With fresh contenders such as the Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, an upcoming redesign to the Nissan Frontier, and a potential new entry from Volkswagen, the midsize truck segment is very much revitalized in North America. Because of that, we were expecting the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado to receive a rather thorough mid-cycle refresh to stay ahead of the intensified competition. Instead, it will only get a few changes and updates. Here’s exactly what’s new for the 2020 model year.
Exterior
Since this is a small update rather than a full-on refresh, the Colorado’s exterior styling and powertrains carry over unchanged from the 2019 model. However, some utility features were revised.
There’s now a remote locking tailgate available as an option on the Work Truck trim. It comes standard on LT, Z71 and ZR2 models. All models also get Tire Fill Alert, while LT models now come standard with the EZ-lift tailgate, which was previously an option on the LT trim.
What’s more, the 2WD Z71 Extended Cab and 2WD Z71 Crew Cab Long Box models will be removed from the lineup.
Interior
Inside, the leather-appointed Jet Black/Dark Ash interior color combination has been deleted from the lineup. In addition, the Chevrolet Infotainment Premium system with Navigation (IOT) is replaced with the Chevrolet Infotainment Plus system with Navigation (IOU).
Lastly, LT models now require the Luxury Package and Crew Cab body style in order to be appointed with the Jet Black leather interior.
Packages
Package-level changes to the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado include the reshuffling of various packages. Notably, the Safety Package is now available on Z71 models. The package, which includes Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, was previously available only on the LT model.
Other changes to the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado’s packages include:
- Deletion of the Redline Luxury Special Edition Package
- Deletion of the RST Luxury Special Edition
- The Chrome Luxury Package changes to the Luxury Package and is exclusively offered on Crew Cab models
- Redline Special Edition and Colorado RST Special Edition models can now be combined with the Luxury Package
And that’s all there is that’s new and different for the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado.
For North American markets, the Chevrolet Colorado is built at the GM Wentzville factory in Missouri operated by GM USA. International versions of the truck, which are substantially different, are built at the GM Thailand plant in Rayong operated by GM Thailand.
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Comments
I assume they are waiting for the next gen Canyon to make major upgrades. The Colorado is not threatened by at least this version of the Ranger. The Gladiator, while I personally don’t see it, will bite in to the ZR2 buyer pool somewhat. I don’t see it much beyond that type of buyer. VW may be interesting unless it is a rebadged Ranger. I just hope GM doesnt try to take the easy road on the next version of the Colorado. GM has done a good job with this line of midsize pickups. Now that everyone is jumping back in, they need to build on the momentum that they have created. GM, just don’t take your pack off.
I’m also assuming they’ll replace the V6 with the 2.7 turbo (or at least optional) with a refesh. With the little Duramax and 2.7 turbo drivelines they’ll be in great shape with these.
They wouldn’t need to worry about any major “re-fresh” if they do the following:
Offer a basic truck here. Nothing fancy. Not all loaded up. Give it basic rims, automatic, 4 cyl, A/C, power windows/lock/mirrors, a 4 speaker stereo with Bluetooth in 2WD extended cab for $19,995. Want the crew with same features? Great. $20,995. Oh, want that in 4X4? No worries. Make the same features in 4X4 ext cab at $21,995 and the 4X4 crew at $22,995.
Do that and nobody would care about any updates or re-fresh. Chevrolet wouldn’t be able to keep those trucks in stock and they would leave all the other trucks in the dust. Someone needs to seriously tell these truck makers that not all people want (or can afford!!!) a $35,000 base truck or a loaded up $50,000 + truck.
Dan they do offer those trucks. With incentives i have priced base Colorados as low as $18,900 in the San Diego metro dealers. They move very slowly.
On the other hand the Z71 crew LT with incentives can be had for around $32,000. Some even a little cheaper. This is what moves and sells.
$19k buys you very little anymore and most people understand this. $35 k is the Average going rate anymore and it continues to climb.
GM dissolved their venture with Isuzu and are going it alone on these trucks. I believe they hav3 skipped the refresh and just will move to the new platform around 22-23.
Note the deal they got from MO for the plant for a substantial investment in the line.
I get what you are saying. But there’s also another angle to that, and it’s that people are buying trucks like that but just not GM’s. When nearly everything stocked at dealers is higher end trucks like you described, the people have little choice but to buy them or go someplace else. You are correct in that most people do prefer the better equipped trucks if they can afford them, but those times will end soon enough as people can’t keep buying at the rate they are with the ATP as high as it’s gotten. Personally, I think the buying bubble is going to burst soon and the dealers with lower priced vehicles will be the winners as the rest try to catch up while sitting on high priced units.
Many dealers don’t stock them as they sell so slowly. Also there is little profit in them. Why buy something that just sits on the floor plan costing you more to keep it than you will make on it?
It is not like the old days of the $9,999 trucks that did move.
The work truck deal is regional. For some reason I see most in So Cal.
I agree people can’t keep buying at the rate they were but the higher ATP is the only way to make money with the market contracting.
They can lower cost more and move production out of country but we know how that goes over. GM is not in the same box as the imports that came here late in the game wit non union plants and most hired only younger people that cut their retirement, health costs.
The chicken tax and various regulations keep smaller and more basic trucks out of the US market. Otherwise one could imagine a foreign brand making money on a relatively low volume cheap but functional truck.
The tax really does not apply here as most of these trucks are built here in the mid size class. The Toyota is here and Mex, the GM truck in Mo, the Jeep Ohio etc.
I love the trucks but would personally like the seat colors to be a little more sporty or classy colors. I needs truck to pull my Kayaks but I love my Lexus RC 350 especially the red and black seats. I think all the trucks would look cool with dual colored seat!
I agree. I had a red and black interior in my HHR SS that was sweet like in the Corvette. The ZR should have this option.
GMC does have a tu tone brown interior but it is not available on the Chevy for some odd reason.
The several tones of black and gray are drab.
Personally, I do think that the Colorado is a decent truck, I prefer the more truck like styling of the GMC but that’s just me. I will say this though. I feel like If Chevrolet, were to make the Colorado look a bit more like a baby silverado instead of the current WTF face the truck has, it might be a bit nicer. Other than that, I like the outside of the truck and the general size. Same with the interior. Honestly, I think the interior of a 1995 C1500 chevy was a better design than what the Colorado currently has minus the fact that the Colorado has a floor mounted shifter. A modern version of that with a digital instrument cluster, modern stereo equipment, a redesigned steering wheel, console floor shifter and seats like the 95 C/K 1500 with a center console would do just fine. As far as the engines and drivetrains go, the Turbo 2.7L Four cylinder w/ a 10-speed auto would work just fine along with a decent V6 Diesel option. a Z71 4×4 option needs to be in place as well as the ZR2, a High Country, an RST, and the WT trim levels. A 3.6L Twin Turbo Xtreme option would be nice as well along with a 3.0L twin Turbo SS variant. Both with 10-speed autos, MAgnetic ride, Brembo brakes, and everything else.
I have a first generation 2012 Canyon with the 5.3 V8. GM put the V8 in the Colorado and Canyon from 2009-2012. My truck’s performance has been awesome. A V8 in the current generation Colorado and Canyon would prompt me to buy, as I don’t want a full-size truck, but I do want a V8.
They need to spend a little time and money to improve front seat comfort. I hear a lot of people complain about the seats.
@Jon St Vincent: I couldn’t disagree more. I test drove two Tacomas and just one Colorado. The reason I did not go with Tacoma and did go with Colorado was specifically for comfort.
Leave it to GM to wait a generation before updating a product, even in the face of mounting competition. But while on the subject, they could lower the clearance a bit so I don’t have to pull my wife up into the passenger seat to get in.
Andy you do realize this is a frame on body pickup. Perhaps a Ridgeline would have been a better fit for you. Lowering the clearance defeats the purpose. They make nerf bars for them if you need it.
I think that GMC does not understand that much of the market for this type of vehicle is the old guy that “needs” to have a pickup, but is understanding that he is getting to be less able to maneuver a big vehicle through his urban neighbourhood. He is the kind of guy that has some coin, and is not looking for the lowest price model, and is not looking to be able to haul massive amounts of work gear. No. More like he wants to be super comfortable (maybe a seat like the new Navigator?) , get good gas mileage, and be able to lock his $20,000 worth of camera gear, his $20,000 bicycle or $20,000 worth of skis under a hard cover, and out of site. He needs to be able to get INTO the back (thus it should have the new GM drop down tail gate) and THE FRICKIN’ TAIL GATE NEEDS TO LOCK WITH THE FOB, because he is getting too old and dozy to lock with a key, when the rest of the doors lock with hub. Come on GM get it together.