Quite a few General Motors products – including the third-generation Chevy Colorado – were nominated for the 2024 MotorTrend Truck of the Year award. Now, the Bow Tie brand’s midsize pickup truck has officially been named as the winner of the accolade.
The publication praises the next-gen Colorado in nearly every facet, particularly when it comes to the timing of the 2023 Colorado‘s launch. Another aspect MotorTrend found exceptional is the flexibility of the lineup, and how every trim level is engineered to serve a distinct role as compared to the others.
Speaking of trims, the publication had much to say in regard to the Colorado ZR2. Whether cruising down the highway or tearing up back roads, MotorTrend found that the off-road-focused Chevy Colorado ZR2 has a breadth of capability seldom found elsewhere from the competition.
“There is so much traction, so much articulation, and so much jounce absorption, it takes getting into another pickup and driving over the same terrain to truly understand its severity, because you can’t tell from the Chevy’s driver’s seat,” MotorTrend Deputy Editor Alexander Stoklosa stated. “It’s shocking how well the ZR2 drives on pavement given what it can do off-road. Few hardcore off-roaders manage this balancing act; Ford’s F-150 Raptor, the Ram 1500 TRX, and maybe the Land Rover Discovery being just about it.”
Another point the publication made sure to emphasize was the value proposition, and how General Motors did a great job at hiding the cost cutting efforts found throughout the vehicle. Certain features explicitly mentioned include the unique use of the screens, contrast stitching, and class-above features like keyless start. The Colorado beat GM’s own Chevy Silverado HD, GMC Canyon, GMC Sierra HD and GMC Hummer EV 3X Pickup, in addition to the Ford F-150 Raptor R and the Ford F-Series Super Duty.
As a reminder, the third-gen Chevy Colorado is offered with two engine choices for the 2024 model year, including the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L2R gasoline engine, rated at 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine – or TurboMax – which produces 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque.
In regard to structure, the Colorado rides on an updated variant of the GMT 31XX platform, which it shares with the third-gen GMC Canyon. Meanwhile, production of the 2024 model year officially commenced in December 2023 at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Colorado news, Chevy news, GM business news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Having test driven one of the first Colorado WTs off of the production line , I immediately felt GM hit one out of the park .
I bought a Z71 back in May and it’s been fantastic; a joy to drive.
Congrats GM.
Well, congratulations to gm. Despite some first year teething problems it won the NACTOY, which is a fine accomplishment. Kudos to the design engineering and production staff, they should continue improving the truck.
Same truck, but I prefer the Canyon. I like a little more refinement. I’m sticking with my Sierra though, very happy with it.
nice award i will never own a 4 cly
Agreed.. no 4cyl and no turbos… I’ll stick with my 6.2 thanks
Ordered ZR2 December 19, 2022, accepted by GM March 24, 2023, built July 24, not shipped to dealer until November 24.
Have owned for 14 days, 10 days and counting at dealer for warranty problems:
1. The Lane Change Alert symbol in both the driver and passenger side-view mirrors illuminates and goes out randomly, either singly or together, regardless of whether there is a vehicle or object on either side of truck.
When the Lane Change Alert symbol is on, none of the four window up/down buttons work on the driver’s door function. Using the auto all-windows down button on the center console lowers the driver’s window only about two inches, while all of the other windows go down completely.
After using the all-windows down button to lower the windows, the four driver’s window up/down buttons do not work. Shutting the engine off, then turning the engine back will then allow the four driver’s window up/down buttons to work.
This problem seems to always occur during low outside light conditions. It is particularly distracting at night.
This problem so far has not occurred when the outside light is bright, like when the sun is out.
– I have multiple videos documenting this problem
– I was unable to find any GM TSBs on this problem, but this and the next four issues
listed here have all been documented and discussed on Internet forums and videos
– see additional notes on this problem following the end of the problems list
2. The hood, when latched has about 1/4-inch of vertical slop in it.
3. Areas of all four fender flares have gaps between them and the sheet metal of truck. At least one (lower front flare on driver’s side), if not multiple plastic retention clips have not been fully seated and/or the fender flares have a manufacturers defect.
4. Plastic trim piece on the driver’s side interior A-pillar is loose at the top.
5. Excessive wind noise from the front of the driver’s side window. One of the door seals appears to be deformed or bent compared to the same seal on the passenger’s side. This noise begins at around 50 mph.
6. While driving on highway 95 with the Adaptive Cruise Control set, the cruise control suddenly disengaged when a car approached from the opposite direction. After that car passed the cruise control reengaged to the previously selected speed. There was no car in front of me in my lane. This occurred at night on a straight section of the highway.
The Collision Avoidance system was set to Alert Only during this incident, not Alert and Braking.
Due to the danger of this scenario, I am not about to attempt to see if this will occur again.
Maybe you got one of the trucks shown in the pictures crossing rivers and climbing rocky mountain passes.
GM recommends a daily automatic carwash to fix all issues. Or at least have something they MIGHT possibly be able to fix. What a sad company.
I believe all of this. There are some issues with the truck that seriously need to be rectified.
From what I understand, it’s been discovered that a bad window switch is causing the issue. Which explains your issues.
I like the Colorado a lot, but love my ’23 Silverado High Country with Max Towing Pkg! I had ordered a’23 AT4, but when I learned about the High Country with the diesel and Max Tow, I had to go back to Chevy! Good try, Colorado and Canyon, but I’ll be driving this one for many years to come.
I wonder how far in advance Motor Trend had to order their truck so they had one to test
I ordered a ZR2 in June 2023 and GM still has not accepted or started its build. Maybe that is a good thing. Now I can look at the Tacoma 2024’s.
Great job GM!
Must be motor trim know somebody that knows somebody because 2024 are not supposed to go on line until the 11 of December and I haven’t heard a word on the Colorado I ordered 6 months ago
I read about all these praises on the 2023 Colorado. I bought a 2023 Colorado Z71 the end of July. I now have 3200 miles on it and without a doubt it is the worst vehicle I ever owned. I had at least 7 new Silverado’s and felt I didn’t need a big truck anymore. But, gm I think they forget this is America and people should have choices. Who are they to dicate that most customers order the short bed, so the long bed is discontinued. Also only one engine will be available. One of several complaints I have is the missing light switch. They claim lights are on auto, so no one really uses the switch. How about switching on the fog lamps. You have to take your eyes off the road and select screens to turn them on. Then theres also the manual sliding rear windor, and manual sunshade . Of course on the other hand options like the trailer break controller that most prople would not order, they include it in popular package. But I’am the one who signed the check so I cant blame anyone else. I don’t know if it is because of the turbo, but the heater also sucks. The one and only thing I like about it is that it’s paid for.
I bought my Colorado last May, and love it. This is the first mid size Chevy I’ve ever owned. It’s great for parking, and fits so much nicer in my garage. I also get more compliments on the great looks of the truck. My favorite truck by far!
I bought my Colorado last May, and love it. This is the first mid size Chevy I’ve ever owned. It’s great for parking, and fits so much nicer in my garage. I also get more compliments on the great looks of the truck. My favorite truck by far!
When I first seen the truck I was instantly impressed by the exterior design. Really nice looking truck.
Then I seen the interior and was totally let down. The dash layout with the screens is great. Looks a lot like the full size trucks. But they really screwed up with the rest of the interior.
GM why couldn’t you have just used the same look as the full sized trucks. The dash in front of the passenger seat is beyond cheap looking then there is these stupid add ons on the doors and on each side of the center console that just look so cheap and hideous.
Who ever did the interior,must have been on a very tight budget. Or they need to be replaced.
Interior is such a let down. When the full sized trucks interior looks amazing..
It would be great – if I could just GET ONE!! I ordered a ’23 Colorado in MARCH of ’23 – never arrived!! Had to buy a stripped-down version off the lot of a dealership 100 miles from my home! Different color, half the options. Ordered a bed mat – BACK-ORDERED! Don’t like having to go the screen to find functions that used to be on the smartstick or on the dash up front where I can see them. I have to go through THREE screens just to turn on the fog lights! Whose brilliant idea was that?!! I’d trade it in on a ’24 just to get the color and options I really wanted, but I am not confident I’ll ever get what I ordered. This is not the Dealer’s fault. VERY UNHAPPY!!! I’ve been buying Chevrolets for 50 years. Seems like GM is no longer interested in having me as a customer…
Congratulations Chevrolet! I have a ’23 ZR2 and I really like that truck! The engineering on the 4cyl was the deciding factor for buying the pickup, it’s not the turbo 4 of old. It performs much better than the Toyota v6 we have, can even match the fuel economy if I drive properly. My other truck is a crew cab 2500HD Duramax and I have to force myself to drive it because I truly enjoy the Colorado that much.
5 foot bed is not a truck, it’s a Subaru brat.
Someone thinks 3″ is a lot. Lol.
It’s 5’2″, only 3″ shorter than most 1/2 ton short beds.
Idiot, it’s a foot smaller. Most are 6 foot and above. Grocery getter
Google if free, moron. F150 66″, ram 67″, Silverado 69″…..Colorado 62″. F-tard!
Bite me, your looking at the baby beds. Google it. Moron. Go back to your parents basement. I just sold my double cab Silverado. 6.2 I believe. New Toyota coming out will have the 6 ft as well and I think the new ranger will give the 6 ft bed as an option . Trucks were all 8 ft back in the day but that was probably before u were born. I have a 22 Colorado with a 6ft 2 bed. Go play a video game.
Well, it’s a baby truck, so why would I compare it to my 2500HD with an 8′ bed? I guess if you don’t do anything except haul air or mulch a 6′ bed makes you feel like a big boy.
I wish that they would be higher on the reliability scale. 🙁
Tiny, tiny, tiny bed. Same problem with new tiny trucks (Maverick). How’s about going back to the 2 door with a jump seat.
Truck of the year. Thats very funny, apparantly they do NOT know about all the dead batteries caused by updates which chevy could not fix for weeks.
Apparantly reliability is not a needed criteria for TOY.