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Chevrolet Colorado

20 model years from 2005 to 2026, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.

Chevrolet Colorado
Pictured: 2024 Chevrolet Colorado Z71, front left, 09-28-2024. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Model years
2005–2026
Class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
Latest engines
2.7L 4-cyl turbo
Best MPG
20–25 combined, by year
Latest rating
★★★★★ (2025)
Recalls
24 campaigns, all years
Most complaints
2016 (714)
Fewest problems
2022
Interest
13,353 Wikipedia views / 30 days

The 2026 Colorado in brief

The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado is a standard pickup truck offered with a 2.7L 4-cyl turbo engine and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive.

It measures about 213 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 132-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,716 lb (Crewcab 2WD).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 24 highway), 2% better than the 2026 standard pickup truck average of 20.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,200 a year in fuel.

It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the electrical system.

The Chevrolet Colorado has 20 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2026, classed as Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 2WD.

Its most efficient year was 2018 at 25 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 20 to 25 MPG.

Owners most often report problems with the steering (921), electrical system (503), power train (456).

Buying used? 2022 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2016 is the year to avoid.

2015 has the most recalls (7); all years together count 24 campaigns and 2,606 owner complaints.

How the 2005 Colorado compares

The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is a standard pickup truck offered with 2 engines (2.8L 4-cyl and 3.5L 5-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

It measures about 207 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 126-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,752 lb (Crew Cab S/Box 2WD).

About the Chevrolet Colorado

The Chevrolet Colorado is a series of compact pickup trucks and mid-size pickup trucks marketed by American automaker General Motors. They were introduced in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15/Sonoma compact pickups. The Colorado is named after the U.S. state of Colorado, while the Canyon took its name from the deep chasm between cliffs.

From the Wikipedia article "Chevrolet Colorado", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

2026 Colorado pros & cons

Full 2026 details →

What's good

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Watch out for

No weak spots against similar models in the data.

Best and worst years to buy used

NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →

Compare head to head

Compare the Colorado with any other car →

Colorado changes by model year

  1. 2025
    • Best combined MPG down from 22 to 20
  2. 2023
    • New body dimensions: 11.8 in shorter, wheelbase −9.1 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • No diesel version any more
    • Engine added: 2.7L 4-cyl turbo
    • Engines dropped: 2.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl and 3.6L 6-cyl
  3. 2019
    • Best combined MPG down from 25 to 23
  4. 2016
    • New diesel version
    • Engine added: 2.8L 4-cyl turbo
    • Best combined MPG up from 22 to 25
  5. 2015
    • New body dimensions: 17.7 in longer, wheelbase +14.6 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • Engines added: 2.5L 4-cyl and 3.6L 6-cyl
    • Engines dropped: 2.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl and 5.3L 8-cyl
    • Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 4 stars overall
  6. 2009
    • Engine added: 5.3L 8-cyl
  7. 2007
    • Engines added: 2.9L 4-cyl and 3.7L 5-cyl
    • Engines dropped: 2.8L 4-cyl and 3.5L 5-cyl

Years without a measurable change are left out.

Show all 20 model years side by side
YearLatest enginesBest MPG / rangeLengthWeightOverallRecallsComplaints
20262.7L 4-cyl turbo21 MPG213 in4,716 lbNot rated118
20252.7L 4-cyl turbo20 MPG213 in4,716 lb★★★★★127
20242.7L 4-cyl turbo22 MPG213 in4,716 lb★★★★★3125
20232.7L 4-cyl turbo22 MPG213 in4,716 lb★★★★★3137
20222.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★156
20212.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★180
20202.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★088
20192.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★0150
20182.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl25 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★1183
20172.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl25 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★1216
20162.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl25 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★4714
20152.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl22 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★7493
20122.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated228
20112.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated529
20102.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated221
20092.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl20 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated147
20082.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl20 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated135
20072.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl20 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated152
20062.8L 4-cyl, 3.5L 5-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated151
20052.8L 4-cyl, 3.5L 5-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated156
Best combined MPG by model year — Chevrolet Colorado
2005: 21 MPG2006: 21 MPG2007: 20 MPG2008: 20 MPG2009: 20 MPG2010: 21 MPG2011: 21 MPG2012: 21 MPG2015: 22 MPG2016: 25 MPG2017: 25 MPG2018: 25 MPG2019: 23 MPG2020: 23 MPG2021: 23 MPG2022: 23 MPG2023: 22 MPG2024: 22 MPG2025: 20 MPG2026: 21 MPG2005200820112016201920222025max 25 MPG

Alternatives to the 2026 Colorado

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2026 Toyota Tacoma23 MPGNot rated0
2026 GMC Canyon20 MPGNot rated2
2026 Ford Ranger23 MPGNot rated8
2026 Honda Ridgeline21 MPGNot rated0
2026 Jeep Gladiator19 MPGNot rated2
2026 Rivian R1T420 miNot rated2

Most common owner-reported problems

Steering921
Electrical System503
Power Train456
Engine296
Unknown Or Other253
Service Brakes194
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)94
Air Bags83
Owner complaints by model year — Chevrolet Colorado
2005: 562006: 512007: 522008: 352009: 472010: 212011: 292012: 282015: 4932016: 7142017: 2162018: 1832019: 1502020: 882021: 802022: 562023: 1372024: 1252025: 272026: 182005200820112016201920222025max 714
Check your VIN for open recalls ↗

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Chevrolet. How we calculate this →