DETROIT – The numbers speak for themselves. The all-new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado midsize truck delivers the most horsepower and best highway efficiency of any midsize truck as well as the highest available trailering rating and higher payload ratings than the competition. That means Colorado owners can haul and tow more while using less fuel than Toyota Tacoma or the Nissan Frontier.
“The all-new Chevy Colorado answers the call for customers who have big lifestyle interests or work needs, but want to exercise them in a smaller, more efficient way,” said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager. “From the first spark plug to the trailer hitch, the Colorado was designed to enable truck capabilities without the sacrifices to which midsize truck customers had become accustomed.”
Colorado features a standard 2.5L I-4 engine. It is SAE-certified at 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 191 lb-ft of torque (259 Nm), and delivers an EPA-estimated 27 mpg on the highway (2WD automatic).
A 3.6L V-6 certified at 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 269 lb-ft of torque (365 Nm) is available with an EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the highway (2WD).
Compared to its midsize competitors, Colorado’s 2.5L engine generates 31 percent more horsepower and 11 percent more torque than Nissan Frontier’s I-4 (152 hp/171 lb-ft). It delivers that power advantage with 17 percent greater highway efficiency than the Nissan’s 23 mpg (2WD automatic models compared).
Colorado’s 2.5L also makes 25 percent more horsepower and 6 percent more torque than Toyota Tacoma’s I-4 (159 hp/180 lb-ft) – with 12.5 percent greater highway efficiency than Toyota’s 24 mpg (2WD automatic models compared).
When it comes to Colorado’s 3.6L V-6, it produces 16 percent more horsepower than the Frontier’s V-6 (262 hp/281 lb-ft), while delivering 18 percent greater efficiency than its EPA-estimated 22 mpg highway. It also produces 29 percent more horsepower than Tacoma’s V-6 (236 hp/266 lb-ft) and nearly 24 percent greater highway efficiency (21 mpg).
The Colorado V-6’s 305 horses and 269 lb-ft of torque exceed the 3.5L V-6 offered in the larger, full-size 2015 Ford F-150. It’s rated at 283 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque.
The Colorado’s available class-leading horsepower allows effortless performance on the highway, even when hauling or trailering. Its torque advantage – the engine’s pulling power – contributes to a more confident feeling of power on demand at lower speeds and when starting off with a trailer.
Colorado’s maximum payload ratings for four-cylinder- and V-6-equipped models – 1,460 pounds and 1,590 pounds, respectively – are greater than Frontier (971/1,524 pounds) and Tacoma (1,440/1,500 pounds).
With the available 3.6L V-6 engine and available trailering package, Colorado offers a maximum trailering rating of 7,000 pounds, which tops the max 6,500-pound ratings for the Frontier and Tacoma, per SAE J2807 recommended practices.
Colorado’s segment-highest trailering rating tops the 6,800-pound rating for the full-size Toyota Tundra equipped with the 4.6L V-8.
“Colorado combines greater capability and efficiency than any midsize competitive truck, and delivers maneuverability and garagability to make it the smart choice for customers,” said Johnson.
Capabilities Compared: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado vs. Midsize Competitors
| Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | EPA Hwy (2WD) | Max Payload | Max Trailering* | |
| Chevrolet Colorado |
200 – 4-cyl. 305 – V-6 |
191 – 4-cyl. 269 – V-6 |
27 – 4-cyl. 26 – V-6 |
1,460 lbs. – 4-cyl. 1,590 lbs. – V-6 |
3,500 lbs. – 4-cyl. 7,000 lbs. – V-6 |
| Nissan Frontier |
152 – 4-cyl. 262 – V-6 |
171 – 4-cyl. 281 – V-6 |
23 – 4-cyl. 22 – V-6 |
971 lbs. – 4-cyl. 1,524 lbs. – V-6 |
3,500 lbs. – 4-cyl. 6,500 lbs. – V-6 |
| Toyota Tacoma |
159 – 4-cyl. 236 – V-6 |
180 – 4-cyl. 266 – V-6 |
24 – 4-cyl. 21 – V-6 |
1,440 lbs. – 4-cyl. 1,500 lbs. – V-6 |
3,500 lbs. – 4-cyl. 6,500 lbs. – V-6 |
*with available towing package
