In the last few years, the mid-size pickup truck market has expanded significantly, both in the number of models being offered as well as the physical size of the offerings. The Ford Ranger is back, the Jeep Gladiator is FCA’s rough-and-tough return to a segment it left in 1992, and the Honda Ridgeline is a sensible pickup truck option for those wanting some utility without the commitment to the pickup truck lifestyle. Then there’s the Chevrolet Colorado, first introduced in 2003, with the second generation making a U.S. return in 2015 after a brief hiatus. Now, Car and Driver has pitted the four models against one another to see which mid-size pickup truck is best, and the winner of the comparison is none other than the Chevy Colorado.
The publication called the second-place 2019 Honda Ridgeline “boring,” while saying the last-place 2019 Ford Ranger had a “half-finished feel.” The 2020 Jeep Gladiator was the test favorite, but it placed third in the shootout due to its sub-par suspension response and sluggish steering. This left the first place position to the 2019 Chevy Colorado, which Car and Driver technical director Eric Tingwall called “the best-driving body-on-frame vehicle on sale today.”
That’s not to say the publication found the Chevy Colorado to be perfect. The publication wasn’t particularly fond of the truck’s 3.6L LGZ V6 engine nor its eight-speed automatic gearbox, both of which it found to be anything but “couth.” However, “The Colorado is a well-balanced package for tool and toy duties.”
It performed well off road even though it had the group’s second-lowest ground clearance. Car and Driver said the Chevrolet Colorado had “most of the virtues of the other trucks all rolled into one.”
In recent months, the Chevrolet Colorado has won a slew of comparison tests. Edmunds recently crowned Colorado Z71 the winner over the Ranger FX4 and Tacoma TRD Off-Road, while Motor Trend also bestowed the Colorado the winner in its mid-size farm truck comparison test. While the Colorado is still winning against its competitors, it is getting old. Car and Driver noted the cheap-feeling interior compared to other models in the segment, which is something the all-new, third-generation Colorado should address.
C&D’s full shootout can be found here.
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Comments
The Colorado is the best mid sized truck by a wide margin. Chevrolet did a great job with that truck – especially with the turbo diesel and the new ZR2. The Colorado is proving to be a popular, attractive, and reliable option in a segment with Honda and Toyota. There’s also a fast growing aftermarket equipment offering for the Colorado.
Question: Why is the new Ranger so disappointing? Seems like the engine is the only thing the critics like about it.
OMG you posted a that beautiful red Colorado again!
#triggered
GM has a good product here. The Ford Ranger, while new here, has been around awhile and is not that great. The Honda is like an El Camino, not really a truck, and the Jeep is so expensive, you can buy a full size truck cheaper.
Not sure what they did not like about the V6 and 8-gear automatic?
I have that setup in my 2019 Z71 Colorado– and over the 2016 WT I had, that’s probably it’s most attractive feature. The 8-speeds means it is rarely out of its optimal HP-band when accelerating. It’s always between 2800 and 3500 RPMs when I gas it and the first two gears give it a jump off the starting line (sometimes to the surprise of drivers in flashier, more expensive Euro cars next to me). It feels much more agile than its curb weight and size class would suggest.
I don’t know about you, but a naturally aspirated engine is something I prefer over a turbo charged 4 cyl. That’s me though. ?
Well, for real offroading the Gladiator is the best. For the remaining 99% of truckers who drive them like cars, the Ridgeline should stand out. Boring isn’t a bad thing if it handles, and doesn’t break all the time.
CD mentioned that the Gladiator tester’s long wheelbase causes it to beach very easily.
The even cited a case where the Ridgeline was better off road than the Gladiator.
GM need to take the already great Colorado ZR2 to next level, offering bigger tires, better ground clearance and more.
I expect it will in the next gen. They will not redo all the government testing just for 2 years. AEV said that is why the Bison did not get larger tires even if they would fit with minor trimming.
I want a six speed MANUAL transmission!!!
That would be the new anti theft device.
Always take these shootouts with a grain of salt as going to a showroom and spending some time behind the wheel is the best way to know for a certainty whether a vehicle is right for you especially when a vehicle like the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison with a crew cab has a base price of $49,645.
When are the specs on the 2020 Colorado coming out?