Making its grand entrance late last month, the 2023 Chevy Colorado introduces a brand-new third generation for the midsize pickup truck, ushering in a new exterior design, a completely overhauled interior, and a new powertrain to boot. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss with the following GM Authority photos.
As GM Authority covered previously, the 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss is offered as the basic off-roader of the 2023-model-year lineup, equipping a selection of rough-stuff goodies, but without the high-level capability or upgrades of the Z71 or ZR2 trim levels. Previously, the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss was offered as a package upgrade for LT and Z71 trim levels, but now, the Colorado Trail Boss is its own trim level.
Outside, the 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss shows off the new exterior styling seen across the lineup, with a few unique touches here and there. This particular example is covered in Glacier Blue Metallic paint (paint code GLT), a hue also offered for the refreshed 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500.
Up front, we see Black Bow Tie badging, plus a Gloss Black Sport Grille with an MIC Black Surround and MIC Fascia treatment. MIC Black is also used for the door handles and belt moldings, while in the corners, we spot standard 18-inch High-Gloss Black Aluminum wheels wrapped in All Terrain tires.
Details in the rear include the Chevrolet script embossed in the tailgate, while a single rear exhaust pipe exits just behind the passenger-side rear tire.
Although not pictured here, further Black touches can be found in the interior for the upholstery. Standard spec includes an 11.3-inch infotainment screen.
Under the hood is the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, with the new Colorado Trail Boss motivated by the mid-range 2.7L Turbo Plus tune, rated at 310 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Four-wheel drive is standard, as is the second-generation GM 8-speed automatic transmission, two-speed auto transfer case, transfer case shield, and limited slip differential.
Providing the bones is the 31XX-2 platform, which is an updated version of the GMT 31XX platform that underpins the second-generation model. Production will take place at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri next year.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Colorado news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I can’t believe any vehicle from this decade has halogen lights. Unless it’s a forced technique to get you to buy the higher trim level. Hope this is under 40k. Normally I favor the GMC in any of the twins from SUV to full size, but this looks better than the canyon. Any guesses on MPG with this 2.7/8sp?
I’m guessing the gas mileage is close to that of the Silverado, because if it’s considerably better, they’d be hinting at it. Instead, they’re very quiet. Too bad because that engine should be with or above the Ford’s 2.7L, in hp, torque, and mileage.
I’m glad the bow tie is back. The Chevrolet across the front looked so Mickey Mouse on Chevy Trucks
God this truck would have been so perfect with an extended cab and 6′ box. The disproportionate crew/miniature box configuration is bad enough on full size trucks… and it looks much worse on mid size. Reminds me of the Subaru Brat.
Sorry but you don’t decide what’s perfect Mary Barra approved this and this Colorado will sell well oh yes it will . Let the mark ups flow
Pls get rid of Mary
Thanks for using the proper term “box”. Everyone say’s “bed”
Those who know, know.
Pickup BOX is comprised of: Box inner, Box outer and Bed.
@John Agreed. Not everyone wants or needs 4 big doors. By not having an extended cab trim level, this is a “NOT INTERESTED” “truck” for me. The small box these trucks have is a joke. Mary seems to want to turn pickup trucks into minivans.
Actually gm wants you to spend more money on the Silverado 1500 based on what the Colorado is not or simply no longer offering when it comes to Cab and Bed configurations, the Colorado is not too far off in size in comparison to a 2007 Full Sized 1500.
This is the problem with GM. They get competition from another company and begins to copy them instead of creating a better design. When I saw that photo I immediately thought Toyota. They need to stop this practice or they will lose more customers. Why get a copy of a Toyota when you can have a Toyota. Make your trucks look like a tough Chevy truck. Let Toyota make Toyota’s.
Why can’t you guys show pictures with shinny chrome/aluminum wheels and accents, black shows a lack of imagination
Many people hate Chrome. In my opinion Chrome wheels are ok; However, “Chromed” trim/fairings that are Plastic/fiberglass and not metal on your vehicle makes it looks cheap and tacky. Its almost as bad as those chromed accessories that people buy from a autozone and slap on their vehicles… its ugly and everyone knows it fake, so why put it on?
What about the box? I see that the tailgate has a hidden compartment. Can it carry a 4 x 8? I like that I can go off road in style but I spend more time at the big box stores than off road.
I think this looks pretty good. This is the platform Chev should have built the Blazer on .. instead of that crossover.
IMO, I don’t see any toyota but I do see a gen 2 on steroids with a meaner grill a better stance that has more aggressive tires with totally different interior, not to mention an OEM engine that is not a v6.
Hoping for a turbo v6 with the next ugrade tho…
To me this is a great improvement (both Chevy and GMC variants) over the previous generation of trucks….but OMG I heard and I’m led to believe that they will be way more expensive with some hitting 65K in loaded off road trim!
Oh boy, 65 grand is a lot of money (to most folks anyway) and although it might be “a lot of truck”, just like their big brothers, taking an expensive vehicle like that off road and possibly scratching or damaging these new trucks while you’re making huge monthly payments seems to be a double edged sword! Yeah, you can get down and dirty but there is always the chance of damaging something “not covered under a factory warranty” and that could really add up at the rate of parts and labor nowadays! Oh well, I’ve always enjoyed my GMC and Chevy trucks over the years, both 2 and 4 wheel drive versions but I’ve never, ever abused them to the point that they’ve been damaged by using them not just going on a dirt road, but things like rock climbing or going places that could damage both the top side and underside!
I guess if I were to wanting to get crazy off road, I’d build me a specialized version using an older light duty truck that maybe was already damaged, one that I could fix up mechanically and not have to worry about cosmetically beating the dog snot out of it, especially while still making payments. I wonder if leasing one of these trucks might be advisable, but then when it’s time to return it and it looks like it had been through a Middle Eastern War I would suppose that you’d have to really pay up big time for your off-roading hobbies! That old adage “you play, you pay” still holds true today.
I would really like a standard transmission.
There is something about a standard that make a truck a truck.
to many under 35 yrs old have no clue how to drive stick. Gotta cater to the masses, even if it is wrong. Same goes for the 4 big doors, gotta cater to the masses…. screw those who would rather have a bigger box.
Chrome is going away…. just look at every new vehicle (except for the emblems, and not all of the emblems since many have turned black as well). I mean, even the new Freightliner tractor trailers offer now a black grille or a chrome insert only grille.
Stop polluting earth with Chrome. No chroming happens in the US. Mostly it is in China.
Manuals? that is also a thing from the past. A recent survey showed that 96% of the population in the US, from 18-35, does not know how to drive a manual. This is the new generation that will buy the new vehicles in the upcoming decades. Why bother? In fact with all moving to EV, manuals are destined to be museum items very soon.
most “chrome” on modern cars is not real chrome, it is shiny plastic. No chroming process needed. Sad, as I am a chrome fan.
Yup, MANUALS!
the front end of this looks terrible. Way to much plastic, for what it coats. Looks like a Basic Work Truck Model Trim.
Geeez..60-65K buys you a lot of ugly black plastic that will eventually turn gray.
Chrome, real chrome is expensive to apply and very bad for the environment. Getting anything chromed now days is not as easy as it used to be. So if MFGs can get away without chrome there is more money for them. And chrome is a or was a fad like everything else.
I can live without the chrome but that poor excuse for a dash is a disappointment in the Colorado/Canyon
Even the big semi-trucks like Freightliner, traditionally lots of chrome, are doing away with it. The now offer a black grille, a body color grille or a few horizontal inserts in chrome.
Take a look of all new variants of several cars / suv’s in the market, regardless of the brand, lots of black emblems, black grilles, black window line moldings, black wheels.
Now the chrome wheels are thing of the past as well. The most expensive performance wheels are the ones forged aluminum and then polished, which give a chrome like appearance but without the damage to the environment and to the wheel itself, since the chroming process yields around 3% scrap rate.
Colors: sterling silver. midnight silver, gloss black, mate black, polished aluminum,