For decades, conventional wisdom about trucks has been simple: if you want a pickup truck that delivers all-around capability for job sites, off-roading, and on-roading alike, you get a light-duty full-size truck. Commonly referred to as 1500 series trucks (or the F-150 in the case of Ford), these trucks are the standard for versatility among consumers and commercial owners alike.
However, like everything in life, truck design continually advances. What if I told you that midsize trucks are now what full-size trucks used to be? Exhibit A is the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado. When you’re looking at a Chevy Colorado for sale, you’re looking at a midsize pickup that is every bit as capable as the more famous, more popular Chevy Silverado 1500 was 20 years ago.
Some of you undoubtedly scoff at the idea. A deeper look at the data, though, will reveal the true story. To prove what you might think is an outlandish claim, I decided to compare the 2025 Chevy Colorado head-to-head against the 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500. By the end of this article, I’ll show beyond a sliver of a doubt that just like 30 is the new 40 for humans, midsize is the new full-size for trucks.
Engines That Outperform Silverado Ancestors
The engine is the guts of any truck, and regardless of the truck’s size, you want it to have some pep off the line. Understandably, truck engines would be more powerful now than they were two decades ago. But looking at the specifications on the old Silverado and the new Colorado, it’s still striking to see where midsize trucks now stand.
To begin, the 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 came with five engine options. The introductory power plant was a 4.3L V6 that made 195 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which are paltry by today’s standards. There was also a 4.8L and two 5.3L V8 engines; the latter could generate 310 hp and 335 lb-ft, which is at least respectable by 2025 standards. The most powerful was a 6.0L V8 on the Silverado 1500 SS, which could yield 345 hp and 380 lb-ft.
Now it’s time to see what’s under the hood of the 2025 Chevy Colorado. You’ll only find one engine, but it’s quite something. The TurboMax 2.7L turbo-four delivers 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. That’s the same horsepower as a twice-the-size 5.3L engine on the 2005 Silverado, and considerably more torque than even the 6.0L V8. It’s like the first-generation Silverado had offspring that are now fully grown.
Towing and Hauling That Measure Up
But wait, I hear you saying — there’s more to a truck than just power. How well it’s built determines much of the capability, and there’s no way a midsize truck can come close to even an older full-size truck, right? Well, you don’t need to be an expert in frame materials, design, and other factors to know the answer. Just look at the official towing and payload ratings of each truck.
Depending on the configuration, a 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 had a towing capacity between 7,700 and 8,700 pounds. (Note I’m not counting the Silverado 1500 HD, which was more like a three-quarter-ton pickup.) The low number end is for the crew cab/short bed variant, which is the only way the 2025 Chevy Colorado is offered, making it a great direct comparison. And guess what? The Colorado’s towing maximum is identical at 7,700 pounds.
As for payload, while the regular cab/long bed version of the 2005 Chevy Silverado could exceed 2,000 pounds, most were far lower. To again look at layouts head-to-head, the crew cab/short bed 2005 Silverado officially came in at 1,814 pounds. The 2025 Colorado payload measures up to 1,684 pounds. That’s in the same ballpark, and most owners won’t notice the difference. Furthermore, the 2025 Colorado has a higher payload capacity than the extended-cab editions of the 2005 Silverado 1500, showing you can get plenty from a midsize steed.
A Suspension and Chassis Made for Adventure
Chevrolet has continued to develop and tune its trucks throughout the years, but the underlying principles remain the same. If you look at the spec sheets of the 2005 Silverado 1500 and 2025 Colorado, it would be hard to tell them apart at first. The trucks are made almost the same:
- An independent wishbone front suspension with coil over springs offers articulation for good on-road driving manners and trail handling.
- The rigid torsion beam rear suspension with leaf springs provides the durability needed when encountering rocks, potholes, and branches.
- The ground clearance on regular models is within a tenth of an inch, letting you roll over everyday obstacles with ease.
- Chevy’s fabled Z71 suspension package is available with features like a locking rear differential, a suspension lift, all-terrain tires, off-road tuned dampers, and other ways to drive better on unmaintained surfaces.
The modern Colorado even offers some things the elder Silverado 1500 doesn’t. There are three off-road trim levels instead of one, with Chevrolet adding the Trail Boss for more casual exploration and the ZR2 for extreme all-terrain truckers. Disc brakes are on all four wheels for faster and more reliable stopping, traction control becomes standard for more grip, and the wheels are aluminum instead of steel on most models to improve the power-to-weight ratio.
A Cab That’s Cozy and Tech-Friendly
You might say a good cab isn’t part of a truck’s capability, but I bet you won’t feel that way after four hours at the wheel. Looking at the interior of the 2005 Silverado 1500 and 2025 Colorado, it isn’t even a contest. The midsize Colorado has more leg room and basically the same headroom, so you’ll be comfortable. Cloth replaces vinyl as the primary upholstery, and you can upgrade the Colorado seat trim to synthetic leather. Modern amenities like heated, ventilated, and power-adjustable front seats let you enjoy work and play that much more.
Tech might not be a fair comparison, since onboard technology has advanced a lot in the past 20 years. Even so, it’s worth mentioning just how much you get now in a midsize truck. Even the highest trim levels on the 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 seem basic by today’s standards, with no touchscreens and features like hands-free phone calls being considered luxuries. Some Silverado models didn’t even have cruise control!
With the 2025 Chevy Colorado, though, you get the full gamut of modern tech, from an 11.3-inch touchscreen to USB charging ports and in-vehicle trailering apps. Google built-in replaces the optional GPS-based navigation system on the 2005 Silverado 1500, and you’re getting the latest active driver aids like Hill Descent Control and automatic emergency braking. Add underbody cameras, wireless phone charging, and other optional features for a midsize truck that even beats some other 2025 full-size trucks tech-wise, never mind those from two decades in the past.
The New Generation of Midsize Trucks
If you’re still thinking of the midsize truck segment as a weak, inferior vehicle, then it’s time to rewire your mindset. The data doesn’t lie, and if the 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 were released today, the 2025 Chevy Colorado would blow it away in most categories and at least be competitive in the remaining areas.
It’s telling that, along with marketing to everyday drivers, Chevrolet also promotes the Chevy Colorado as a commercial truck on its official website. This truck does just about everything full-size trucks used to do. As such, anyone who was looking at a used full-size truck might consider a new midsize instead, since they’ll get similar capabilities with the confidence and reliability of a brand-new vehicle.
