Colorado is Autoblog’s Favorite Midsize Truck

The last few years have been quite eventful for the midsize truck segment. Nissan’s Frontier previewed things with a redesign for 2022. A year later came the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon redesigns, and in 2024, the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma had their turn. With all these recent new model designs, it kind of means something when the popular automotive site Autoblog, which has tested them all, declares: “The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado stands tall as our favorite midsize pickup truck this year for a host of reasons.” Barry’s Chevrolet explores those reasons.

Autoblog starts things by mentioning the Colorado’s “Stellar exterior design,” and indeed, to look at it is to not find one surface crease or detail out of place. It looks like just what it is: a tough, mid-size truck. 

Beauty on the Inside

The interior also gets praise, where for 2024, even the spartan Work Truck gets the 11-inch touch screen and an 11-inch digital gauge cluster. There are larger center screens in this class, but the Colorado screen is large enough to see everything, is proportional to the interior size, and doesn’t make you feel like you are sitting too close to the TV set.

The big screen would be annoying if it didn’t respond well, but the Google Built-in operating system responds quickly and precisely. It includes the well-loved Google Maps navigation for all models as well as access to other apps from the Google Play Store.

Another positive is that Colorado still has plenty of good-feeling physical controls for the climate control system, drive modes, and proper knobs for volume and temperature control.  The interior colors don’t stray much from black or gray, but models like the Z71 spruce things up with red for the stitching and other accents. Padded surfaces on the Z71 and LT also add a level of refinement to the interior. Autoblog also found the cabin’s room to be in line with the segment, which means plenty of room up front and a little tight but acceptable for adults in the rear.

Grunt is Good

All Colorados are powered by one of two 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4 engines paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The WT and LT have standard rear-wheel drive with 4-wheel drive available, while the latter is standard on the Trail Boss Z71 and ZR2. The WT and LT come with the standard version of the engine, which produces 237 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy for the rear-drive trucks is listed at 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. 4WD knocks off just one MPG each.

The three 4WD-only models get the high-output version of the turbo 2.7L with 310 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, for the Trail Boss and Z71, while the ZR2 has the same horsepower but 430 lb-ft of torque. There is a fuel efficiency price to pay for the greater power, with the Trail Boss and Z71 rated at 17/21/19. With its greater torque, big all-terrain tires, and other off-road hardware, the ZR2’s mpg rating comes to 16 mpg for both city and highway.

A combination of body-on-frame construction and rear leaf springs isn’t usually the recipe for a good ride, but Autoblog found Colorado “comports itself well in terms of both ride and handling. It’s reasonably composed, comfortable, and civilized.” They were even more impressed with the ZR2: “…the ZR2 with its giant tires and Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers completely changes the game in terms of ride quality. It’s going to be the best performer both on and off the road.”

As far as Autoblog is concerned, the verdict is in. The Colorado is not only far better than it has ever been but also the best mid-size truck line amidst all of its competitors’ latest efforts. You may find that the midsize Colorado is all the truck you need. You will know for sure after a visit to Barry’s Chevrolet for a test drive.