Boss and Z71 come with 4WD only and the Turbo Plus engine, and they cost $37,000 and $39,900, respectively, while the ZR2 has 4WD and the Turbo High-Output engine and costs $46,800. LT, Trail Boss, and Z71 models with the Turbo Plus engine can be upgraded to the Turbo High-Output engine by any Chevy dealership for $395. Keep in mind that none of these 2023 Chevrolet Colorado prices include extras or the $1,495 destination fee.

A wholesale under-the-skin overhaul sees the Colorado get a redesigned new frame. It comes in three ride heights, and the driving experience depends on which configuration you opt for. Either way, it's worlds apart from the old Colorado. Starting with the engine, the weak old naturally aspirated base 2.5-liter four-pot is gone, and the 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is far more powerful and easily in command of the mass, even in base 237-hp form, thanks to all that bottom-end torque, working unobtrusively with the eight-speed automatic transmission.

On tarmac, it's a revelation, and trims with the standard ride height corner with newfound agility not expected of a truck. There are still some shimmies and shudders - this is a body-on-frame truck, after all - but its general performance is now class-leading. Higher-riding trims roll and lean more, but not excessively so, and gain impressive off-road ability, exhibiting excellent grip, wheel travel, and ride quality. It's a smooth highway cruiser too, but the WT is noticeably noisier because it has less sound-deadening than the higher trims.

The new Colorado moves right to the top of its class, and we doubt there is a better body-on-frame mid-size truck in America right now. This might change with the arrival of the redesigned Tacoma and Ranger, but for now, the Colorado stands undefeated. It has gained immeasurably from its new frame and is now a class leader on tar and dirt, with robust truck looks to match. J.D. Power's reliability review for the Chevrolet Colorado is also excellent. The powerful engine is the cherry on top. The unibody Honda Ridgeline is the most car-like of all the trucks and an extremely good all-rounder, but it's more expensive than the Colorado, and cannot hope to match it off-road. The Jeep Gladiator is excellent at the off-road stuff, but is unrefined and noisy on the road and is also more expensive. This leaves the Colorado as the best do-it-all truck in its segment - at least for the moment.

Which trim you should get depends very much on what you use it for, and for a no-nonsense work truck, the WT is surprisingly well specced with the big new 11.3-inch touchscreen, seven airbags, a six-speaker audio system, a decent level of standard driver aids, and a punchy engine. This is actually a workhorse you can live with every day. The best value in the lineup sits with the Trail Boss. It looks the off-road part, sits higher off the ground than either the LT or Z71, has 32-inch all-terrain tires, and gets the latter's limited-slip rear differential, so it will do most of the fun stuff without breaking the bank, like the $10k more expensive ZR2, which is undoubtedly the most exciting and hardcore Colorado, but commands a price premium to suit.