Driven: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss Is A No-Frills Off-Roader

Off-road trucks used to be built for a single purpose: going off the beaten path. Today they feature luxuries like massage seats and panoramic glass roofs, inflating the price and defeating the purpose of being an affordable vehicle you wouldn't mind beating up on a dirt trail. The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado seeks to bring the off-road truck closer to its roots by offering the Trail Boss as a separate trim for the first time.

The Trail Boss sits in the middle of the Colorado lineup, starting well under $40 grand before options. With the average pickup truck transaction price now over the $60 grand mark, that makes the Colorado Trail Boss a relative bargain. It may not be the most capable version of Chevy's midsize truck, as that honor goes to the ZR2 Bison from AEV, but it is the best way for buyers on a budget to get some off-road thrills without breaking the bank.

Each Colorado trim wears a slightly different face; we'd describe the face on the Trail Boss as authoritative. The grille is made from unpainted plastic, which gives the truck a cheap and simple look. We much prefer the painted front end on the Z71 trim, but the Trail Boss has less painted surface area for rocks to bounce up and chip away. In addition to the mean face, the Trail Boss didn't skip leg day at the gym, rocking a two-inch suspension lift and plastic fender flares that add three inches of width.

18-inch wheels wrapped in 32-inch all-terrain tires come standard on the Trail Boss, though 20-inch black wheels are available separately and as part of a Dark Essentials Package for $2,995. There are also 22-inch wheels available if you want to blow $4,495 just to hurt the ride and off-road capability.

Chevy offers plenty of no-cost colors such as Summit White, Black, Sterling Gray Metallic, Harvest Bronze Metallic, and Sand Dune Metallic. All of the brighter hues like Nitro Yellow Metallic (pictured below and priced at $395), Glacier Blue Metallic ($395), and our tester's Radiant Red Tintcoat ($495) cost a bit extra.

If all you want is the bare necessities, the Trail Boss offers them. This is the same interior found in the base Work Truck trim, but it can be upgraded from cloth to Evotex (leatherette) for $1,250. We'd kill for a splash of color anywhere in this cabin because every surface is cheap, hard plastic. The Ford Maverick proved that it's possible to make an inexpensive interior look nice, but the lack of any unique surface makes the Colorado look drab inside. The back seat is also pretty cramped, losing legroom compared to the previous generation.

On the positive side, the technology is pretty strong. An 11.3-inch infotainment screen comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the 360-degree camera system that would be useful for off-roading is locked to a $950 Technology Package that was not equipped to our tester. The infotainment is powered by Google, meaning it also includes a virtual assistant that can answer questions on the go. We also like the digital gauge cluster, which can be configured with different screen layouts with a single button press and no added complications.

While the previous generation Colorado offered three engine choices (a base four-cylinder, a V6, and a diesel), this new truck only comes with a single 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It may have fewer engines options, but the new four-pot is available in three different flavors. The base Turbo engine in the WT and LT produces 237 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque, good for a 3,500-pound tow rating. Either of those trims can upgrade to the Turbo Plus with 310 and 390 lb-ft of torque, which comes standard on Trail Boss and Z71, upping the tow rating to 7,700-lbs.

With the standard eight-speed automatic transmission, the Turbo Plus feels like a powerhouse, easily punching the Colorado up to speed with little fuss. That being said, it doesn't emit the most refined noise despite Chevy's best efforts to make it sound like a larger V6 or V8. Only the ZR2 is available with the Turbo High-Output option, which increases the torque to 430 lb-ft, though a dealer might be able to tune the engine without voiding the warranty.

Most modern, full-size trucks are actually pretty comfortable, but the mid-size trucks tend to be a bit rough around the edges. The Colorado is no exception with a jittery ride, especially over bumps, though the road noise is pretty limited. Chevy did a nice job with the steering, threading a nice balance between light feel that doesn't leave the driver feeling detached from what the front wheels are up to.

The Trail Boss comes standard with four-wheel-drive with low range and a locking rear differential, meaning it will be able to tackle most off-road trails. Buyers who need more off-road equipment such as a locking front differential, Multimatic DSSV dampers, and underbody protection will want to wait for the ZR2 to arrive at dealerships.

On the road, we do wish the Colorado offered more standard safety features. Forward collision warning, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking come standard, but safety tech like adaptive cruise control, rear park assist, and blind spot monitoring is all optional and tends to be on most General Motors vehicles.

The Colorado Trail Boss might be a bit basic inside, but at least it's inexpensive. A base Colorado WT starts at $29,200 with 2WD or $32,500 with 4WD. Stepping up to the LT brings the starting price to $31,600 (+ $3,300 for 4WD). The Trail Boss offers similar features as the LT, but adds the off-road equipment and standard 4WD for $37,000. With just a few options, our tester rang in at $39,700 ($41,195 with destination). If you never plan to take your truck off-road, the LT represents a significant savings over the Trail Boss.

We would personally spend up for the Z71, starting at $39,900. It looks better on the outside without the plastic bumper, comes with a more premium interior, and isn't significantly more expensive than the Trail Boss. The ZR2 tops the Colorado range at $46,800, and is best reserved for truck owners who spend their weekends off the beaten path.

For now, the Colorado represents the freshest option in the mid-size truck segment. However, Ford is about to strike back with a new Ranger and a hardcore Raptor variant. And let's not forget the Toyota Tacoma will arrive by the end of the year and it's still the king of the segment.