GM revealed the all-new third-generation 2023 Chevy Colorado late last July, showing off new exterior styling, an overhauled cabin, and a new powertrain as well. Critically, the 2023 Chevy Colorado is only offered in a Crew Cab / Short Box body style. Now, GM Authority has learned the reasoning behind this move straight from GM.
For those readers who may be unaware, the previous-generation Chevy Colorado was offered in a variety of different body configurations, including:
- Extended Cab / Long Box
- Crew Cab / Long Box
- Crew Cab / Short Box
By comparison, the new third-generation 2023 Chevy Colorado is only available in the Crew Cab / Short Box configuration. So why the change?
In a recent interview with GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft, the director of Chevrolet Truck marketing, Michael MacPhee provided some insight into the issue.
“What we did is look at where consumers are going versus where we are right now,” MacPhee told GM Authority. “Over the last 5 years, both for fleets and retail buyers, we’ve been seeing a shift towards more crew cabs and more short boxes.”
MacPhee went on to add that the move to a singular body style mirrored customer expectations regarding cabin space versus bed space.
“More customers have come into this segment from compact SUV, and customers are increasingly looking for more cabin space versus bed space,” MacPhee told GM Authority. “The use case is also changing from more of a commercial use to an ability to get out with more freedom, control and travel.”
Of course, there are other benefits to a singular body style on the business side as well, with a singular configuration streamlining both development and production for the pickup. That said, the price for the 2023 Chevy Colorado has risen substantially compared to the previous generation. Back in 2020, GM offered the base trim level Chevy Colorado in an Extended Cab / Long Box body style with 2WD and the naturally aspirated 2.5L I4 LCV gasoline engine (200 horsepower, 191 pound-feet of torque) for just $22,495. Now, with the introduction of the 2023 Chevy Colorado, the base price has risen to $30,695 for the WT trim level with 2WD and the Turbo 2.7L I4 L2R gasoline engine (237 horsepower, 259 pound-feet of torque).
As a reminder, the 2023 Chevy Colorado is also available with the 2.7L Turbo Plus gasoline engine (310 horsepower, 391 pound-feet of torque) and the 2.7L Turbo High-Output gasoline engine (310 horsepower, 430 pound-feet of torque). The second-gen GM 8-speed automatic transmission is the only transmission option.
Under the skin, the 2023 Chevy Colorado rides on the updated 31XX-2 platform, while production takes place at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.
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Comments
Very flimsy excuses for this lack of choice. CLEARLY it is about maximizing profit on the backs of loyal GM compact truck customers to pay for this pie-in-sky future EV junk. A truck is about hauling, that is “truck 101”, it is the very definition of the word. Of course profit is good, but reaching more customers also begets it, rather than forcing some of them out.
Plus, who told gm we wanted an even taller compact truck? My 2019 Z71 extended cab would not fit in my garage until I got a “shortie” antenna. The 2023 is at least EIGHT INCHES taller yet, per Chevy’s specs page. Guess what won’t be in my garage when it comes time?
A lot to like about the new truck, but the negatives outweigh the benefits for this 5-time S-10 and 4-time Colorado buyer, all brand new since 1983.
Wasn’t I JUST reading an article saying that the old-vs-new pricing was very minimal? Not!
Calm down. That height includes the antenna. The top of the cab is not much taller than the 2nd gen trucks.
Does not include the antenna if you look at the diagrams, like the width states does not include mirrors. Even if it DID include the antenna with Chevy’s specs on the 2023 and not in prior years, the problem still exists. It won’t fit in a standard garage.
I only have a 7′ garage door and my 4wd F150 fits fine. My last truck had a taller antenna and that would hit. I don’t think buying a $30 antenna is a big deal though.
It’s a lot of dough to create a truck few people want. Extended cab trucks are not in demand.
true story, a flimsy excuse by GM, it was to streamlining production costs and force those that wanted a more a longer bed or extended cab, into the full-sized market where they can make larger profits. i really don’t care what anyone says about customers buying more short beds, there was still a 15% market for long beds, thats more then enough reason to offer them and if more dealers didn’t order optioned trucks with a short bed and have them on the lot, i’m sure more people would buy the long box
Take a breath…if you watch any of the 50 videos on the new Colorado you can see people standing next to it, it’s not taller than a silverado. Heck, it’s not even as tall as a silverado. I told GM I wanted a taller mid-size truck. I want it to at least be as tall as my wife’s mid-size SUV.
Going by Chevy’s specs page on the website: Silverado 1500 Custom 4WD crewcab is 75.51 inches tall. Silverado Custom Trailboss is 78.35. 2023 Colorado LT 4wd is 78.8 inches tall. Colorado Trail Boss is 79.9, and a ZR2 is 81.8 inches tall. What mid-size SUV is 81.8 inches tall? You can have your ZR2 as tall as you want it and that is fine, but there are other people who want a lower truck. The other trims are unnecessarily tall. The ZR2 SHOULD be tall.
There are no mid-size SUV’s that are 81″ tall at the cab and the Colorado ZR2 is NOT 81″ at the cab either. LOL. That measurement includes the tall whip antenna.
You can also look online and see people reviewing it and it’s blatantly obvious they are in fact including the antenna in the measurement. Simple. Takes less time than typing messages on here complaining about it.
What I did while on a break from typing, was go down to my garage with a tape measure. I held it at the roof of my truck and pushed the tape down between the cab and frame to the floor as far toward the center as I could, measuring the height at the roof. Then I went on Chevy’s Colorado site and looked up the published specs. My home measurement jives with their published overall height for my 2019, then I looked at the same spec for the 2023. This is where I get my information from. I find it hard to believe they randomly change the way they measure overall height between my previous gen truck, the 2023 Silverado, and the 2023 Colorado. Makes no sense to me. That is all I’m saying.
Not going to argue with you on this any longer. All I can say is, once you see one of these trucks in person, you are going to realize you are wrong and you are gonna feel pretty silly. Until then, have a good day.
Sounds fine. Thanks. You too.
Didn’t even mention the axing of 2.8 diesel option. Looks like I’ll hold onto my 32 mpg, ski boat and camper hauling, throw my snow machine or dirt bike in back of, 4X4, standard bed truck as long as I can get away with. It’s my commuter/do everything vehicle that doesn’t force me to own a car and a truck. Guess it really was too good to be true.
Agree 100 percent! Ridiculous spin on an obvious attempt to simplify manufacturing and cut costs while simultaneously gouging loyal customers on price. Any insinuation that this is somehow for the benefit of the consumer is absolutely laughable! Guess I’ll be seeing what the other guys have to offer until GM can pull their act together and offer a decent product. The truth is…they don’t give a damn. They’re all too busy congratulating themselves in some marketing meeting while waxing poetic about all the participation trophies they received while growing up.
100% right on all that, V.
But it’s not just the Colorado. It’s getting very difficult to find two door trucks and that’s with or without long boxes if you want them. Dealers don’t carry two doors on lots enough for sure and that bites. I still see some rare non-fleet ones driving around and if parked somewhere I stop to ask them where they ordered it.
Personally I would choose an extended cab with a short box. Having the glass of the cab right behind my head isn’t something I desire. But I know many still do. My first truck was exactly that and I loved that truck. But some actual storage behind the seat was always a desire then and still is for me today. I don’t need skimpy fold down seats hiding back there. Just space for an actual tool box or bags that I don’t want in the box. But a crew cab with 4 doors? Absolutely not ever ending up in my driveway. So Colorado 2023 not getting my order. My neighbor says the same thing so their marketing and planning can frankly shove it.
The real problem I see is that they have typically in the past seemed to feel a need to offer both two door options, so they can charge more for “extended cab” two door vs a non extended cab two door, if they offer a two door model at all. They could have just made the two door version only available as extended cab. They could have even forced a longer box on the only two door option in order to keep the frame the same as thew crew cab/short. That means really only two options, which should be doable for production given frame length staying the same. Most people choosing a standard cab are fleet or those going for bottom dollar, or a possible longest bed option. The longest bed folks my indeed be in the minority but still, they are out there and want them. Some of them should just get a standard size truck. But I’ve heard many of them that either can’t stand how large standard trucks have gotten overall, and others that can’t stand the insane prices. If extended cab two door is the cheapest option that’s where those orders are going to be made. They can still have a sizable box length with extended cab vs the short only option on the boat crew cab.
I agree I am a 2010 GMC canyon owner, and have been waiting for a new redesign with a sunroof. I am utterly shocked that the Dinali does not even come with a power rear slider I mean are you kidding me not to mention no chrome around the windows and then the black plastic around the wheel well just another piece of plastic to turn white and look horrible. I’m sorry extremely disappointed and I agree the new Canyon is 79 almost 80 inches high. The standard garage is 82 inches so with the antenna that truck won’t even fit into my garage quite disheartening and I agree I currently have an extended cab. I don’t need to have four seats in my truck, but I enjoy my full-size bed, last but not least I did order one and all of the excuses of
why it can’t be built is crazy. They ruled this thing out in July and August and you still can’t get one now they have factory four-wheel-drive constraints until possibly mid March or April. Keep in mind this vehicle was rolled out in 2022 of July. Wow I just hope this thing is reliable like my 2010 GMC canyon that thing has 150,000 miles on it and never left me. Stranded has been absolutely awesome.
Not sure what u mean by “rolled out in July” but because of chips an Covid they didn’t even start building them until mid January 2023 an currently waiting on some kind of emissions chip to start shipping. Should reach dealers by end of March
What I meant was they introduced this July and had everyone excited They didn’t start production until the end of January 2023 normally car manufactures start their production year in August September for the upcoming year and this is really in my opinion been a botched roll out. And then on top of it they now have four-wheel-drive factory restraints until March or April. I mean come on
Anyone sees one or gets one would love to hear about it!!
Botched rollout??
I’ve ordered a few different new generation of vehicles from GM and in both cases, neither of them started production in July or August. Sometimes the first year run is a shorter run. That’s just the way it is.
I too wanted a sun roof.. it’s not available in the Trail Blazer. And, neither were heated seats. So off the GMC to an AT4 for the sun roof and heated seats and also a heated steering wheel. I thought about that as I got in my car at 15° here in NY this morning.
Those little sliding rear windows are pointless when you have 2 big rear windows.
I could see if you had a Reg. cab they stop you from getting buffeted by wind.
I like the rear window for buffeting. Opening the sides is tough with the baby / kids sun shade.
My Chev had a single rear glass and I regretted not getting a slider.
So much disinformation.
That IS the truck’s height with antenna. It’s not that much taller than the last gen.
Also, they started building these in late January. They will be on dealer lots soon.
I just went down to my garage with a tape measure. From the floor to the top of the roof is 70 inches, not including antenna. Chevy lists my truck at 70.3 inches tall. The factory antenna adds about 8 inches more, and although it is flexible, and won’t damage it when pulling in, because it is leaned back, the garage catches it on the way out, which would bend the roof. I don’t want my roof dented, so I got a 4 inch “shortie” replacement from aftermarket. If the antenna were a low profile sharkfin type, or a mast mounted at the cowl, it would not be an issue.
You may want to check again I just looked up the details I copied and pasted. Here’s what it said.79.80 in that is the height of that vehicle it’s crazy I was looking to get the factory upgrade 22 inch rims (which are run factory restraint with no time frame window when they will be available go figure they introduce a vehicle and then don’t have the availability to purchase the options they offer) and when I realized the height I couldn’t believe it. My garage door will go to 82 inches and that’s extremely tight. The home was built in 2006. That’s the standard I don’t know where you got your information from but you might want to check again just to be safe, but I got that directly from the GMC website
It absolutely IS NOT 79″ to the top of the cab. Watch a video, look up a picture…Unless all these journalists are 7′ tall, that’s clearly a measurement including the 8″ antenna.
The truth is the other configurations cost a good deal to develop and the reality is they accounted for not many sales,
I recall the long beds were on the lots and had discounts on them as they were slow movers, I have also noted extra cabs are seldom seen on the roads,
Why build them if there is little to no money made.
I do agree many WT were crew anymore.
I know a few are upset but that extra foot of bed really did not add much. I can carry 40 bags of mulch in my short bed with no issue.
I agree there is a lack of demand. However, as one of those that thinks the standard bed is better I’ll be waiting to see what Toyota offers in 2024 before considering this.
The new Colorado is great, so I may end up with one yet, but at the very least it’s delayed my purchase and possibly lost a customer.
Long bed Canyons have been more popular at our store. If they were dead-set on only one configuration I think they should have split the difference between the two. The box on a short bed Canyon/Colorado is very small. The long bed isn’t even all that big. They could find just as much marketing spin for that move as any other, and we would have a better chance of keeping the long bed customers. Instead they have just been written off as unwanted.
Canyons aren’t even that popular, and I’m certain the long beds accounted for a laughable amount of the sales in the US.
I agree that this streamlines production which reduces cost and time to the detriment of a vocal minority. I have a 2020 ZR2 with this short bed and it works great for trips to Home Depot hauling concrete, mulch, lumber, etc. Sometimes I just have to make two trips – not a big deal. If you need more, then get a Silverado – these trucks are quite capable, but are really more lifestyle trucks while the Silverado is more of a ‘work’ truck. This becomes more apparent when you look at the additional off-road trims offered now for people to throw mountain bikes in the back. The Taco still owns this market by a wide margin and very few use their TRDs as a work truck. Whoever makes a long bed will get those extra sales, but I don’t think it will be significant especially when basic full size trucks are cost competitive.
Many lightweight campers, especially those developed for mid sized, 4×4 trucks require a full 6’ bed. Scout and Kimbo campers to name a few…
Neither my skis nor my bike fit in a shot box. It is a useless “truck”. It is really an open back SUV. I ordered a highly optioned 2022 ZR2 in May of 2022 with an extended cab and long box. Chevy never built it and gave my dealer the explanation that they ran out of frames. Shame on Chevy!
Why are there no new 2023 on the dealers’ lots? I’d like to buy one but want to look at one first!
Waiting on emissi9ns chip should be by end of march. They are building them everyday an just kinda in wait mode
They just started production in late January so should be arriving early March, of this all new truck
Hi they should be showing up at dealer’s lots soon but also there are no epa MPG numbers as of yet either and until those come out from the epa dealer’s can’t officially sell them till they get the window stickers with the epa MPG numbers on them.
The reason they offer only 1 engine and 1 cab/bed length is profit margin. Just like when they kill all cars b/c ‘they did not sell’. Sure, some sold poorly, but there were 100s of thousands of compact and mid-size sedans sold every year before they were targeted for killing. Trucks with 5′ or shorter beds are cars w/open trunks. I personally cannot use them for the things I do.
So, bye-bye GM. Your trucks are poser cars (or ‘SUVs’). Worthless to me.
Money is what keeps a business going not your feelings. Number one job for a company is make money.
This is good for Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma sales. Let’s see if they follow this plan on next-gen!
if everyone had a bad “feeling” about Colorado trucks, what money would be made on them? So, your statement has zero weight.
Good, more for the rest of us. Bye!
How many you buying?
Just one. I have my build submitted to my dealer for a Radiant red ZR2, $52,720. Second on their list, just waiting for their allocation. I still have my HD Duramax to haul and tow, this ZR2 will be for camping and trail hunting.
Yeah, it’s frustrating when a corporation is concerned with making a profit.
There words…..MacPhee went on to add that the move to a singular body style mirrored customer expectations regarding cabin space versus bed space.
So from what I’ve read before the cabin is over a inch shorter inside mostly rear seat leg room if I remember. So doing multi week vacations 1500/2000 miles away I can’t ever remember saying MAN I WISH I HAD LESS ROOM.
Thanks for taking away yet another choice with your closed minded theories of what your customers want GM.
‘customers are increasingly looking for more cabin space’ coming from a team that gives rear passengers less leg room than the last generation.
I know an inch in the back seat may be a lot to you, but not to some of us. This mid-size now has as much headroom (more in back) and more front legroom and slightly less legroom in the back than my ’07 2500HD .
Thank you for putting things in perspective.
Remember the GM spokesperson was from marketing, a department tast has nothing to do with truth or product knowledge.
Copied the Tacoma style and look. No thanks. Worthless bed. Will keep my 02 Avalanche another year or two. No reason to buy new yet. But will look at Silverado next time, not the Tacoma clone. Sad too because I really wanted a Colorado.
Your avalanche has a worthless bed then, it’s only 5’3″…
ZR2Ready your new truck that I’m sure be 1st to get since you’re a volume buyer by the sounds of is 5’2” worthless for sure. LOL as you say!
One truck makes me a volume buyer?? Odd that you are so clueless to think such a thing. Also, it’s sad that you can’t read sarcasm. I will make sure and note it for you in the future.
That’s not a truck. It’s a sedan with an open-air trunk.
Just today I hauled my 500cc 4wd four wheeler in the back of my Colorado with the short bed.
Works for me. Yeah I wish the long bed was still an option, but stop acting like the short bed is pointless.
How did that work, my 400cc 4×4 was a tight fit in a Sierra long bed, just curious.
Yeah, if you want a truck you buy a full-size. Just like if a viking wanted a ship they didn’t buy a dinghy, but that doesn’t mean the dinghy isn’t useful to some.
I’m a contractor and need a long bed. Looks like GM lost another customer!
Contractors would be buying fuul size
Sure it’s not FOOL size.
Some contractors work in dense urban situations where a smaller truck is an asset.
A contractor with a mid-size? Maybe it’s time to grow your business to a 1/2 ton size.
A lot of marketing typical statement, previous sales made the decision. When you ship 95% of vehicles in one configuration for dealer stock, it doesn’t take a genius that 95% of the sales will be? Do you think it’s why black interiors are number one in sales when most are made with black interior or only offered?
The statement that comsumers are coming from small SUV’s hits the head on the nail! Most people buying this crap, are just that…. With NO idea, what a real truck should be!!!! We “OLD GUYS”, can remember when a “truck was a truck”. Somthing used for work! Mostly, a Reg. Cab, with either a short box, or if needed, a long box. None of this fuglly, extended cab, crew cab car influenced unappealing junk. Bring back consumer choice. NOT what GM is telling us what WE want. Yes, C8, GM needs to make a profit, but it’s always at the expense of us, the consumer. One should be able to order what we need, not what they say we need. Especially, at how much these pieces of crap are costing.
I don’t think you know what a work truck should be. Us “old guys” that actually worked a truck never bought a compact. If I want another work truck I will buy at least a 1/2 ton, not a mid-size.
Sorry I offended you. But, I am one of the “OLD GUYS”. Been driving Chevy trucks all my life. I’ve owned S-10’s, Blazers,(both big and small), 1/2 tons, 3/4 tons nd one tons. All 4×4. So don’t tell me I don’t know what a work truck is. These new so called new trucks ARE NOT work trucks. Just glorified suv’s. Want a real truck, One has to look very hard these days. My next one is going to be a’91 K30, reg cab long box. That is the very last year GM made a real truck.
OK, boomer. 🙄
If customers are looking for more room, why not offer a crew cab with a short box and a long box. I have a 2018 Canyon crew cab long box and wanted to order a simular 2023. Oh well I might have to buy something other than a GM for the first time in 30 years. We must be headed back to the Henry Ford days of only color available is black !!! It saved money too….
Doesn’t matter what size bed- ther are none to buy.
GM cannot seem to build a complete truck and ship it.
The sad part is that consumers are puting up with poor service and a lack of choices.
Excuses just more excuses
It’s amazing they have no idea what the public wants. If you find a crew cab long bed it is gone in minutes. A half ton long bed would be nice. GM is a disaster of a company. They are currently running 0% for 72 months in my area on 2021 1500 crew cabs. Haven’t been any for a year. When you call the GM 1-800 number you get a $12.00 person reading to you from a script.
You can get a 1/2 ton long bed.
Alway had an extended cab pick up. Had a 16 Colorado ext cab Z. Just got out of a 19 Silverado which has an extended cab but it’s a 4 door. Just never liked the look of a 4 door pickup truck. And a regular cab didn’t have all the options I’m looking for. It’s a work truck. That’s just me though. Wanted an extended cab Colorado this time.Very difficult to find. You’re right about people who had compact SUVs. With the price of the Colorado now I went with an Equinox for the next 3 years.
Wait, you’re working out of a 4-door equinox because you don’t like 4-door pickups?
Rob
I really must agree with the lift on these trucks. My 2017 Z71 Chevy Colorado is tall enough. I think the lift should have been an option. I am looking to order a Canyon AT4, but may wait to see one first.
Are there really that many people who want to take a new truck off road. Buy a ATV
I currently own a 2016 z71 with a short box. Having a longer box is probably the main thing I regret with this truck. There have been several times when even 6 or 8 more inches of length would have meant I could close the tailgate. I really like the look of the new truck but if i was in the market for a new truck I would have to go with a 1500 just to get the extra length.
I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what GM planned on- moving you and so many others up and into a full size truck with much more profit for the company.
More customers have come into this segment from compact SUV, and customers are increasingly looking for more cabin space versus bed space
Is that really case … why would they just stay with suv then ?
That’s exactly what I’m looking for, more cabin space, not bed space. If I need to haul large items I will buy a half-ton or bigger. I don’t want to haul tents and bikes in an SUV, which is why I’m buying this pickup.
That’s what this is about CHOICES. Take your grocery carrying short bed look at me show truck down to the mall and buy all your plastic add ons and let others have a more usable longer utility bed for carrying enduros, generators tents or caps used for extended time in the backcountry and not a trip down to the bike and hike trail and coffee shop.
Look what you do with your truck shouldn’t impact what I have to limit what I WANT to do with mine.
It’s like what’s wrong with the state’s the majority suffer for a small group.
You going to throw your bike in the backseat of the crewcab? Or do you plan on taking the family in the crew cab?
I understand people with families wanting a crew cab/short box over an SUV with a liftgate. Makes fine sense. I understand work places hauling a “crew” of workers to work sites. Makes sense. Just as much sense as people who don’t plan to shove the whole family or crew in their trucks, who plan to use their truck to pull something or carry loads places on their own. Why are we pushed out?
I just want two doors with a little space behind the seat to throw some luggage or tools inside that I don’t want in the box. I’m getting pushed away by carmakers only making standard glass behind the head fleet trucks or giant crew boats. And now with the Coloroda only a crew option. But I see Quadratec and Greg Henderson’s jTe Jeep Gladiator two door pickup with 6 foot bed made on a jeep unlimited frame gives me hope. They did something Jeep’s engineers didn’t even figure out yet. How to get a 2 door truck and a standard 4 door jeep out of the same frame. Their JTe has 10.5 more inches of box than the regular 4 door Gladiator. But Jeep could have made this see easily just using the Wrangler Unlimited frame and thus kept costs down. And yet today I go to Jeep’s site and to build a jeep gladiator there all I see are the ugliest truck I’ve ever seen with only 4 door options. One day I hope Quadratec’s and Henderson’s creation can win over the Jeep engineers and other truck brand designers. Save your money by wisely choosing a couple options instead of forcing 4 doors on everyone.
I am sure glad to have bought a new ’22 Colorado crew cab 4×4 with long bed and a V6 about a year ago. This model is now a thing of the past. Coming from a ’17 Silverado crew cab 4×4 with 5.3 and short bed, the Colorado is just as comfortable and useful, I do miss the electric rear sliding rear window! I realize it is all about the money, but freedom of choice is worth a lot! The next new truck will be a toss-up. Unless the ev trucks and the infrastructure will be perfected by then (living in the hills of Vermont) the future will be interesting and not for the faint of heart or wallet!
With everything basically having to be ordered, gm wouldn’t have to worry about trucks with standard length beds sitting on lots. But no it’s what gm wants . No customer choices.
GM = higher prices and fewer options.
It so obvious, EV development is sucking the bank dry for ICE vehicle. When you start taking away customer choices, they’ll slowly walk away looking for what the customer wants. I’ve been a Chevy fan most of my life and 1 1/2 years ago I went to RAM because they had what I wanted, plus the RAM dealer had stock with other than black interior. Chevy and GMC had two or three trucks, all black interiors, fully loaded upper trim level or the 4 cylinder engine.
Yeah because they’re a bunch of heartless b@stards
After driving Colorado WT’s for the past 12 years and 200,000+ miles, I’m now on the waiting list for a Silverado WT 1500 long bed (among my six reservations). No dealership anywhere near me has a single long bed truck on the lot. Will never understand this rush for mall crawlers and grocery getters. Funny time to be alive. Sitting on a stack of cash and an 845 credit score and all I want are trucks for my business, and can’t get one for love nor money. GM, are you listening? 😞
Only available in CrewCab with a short box.???…I still have my Sunburst Orange 2004 Colorado CrewCab with a short bax with 105k miles…I’ve re-engineered and fixed the factory Z85 suspension with oversized sway bars and Bilstein shocks ..I installed a DVD with back-up camera and blurtooth hands free phone…..no long box…..no buy…..no problem.
Another grocery getter.
As opposed to what?? 1/2 ton and up are what a person should use for work. If you’re using a mid-size to work out of you’re not working hard enough. LOL
There’s an unsubscribe link at the bottom. LOL
Glad you found it
This article promised “a reason” that Chevrolet / GMC is only offering only one configuration. Increasing profit by offering only the “most popular” variation is not a reason. What happened to the idea that a buyer could choose from hundreds of options for their truck? Are we individuals or are we sheep?
Darn-it, if I want to add the killer Bose music system, for example, they force you to add about $3,500 in packages that Include things that I mostly do not want. I wish to order an extended cab, longbed version. For the kind of money they’re asking, I better get what I want. ‘Been a Chevy guy for life, but sure as heck I’m looking out the window…
Yeah, I understand the economics, but I don’t want and don’t need a crew cab. Nor do I want today’s version of a full sized truck. My 1970 C20 was not much larger than today’s mid-sized trucks. So Ranger or Tacoma I guess when I decide to replace my 1st gen Colorado extended cab.
Thats GM speak for, you will buy what we decide to make and if you don’t like f**k off.
How many long bed extended cab Colorado’s did you buy?
Hey did anyone ever tell you that Ford has a Maverick for you on the lot!
Yeah, and I quietly choose not to purchase one, the bed is too small.
I have 2020 Z71, short box. I would have preferred a long box, but it wasn’t available in Z71 trim. So i am not sure how they determined demand..
People want the short bed so the truck will fit in todays suburban home garages. Home builders are making the garages smaller and smaller. Case in point I have a so called two car garage 19×19 feet. My 2021crew cab long bed will go in the garage but I can’t open the doors of the truck or get to the house door with my truck and the wife’s car in the garage. So the truck lives out side. I too was looking for a gen III with along bed. By the time I am ready in four yeas maybe GM will have reevaluated and build the Colorado with a long 6 foot bed. As an old timer I remember when a 6 foot bed was the short bed and a long bed was 8 foot. I also think that GM want the Colorado to be a stepping stone to the larger more expensive Silverado. Also they don’t want to take away Silverado customers.
“Home builders are making the garages smaller and smaller.”
We as consumers need to demand better. Don’t buy a house if it has a crappy small garage. Eventually the builders will get the message and offer something better. At least, that’s the way the market should work, anyway. In this economy, who knows? 🤷♂️
Personally we bought a house in a crappy neighborhood almost solely based on it having a detached 24×32 garage. We might have crime, blight, and trash all over, but at least we have a nice garage, LOL. 😆
When our house was built, I had the garage extended 4′ longer because the builder’s house plan garage was too short for full size vehicles.
I had a 1994 Ranger long bed which had a bed over seven feet long and it fit comfortably in my garage because it was a two door cab with bucket seats and just a little storage area behind the seats. There wasn’t any need for a cavernous crew cab and it didn’t have one. The Ranger was pretty plain, but it had a V6, A/C and stereo radio which made it plenty comfortable for truck duty.
So GM sees it as a niche and not a utility vehicle. Got it. Let’s see GM use that same logic on the Silverado/Sierra, and tell me how many more sales they’ll get.
Bottom line, GM didn’t want to invest money on more configurations that could encroach Silverado/Sierra sales. They could have done something special here, but chose profits versus volume, that’s business.
If a person wants bed storage, a long bed mid-size isn’t the correct choice anyway. If bed storage is so important you have to go to a 1/2 ton, where the short bed has more capacity than a long bed Colorado.
So here we go again! Someone telling me I’m buying the wrong truck. The ZR2Ready supposed a performance truck. Coming from a performance oriented upbringing more on the handling side not quarter mile side. SI’s, GLHS, WRX, XT. As everything got bigger and heavier oh and expensive the toys I got did too so the need to tow toy’s somewhere to use.
The other part as the grocery getter and mall cruiser trucks clogging up the left lane you couldn’t make up any reasonable time or distance following a Hemi, Power Smoke or Denali with there left lane bandit habits. Yes I’m with in 5 miles of a nice road course for track days, test and tune and auto cross events. Climbing out of Denver on 70 west hooked up with 5 or 6 fairly nice performance cars not doing anything to stupid but picking their way through the traffic SMOOTHLY. 16 Colorado crew cab long bed Z71 4×4 Duramax with a home built 4×6 steel frame trailer with aluminum deck torsion axel and quality tires loaded with 2 enduros and equipment maybe 800 lbs. Here’s the key to a good handling single axle trailer, within reason a longer tongue, mine is probably 2-3 foot longer than a store bought trailer.
Silverado or just half ton trucks don’t give you any feedback like a Colorado and smooth is the name of the game to drive at a good pace if you don’t have 500hp to make up for your crappy driving.
So again I’m off subject thinking I have to support my choices to someone who is suggesting to many of us that are spending our hard earned money on the wrong truck.
You either have it or you don’t, seat of the pants feeling. The 1/2 ton trucks being generally higher and heavier STOCK out of the box GM with 2.7 and Midsize HIGH OUTPUT 2.7 can’t keep up anywhere.
Last one for your long bed of midsize trucks I never went cross country on a vacation and said I wish I had less room!
Thanks and hope you got at least 1 smile out of it.
Kirk
Speaking of not keeping up, that little Duramax is a slow ass dog.
Keeping up is relative to conditions. You as a diesel fan should know depending on the amount of upgrades and what’s coming out your tail pipe.
The climb out of Denver is steep lots of good turns and 50mph if I remember correctly.
Sweet spot for manual shifting 3rd and 4th in my truck and the exhaust brake if needed.
This was safe with in reason and by far safer the the compact in any lane going 30mph with flashers onholding up semi trucks that have a hell of a time regaining any momentum. Speed differences is the biggest cause of crashes on the Autobahn, so what’s worse 5mph over or 20mph under and 99% of people getting pissed and trying to get around the 30 guy or me at 5 over
Glad I bought my Xtra cab 2020 ZR2 when I did. It’s a great Expedition Rig and I can put my 6ft tall body in the comfortable set-up in the back. Guess I’m taking this one to my grave just like my 08 Alpha H3 Adventure Package. I wish GM had put the 4:1low range on the ZR2 like they did with the H3
I’m disappointed that only short box is available. I’m getting frustrated that midsize pickup trucks are almost all going with short beds. I don’t want a full size truck which is too large for my garage, but I want a truck with bed length sufficient to haul stuff without having tailgate down and a bed-extender gate.
I have a car for car duties and I don’t need those two extra doors and rear seating for my truck. The length taken up by the rear seating would be a heck of a lot more useful as cargo box length.
The 1/2 ton regular cab is perfect for you then, it addresses all your issues! The short bed in a 1/2 ton even has more room than the long bed in a Colorado.
You part of GM’s half ton design team.
Maybe….
“Over the last 5 years, both for fleets and retail buyers, we’ve been seeing a shift towards more crew cabs and more short boxes.”
BS. This fleet for one needs long-box, and we’ve been buying other brands because that’s what we can get.
You could get a long-box in the Colorado also, so why have you “been buying other brands”?
If you were in sales in a GM dealership I’d walk out and maybe go to the competition as well.
With the internet most people are able to research before ever getting to a dealer and know what they want.
Who are you talking to?
Quote- MacPhee went on to add that the move to a singular body style mirrored customer expectations regarding cabin space versus bed space. So off the bat they contradict themselves right in this statement as this new truck loses rear seat legroom which has already been noted by online reviews. So we have 2 strikes right off the bat- reduced rear seat room and one small size bed with no options.
We also have huge price increases for trucks with reduced content from last years outgoing model such as the LT version. Yes we are getting more 4 cylinder power and 4 doors std. But they decontented cruise control, telescoping wheel, rear armrest, dual zone and a few other smaller items. They are also still using old fashioned halogen headlights, forcing the consumer to spend well over 3 grand to get LED’s, rear seat map pocket, rear armrest and several other items that should be included on this trim level.
Interior color choices- you can have any color you want as long as it’s black. Even ponying up to the higher priced Z71 you are still stuck with all black with a little tiny amount of red stitching! I’m sure they will spin this as more customers are ordering black interiors so we eliminated the other choices such as the grey and charcoal interior that previous work trucks offered. Note too that consumers have also lost the option for alloy wheels on the basic WT model with the cheap steelies the only choice.
We will see how the mileage estimates are when they get around to rating this but I’m not expecting any increase on the highway figures from the previous V6 and maybe a small increase in city and combined.
I’m usually a sarcastic one line fan but I wrote a book up above also.
It amazes me having to spell out things with the information available.
We want what fits US not their focus groups.
Remember when OPTIONS could be chosen like ACCESSORIES, not a 300$ item you can only get in a 2200$ PACKAGE
I do agree with you on the options.
Even with disappointment of not having longer truck bed, the fact you can get WT with 4×4 and a few packages under 40k is pretty amazing. What will the 2024 ranger and 2024 offer to that price point. So they defiantly cut cost to make that happen.
WOW!!!! This story is really causing a stir. Hope GM sees all the gripes here. Many, many owners know what they want and need, of their daily driver. Be it, pure enjoyment of owning a truck, or the need to use it as intended…WORK. Again, many new truck buyers are coming from tiny cars or suv’s. They want a truck that is like their cars. Bring back, both useful trucks and CHOICE. When spending this kind of cash, one should be able to buy what one wants or needs. Not what the bean counters say we need. Especially when many of these “unavailible” body styles, are readily found in Mexico and the Middle East. KISS!!!!!!!
I couldn’t find an extended cab on the lot when I was out looking in July 2017. All the dealerships said, “Oh, its got room in the back seats for adults, no worries, just go and order one!” 🤥 . I order my 2018 Colorado extended cab on August 1, 2017 and get it August 30 and one month later, two young ladies tried to sit in the back! OMG! They had to turn their legs sideways to fit, even when the front seats were pulled forward. Kinda useless having a truck when I had full size adults wanting to ride and no one under 100lbs can fit back there! That’s why they stopped making extended and only crew cabs. Okay, just my opinion, but we all know that’s why!
To the person that commented about needing to carry extra people in the back of their cab and not having enough room. I don’t disagree. I’ll just counter by saying that I could count the number of times I’ve needed to carry passengers in my work truck in the past 20 years on one hand, with a few fingers left over. We have a car if we need to cart around extra people. To me, it’s just extra door seals to leak. Heavy seats to carry around and diminish my payload capacity. Extra weight that reduces my gas mileage. The only thing I ever throw back there are tools. Would rather have a smaller cab and a longer bed, which is why we should have options for our trucks. Just imho.
Oh well. I really liked the 23 Colorado truck! But I can’t put my motorcycle in a short bed and don’t need 4-doors like the wife’s car.
You do realize I wasn’t the person that decided not to build long-box Colorados, right?
Sooooo…. Garbage fuel economy, and miniature truck bed. I sold my long bed Colorado because it wasn’t long enough. GM has lost its mind. The 2.8 Duramax was a great engine attached to a garbage transmission (horrible shift points, and no ability to upshift manually). I’ve since gone full EV, so gm has permanently lost me as a customer since their Silverado is embarrassing.
I have a ’17 Colorado credit cab/long bed. And diesel. I love it. Never had an issue with the transmission and it’s shift points. I do wish the new Colorado had a 6′ bed as I do work with it. And I love that amazing 3l diesel in the Silverado. The lack of a bigger bed and mediocre mileage will delay any trade in plans I might have entertained. I like the Silverado EV but like the ICE Silverado, it’s just too big and pricey for me.
Sooo, you no longer have a pickup?
If you bought an electric pickup you have, at best, a 3″ longer bed and a much worse range if you’re towing something.
Less and less choices. Maybe some of us dont want a 4 door pickup. Did you ever think of that GM?
I’ve been driving Chevy trucks since 1979. I currently have a 2015 Colorado 4 door with the long bed. Over the years I’ve seen the short beds on the road and I would wonder why anyone would want a truck with such limited capacity. I was shocked when looking at new models and seeing only the short bed as an option. I was a 100% Colorado buyer when/if I needed a new truck, but no more, the short bed is useless to me. I’ll stick with my current truck for the foreseeable future. 120,000 miles and still runs like the day I bought it.
Well I had a GMC Canyon and was going to look at the chevy colorado this time..because I like the room in the extended cab….Well Toyota or Nissan here I come….do not need or like the full 4 door truck…
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the extended cab long box wasn’t being offered on the 2023 Colorado model , building a truck that is built only for the day leisure’s and not for the working folks who need a small truck to get real work done is a repugnant decision. Obviously motivated by greed and fragile corporate types. I understand that the working folks simply make things last a lot longer than the lay man who is looking for a trendy vehicle, clearly making long box extended cab a tougher market. And I agree the dealers don’t stock these vehicles because of profitability issues, skewing the potential sales numbers down. Also Most of the dealerships were keeping the new models hidden in the back of the lot where no one could see them for the past two years in order to sell obscenely over price used vehicles. GM could keep making the “2022” extended cab model for years and that would be fine. I don’t care what model year you call it as long as there is a extended cab long box version is still available.
If I wanted to have to hook up to a trailer every time I needed to haul something, I’d get an SUV.
I wanted a new Colorado but since I can’t get a 6′ bed, I guess I’ll be buying a 2024 Tacoma because they still offer it.
I agree with Scott A , im guess im a toyota tacoma guy now. Chevy / GM has let us seriously let us all down in not offering a 6ft bed in the Colorado. Or offering another decent small truck option with a 6ft bed.
I think GM presumed they could force us into a 5′ bed but didn’t contemplate that Ford, and Nissan will all offer a 6′ bed. My next truck won’t have a 5′ bed. Come on GM, offer a 6′.
GM says short beds are what most everybody wants! Their data is BS! It looks that way because GM pushes for short beds. Customers may want a long bed but don’t want to wait for GM to build it so they settle on a short bed. Giving the false idea that is what everyone wants! GM, get your head out of your as sses, and stop trying to overthink and justify your position! THAT, is the real reason for the short bed!
Everything in this article was a lie. GM is trying to simplify their options and force people to accept a 5′ bed. Not going to happen.