Chevrolet Colorado

After a handful of minor changes last year, the Chevrolet Colorado carries on with minimal fuss in 2022. Chevy's midsize truck doesn't need much tweaking and remains a standout in its class for impressive towing and hauling strength, combined with satisfying tech, comfort and daily usability. The optional Trail Boss package returns, last seen six years ago. For 2022, it includes 17-inch gloss black wheels, black exterior trim, skid plates, a 1-inch suspension lift that levels the front end with an unladen bed, and removal of the lower front airdam to improve clearance.

The Colorado and its GMC Canyon mechanical twin helped inspire the current crop of midsize trucks, injecting life into a class that languished with aging Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline models. Today, those updated rivals offer compelling alternatives to the Colorado, and compete for space with newer arrivals like the Jeep Gladiator and Ford Ranger, and more left-field choices like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and all-electric Rivian RT1. Read our Expert Rating for a deeper analysis of the Colorado's strengths, as well as our impressions of living with a Colorado for more than 50,000 miles.

What's it like to live with?

MatoCar tested a Colorado ZR2 for more than two years and over 50,000 miles. Read our long-term Colorado ZR2 test to learn how the truck fared off-road, towing loads and threading the urban jungle. Note that our truck was a 2017 model, but the 2022 Colorado is of the same generation and most of our reporting still applies.

Which Colorado does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado is a midsize pickup offered in extended-cab and crew-cab body styles. Crew cabs offer two bed lengths — short (5 feet) and long (6.2 feet) — while the extended cab comes only with a long bed. There are four trim levels: Work Truck (WT), LT, Z71 and ZR2.

The WT includes the essentials, starting with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine (200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque) paired to a six-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. This engine comes standard in the extended cab versions.

All crew cabs come standard with a 3.6-liter V6 (308 hp, 275 lb-ft) and eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is optional for the extended cab. All-wheel drive is available with either engine.

The base WT's standard features include:

• Air conditioning
• Cloth upholstery and vinyl floor covering
• Power-adjustable driver's seat (manual recline)
• Power windows
• Tilt-only steering wheel
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Two USB ports and a six-speaker sound system

The Work Truck offers some options that make it more useful, including:

• Remote keyless entry
• Cruise control
• EZ Lift tailgate
• Remote-locking tailgate
• OnStar telematics and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity

The LT comes with most of the above options as standard features. The LT extended cab also offers a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engine. Crew cab versions offer the choice of V6 or a 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel engine (181 hp, 369 lb-ft) paired to a six-speed automatic.

Other standard features include:

• Leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls
• Power recline for the driver's seat
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Two additional USB ports

LT options include:

• Heated front seats
• Automatic climate control
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time)
• Navigation
• Seven-speaker Bose sound system

The Z71 comes with most of the LT's options and adds some off-road-ready hardware. Extended cab versions offer only the V6 engine, while crew cabs offer both the V6 and diesel engines. Standard Z71 features include:

• All-terrain tires
• Off-road-oriented suspension
• Locking rear differential and hill descent control
• Heated exterior mirrors
• Unique upholstery
• Rear parking sensors

If you want a real-deal off-roader, the ZR2 is your truck. It's only offered in extended- and crew-cab short bed configurations, with both V6 and diesel engines. It builds on the Z71's equipment with:

• Raised suspension with special dampers
• Larger all-terrain tires
• Fender flares and special front and rear bumpers
• Spray-in bedliner (optional on other trims)
• Electronically locking rear differential

Several appearance packages are available for various trim levels, including the Z71 Midnight Edition (31-inch tires, gloss black aluminum wheels, bedliner) and the ZR2 Bison Edition (off-road bumpers, skid plates, dark graphite wheels). New for 2022 is the Trail Boss package for the LT and Z71, which adds 17-inch gloss black wheels, black exterior trim, skid plates, and a 1-inch leveling kit, which raises the front end to match the height of an unloaded bed. Other notable options, depending on trim level, include:

• Leather upholstery
• Navigation system
• Wireless charging pad
• Spray-in bedliner
• Trailering package (trailer hitch and 7-pin connector)