Is the 2025 Colorado the Best Iteration Yet?

2024 marked a particularly strong year for the Chevy Colorado, which should come as no surprise to fans of this midsize pickup. It not only saw a 120% sales jump between 2023 and 2024, but it also nabbed the Top Rated Truck award from the automotive experts at Edmunds. Chevy is poised to follow up on that remarkable success with the new 2025 model, and it’s easy to see why. Known for its affordability, reliability, and off-road performance, the Colorado consistently ranks toward the top of the charts in one of the industry’s most competitive segments. 

The 2025 Chevy Colorado managed to find some room for improvement, making standard the same turbocharged engine that powers Chevy’s full-size Silverado 1500 and gaining a few new features and packages that make the updated model worthy of a closer look. Let’s see what Chevy’s midsize marvel has been up to and learn how the 2025 model might be the best Chevy Colorado to date.  

Performance Metrics

The Colorado is available in five diverse trims, from the value-packed WT and versatile LT to three true off-road contenders in the Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2. While each trim includes a diverse range of features, they all share one important thing in common: a 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder engine producing 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. While the WT and LT were once saddled with a 237-hp version of this four-cylinder engine, Chevy has taken a refreshingly streamlined approach that gives all drivers access to the same potent powertrain no matter which trim they choose. 

It’s a nice change of pace in an industry where many automakers are all too happy to put a premium on enhanced performance, and it also means that the Colorado is powered by the same turbocharged engine as its big brother, the full-size Silverado 1500. If you’re seeking full-size power in a midsize package, the 2025 Colorado is tough to beat. Chevy’s commitment to quality construction is well-known in the pickup arena, and the 2025 Colorado stands are the perfect example of everything there is to love about the brand’s approach. 

Just take its independent front suspension, which perfectly balances on-road comfort with off-road ability thanks to its improved handling, steering response, and modest weight. The solid rear axle puts the Colorado on firm footing, allowing drivers to make the most of its 7,700-lb towing capacity without inflating the pickup’s price out of the range of the average driver. The off-road beast that is the ZR2 trim does sacrifice 1,700 lbs of towing in exchange for its athleticism, but the base trim still outpaces some of the Colorado’s closest rivals by an impressive margin. 

The WT and LT

The Colorado WT (Work Truck) lives up to its name with a hardy design that’s sure to make it a worksite MVP. Boasting the same turbocharged 2.7-liter engine as the rest of the lineup, there’s nothing basic about the base trim. While it might lack some of the more cutting-edge tech features of the higher trims, the WT holds its own with a roster of modern conveniences, including a push-button start, digital instrument cluster, and 11.3-inch touchscreen display that has plenty of wireless connectivity options thanks to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Cruise control also comes standard, but it’s not the only advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) you’ll find in the Colorado WT; Chevy makes safety a top priority with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and a blind-spot warning system with a rear cross-traffic alert. Blind spot detection will help to prevent that moment of panic that can come with shifting into an occupied lane, while the rear automatic braking prevents unfortunate run-ins with other cars, pedestrians, or wayward shopping carts. Optional add-ons include a power-adjustable driver’s seat and an EZ Lift tailgate that uses a spring-assisted mechanism to make shutting the hatch just a little bit easier.

The Colorado LT brings some premium features into the mix in the form of heated front seats, an optional heated steering wheel, and Chevy’s Evotex synthetic leather upholstery. Perfect for drivers who tend to get a little messy during the course of a hard day’s work, the Evotex upholstery is both durable and easy to clean. The LT provides drivers with an optional keyless entry feature, a wireless charging pad, and a 120-volt box-mounted power outlet that’s great for running any electronics, equipment, and accessories you might need when you’re miles off the beaten path or just trying to be the star of the tailgate party. 

The LT Convenience Package also includes the impressive Technology Package, which includes adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera that gives drivers a bird’s-eye view of the area immediately surrounding the truck. In addition to helping the pickup squeeze into a tight parking space, the surround-view camera can also make backing up a fully loaded trailer or completing that tricky hitch connection easier than ever.  

The Trail Boss and Z71

The Colorado’s midsize design makes it particularly well-suited for the rigors of off-road driving. Smaller and lighter than the full-size Silverado 1500, this midsize model is less likely to become mired in mud, sand, and snow and can easily navigate the sharp turns and narrow clearances that are part of the off-road experience. These qualities (and its impressive fuel efficiency) go a long way in strengthening the Colorado’s reputation as a readymade adventure vehicle, while a diverse set of off-road trims only improve its off-road résumé. 

The truck’s Z71 and Trail Boss trims provide an affordable entry into the world of off-road fun, with the latter representing one of the best values in the niche segment. The Trail Boss sees the Colorado’s LT trim enhanced with a generous assortment of purpose-built gear, which is a refreshing change of pace in a time when all too many “off-road” trims amount to little more than a new set of all-terrain tires and a few sporty appearance upgrades. 

Often retailing for less than $40k, the Trail Boss defies its modest price tag with a full arsenal of off-road goodies, from an automatic locking rear differential and two-speed transfer case to a two-inch suspension lift and Chevy’s comprehensive Advanced Trailering Package. The Trail Boss also includes fender flares and the all-important all-terrain tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels, but if you’re seeking another off-road option that combines the trim’s utility with some exceptional comfort and convenience features, look no further than the Z71. 

The Z71 adopts most of the Trail Boss’s off-road equipment but adds plenty of premium touches that make it difficult to ignore. The Z71 Convenience Package II ups the comfort factor with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar control, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. This package also includes Chevy’s innovative StowFlex tailgate, which comes with a lockable cargo compartment for secure storage. 

Wireless charging and an auto-dimming mirror rearview mirror round out the Convenience II Package, while the Convenience III Package introduces some true luxury into the mix with leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and driver’s seat memory settings that’ll ensure your ride always fits just right. Optional off-road upgrades include a skid plate array and an off-road lighting suite with a sport bar that’s sure to give the Colorado a distinctive look.

The ZR2 and ZR2 Bison

The Trail Boss and Z71 trims provided a well-rounded option that can seamlessly switch between daily driving duties and hardcore weekend adventures, but the ZR2 trim and its ZR2 Bison package pull out all the stops to turn the Colorado into a mud-slinging, rock-crawling, overlanding machine. Occupying the top of the 2025 trim ladder, the ZR2 and ZR2 Bison add a host of robust components and clever features that’ll make all the difference when you’re leaving paved roads behind. 

The ZR2 trim gets off to a strong start, equipping the Colorado with mud-terrain tires and driver-selectable front and rear locking differentials that improve the most important attribute of any off-road model: traction. When the going gets rough, wet, or slippery, the front and rear locking differentials jump into action, transferring power where it’s needed most and allowing drivers to avoid some of the more frustrating aspects of the off-road experience. 

Chevy has also given the Colorado ZR2’s suspension a full overhaul with a three-inch suspension lift and a set of Multimatic DSSV dampers to improve handling and ride quality. While traditional shocks are prone to inconsistent performance when exposed to high temps or persistent stress, the DSSV dampers are simply built a little differently, with spool valves replacing the standard shim stack approach. 

The ZR2 trim is primed for rugged off-road use thanks to its underbody skid plates and rocker-panel rails, while a spray-in bedliner protects the cargo area from unfortunate scratches or nicks as you’re bouncing down the trail at speed. The off-road-ready Colorado rounds out its ZR2 trim with a unique set of fender flares and bumpers and even comes standard with the Advanced Trailering Package. 

Of course, those seeking the ultimate off-road performance need look no further than the ZR2 Bison package. Developed in collaboration with the off-road wizards at American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), the ZR2 Bison adds a suite of heavy-duty components, including AEV skid plates, fender flares, and stamped steel front and rear bumpers with integrated recovery points and helpful winch mount that’s sure to come in clutch in any rescue scenario. 

The 17-inch AEV wheels are wrapped in 35-inch mud-terrain tires that can chew through even the most challenging terrain with ease, while a bed-mounted, full-size spare tire provides an important backup in case of puncture. The ZR2 Bison retains the original’s Multimatic DSSV dampers but adds a set of front and rear jounce control dampers that are specifically designed to prevent the Colorado’s suspension from bottoming out should you accidentally catch a little too much air. 

The Exceptional 2025 Chevy Colorado

If you’re in the market for a reliable pickup that puts performance front and center, it’s hard to do better than the 2025 Chevy Colorado. The midsize pickup was already a standout in its class, but the 2025 version takes everything there is to love about the pickup and kicks it up a notch. From the standard 310-hp turbocharged engine and affordable entry-level trims to the wide array of off-road outfits, there’s sure to be a good 2025 Colorado trim to fit the needs of every driver. 

If you want to experience life behind the wheel of the Chevy Colorado or simply test drive this popular pickup, North Park Chevrolet is here to help. We’re always here to help you find the perfect truck, whether it be the Colorado, full-size Silverado 1500, all-electric Silverado EV, or heavy-duty options like the Silverado 2500 and 3500. Stop by our dealership today and learn just how much fun life can be behind the wheel of a Chevy truck.

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