2022 BMW M5 CS First Test: Impressive Results, Should’ve Been Even Better
The new 2022 BMW M5 CS (short for Competition Sport) is not only the most outrageous version of the F90 (sixth generation) M5, but also one of the most ridiculous production BMWs of all time. It's certainly the most powerful: The S63 M TwinPower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 makes 627 hp at 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque between 1,800-5,950 rpm. The peak-torque figure is the same as you find in the M5 Competition, but it's available in the M5 CS for an additional 90 rpm. That might not seem like much, but keep in mind the M5 Comp's peak-torque rpm-range already exceeds the standard M5's by 170 rpm. In terms of M5-vs.-M5-vs.-M5 horsepower comparisons, the M5 Competition makes 617 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and the standard M5 600 hp.
The 2022 BMW M5 CS gets more than just additional power and revs compared to its "lesser" versions. It features the same chassis and suspension upgrades the M5 Comp boasts over the M5—stiffer engine mounts and suspension springs, 0.2-inch lower ride height, more negative front camber, and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar and toe-link ball-joint mounts. BMW says the M5 CS receives additional "spring and Dynamic Damper Control tuning" compared to the M5 Competition "to take advantage of the lower vehicle weight and of the optionally available (no-cost) Pirelli P Zero Corsa ultra-high-performance tires." Take note of the point about the rubber, as we'll circle back to it shortly.
Ah, speaking of weight, the M5 CS tipped our scales at 4,089 pounds, whereas BMW says the M5 Comp checks in at 4,344 pounds. We have not had the opportunity to weigh an M5 Comp but suspect it would check in lighter than its official weight, due to the parameters under which BMW estimates its cars' curb weights. Either way, this is a notable difference between the two models, and the M5 CS' diet consists of additional carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic pieces, including the hood with vents in unpainted carbon fiber, the front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler. The engine cover is also made from CFRP, and further weight reduction comes thanks to less sound-deadening throughout the car.
So, what do these upgrades yield in performance terms? We ran the 2022 BMW M5 CS through our standard battery of MotorTrend tests, with impressive outcomes.
Gas It
In our acceleration testing, the 2022 BMW M5 CS produced its best launches via its launch-control mode. This produced consistent, clean, and smooth yet explosive launches, and we noted how well the car put the power down without drama. Indeed, it exhibited zero, or almost zero, wheelslip; the AWD just dug in and blasted the car down the track. Our best 0-to-60-mph time came in at a double-take—hell, triple-take—inducing 2.6 seconds. That's the fifth-quickest time we've ever recorded to 60 mph, behind cars like the Tesla Model S Plaid, Ferrari SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano, Porsche Taycan Turbo S, Porsche 911 Turbo S, McLaren 720S, Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, and Audi R8 V10 Plus, to name a handful. It also means the CS is even quicker than BMW claims: The company says this M5 reaches 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, so even if we knock off 0.2-second to estimate a 60-mph time of 2.7, our 2.6-second time remains ahead.
The BMW's performance through the quarter mile was no less stunning, with a time of 10.7 seconds at 129.7 mph. Only eleven MT-measured quarter-mile elapsed times have been quicker: the same cars mentioned above (and a bunch more). If you're employed as a wheelman by nefarious characters who appreciate the quickest of getaways, look no further; if Hollywood remade John Frankenheimer's 1998 cult-classic Ronin today, we know which new production car should feature in it.
Slow Your Roll
Despite BMW's boast about the M5 CS' reduced poundage, the fact remains that a car of this size and a two-ton curb weight needs to stop as well as it goes. No problem there, as the standard carbon-ceramic brakes brought the M5 CS to a halt from 60 mph in just 101 feet, beating Cadillac's CT5-V Blackwing by 1 foot and trailing the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0—which weighs 916 pounds less—by only 2 feet. The brake-pedal feel was firm and consistent, and we felt good bite from the 20-inch Michelin PS4S tires. Our only knock against the overall setup is that the firm pedal's short-release travel makes it difficult to trail brake precisely into corners.
Dynamics
Ah, did we just mention tires? As impressive as the 2022 BMW M5 CS performed on the Michelins, it really wants to live on its available, more aggressive, and stickier Pirelli P Zero Corsas. When we say, "available," we mean theoretically offered by BMW, but that's where things went slightly sideways for our test. (You can get the car smokingly sideways easily, too, for the record.) Unfortunately, supply-chain shortages affecting all walks of industry have hit the tire business as well, and despite our best efforts we were unable to source a set of the Italian rubber. Not only would it have almost certainly provided an even shorter stopping distance in our braking test, but it also would have improved the CS' performance on the skidpad and around our figure-eight course.
Nevertheless, the big sedan pulled an average of 1.04 g on the skidpad, and it recorded a best figure-eight lap time of 23.2 seconds at 0.92 g average. The skidpad number equaled that of the CT5-V Blackwing, and the BMW bettered the Cadillac around the figure eight by 0.2 second and 0.03 g.
These are all solid numbers, and we achieved them despite the M5 CS exhibiting loads of understeer on the skidpad and quite a lot of oversteer when exiting corners around the figure eight. Indeed, it was easy to see the M5 CS simply could not reach its full potential on these tires, which was a shame.
Yes, You Want One
Despite being unable to record the absolute best test results, we saw more than enough from the 2022 BMW M5 CS to tell us the mechanicals are there. The engine is brilliant, the outright speed is breathtaking, and the brakes are good. The steering in its sportiest setting is quite nice, too; it loaded and unloaded clearly on the skidpad, which told us precisely when the front tires gained or lost grip. This is a proper driver's car, and then some, and it's the most capable BMW M5 of all time, by far. For all these reasons, we're still cursing the damned supply chain.
On second thought, perhaps we're looking at this all wrong: We now have a legitimate excuse to get our greedy hands back on the 2022 BMW M5 CS when the better shoes become available—and we'll be thrilled to run it to its mega limits all over again, with even more impressive performance.
Looks good! More details?2022 BMW M5 CS Specifications BASE PRICE $143,995 PRICE AS TESTED $148,995 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 4-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE 4.4L Twin-turbo direct-injected DOHC 32-valve 90-degree V-8 POWER (SAE NET) 627 hp @ 6,000 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 553 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 4,089 lb (56/44%) WHEELBASE 117.4 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 196.4 x 74.9 x 57.8 in 0-60 MPH 2.6 sec QUARTER MILE 10.7 sec @ 129.7 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 101 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 1.04 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 23.2 sec @ 0.92 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 15/21/17 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 342 miles ON SALE Now Show AllYou may also like
General Motors created big hype at CES 2022 with the unveiling of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, its most affordable full-size electric pickup truck yet. But equally key was the announcement that a $30,000 electric Chevrolet Equinox crossover and a larger electric Chevrolet Blazer SUV are coming in 2023.The trio of high-profile Chevy vehicles were among the initiatives outlined by General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra as part of her virtual keynote address at CES 2022. Barra delivered her address virtually from the Fox Theater in Detroit. She used the stage to show the new electric Chevy Silverado (and a new Trail Boss off-road variant) and add that GM will be introducing electric heavy-duty vehicles as well by 2025.Electric 2024 Chevrolet Equinox Due Fall 2023But back to that 2024 Chevy Equinox EV, which will go on sale in the fall of 2023. Launching with both fleet and retail versions, the electric Equinox will be several notches less boring than the gas-fed model on sale today. The first released images show a crossover that is more sleek and modern than a conventional Equinox, with more dramatically sculpted sides.We know there will be at least two trim levels: LT and RS. One image shows a two-tone red and black interior (obviously the RS) and enough screens to cover almost two-thirds of the dash. Another image shows a silver interior with a more conservative silver and black color exterior scheme, with more body-color elements on the nose than the aggressive RS.The Equinox EV was designed to offer an affordable, high-volume electric vehicle for the Chevy brand as GM attempts to offer EVs in all segments and price points.Electric Blazer Will Be Shown This YearBefore the Equinox arrives, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV will go on sale in the spring of 2023. Barra did not offer a visual preview of the Blazer, though at least at this juncture we're wondering how daring GM's designers will get with that model, given how saucy the Equinox EV looks. In Chevy's lineup today the Blazer (pictured above)is far sportier and overtly Camaro-inspired relative to the conventional, fairly conservative Equinox; should that hierarchy hold with these EV versions, buckle in the for the electric Blazer.Even though the Blazer will come sooner, GM has provided few details. We are promised it will debut later this year and will be priced right—which is key given the conventional Blazer suffered from a high sticker price that deterred some buyers who were otherwise attracted to its muscular good looks.Ultium Platform for AllThe new electric vehicles will use GM's Ultium EV platform created in 2020 and which powers the 2022 GMC Hummer EV electric pickup now on sale.Still to come are electric versions of the Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups and a number of SUVs including the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq mid-size SUV, the Equinox and Blazer, and crossovers planned for the Buick brand.Cadillac will also have the Celestiq flagship limo-like sedan with a hatch instead of a trunk.Ultra Cruise Coming on CelestiqThe handbuilt Cadillac Celestiq will be among the first vehicles to be equipped with UItra Cruise, which offers door-to-door hands-free driving, Barra said. Ultra Cruise goes into production in 2023 and can handle the driving with no input in about 95 percent of driving scenarios, Barra says. Soon it will be OK for use on all paved roads in the U.S. and Canada.Ultra Cruise is the next level up from Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology. Super Cruise will be available on 22 models by 2023 as the automaker continues to roll it out across all lineups. Super Cruise has been enhanced to provide more functions such as automated lane changes.GM says it will be the first company to use Qualcomm Technologies' SnapDragon Ride Platform for advanced driver assistance technology that incorporates software developed inhouse by GM. "Co-developed by GM and Qualcomm for Ultra Cruise, the new computer architecture will have the processing capability of several hundred personal computers but is only about the size of two laptops placed on top of one another," GM says.BrightDrop Orders Adding UpOn the commercial vehicle side, GM's new BrightDrop division announced further orders by FedEx and a sourcing agreement with Walmart to supply the BrightDrop EV600 electric delivery van and add the smaller EV410 when it goes into production in early 2023.After an initial order of 500 vans, FedEx is adding 2,000 more over the next few years and negotiating another 20,000 in the years to follow. BrightDrop is also working with FedEx to meet the needs for a larger 1,000-cubic-foot van in the future. Under the naming formula already established, it could be the EV1000.Walmart announced it will add a fleet of 5,000 BrightDrop vans, starting in 2023, to expand its InHome delivery service. Walmart also uses Cruise for autonomous deliveries.Barra said GM still aims to deliver its first personal autonomous vehicle as soon as mid-decade.GM, Honda and Cruise are working to test and validate the Cruise Origin self-driving rideshare vehicle that is on track for commercialization in coming months.This is the second year that GM has used CES to outline a wide swath of plans and ideas centered on a future of electric and autonomous mobility.
The internet has been abuzz since Chevy introduced the all-new 2023 Colorado just a few short weeks ago. With that pickup joining a new Ford Ranger (and likely a new Toyota Tacoma) next year, the midsize segment is heating up. And surprise, surprise, with a new Colorado in the offing, it was only going to be a matter of time before GMC's turn came to pull back the sheets that pickup's mechanically related, brother-from-another-mother: The 2023 GMC Canyon.Billed by GMC as the "official vehicle of nowhere," though it is definitely a machine that at any given time will be somewhere, the 2023 Canyon boasts a fully redesigned exterior with a lineup-wide taller stance and widened track than its Chevy counterpart. Like the Colorado, the Canyon has been reimagined from the ground up with a greater focus on off-road capability and style. The 2023 Canyon also features a new premium suite of advanced technology, an all-new interior design, a new powertrain, and a new top-tier AT4X trim. Simply put… this should be the most advanced and capable Canyon ever.It also is much more differentiated from the Colorado than before, both visually and pricewise. GMC has adopted an even wilder take on the newest Sierra's squinty-eyed, beefy-grille look here, weaving body-color sections throughout the nose to break up the forward lighting and give it a technical, aggressive mein. Compared to the relatively tamely styled Canyon of yore, the 2023 model is altogether hunkier, with deeply chamfered body creases above blistered fenders to go with a more aggro suspension setup. It's a good thing there's so much outward separation between the GMC and its Chevy sibling, too, because the Canyon now starts at about $40,000.Lifted Suspension And Wide Stance… For EveryoneIn a bold move for GM's more upscale truck brand, GMC has decided that all 2023 Canyon models will ride on same lifted, wide stance, suspension that's available only on the off-road-focused versions of the Colorado. GMC says that the Elevation, AT4, and Denali models will receive a 2.0-inch suspension lift while the AT4X will ride on a 3.0-inch lift. With no "base" model Canyon to directly compare to, these figures are in reference to the 78.8-inch maximum height of the entry-level 2023 Colorado Work Truck (WT); on the Colorado, only the Trail Boss (2.0-inch lift) and ZR2 (3.0-inch lift) lineup with those suspension heights. Elevation and AT4 check in at 79.8 inches tall while Denali lands at 80.4 inches and AT4/AT4X hit at 81.7 inches tall.The same rings true for the Canyon's track width. All Canyon models will arrive with a track width of about 66 inches front and rear, with the only variation being due to wheel offset. By comparison, the 2023 Colorado WT, LT, and Z71 will all arrive with a 3.0-inch-narrower 62.8-inch track width; only the Colorado Trail Boss and ZR2 off-road models carry the wider tracks. Generally speaking, we approve of the high and wide approach, however, we find it a touch peculiar that the luxurious, ostensibly street-truck focused Denali trim has followed this same path… but we digress.Extended Cab, Long Bed and Base Model Are DeadFirst went the manual crank windows. Then it was our beloved third pedal and standard cabs. Now, for 2023, GMC is pulling the rug out from under pickup buyers' choices by offering the all-new Canyon in pretty much a single cab and bed configuration. You'll now only be able to purchase a Canyon in four-door crew-cab, short-bed (5-foot 2-inch) configuration. While this eliminates both the stubbier extended cab and long-bed (6-foot 2-inch) options from the order sheet, it aims to simplify the production process for GMC by focusing on the models most buyers want.That same process of elimination ensnared the Canyon's least-expensive trim level, the Elevation Standard. A little bit of history: When GMC launched the previous generation of Canyon in 2015, that truck was available in three trims: Base, SLE, and SLT, with an All-Terrain package available for SLE. By 2020 the lineup had grown to include SL, Canyon, SLE, All-Terrain, SLT, and Denali. In 2021, the lineup changed again, and this time reduced to just four trims: Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali.At launch, the now Elevation-Standard-less 2023 GMC Canyon will be available in the premium AT4 and Denali trims along with the new AT4X. This move doesn't come as a huge surprise given that the AT4 and Denali trims currently make up the vast majority of not only Canyon sales but GMC sales as a whole. While not available right at launch, the (non-Standard) midlevel Elevation trim will be returning later in 2023.A New Interior With Modern TechnologyThe 2023 Canyon's interior comes packed with GM's latest suite of in-car tech, including a high-resolution 11.0-inch infotainment screen and a fully digital driver information display (11.0 inches on Denali and AT4X, 8.0 inches on Elevation and AT4). These new screens enable the truck to provide drivers with up to 10 different camera views, including HD Surround Vision and waterproof underbody cameras with a washing system. Also available is a class-exclusive 6.3-inch head-up display.All 2023 Canyon models will come fitted with automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking with cyclist alert, IntelliBeam automatic high beams, following distance indicator, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and forward collision alert. An available Canyon Safety Plus Package adds rear cross traffic braking and blind zone steering assist. The available Technology Package offers rear pedestrian alert, adaptive cruise control, and HD Surround Vision. GMC's vibrating Safety Alert Seat is standard on Denali and AT4X.Each of the 2023 GMC Canyon's four trims will come fitted with a unique interior identity, each an upgrade over the outgoing truck's inner duds. For example, Denalis get laser-etched wood décor and leather appointments. The flagship, off-road-focused AT4X will arrive with trim-exclusive Ceramic White and Obsidian Rush color treatments, both with vibrant red-colored seat belts. Every Canyon's dashboard, while clearly related to the newest Colorado, does sport GMC-specific touches, including angular outboard air vents instead of round pieces, plus a different primary dashboard design ahead of the passenger.A New Turbocharged 2.7-Liter I-4 EngineAt the height of its popularity, the outgoing GMC Canyon came with the choice of three different engines and transmissions. You could get an entry-level 2.5-liter I-4 with either a six-speed manual or automatic, an optional 2.8-liter Duramax Diesel I-4 with a six-speed automatic, or the standard 3.6-liter V-6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For 2023, GMC has tossed all of the former powertrains in favor of a turbocharged 2.7-liter I-4 sourced from the larger full-size Sierra 1500 and new second-generation eight-speed automatic transmission.If you've been paying attention to GM-related truck news, you'll note that the 2023 Chevy Colorado also made the switch to the same 2.7-liter engine. However, in the Chevy, three power levels are available, ranging from 237 hp to 310, and from 259 lb-ft of torque to 430. GMC deploys only the hottest version of the 2.7-liter engine across the Canyon lineup, meaning every 2023 Canyon gets 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. This ties the V-6 in Nissan's Frontier for horsepower and smashes it in torque; GMC (and Chevy) likewise crush all comers in the torque department, out-twisting the 2.3-liter turbo I-4 in Ford's Ranger (which produces 310 lb-ft) by an astonishing amount. Even the Canyon's outgoing 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine managed to produce "just" 369 lb-ft.While fuel economy is still unknown, and likely will be for some time, GMC officials have been quoted as saying that the new 2.7-liter engine is expected to return figures better than the outgoing 2.5-liter engine. While your mileage will certainly vary, the outgoing base engine was rated as high as 26 mpg highway. And with the 2.7-liter-powered GMC Sierra 1500 sporting a highway rating as high as 22 mpg, we don't think 26 is out of the question.Where capability is concerned, the new 2.7-liter engine has that covered as well. The 2023 GMC Canyon will have a maximum payload rating of 1,640 pounds in the two-wheel drive Elevation version. Selecting an AT4 drops that to 1,550 pounds while the upscale Denali carries a payload rating of 1,360 pounds. AT4X chews through its payload with its off-road extras, limiting its hauling capability to 1,250 pounds; the even more kitted-out AT4X Edition 1 Package drops that figure to 1,010 pounds. To put that last figure into perspective, with all five seats filled with some average joes, you'll be left with just enough payload reserve to toss a cooler in the bed.Trailer towing prowess remains respectable, with Elevation, AT4, and Denali all carrying a 7,700-pound maximum rating. The top towing spec drops to 6,000 pounds for AT4X models and 5,500 pounds for the heavier AT4X Edition 1 Package.Introducing The Rugged AT4XIn really what should come as a surprise to no one, GMC is expanding the popular AT4 trim to include a new, higher-performance AT4X off-road model. Building on the lessons learned from the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, the new 2023 Canyon AT4X will feature an impressive slate of off-road hardware, starting with the latest generation of Multimatic's Dynamic Spool Valve (DSSV) frequency selective dampers. The truck is also equipped with unique cast iron control arms and 17-inch aluminum wheels with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.Fun fact, the Canyon AT4X's tires are a 285/70R17, which measures a touch taller and a full inch wider than the 265/70R18 Wrangler DuraTrac tires that come on the one-size-up 2022 Sierra 1500 AT4X. The Canyon AT4X also comes fitted with front and rear electronically locking differentials, a modified rear axle for increased durability, and 3.42:1 axle gears. Keeping rock rash at bay are aluminum skid plates below the radiator, engine oil pan, and transfercase. The truck also comes fitted with steel rock rails. No, we can't wait to line this up with Ford's Ranger Raptor, a Colorado ZR2, and a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and hit the dirt.Hurry Up, the AT4X Edition 1 Package Is LimitedFor those customers looking for the ultimate midsize off-roader with all the bells and whistles, GMC is going to be offering an extremely limited run of 2023 Canyon AT4X First Edition pickups. In addition to all of the gear that comes standard on the new Canyon AT4X, the First Edition adds 17-inch beadlock capable wheels and a unique off-road bumper to the front of the truck complete with an LED light bar. Most interesting, however is the standard 10,000-pound recovery winch, which comes integrated behind the front bumper. The hardware is being sourced from a relative newcomer to the U.S. market, COMEUP, and is fitted with synthetic rope. The truck will also receive unique First Edition badging.Get Your 2023 Canyon Now!The all-new 2023 GMC Canyon is slated to begin production at GM's Wentzville assembly plant in the spring of 2023 and will kick off with the AT4X model. Starting today, reservations are open for the exclusive 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X Edition 1 package, which comes with a starting MSRP of $63,350, not including destination and delivery. The rest of the Canyon lineup will follow, with the Elevation trim starting at $40,000. Though pricing for the 2023 Colorado is forthcoming, forty grand is big money for the midsize truck segment—the GMC's entry-level MSRP sits in the upper realm of most of its competitors' price ladders. Again, though, given it only comes in high-output, up-market forms, the sub-AT4X GMCs might end up costing only slightly more than equivalent Colorados.2023 GMC Canyon Specifications BASE PRICE $40,000-$63,350 LAYOUT Front engine, 2WD or 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck ENGINE 2.7L/310-hp/430-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 TRANSMISSION 8-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 4,400-5,200 lbs WHEELBASE 131.4 in L x W x H 213.2-217.9 x 84.4 x 79.8-81.7 in 0-60 7.0 - 7.5 (MT est) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON TBD ON SALE Spring 2023 Show All
The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is a brand-new midsize pickup truck. If you're thinking, "well, that's obvious," you're right. But we do point it out because, when Chevy resurrected the previously compact Colorado as a midsize truck for 2015, it introduced a not-quite-as-new rig, a modified version of a truck it had been selling for years in global markets such as Thailand and Brazil.Alas, with a Silverado-derived frame, American-market-specific powertrains and cabin appointments, the Colorado was hardly some cobbled-together beast. The outgoing pickup is one of the best midsize pickups out there—to be accurate, it is the best, despite its age. Snatching an existing truck from Thailand proved to be such a savvy move that Ford basically did the same thing when it brought back the once-compact Ranger from the dead as a larger midsize truck—and Colorado competitor—for 2019. Given how the old Colorado was in some ways already several years old when it landed stateside eight years ago, the 2023 Colorado's ground-up newness, therefore, is one of its biggest standout features.New Is as New DoesJust looking at the new Colorado, the styling clearly benefited from this redesign. Where the old Colorado was soft-edged and fairly generic-looking, in keeping with the more budget-conscious global model, the new truck adopts a bold, assertive new look that positively screams "America, truck yeah!"Chevy moved the front axle forward, lengthening the wheelbase 3.1 inches in the process and shortening the front overhang. The net effect is a longer, more horizontal hood and improved approach angles for the nose, a boon off-road. The designers capitalized on this blocky new shape with a Silverado-like mug with slim headlights and bold inserts that give the impression of a full-width, full-height grille yawning from the bumper to the hood. (Also like on the Silverado, that mug is slightly different on nearly every trim level.) Along the body sides, there is a deeper channel cut into the door skins, which help visually puff out the squared-off fender bulges front and rear.Another big change? The previous-generation Colorado's entry-level extended-cab body style was pitched in the dustbin. You can now only purchase the Colorado as a four-door crew cab with a short bed (5-foot, 2-inch bed). Chevy says this move simplifies things on its manufacturing end, but primarily gets in line with the configuration that attracted the most buyer interest on the last Colorado. One Little Engine that CanAlso simplifying the lineup is the 2023 Colorado's move to a single engine choice. A 2.7-liter turbo I-4 engine replaces the old Colorado's entry-level 2.5-liter I-4 (which was limited to base Work Truck models anyway), 3.6-liter V-6, and 2.8-liter turbodiesel I-4 options. This engine isn't entirely new; it was introduced a few years ago on the larger Silverado 1500, and strategy-wise, it is comparable to the Ford Ranger's single, lineup-wide 2.3-liter turbo I-4 engine.Unlike the Ranger's four-cylinder, the Colorado's is available in three states of tune, offering up at least some choice. Entry-level Colorado Work Truck and LT models make 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. Optional on those Colorados and standard on the Z71 and Trail Boss models is a 310-hp, 390-lb-ft version. And limited to the range-topping Colorado ZR2 (which we've covered in depth here), the ultimate off-road iteration of the new truck, is a 310-hp, 430-lb-ft 2.7-liter I-4. Chevy says that, for the most part, the power differences are achieved via tuning of the computers, though the lowest-output version has some minor hardware differences. Every Colorado mates its 2.7-liter I-4 to an updated eight-speed automatic transmission.Fuel economy estimates for the new engine are forthcoming, but the power story—both compared to the old Colorado and its primary competitors—is interesting. With 310 hp in top guise, the Colorado is the most powerful midsize pickup you can buy. Granted, the old V-6 held the same title (in both the Colorado and its GMC-badged twin, the Canyon), with 308 hp; the now-discontinued diesel engine produced a mighty 369 lb-ft of torque, but that figure's easily eclipsed by the midrange 2.7-liter I-4. Even the new base models generate nearly as much torque than the old V-6, albeit at a higher rpm (5,600 vs. 4,000). The higher-output 2.7s deliver their peak torque at just 3,000 rpm.The 2.7-liter turbo is a truck engine through and through, having been designed from the outset for duty in the full-size Silverado (and playing an unusual secondary role in the Cadillac CT4-V). In the smaller, lighter Colorado, it should prove quite burly. It also includes standard cylinder deactivation, which can shut down two cylinders under light loads. Yep, that means this'll be the only (temporarily) two-cylinder midsize pickup you can buy.Five Grades, Mostly Off-RoadEven though the Colorado comes in Work Truck, LT, Z71, new-to-Colorado Trail Boss, and hardcore ZR2 guises, all five models share key standard features, including a new (sharp-looking) 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8.0-inch fully digital gauge cluster, eight bed tie downs, and a segment-exclusive electronic parking brake. Chevy says the base Work Truck and mid-grade off-road Trailboss models share a more "rugged aesthetic that is ready for work and play" inside, which we take to mean more basic, abuse-resistant, and plastickier cabin materials. The LT swaps in silver trim, plusher accents, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, while the Z71 gets a "sportier ambiance" with black and red accents and a mix of cloth and vinyl on the seats.Again, like the newly bold exterior, the Colorado's interior goes from uninspired to competitive, with a brash, full-width dashboard panel and its round outboard air vents giving us plenty of Camaro feels. The new touchscreen perches in the middle, tombstone-style, but close to the steering wheel for what looks like a comfortable reach. There are more upmarket details throughout, though most examples—the stitching on the dashboard and padded panels around the center console—are limited to the higher trim levels. And like the Camaro, the central air vents are buried low on the dash; that pays off for the ergonomics of the climate controls, which nestle up under the touchscreen, but is probably not great for airflow above chest height for front-seat occupants. A drive mode selector lives on the left of the console on models so equipped (mostly the off-road models), pushing the shifter to the right.Other differences between the models are clearer from the outside. The Work Truck gets an all-black-plastic face like the larger Silverado WT, 17-inch steel wheels, and that's pretty much it. LT models distinguish themselves with more streetable 17-inch wheels and tires, more body color elements on the front end, and more chrome. Finally, there are the trio of off-road versions, ranging from the relatively tame Z71 to the Trail Boss (which gets a 2.0-inch suspension lift and burlier tires) to the ZR2 (which sits 3.0 inches higher than WT/LT/Z71 models and has a wider track). The grille and bumper treatments get wilder the closer to the ZR2 you get, with the ZR2 out-crazying the rest of the lineup with flared fenders, meaty bumpers, and even an available bed-mounted roll bar with lights and beadlock-capable wheels via a special-edition Desert Boss package.Off-road equipment varies from optional four-wheel-drive on the WT and LT to a standard limited-slip rear differential (standard on Z71 and Trail Boss) to power-locking front and rear diffs on the ZR2, which also once again rides on Multimatic DSSV spool-valve, frequency selective dampers. Those fancy shocks passively take the edge off the worst terrain with valving that slows faster inputs and handles slower amplitudes more softly. The net result is better wheel control over washboard surfaces and more controlled bump stop events. Ground clearance tops out at an outstanding 10.7 inches for the ZR2, with the Trail Boss standing 9.5 inches off the deck and the other Colorados perched at 7.9 to 8.9 inches.If you're thinking Chevy's inclusion of three off-road models and switch to more aggro styling and the single crew-cab bodystyle signals an intent to chase after adventurous types with the new Colorado, you're right. The automaker also hopes the new truck bed's available 110-volt household outlet, motorcycle-tire indents in the forward bed wall, and newly available in-tailgate storage will appeal to weekend warrior types. That tailgate storage, in particular, carries whiffs of the Honda Ridgeline's in-bed "trunk," an underfloor, watertight cubby with a drain that doubles as a cooler. The Colorado's lockable, weathertight hollow tailgate is less useful, probably, but at 45 inches wide and 4 inches deep can still probably be stuffed with ice and some cold snacks.If Chevy can keep the current truck's decent road manners and roomy interior in place while improving things with the new 2.7-liter engine and expanded off-road offerings, consider the 2023 Colorado a ringing success. But it'll have stiff competition: Ford is on the cusp of launching its also-all-new 2023 Ranger, and Toyota's sales-leader Tacoma is about to be redesigned, as well. We'll see how the new Colorado shakes out when it goes on sale midway through 2023.2023 Chevrolet Colorado Specifications BASE PRICE $28,000-$50,000 (est) LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD or 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck ENGINE 2.7L/237-310-hp /259-430-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 TRANSMISSION 8-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 4,750-5,300 lb (mfr) WHEELBASE 131.4 in L x W x H 213.0-213.2 x 84.4 x 78.8-81.9 in 0-60 MPH 7.0-7.5 sec (MT est) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON TBD EPA RANGE, COMB TBD miles ON SALE Spring 2023 Show All
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