The truck market has really picked up over the last decade as drivers have come to see the benefit of vehicles that can tow, haul, and get just about any job done while still being excellent family vehicles. Automakers haven’t failed to see this and have spent this time improving the value of their trucks. They’ve been adding state-of-the-art infotainment systems, plush seats, and improved drivetrains to draw in buyers from other areas of the market once reserved for folks who wanted sedans, vans, and SUVs. However, many drivers are afraid to get behind the wheel of a full-size pickup truck, resulting in an increased demand for smaller and midsize trucks, like the 2021 Chevy Colorado.
Buyers looking for trucks better equipped for light-duty is one of the biggest reasons Chevrolet reintroduced the Colorado to its lineup in 2015. The current model, the 2020 Colorado, provides a great many benefits in a package that most drivers can handle and afford. The starting MSRP for a Colorado is $21,300, and that gives you a truck that can tow up to 7,700 pounds, and carry up to 1,578 pounds.
The Colorado won’t hurt you at the gas pump, with an EPA estimated fuel economy of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway with its diesel engine. With this in mind, the designers at Chevrolet have worked hard to update their midsize truck, providing us with a good preview of the 2021 Chevy Colorado.
As Chevy Trucks’ director of marketing Bob Krapes points out, “We’ve sold 520,000 Colorado pickups in five years through a relentless, foot-on-the-gas approach to product and feature updates.” For those of you who don’t have a calculator handy, that translates into 104,000 new Chevy Colorado trucks hitting the road each year. It is clear that Chevy has made this midsize truck a focus of its strategy, and with the new looks and features of the 2021 Chevy Colorado, it is definitely something you should consider when you are in the market for a new truck.
A Stronger and Bolder Look
The first thing you are going to notice about the 2021 Chevy Colorado is how the truck has a stronger and bolder profile. It starts with the front grille, which has a powerful appearance and a Chevy bowtie logo. The bowtie logo on the Colorado WT and LT trims will get a gold bowtie, while the Z71 gets a black bowtie. The ZR2 takes it a step further, with the name “CHEVROLET” spelled out in block letters. This redesign carries over to the tailgate, which also has the name “CHEVROLET” stamped into it, so there is no mistaking that you have bought yourself a Chevy truck. Finishing this new look are standard 17-inch wheels that give the Colorado a truly imposing stance. Director of marketing Bob Krapes explains, “With its new-look front end and tailgate, Colorado will now have a more aggressive appearance to match its award-winning capability.”
Speaking of awards, Kelley Blue Book just named the Chevy Colorado the 2020 Best Buy for midsize pickup trucks. This means that the folks at Kelley Blue Book can see how the capabilities of the Chevy Colorado combined with its myriad of options and features provide consumers with the most value when buying a truck of its class. It is clear that the new 2021 Chevy Colorado will help the truck build on this award. The folks at General Motors’ Wentzville Assembly Center in Wentzville, Missouri, are sure to be busy building new Chevy Colorado trucks for drivers all over America.
A Truly Colorful Future for the Chevy Colorado
One of the more fun things about the 2021 Chevy Colorado is the announcement that the Chevy will be adding three new colors to the truck lineup. The current colors include satin steel metallic, summit white, black, and crush (an orange color). The first color announced is sand dune metallic, which will be exclusive to the ZR2 and Z71 trims. This is a gorgeous tan color that will look great when these two off-road beasts hit the trails. The next color is called Cherry Bomb Tintcoat, and it really is the bomb. This deep metallic red makes the Chevy Colorado look like it’s on fire. The final new color is called Pow Zinga Metallic. Okay, you probably have no idea what to expect. Don’t feel bad because neither did we, but when we took one look at how the 2021 Chevy Colorado looks with this amazing electric blue metallic paint, our minds immediately went “Pow Zinga.” Yes, it really is that cool. Take a look for yourself and tell me your mind didn’t get blown either.
Significant Changes for Off-Road Trims
Chevy took the off-road world by force with the introduction of the Z71 and ZR2 special off-road trims for the Chevy Colorado. These two vehicles have become extremely popular with off-road enthusiasts, and Chevy has taken note. As a result, steps have been taken to further differentiate the two from other models in the Chevy Colorado lineup. For the Z71, look for bolder looks, including the exclusive black Chevy bowtie logo. The changes will be even more extreme for the ZR2.
In addition to the flow-through lettering of “Chevrolet” on the front grille fascia, there will also be improved visibility over the dashboard based on the trim’s more aggressive stance. Standard front and rear red tow hooks have been added to the ZR2 as well to help with off-road performance. The ZR2 has already been equipped with segment-exclusive DSSV (for “Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve) position-sensitive dampers. This is a chassis suspension technology that delivers high levels of suspension damping performance, which allows the ZR2 to handle some of the roughest terrain.
The ZR2 also has standard front and rear electronic locking differentials, a 2-inch suspension lift, off-road rocker protection, cast-iron control arms, skid plates, and an Autotrac transfer case. Each of these features helps protect you and your Chevy Colorado ZR2 as you hit the off-road trails and dunes, keeping you and your passengers safe throughout your adventures. The ZR2 also has a 3.5-inch wider track than the standard 2021 Chevy Colorado, giving the truck added balance and a lower center of gravity to avoid rollover.
The Chevy Colorado ZR2 was named by Popular Mechanics as Editor’s Choice for best off-roaders. The magazine’s editors stated that, “If you need one off-roader to do it all, this is the truck.” Keep in mind that this was before the announcement of the upgrades for the 2021 Chevy Colorado ZR2, which will only take this truck to the next level of off-roading.
One thing that is interesting is that the changes give the 2021 Chevy Colorado ZR2 an appearance that more closely resembles the ZR2 Bison special edition. This may be signaling by Chevrolet that it is adopting many of the advantages of the Bison package from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to the wider range of the ZR2 trim. If this is the case, then it will be a truly happy day for off-road enthusiasts, as many of these AEV inspired Bison package exclusives have helped the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison become a legend in off-roading circles. We should find out soon once these amazing vehicles hit the road later this spring. While Chevrolet has yet to announce pricing and a release date, its teaser webpage has stated that the 2021 Colorado will be “available late spring 2020.” This should be just in time for a summer of off-road adventures.
