Back in July, GM Authority was first to report that the Chevrolet Colorado (along with its corporate cousin, the GMC Canyon) will not receive a midcycle refresh. Instead, the midsize pickup truck will get a small update to its front fascia, along with some other small tweaks, for the 2021 model year. Having previously spied the 2021 Canyon, we now managed to catch the very first photos of the aforementioned front fascia update tot he Colorado as a prototype was undergoing testing in plain sight.
As expected, the front end is camouflaged with checkered and zebra-stipe camo, but the changes to the nose are clear as day. The Extended Cab model seen here appears to be a Work Truck (WT) trim wearing the optional 16-inch RS1 Ultra Silver Metallic cast aluminum wheels.
Compared to the current model, the biggest change appears to be the pattern of the black upper grille insert as well as a redesigned lower fascia, with a new cutout at the lower end of the bumper cover.
As we reported previously, the rest of truck, including the sides and rear end, is untouched by any updates.
The mild Chevrolet Colorado facelift seen here is set to arrive for the 2021 model year. Meanwhile, an all-new Colorado (and Canyon) is set to arrive for the 2023 model year. It will ride on an updated version of the GM 31XX platform that underpins the current truck. The revised architecture is known internally at GM as 31XX-2.
Expect the updated Colorado fascia to land in the second half of 2020 calendar year for the 2021 model year. In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for the latest Chevrolet Colorado news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
The headlights are so ugly , how could they not change this first.
That was my exact first thought as well.
They are so soft looking.
I was hoping they would have taken some headlight features from the blazer.
Same thought here as well, they even could have added the 2.7 Liter 4 into this trucks powertrain portfolio, that alone could have gave this truck a nice update…prehaps that would have made it too competitive with the V6, though.
Awful lot of camo for what appears to be a grille change.
Face-lift is a bit of an overstatement.
Actually, a facelift is exactly what this is.
Over the years, the amateur auto reporters out there have begun to use the term “facelift” interchangeably with the term “refresh”, even though the two are not the same. What we see in the photos here, by definition, is a facelift through and through.
Is it minor? Yes. And that’s exactly why we refer to it as being “minor” several times in the article.
Notice the word “bit”
Alex, maybe You should also read my statement as closely as You defend Yours.
New grille is a better description of the update.
But I am flattered the author of the Article was moved to correct My words.
Hey GMA can I get a job here too??? I would use My own words and not the Industries standard response to these types of updates on a vehicle.
ITS A NEW GRILLE, lets not sugar coat it!!
Tom – I did notice that you said “bit” in your comment… yet even with that modifier, your statement is still incorrect and inaccurate.
“Face-lift is a bit of an overstatement.”
What you see in the photos is precisely a facelift. Nothing more, nothing less. Th truck is getting a reworked face… a massaged face… a facelift. Not sure how else to spell it out for you.
“ITS A NEW GRILLE, lets not sugar coat it!!”
Another incorrect statement. Look closely at the photos and read the article: it is NOT just a new grille. There is also a new lower fascia, which is not part of the grille.
So as you can see, nobody is sugar coating anything. What we are doing is calling it how it is. Simple as that.
Try as he might, Tom the troll continues to get schooled. First he was “Kirk” or whatever fake name he had and now he’s “Tom”. Alex can’t you block this giant bag of tools once and for all?
Schooled how? What part of ‘new grille’ is false? ‘Front facia’ is semantics; it’s what he meant.
I suppose there is no need to fix the faulty 8 speed, if the sheep will go for the new plastic.
It’s pretty easy to see… “Tom” started a stupid argument that he lost because he was wrong plain and simple.
His whole argument was that this is a grille change. He was pretty adamant about fighting for the terminology and that this is not a facelift but a simple grille swap. But it’s not that – it’s an actual face lift, as Alex pointed out there is more to this update than a grille swap.. there’s a whole new lower fascia too.
Some people just need to be told the same thing over and over again before they understand. Tom is one of those people. He’s also a long-time troll… so take anything he says with a huge bag of salt.
I’m glad they didn’t do a major redesign, the headlights are fine. They don’t wanna do too much with it, it’s already a good seller.
I would prefer a “face lift” on the 2020 SIlverado.
Never thought about it but there is something about the Colorado does look a little “soft”. Can’t put a finger on it.
Eight years is too long before there’s an all new Colorado and Canyon.
Frontier has been around since 2005; Tacoma since 2016 so it is only one year newer than the Colorado. Ford screwed up and based their “new” Ranger on an old not-for-America design. If a manufacturer would finally step up to the plate and create an all new midsize pickup, they could eat everyone else’s lunch. Bueller? Bueller?
Maybe Chevy will finally listen to the Colorado owners and fix the constant rattles in them. The B pillars need to be fixed to prevent the nonstop metallic rattle.
I have a 2015 – not a single rattle in mine.
I had a 2015 and now a 2018. They RATTLE. I drive on dirt roads sometimes though. There’s a really annoying one coming from what seems like the steering column. Both trucks did it and I think the periodic drives on the bumpy dirt roads has exacerbated it which is probably why yours doesn’t? The front suspension on the 2018 is all but quiet. I hate it.
What you guys are hearing is the rubber against the door,its dry
Lubricate it and you will think you have a new vehicle.
It looks soft because it has some old looking cheap headlights. Put some LEDs and watch the sales pick up. The only reason Colorado sales are not better because it looks exactly like the same truck as 5 years ago. That is pathetic gm can’t even develop a new design for these headlights and no one has the u know what to tell whom ever is in charge to change this like yesterday.
The exact reason I didn’t buy a Colorado in 2017! I hate the ancient halogen headlights, no upgrade offered.
How did no one run up and snap a pic of the interior?
mexican built ? Looks like the tornado in Mexico.
Built in Wentzville Missouri
Tornado is a GM truck for Latin America solid and dependable less stuff to go wrong.
Why would GM waist the time and money on redesigning headlights to use for two model years, that would have to be certified the with NHTSA.
For the same reason they wasted time and money on the C8 !!! Still not available and now a strike. GM can do better than what’s going on in the industry. This is not the solid GM of yesteryear year at all,
That makes zero sense.
You want to compare the 10’s or 100’s of millions of dollars GM will make on the C8 to how much? for different headlights for a two model year run?
You got it ! GM spent way to much for a euro copy made here, don’t get mad I’m GM 95% of the time, how ever that’s way to much R&D into a want to be Hypercar and it’s still not track ready !!!! That makes cents ??? It dont make dollars it don’t make cents ? And GM is out of touch. C8 we’ll see.
Not at 60k a unit.
The C8 was unveiled less then two months ago and your bitching about it not being track ready yet or “Still not available”, waa.
What makes the C8 a euro copy, having a mid-engine, were they first to use it? NO, everything is of “euro design” these days right? Tell us all how you know the amount GM spent on R&D for the C8?
You sound as if GM has control over workforce strikes! How so, should they just roll over?
I don’t think it’s GM who’s out of touch, your comparing the Corvette to pickup truck headlights.
For 2021 Chevrolet introduces the 2016 Nissan Frontier? Who is GM interviewing for their customer perception surveys? Are they subversive secretive Ford, Honda and Dodge fans with a wicked sense of humor? The recent model year “make overs” of the Chevrolet Trucks is just painful to see. Great looking trucks was one of the very few things Chevrolet had to distinguish itself from the competitors.
I would not get too unglued here yet.
#1 the changes are not going to be totally dramatic. This is a light make over and will cover mostly the plastic bits.
#2 the truck here has more deceptive camo than you think. The Ford look I believe is on purpose. GM has used Ford like trim on the full size trucks to in covering their work.
With the truck shown they are testing things like cooling and they only need to keep the openings stock size.
Ford even went as far as using a Colorado body on the Bronco prototype.
Give them some time here and uncover more before you throw up your hands in disgust. We still may see new lights a different grill than what we see here and new bumper cover.
Not a big change but at least some change to carry till the new model arrives.
I sure hope this “small 2021 update” includes adding push button start and homelink. At least add it as options.