The 2016 Chevy Colorado is Worth Waiting For.

It wasn’t all that long ago that any thought of the Chevy Colorado conjured images of little NAPA trucks wearing yellow hats, and not much else.  The much-needed 2015 remodel has rejuvenated the Colorado lineup and one-upped the Tacoma (my opinion), but the 2016 model is the one we’ve been waiting for.  For 2016, diesel power becomes an option in the Colorado.

The Drivetrain + Performance

Yes, getting all hot and bothered over this diesel motor is warranted.  At least on paper.  A 2.8L Duramax I-4 that boasts 181 HP and 369 ft lbs of torque.  As far as I know there is not confirmation either way on what transmission will be offered.  The current 6-speed auto is the likely choice, however GM’s new 8-speed auto could also be mated to the diesel.

Fuel economy and towing capacity for the diesel-equipped models have not been released, but I’d reasonably expect better fuel economy than the 17/24 the V6 gets (in crew-cab/short-bed/Z71 4×4 trim) and that maybe more towing capacity than the current V6 model’s 7,000lbs (which is pretty darn good already!).

Let’s also not forget that Z71 models comes with a locking rear differential.

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 The Cost of Entry

So, how much is a diesel Colorado going to cost?  GM hasn’t yet released pricing, but my guess is just under $40K loaded.  My logic is that a 2015 Colorado Crew Cab 4×4 with the Z71 package and some options runs ~$36K, and the Diesel Option will add an incremental $3-4K on top of that.

For some perspective, a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro runs $39K, and a loaded Nissan Pro-4X runs $35.5K, so the Colorado, as you’d expect, is in the vicinity of its primary compact truck competition, and likely will attract full-size truck customers wanting a smaller package.

Aftermarket Support

One of the things us enthusiasts need to look out for is the level of aftermarket support any vehicle platform has – for us, the offroad versions of trucks from the factory are more of a blank canvas than badass adventure mobile.  The Colorado is still early in its lifecycle, but a few key aftermarket suspension upgrades are already on the market from respected companies.

Fox, King, and Icon Vehicle Dynamics have all developed bolt-in suspension systems for the Colorado.  Both Total Chaos Fabrication and Icon Vehicle Dynamics are also offering uni-ball upper control arms for the Colorado.  If you don’t know why that matters, read this – it applies to the Colorado as well.

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I expect to see some of the major armor-producing outfits to begin producing bolt-on rock slider options and bumpers within the year, and based on ARB’s coverage of the Colorado release, I’d assume they might have something up their sleeve as well.

Other than those vehicle specific staples, all of the more non-vehicle model specific mods your heart desires will likely bolt onto the Colorado (lights, storage, bed shells, etc.).

It’ll be exciting to see these trucks out on the trail, building a following, and hopefully getting more and more love from the aftermarket.

Photo + Video Credits:

autoevolution.com / pickuptrucks.com

Total Chaos Fabrication

Icon Vehicle Dynamics

Chevrolet