Today people expect a lot from cars. They want their vehicle to be able to go anywhere and do anything, sort of like a Swiss Army Knife, many tools in one. Essentially they want the perfect vehicle, however many people really only need just a couple of seats and a car that can travel around 70mph in safety. But then some people still have the need to carry family members with them, along with new purchases from Best Buy and even pull along a snowmobile trailer at times.
While you don’t have to do all of the above at the same time, for this reason SUVs and crossovers have become very popular, as they are versatile, of course the pick-up truck also remains one of the favourites too.
Many Americans go for the small to mid-size pick-up. Smaller trucks are compromised when it comes to space and the fuel economy isn’t any better than the full sizes. But they do give enough towing power, while being easy to park and have a reasonable price tag. in this category the Toyota Tacoma is out-dated now and Chevrolet have seized the chance to reintroduce a midsize Colorado.
The Colorado does offer a ride that is controlled and there is good isolation from the harshness of the road. The basic four cylinder Colorado mirrors the ride of the Escape, which is rather placid.
Cornering is safe but don’t expect the Colorado to offer large lateral grip or steering that is ultra-precise as it doesn’t.
While there is the 305hp, 269 lb-ft torque version with the 3.6 litre V6 engine, I tested the more frugal 2.5 litre four which offers 200hp and 191 lb-ft. of torque. The vehicle moves around confidently and its not underpowered for the basic commute.
If you go for the optional automatic transmission along with two wheel drive then you can expect to get around 20 miles in the city and on the highway around 27 miles.
There is a 50/50 mix of sport and strength in the design and the beefed up rear stance along with the sharp front end is modern. When it comes to the interior this is a great place to spend time. There is the option of going for the towing package and the V6 powered Chevy will then tow 7,000 pounds. With the four cylinder you can expect to get half of this.
It comes in at just under $21,000 and is packed with features for this price tag. You will feel as though your money has been well spent. All in all this is a close to a Swiss Army Knife as you are going to get in a pick-up.
