Overview

The Chevrolet Colorado was among the first of a new generation of larger compact pickups when it was introduced as a 2004 model and all but Ford followed quickly on its heals. In fact, we don't even call them compact pickups anymore. Now they're called midsize pickups.

Colorado was designed to offer improved comfort and maybe replace the family sedan in the process. Colorado favors roominess, ride comfort and fuel efficiency over traditional truck virtues such as payload and towing capacity. That's a strong selling point because compact trucks are increasingly bought as alternatives to cars, and their owners want more hip room, leg room and head room. Most are willing to sacrifice bed length for cab room. Sales of Regular Cab trucks, which typically offered the longest beds, are way down (although Colorado is one of the few to still offer this variation). The Extended Cab has largely replaced the Regular Cab as the truck for serious haulers, many of whom like being able to stash gear, tools, luggage, or groceries behind the seats. Crew Cabs are exploding in popularity because they offer the convenience of a comfortable back seat for family and friends. Their short bed lengths are an acceptable compromise for many buyers. But don't get us wrong: The Colorado isn't a car with a bed.

In fact, the Colorado provides all the trucking capacity most owners will ever use. It has a six-foot bed with Regular and Extended Cabs, and a five-foot bed on Crew Cabs. A properly equipped Colorado is rated to tow 4,000 pounds, enough for transporting ATVs, dirt bikes, personal watercraft, bass boats, and small camping trailers. In most configurations, the Colorado can carry more weight in the bed than the old S10 could. So it'll get the job done.

On the whole, we think the trade-offs have paid off. Colorado rides smoothly and feels refined. Order the five-cylinder engine and it accelerates smartly. (That's right: five-cylinder.) The Crew Cab features a roomy back seat that's surprisingly comfortable and not bolt-upright. Yet the Colorado fits into tight parking spaces, something that can't be said of full-size pickups. Like all the trucks in this category, the Colorado is substantially smaller and more maneuverable than full-size pickups such as the Dodge Ram or Chevy Silverado.

And Colorado offers something its competitors have forgotten, and that's a utilitarian Regular Cab work truck. In fact, about a hundred permutations are available, giving buyers lots of choices to fit their needs.

The number of trim levels has been expanded for 2006, although little else is actually new. The cloth upholstery for the new high-level LT model has been upgraded, and a new option package that combines the sunroof with a six-disc CD changer is available.

Model Lineup

The 2006 Chevrolet Colorado comes with three different suspensions: The rugged Z85 is the standard suspension and is available with two-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The Z71 off-road suspension is also available with 2WD and 4WD. Appropriately, the low-riding ZQ8 sport suspension is only available with 2WD.

A 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine comes standard in most models, rated 175 horsepower. A 3.5-liter five-cylinder rated 220 horsepower is optional ($1,000) on most Colorados and standard on some upper-level models. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with either engine, with a four-speed automatic ($1,095) optional.

Regular Cab, Extended Cab, and Crew Cab models are available. Trim levels have been expanded for 2006.

The only base-level models are commercial-grade trucks. These are available as a Regular Cab 2WD ($15,330) or Extended Cab 2WD ($17,705), plus new Regular Cab 4WD ($19,125) and Extended Cab 4WD ($21,475) models. All come with hose-it-out vinyl floor mats and durable vinyl seating, ideal for muddy-boot applications (and situations where the buyer isn't the same person as the driver). Air conditioning is standard, along with tilt steering and cruise control. Four-cylinder engines come standard, but five-cylinder engines are available. All come with the standard Z85 suspension. An LS badge, which was the deluxe Colorado last year, now simply means the commercial truck with a 60/40 split cloth bench seat. Prices are exactly the same, although the option list expands somewhat. Options includes carpeting ($70).

To move up to what was an LS truck last year, you now must order one of three sub-levels of LT trim. 1LT adds a recline feature, center armrest, and upgraded fabric for the 60/40 split bench seat; plus leather wrap for the steering wheel and AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio. 2LT adds power windows, mirrors and locks with remote keyless entry, and makes the automatic transmission standard. Choosing 3LT makes the five-cylinder engine standard as well, plus front bucket seats and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with eight-point compass and temperature readout. And again, the option list expands at each level.