The Chevy Colorado and the GMC version, Canyon, were General motors mid-size pickups designed to replace the S10 and the Sonoma. Isuzu was a participant in the radical change and also came out with their very own version in 2005, called the i-Series. These trucks were designed based on the GMT355 and all three variations are produced at a GM plant in Rayong, Thailand, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
The Colorado offers both manual and automatic options with rear wheel and four wheel drive. These models also came with the options of standard, extended, and four door cab-styles. Early models had the standard option of a 2.77 liter LK5 I4 engine with the Chevy Z71 package offering a little more oomph with its 3.46L L52 engine, as well as the Chevy Colorado Z71 package including a four speed automatic transmission standard making it much easier to choose a Chevy Colorado over other brands and models. More recent models dropped these engine types for the LT2 and LT3 engine types.
In 2006 the Colorado was given a new look, inside and out, including 2.92L and a 3.65L engines, new colors, new tires, and new wheels. The LT and LTZ models took changes a step further, with minimal changes to the the grille, and the interior. 2005-2006 models door badges were changed from Colorado branding to GM’s logo. In 2009 the Colorado was again aesthetically redesigned and included an optional 5.3L LH8 V8, producing a whopping 300 HP and 320 Lb of torque. 2010 models began to phase out the GM logo badge on doors.
Colorado model U.S. sales reached their height in 2005 with over 163,000 sold beating out the Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier by nearly 35 percent and trailed the Toyota Tacoma by only 3 percent. The very next year the Colorado lacked its momentum and began trailing the Toyota Tacoma by almost 35 percent. In 2005 U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown helped heighten public awareness of the Colorado as it was prominently displayed on his television advertisements.
Crew cabs are limited to LT trims while other Chevy vehicles have only offered front buckets with trim. LT variations are the only trims of Colorado branding to include six passenger seating, although that pertains only to front bench seating.
Why choose a Chevy Colorado? Chevy Colorado’s are an honest attempt at a great work truck by Chevy and the apple has fallen very close to the American apple tree. Chevy has delivered a great product that has been proven to work and has raised the faith of the American working man, that America can still produce a great mid-size truck to compete with the emerging Japanese brand trucks that have inundated the market. Truck owners can be proud to own an American truck once again, and the Colorado is the answer.
