Welcome back to another iteration of Car Clash, where we take two models and pit them together on paper, and let you decide which comes out on top. Today’s matchup is interesting. We decided to take our North American Chevrolet Colorado, and compare it to the international Chevrolet Colorado.
The two trucks are similar, but not the same by any means. The global Colorado comes in as an all-new, 2017 model year. Our current Colorado still remains in the 2016 designation, but no major changes are foreseen for 2017.
Let’s start with design. The 2017 Colorado certainly does have a more global appearance. While it looks tough, the North American Colorado looks decidedly more upmarket, especially in the rear. The two faces borrow traditional Chevrolet DNA for a rugged looking pickup truck, so it’s difficult to pick a winner on style alone. Both are handsome pickups.
Inside, though, it’s different. The North American Colorado looks lightyears ahead in material qualities and overall ergonomics. We fancy our North American truck over the global variant here.
So, how about in the powertrain department? In North America, the Colorado has three choices: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a 3.6-liter V6 and the torque-filled, 2.8-liter Duramax turbo diesel. Elsewhere, the 2017 Colorado solely receives power from a 2.5-liter Duramax turbocharged four-cylinder. And, it can be had with a manual or automatic gearbox. We dream of working the 2.8-liter Duramax with a manual.
It’s difficult to compare the powertrains, but we’ll hand the win off to the North American Colorado, simply for its choices. Holden could receive another option other than the oil burner, though, when Oz is up to bat for the new Colorado.
And, while the 2017 Colorado globally gets beefed up suspension components, it trails in comparison to the refinement found in the North American truck. So, you can see where this is heading.
We would absolutely pick our North American Colorado over the global iteration. But, that’s because the global truck serves a different purpose. It’s not just a midsize truck, it’s a staple vehicle, and needs to be accessible to many different buyers in a very different market.
But, it’s your turn. Given the choice, would you choose the global, or North American Colorado? Place your votes below.
Comments
One for Europe?
I will take the International version cause it is a tougher truck.
Europe’s screaming out for a Vauxhall & Opel truck, Ford, VW, Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubushi, Isuzu have one & Mercedes, Renault & Fiat will be launching theirs soon. Come on GM give us a competitive pick up with 2.8 Duramax diesel & V6 petrol for Europe 🙂
You don’t want the Duramax. Here in Australia there have been plenty of recalls regarding them, and they’re also unrefined and unreliable. You’d be better off with an Isuzu. While it comes out of the same factory as the Colorado, it has a much more reliable engine.
One would think that it would be more cost efficient to only produce one exterior design.
If you stamped the dies in one place, from that perspective yes. Freight would kill you though.
And if you’re doing another set of dies for another continent, you’d be stupid not to do the tweaks necessary for the market on parts like this, leaving the main components intact
Both are great trucks. I actually like the looks of the international version more, but not by much. Probably because a mid-sizer would be a sporty truck for my uses and the international styling is a bit more sporty.
I was in Thailand recently and have seen the Colorado and it is sharp. I’d also like to say, its fraternal step brother, the Isuzu D-Max looks real good too. I believe the D-Max is the second biggest selling vehicle in Thailand. But the best looking is the Ranger. It looks like the Edge, but in pickup form. I’d have trouble choosing between the International Colorado and the Ranger, because I drive GM first.
The D-Max would be by far the better choice. You don’t get 550Nm of torque from a 2.8 like in the Duramax without losing reliability. The D-Max and the Mitsubishi pickup (known as the Triton here in Oz), have proven to be the more reliable pickups in the market today (time will only tell with the current Hilux’s 2.8 turbo diesel).
Here in New Zealand the Holden / Chevy Colorado is totally out classed by the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Toyota Hilux and VW Amarok and even the new gen Nissan Nivara is by far a better option.
The colorado looks weak and cheap and now has a poor perception compared to the rest.
If Holden launched the USA Colorado in NZ and Australia which like the Ford Ranager has more aggressive and muscular styling it would sell like absolute hotcakes.
No it wouldn’t, as it’d be even less reliable than the one we already get. In this particular segment, reliability is everything and only Toyota, Isuzu and Mitsubishi really get that.
Aaron,
I don’t understand your weak reply.
1.You say reliability is key but why then is the Ford Ranger the biggest selling vehicle in NZ ? The Ford outsells the Toyota (first time in 30 years). I hear patchy things about the reliability of the ranger so it must sell on it’s better aesthetics.
2. The Isuzu is the same vehicle as the Colorado so I don’t get your point.
3. The Mitsi sells because it is cheap and good value – the reliability doesn’t touch Toyota.
Looks to me like reliability is something but not everything otherwise the VW Amarok would not sell.
I just read on Kelly blue book the 2016 USA colorado got better reliability ratings than the 2016 Toyota Tacoma did because of a bad batch of drivetrains. And Mitsubishi pulled out of the USA midsize truck market a long time ago I believe.
how about reintroducing the 5.3L V-8 in a performance package???? then i might sho a little interest
Get your facts straight before you write. This article is biased towards the North American because the engine options are inaccurate or missing. There is a 2.8L Duramax for the 2017 version as has been the case for the previous years and it produces 197 HP vs 181 in the North American version. Available in both M/T and A/T. Also, many items are missing, like towing capacity, payload, turning radius, etc. all points which can make a pickup much more practical.
Aside from the difference in exterior body together with engine and the internal design, are there aby similarities with regards to brakes and suspension?
No Brasil a Chevrolet S10 (Holden Colorado) tem fama de manutenção fácil e barata, só na famÃlia tem 4. A Ranger tem fama de não ser confiável na versão 3.2, mas na 2.2 turbo vende bem.