Consumer Reports Cautions Shoppers To Avoid The Chevy Colorado
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The Chevy Colorado is a pickup truck that shoppers should avoid buying, according to the auto industry experts over at Consumer Reports.
CR recently published its new list of “Popular Cars to Avoid and What to Buy Instead,” which does exactly what’s on the tin: lists hot-selling vehicles that aren’t so great and suggests high-quality, reliable alternatives. The Chevy Colorado was named as a vehicle to avoid in the Compact Pickup Truck category, with CR saying the truck has poorly designed seats, an awkward driving position and less-than-adequate reliability.
“Sure, this truck is far more refined than the rough-and-tumble Toyota Tacoma that perennially tops the sales charts in this class. But ultimately the Colorado and twin GMC Canyon break little new ground beyond offering an extremely efficient diesel engine,” CR says, referencing the truck’s available 2.8L LWN four-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel engine. “Big truck fans might love that, but the diesel groaning grows tiresome around town. The real deal-breakers here are the seats and driving position. Looking at the ratings, the below-average predicted reliability is a deterrent and owners rate satisfaction as merely average. Together, these survey-based insights bring down the Colorado’s overall score.”
Based on this, CR suggests car shoppers in the market for a Compact Pickup buy a Honda Ridgeline instead. The Ridgeline, by comparison, has “car-like” comfort, a refined ride, better-than-average predicted reliability and good predicted owner satisfaction. CR acknowledges the Ridgeline’s shortcomings, however, which include a shallow bed, limited off-road capability and a sub-par 5,000-pound towing capacity.
It’s worth noting that the Chevy Colorado is not a Compact Pickup as CR classifies it, but rather a mid-size. General Motors does not currently compete in the compact pickup class in North America. The Ford Maverick, which entered production earlier this month, is the only true compact pickup offering available in the United States.
GM applied minor changes and updates to the 2022 Chevy Colorado, including the introduction of a new Trail Boss package for both the LT and Z71 trim levels. The truck will continue to offer the same powertrain options, which include the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGZ gasoline engine, naturally aspirated 2.5L I4 LCV gasoline engine and the aforementioned 2.8L I4 LWN turbodiesel Duramax engine.
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That’s interesting because I caution auto shoppers to avoid Consumer Reports! They need to stay in their lane and stick with appliance reviews. Anyone who uses a truck as a truck isn’t going to choose a Ridgeline over a Colorado. The Ridgeline is simply a CUV with the back converted into a bed.
It actually isn’t just a “CUV with the back end converted into a bed”, but go ahead and be misinformed. Not sure why that truck gets so much hate. Its payload is right on par if not more than most the class. It is better everywhere on the road and daily driving. The only part it comes up short are two areas that most midsize buyers aren’t using, towing and off road. Reality is most buyers who buy a Tacoma, Gladiator, GM twin, etc would have all their tasks handled by the Honda and be much more comfortable and having a better DD experience doing do. What it seems are those who knock it the most or try and insult it are the ones who aren’t really using their truck as a truck and would be the exact demographic the Honda is aiming at (you come across as one of those). It is a great truck and towing a single axles trailer or going down some dirt roads this truck is more than capable (yes it is a truck).
Thanks for your inaccurate annalisas of me but you don’t have a clue what your talking about! I have a 2500 HD Duramax and pull a heavy trailer on a regular basis. If you are so in love with the CUV based Ridgeline I suggest you go buy 3 of them.
It actually is based on the same platform with some changes. Honda lacks a true RWD platform so they had to use one they had.
The Ridgeline is more a truck for people that really don’t like trucks.
The reason many dislike it is because most truck buyers prefer full frames and RWD. No right no wrong just majority of the buyers preference.
We have a long history of failed FWD based trucks to see and while it could change it would mostly be at the e Penske of CUV buyers making the change.
Slightly off the main topic: it will be interesting to see how the forthcoming Ford Maverick does going up against the Ridgeline. Things I find off-putting about the Ridgeline is that it is expensive, even the latest redesign has the high side lift-over on the cargo box, and fairly dismal fuel economy. These issues are largely rectified in the Maverick.
The problem with most or maybe all of the compact trucks, even the body-on-frame trucks have shrimpy little cargo boxes. I had a couple of Ford Rangers back in the 1990s and back then the Rangers were affordable, fairly basic but serviceable, and had decent size cargo boxes available. The new Ranger is too expensive and has small cargo box volume.
My current truck is a ‘05 Tacoma. I had a lot of problems with it, and I feel Toyota’s reputation of quality is over stated. The worst thing about the Tacoma’s frame rusted to pieces, so badly that Toyota recalled my truck in 2016 and replaced the frame. It made sense as the body sheet metal still looks great, no rust. I am disappointed there isn’t more cargo space, but the access cab in lieu of the 4-door allows a slightly longer cargo box. I will give kudos to Toyota on the truck-specific 2.7L 2TR-FE 4-cylinder engine, it is a very tough well made engine, though fuel efficiency is not spectacular.
I think you need to do more research before you start typing. The 5000 lb towing is the lowest of all the midsized trucks. The FWD is a turnoff for most truck buyers, the mandatory AWD option at a premium price is a turnoff for me. I drove a Ridgeline and yes it drives just like the SUV it’s made from. I own a Nissan Frontier because I don’t like the gocart driving position of the Tacoma, I don’t like the four wheel computers GM and Ford make. All that electronic crap is just more junk to fail and cost $$$ to fix.
Commonsense
Not towing, Not going off-road, why not just buy a minivan? You’ll get better gas mileage too.
I can think of at least one reason: if the owner of the vehicle does gardening or lawn care, they can bring home bags of fertilizer and not have the inevitable odor remain in the vehicle.
Ok then it’s a minivan with a bed!
True, a truck is a truck . A ridge is not ! However the average consumer uses their “truck” as a grocery getter. So in this Truckers opinion, using a Truck for a commuter or grocery getter is a total waste of resources AND fuel. As a retired Trucker, let me say a pickup today IS a very domesticated version of a Truck . Most are bought by wanna bees . Few are actually worked . Yes some are, some are used and abused daily and their “scars” are obvious . But most will have shiny unused box’s until the day they are traded . It’s like buying a AK47 where a fly swatter would do just fine . Can’t wait til the day dead trucks are towed to their charging stations . Which by the way should be all be located beside the local Starbucks .
I drive one at work great truck ! Love it , I’m a Ford man but this Colorado reviews are good except yours , I question your integrity here , I’ve seen some other mower reviews bass ackwards too as a power equipment mechanic for 20 years I’ve see it all , you will rate an egonomic machine better than a built bullet proof machine because the seat feels better
Have they ever liked anything made by an American manufacturer?
Real Consumer Reports Quote:
Chevy’s reliability has greatly improved, but because of their history we still rated them poorly.
I can see the logic in the Consumer Reports remark. Having watched the reliability data for a couple of vehicles I’ve had, the first few years may look great and then after three or four years later problem areas start to show.
That’s why those JD Power initial quality awards are mostly pointless. In the honeymoon period, almost any vehicle, except perhaps a Yugo, looks pretty good and nothing has fallen apart.
Fake Consumer Reports Quote:
Hyundai/KIAs are cheaply made vehicles. Designed for 3rd world markets. The brands have been plagued by constant recalls, and low resale values. But since they are Asian we say Yes Please and constantly rate them among our most reliable brands.
“Despite fairly recent issues of oil sludging in their V6 engines, CU highly recommends the Toyota Camry. Also, despite transmissions that seldom make it to 6 figures without failure, CU believes the Honda Accord to be a Best Buy.
“We found the Buick LaCrosse to, overall, be the most comfortable of the three cars. Its over-the-road manners were impeccable, the drivetrain was the smoothest and least obtrusive, and owner satisfaction is very high. However, a Buick Roadmaster we tested in 1955 experienced failure of the vibrator in the radio two days after delivery. For this reason – despite the dealer replacing the vibrator and no further problems with the Roadmaster, CU cannot recommend the LaCrosse.”
Exaggeration? Not by much!
I don’t always agree with Consumer Reports reviews, but the trouble history data they tabulate is a fairly reliable predictor of what to expect from one’s own vehicles.
Not really. Their sampling is from their subscriber base. That base has had it drummed into their heads that Japanese vehicles are the finest, and any domestic make is rubbish.
So, when the Toyota owner has sludging problems in their V6 Camry, they think “Gee! This can’t be normal…!” and don’t report it.
When the Chevy owner has a radio problem cured with a flash update (free of charge) at the dealer, it just confirms that they should have listened to CU and never bought that piece of junk Chevy.
And yet one more article where (surprise) CR refuses to back an American product while pushing more Japanese brands. Just another day at the CR office.
There is no such thing as a American manufacture. I wish gm Ford and any other would use all components made right here but guess what they don’t. That’s why the sticker on your car usually in the driver side door says “assembled” in the USA instead of made. All these supposed “American manufactures” get a lot of stuff from China
GM, Ford & Tesla are definitely American companies. Their vehicles are designed in America by Americans with the American consumer in mind.
Everything else is a cheap imitation.
Apparently US residents are obsessed with beverages and apparently need domestic designers to accommodate that. I have a Chevy Bolt and there are, I believe, at least eight cup holders for what is basically a five passenger car.
I had a 1998 BMW Z3 that didn’t have any cup holders at all. The German retort was: if you’re driving, why are you drinking a soda? The Germans did grudgingly make a nod to US sensibility though; the cassette tape holder could be replaced with an optional exceptionally flimsy two cup holder. Lack of cup holders was fine with me. The Z3 was assembled in Spartanburg, SC from mostly US components.
No cup holders. the Germans must enjoy dumping hot coffee on their balls.
I also can’t picture packing up a family of 4 in a BMW Z3 for a 1000 mile road trip to one of the Disney theme parks.
All the Germans I know stop at a coffee shop and enjoy their coffee before going for a drive. And there are no 1000 mile trips in Germany. It’s not that big. Hence the lack of a need for double-gulp size cup holders. Purely a North American thing.
But I like my cup holders and lots of them within easy reach. I spent years working in a truck, so it became my office. One holder for a Coke, one for a water, one for loose change and my wallet, one for pens, pencils and lighters, one to hold the ashtray since they stopped equipping that.
Both Ford and GM source a lot components from Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere. The majority of Japanese, Korean and German brands have US design studios. The so-called Chicken Tax pretty much assures all light trucks to be assembled in the US to avoid the heavy tariff.
Bill
If you believe that I got a bridge to sell you in New York.
Truth is the Americans are American. Engines, Platforms, Electronics all designed here. Most of their vehicles sold here are built here. The imports are imports. They do very little design work here. Most of what they sell here was built someplace else.
The Chicken tax would only apply if the foreign companies had a truck worth importing
That’s the reason Hyundai’s new vehicle is called a sport activity vehicle to avoid the chicken tax.
BroncoSport, RogueSport, OutlanderSport
I think “Sport” means smaller, less capable, for people who can’t tell the difference
I thought “Sport” meant it had a decal package with the word “Sport”?
:-{)}}}
I guess that cheap imitations appeal to an awful lot of American buyers, or, Toyota and Honda would not be back and forth as the best selling sedan each year. Ford hat that honor with the Taurus for a few years, but then, they rested n their laurels and gave it up. Same with GM’s wildly successful Olds Cierra.
I had a 1989 Mazda MX-6 which shared running gear with the Ford Probe. Both vehicles were assembled at Ford’s Flatrock, MI facility. The MX-6 actually had a few percent more US domestic part content versus the Probe, go figure. From the sheet metal and interiors, most people would not have guessed the MX-6 and Probe shared the same platform.
Really dude? Mazda hasn’t built a vehicle in the U.S. for over a decade. While Ford has the best selling vehicle in the world (F150) and the U.S. is the only place they’re built.
1989 is over 30 years ago. What is your point?
At the rate things are going, those Japanese (and Korean and German) brands are putting more AMERICANS TO WORK than GM. That counts a lot in my buying decisions.
My one experience with Honda was dismal, but, a Honda from Ohio gets my consideration more than a Buick made in China.
We just did nearly 1300 miles over 5 days last weekend in ours, comfort was not a problem. Seats aren’t the best but they aren’t bad. The driving position is just fine, much better than the Tacoma where you sit on the floor. Reliability I just don’t understand. They had the 8spd shutter issues that was addressed for the most part with the new fluid (sure there are a few outliers but most that fixed it), other than that no other big issues. No AFM issues, differential issues, frame issues, etc. The Tacoma has more problems the the GM twins and aren’t nearly as refined or capable. Ours has 45k on the clock and hasn’t had a single issue over the years. I certainly don’t put any weight behind the CR reports for autos, seems to be the general consensus with car people.
My Canyon has been trouble free. I got the Fluid Change at no charge and it shifts better than ever.
Seats are subjective. Mine is just fine to sit in and comfortable. I am used to performance seats so they are better than most. Now if I came from a vehicle with a sofa seat it could be firm.
Flaw? No because the seat was there when someone buys the vehicle. It is more like buyers remorse if they did not take the time to try out the vehicle,
The Ridgeline is no match for the diesel-powered Colorado/Canyon, even if CR’s complaints about the seats are pretty much spot-on. The cargo box of the Honda is pitiful and it cannot hold a candle to the Chevy’s towing capacity. If all you do with your Ridgeline is visit the local farmers’ market and load it with vegetables, you’ll be very happy. If you expect your compact truck to work like a truck AND get superior mileage to anything else in its class, the Chevy is the best choice.
I’ve owned my 2021 Colorado since October of last year and haven’t had a single problem with it. Still stare at it as I walk away and lock it. Seats are beyond comfortable and when I lived in Washington and used my remote start they were money when they got warm. I don’t have a Diesel engine so I can’t comment on that matter.
The Ridgeline is also much wider than the other mid sized trucks and WAY more expensive in the real world.
Despite my past dismal experience with a Honda (2018 Idiocy van with more electrical troubles than any ten Fords). I gave a Ridgeline a look, as I am thinking of getting an AWD vehicle. It is a lot of money for not much. Even setting aside whether it is a truck or a cutaway CUV, it just is not good value for the money.
I have a 2018 Colorado LT 4-door longbed with a V6 and I haven’t had any reliability problems. I’m a big guy and I find the seating perfectly comfortable. I test drove various other mid-size pickups at the time and found the Colorado clearly superior at the time, from the point of driveability, price vs. features, and also simplicity. I don’t consider the Ridgeline a “real” truck with its unibody construction and lower capacity, but it may be a fine alternative for urbanites / suburbanites instead of a cross-over SUV or mini-van – the Ridgeline may be convenient for big hauls from a big shopping trip.
My biggest beef here is CR, which is misusing its classic reputation as a consumer advocate group (reliability & safety testing) by making “do not buy” recommendations based on an overall consumer evaluation. At least for me, that puts CR in a “do not trust” category of potentially-biased and very much ignorable reviews. Anyone who still in any form holds a subscription to CR should cancel it – it is no longer the same organization it was decades ago.
I own a GMC Canyon. And while it did have transmission chudder the fluid swap did the trick. HOWEVER- as a lifelong GM guy (never owned a Ford) I do see quality slipping. Quality needs improvement or I’ve bought my last GM vehicle!
Having owned a Ford previously and having had it fail miserably, I would never buy one again. Also would never buy a RAM because (please don’t laugh) I consider their symbolism Satanic in nature.
I am intrigued about your statement regarding RAM. Would you care to elaborate?
The goat head with horns is a classic sign of Satan. If you think that’s just hocus pocus, ask yourself why there’s clearly Satanic properties in big US cities with an address 666. Including one owned by Jared Kushner. There’s some bad things out there, and better not to associate with them, at least in my mind.
It’s the head of a male Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep aka Ram. Goats do not grow horns with the big curls.
I guess you stopped buying P&G products until the trademark changed, as well?
I’m on my second Colorado, this one a V6 and the first had the Baby-Max diesel. This is a perfect sized truck for my use and I will more than likely buy a third one when the time comes.
Consumer Reports also has questionable reliability, so there.
In my dear dead college days of decades ago, I worked part time at Montgomery Wards in the department that sold sewing machines and vacuum cleaners.
In a vacuum cleaner test, CU rated a Eureka model as a check rated Best Buy, despite the switch handle breaking off on one of their samples. The Wards Signature upright was rated Not Acceptable because the switch handle broke off on one of their samples.
The difference between the Wards Signature and the Eureka: the color of the plastic case and the name on the badge. Period.
I’ve got 76,000 miles on my ’17 Colorado. It’s been near perfect the entire time, comfortable seats, plenty quick with the V-6, great Bose radio. I’m a contractor, so it sees plenty of heavy hauling, including trailering a ton or more to the dump regularly.
Consumer Reports should stick with what they know, which certainly isn’t trucks!
The Honda Ridgeline is NOT for the buyer that actually uses their truck for work like many Colorado buyers do. Case in point – the spare tire location on the Ridgeline. It is under the bed accessed from the top! So you hauling a load of stone or mulch and you are supposed to unload the bed just to get to the spare? Sorry but that is ridiculous for those of us that actually put stuff back there. (I have a Silverado 2500HD)
I didn’t realize that about the Ridgeline spare tire, that sure would be annoying. I despise the cable lowering mechanism on my Tacoma too. I need to lower the spare now and then to air it up, and it usually elicits utterance of at least a few four letter words. The Ranger I had kept the spare in a cage which was dropped by loosening one bolt the same size as a lug nut. I don’t see why that way of retaining spare tires is not standard for everyone.
I own 2017 v6 colorado 72000 miles no problems it’s quick drives smooth down the road 25 mpg on freeway only negative 16 around town owned a Silverado before this was worried about downsizing but no regrets will buy another when time
None of these mid sized trucks are of any interest to anyone who has owned early full size trucks with most maintenance done by owners at home. I brought a 2008 Colorado new as a retirement truck. And I’m fixing electrical issues designed into it. UGH!
Take your Colorado and get me a load of drywall or plywood. And I want them flat and not cut-up to lay in the bed.
Rusted frames will soon be the subject of a call back.
Towing. With an anemic 4 cylinder?
All the commenters as I’m typing this do not work their trucks. Better go buy that minivan as suggested previously.
I used my Colorado to pull a stuck tractor/trailer rig with bald highway tires out of my neighbor’s sand/gravel driveway. Broke my tow strap when the rig driver put on his brakes too early, but the Colorado did the job.
Welp, here’s my 2 cents.
I own a 2016 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road with crew cab. I simply love it. I’m 6’5″ and have plenty of room, never had one problem with it and it has just over 106,000 miles on it, it’sa quick little truck and has pulled many a trailers fine with no problems. The seats are fine to me it’s a mid-sized truck what’d you expect, the towing capacity is great, I put a leveling kit on it and run bigger off road tires so the rides a bit less than expected. Hauling is fine with my 5’2″ bed, haven’t found anything I can’t carry. If you worry about gas then you shouldn’t have bought a truck IMHO but I get pretty good mileage. I go overlanding with it and I’ve never had a problem climbed every hill, forded every creek, sloshed through the mud and even pulled a Tacoma out of a washout rut, lol, buy American.
As far as consumer reports go, they always bust on American products, especially vehicles but I put little faith in their car reviews.
The Chevrolet Colorado is a well made American truck. Are there better? Sure, but it’s not a Honda Ridgeline, and price is a big thing if you move up in size.
I urge buyers to avoid all Chevrolet/GM vehicles.
Otis
I urge your parents not to have any more children.
You must be the Otis I hear on the old Richard Diamond episodes on SiriusXM’s Classic Radio.
Sorry but the Honda Ridgeline is not a truck it has a Horizontally opposed engine! Plus I am a GM technician and the Colorado is a great truck in fact we rarely see them in the shop unlike the Silverado. The 2.8L baby duramax is a Phenomenal engine! I would take this over any Honda Ridgeline any day !!!!
“Horizontally opposed engine”? Uhm… It has a V6. The only truck, or “truck”, I know that had a horizontally opposed engine was the Subaru BRAT and one other from Subaru the name of which I don’t recall.
HI Jeff I’m looking at the diesel 2022 Colorado. I drive in a remote area. You think it’s something you would put your mother into? Thanks. ( Someone else’s Mom)_
I really like the 2.8l Diesel engine, however this will be the last year for that engine in the Colorado, Because for 2023 there is whole new Colorado coming out, and it will only be available with the 2.7l turbocharged in-line 4 cylinder engine, which has been a really good engine so far in the Silverado. We don’t see the 2.8l Colorado in the shop very often and when we do see the Colorado in the shop they are the 2018 and under 3.6l gasoline trucks. The early Colorado suffer from torque converter shutters and shifting issues. Would I buy a Colorado Yes I would feel fine putting my Mother, or my Wife in it to drive everyday!
Hahaha really ? Honda Ridgeline over a Chevy Colorado ? Sounds like someone in CR is looking for a “truck” for their high school teenaged girl. Ridgeline is not a real truck- doesn’t look like a truck, doesn’t run or feel like a truck, has no off-road capability and has no power…but thanks for playing, CR. Stick to whatever else you do, other than not knowing a thing about owning a truck.