For the newest model year, the 2025 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are becoming even more similar. The Colorado is dropping the formerly standard turbocharged 2.7L I4 L2R engine, which produced 237 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. That leaves the stronger L3B engine of the same displacement, which generates 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, as the sold powerplant option. This change adds more simplicity to the 2025 Chevy Colorado’s model range.
When the third-generation Chevy Colorado launched for the 2023 model year, it was offered with three engine options – Turbo, Turbo Plus, and Turbo High-Output. All of them were turbocharged 2.7L I4 engines, but they had different power and torque specs. The Turbo engine was standard in the WT and LT trims, Turbo Plus (310 horsepower, 391 pound-feet of torque) was standard in Trail Boss and Z71 models, and Turbo High-Output – the new base engine in every trim for 2025 – only came standard in the ZR2. For the 2024 Colorado, the Turbo Plus engine went away, and the Turbo High-Output engine was rebranded as TurboMax.
| Engine | Power (hp) | Torque (lb-ft) | WT | LT | Trail Boss | Z71 | ZR2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo 2.7L I4 L2R | 237 @ 5,600 | 260 @ 1,200 to 4,000 | S | S | - | - | - |
| Turbo Plus 2.7L I4 L3B | 310 @ 5,600 | 391 @ 2,000 | $1,050 | $1,050 | S | S | - |
| Turbo High-Output 2.7L I4 L3B | 310 @ 5,600 | 430 @ 3,000 | - | $395 | $395 | $395 | S |
This brings the Chevy Colorado closer to its platform mate, the GMC Canyon, which comes standard with the Turbo High-Output (now TurboMax) engine since the 2023 model year. Both trucks are underpinned by the GM 31XX-2 platform, and updated version of the original 31XX architecture, and are produced at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.
We were impressed with the acceleration of the L3B TurboMax engine when we did a 0-60 mph test in the GMC Canyon, as you can see in the video above. Impressively, the TurboMax engine has a higher torque rating than the 2.8L I4 LWN turbodiesel Duramax engine that was available in the second-gen Colorado and Canyon while matching its maximum towing capacity (7,700 pounds). The L3B does the best diesel impression of any gas engine we’ve tested, and we’re happy to see it as the standard engine in the 2025 Chevy Colorado.
Comments
Why they even wasted the money on developing or even manufacturing the same engine with different outputs made no sense. I’m sure their WT trim level or lower trim levels are a small fraction of their overall sales
They’re actually the highest
Whoever greenlighted detuning the 2.7 L turbomax should be demoted. Spending good money to make an existing engine worse truly shows bad judgement.
Good call by both Daryl & M…. Thats good money after bad. Some body there at GM needs to get their head out of the “electical socket” and run the everyday operations…. foolish…
If they use their brains, they will put a V6 back in the truck that should be in there. Forget about a four-cylinder. They have a four-cylinder and a half ton that’s a real JOKE..!
Agreed! I have a 2018 Zr2 With the V6…I was thinking of upgrading to the new one, when I found out they scrapped it for a 4 turbo…I was no longer interested. I’ll keep my ’18 thanks.
The ZR2 really needs the 5.3. id wager there might be an argument for the 6.2 in the ZR2, but that a lot of juice for a small vehicle.
There is the slight problem that the “high feature V6” family is end of life, and is being removed from all vehicles. I really wished for an updated 4.3, but the smaller GM vehicles seem to be going with the 4cylinder family.
Me too i traded my 21 LT for a 22 elevation because last V6. Will not buy a 4cyl
I own a ’23 Sierra Crew Cab with the 2.7 and love it.
I have one in my Sierra and it suits me just fine.
I’ve been GM only for fifty two years and the last four years of buying brand new trucks every year i am done with GM quality sucks even paint jobs two of the new trucks had terrible paint work cheaply built all together and not cheap cost LOL
Come and see the Toyota paint quality….they too have atrocious paint peeling issues in the Tacomas…DO NOT MAKE EXCUSES for them either.
Bankruptcy era models..that I can believe…but unless you show proof OTHERWISE, I cannot believe you.
I have a 2017 Z71, and I too was thinking of upgrading to a new model. That is until they decided to go with a 4 cylinder. The V6 in my truck has been bulletproof. Get your heads back on the game GM, and put the V6 back in that truck where it belongs. Let Ford and Toyota deal with the turbo problems.
Won’t happen with the darn emissions/EPA regulations coming in 2026/27.
How about reintroducing an extended cab and regular cab, and a longer bed option for the crewcab?
I’m still waiting for more honest information about the 2025 GMC SYCLONE that GM has put teasers out as well all the major car magazines putting out very interesting information about it. Tomg
That is slow 7 seconds?My Ford Ranger Turbo with 93 octang 0-60 with my 2.3L 270HP motor?5.3 seconds!!
Correction: GM has never released teasers about a GMC SYCLONE or GMC Cyclone.
What you’re referring to is clickbait at its worst.
Ya think GM would spend their money figuring out that Troublesome 8-speed automatic transmission that ravaged so many customers Keiser like a category 4 hurricane ???? 🐓
Has been fixed for almost a decade. There is no issue with new 8 speeds post 2018. There’s a chance there might be a 2016 here or there with the junk fluid still in it that hasn’t been changed, but all 8’s are currently posting less issues than the 10speeds and 6 speeds.
Will never buy a 4 cyl turbo Colorado, mine is a 6 cyl extended cab what do I buy now, Chevy totally left me
Go buy a Nissan Frontier they only have a v6
That Turbo had terrible lag!That was like a second lag time!Why I left those trucks a lot of noise no movement!Ford has the fastest trucks!Mine is even as fast as the Ranger Raptor with 405hp
You guys need to get over it and accept modern technology. Old V6s have always been gutless, and barely adequate in these small trucks. GMs new 2.7 turbo puts out more HP and torque at LOWER RPM than any V6 has ever dreamed of.
I’ve been a lifelong Toyota guy but after researching the new Colorado for a while, I think GM has blown the other small trucks out of the water with this new 3rd gen. They are all going turbo 4cyl, but GM has the most displacement and power, other than ranger raptor with a 3.0 V6 and Tacoma forcing you into hybrid with the upper trim levels.
I picked up my new Colorado ZR2 this month and could not be happier. It runs circles around my old Tacoma in every way, but a snail could also do that, so….
PS. The turbo has virtually no lag, and spools up extremely fast, even at low RPM. Anyone trying to tell you that is a turbo hating old fart who has never even been in the same room as one of these new engines.
This thing is seriously built and runs like a diesel motor, without all the down sides of a diesel.
This is all from a GM hating Toyota guy, with a new ZR2 in his garage. My wife is contemplating having me committed.
Well said Trevor.
These guys that say no turbo four have never driven one and have extremely dated views on the automotive world (they probably still hold to the 3k mile oil change intervals). One thing they don’t realize as I am sure durability is a point they try and incorrectly make is is an engine is a durable as they build it. These 2.7’s were over built like a diesel and will last longer than the car based 3.6. It was designed to extreme work in the heaver and larger Silverado and was one of the hardest to kill in torture testing. And turbo motors have been going hundreds of thousands of miles no problems for decades from passenger cars to large turbo diesel trucks, they will last. I am glad they made the move from a NA V6, those things were torqueless and needed to rev to make power, it would down shift at the slightest hill or head wind and struggled when ladden with weight. I love a torquey smaller turbo motor, that massive bump in torque at only 2k rpm is sweet and what is needed in a truck. They can keep the 3.6, it wasn’t right for trucks and heavy CUV’s to begin with, they made the right choice and the whole industry is going that way and rightfully so.
This is also directed at Dennis, Jeff, Judy and Lou; those four uneducated posters that the only thing they can say is no four bangers, V6 or die with zero context and data to back it up, just horribly dated and incorrect ways of thinking…
Uh-oh, TMI is dictating “right-thinking”…..time to put those wrong-thinkers in wrong-think quarantine. Must be a lefty.
I’ve owned a 2017 GMC Canyon All Terrain with the V6. I now own a 2023 GMC Canyon Denali. There is no comparison in any category. Looks, style, luxury, power, comfort, ect, ect, ext. 3rd gen with the 2.7 all the way. For those posting bring back the V6……you’ve obviously never driven the 2.7
So that’s one way raise prices and lower cost .
Perhaps the 2.5 from the traverse could work as a more fuel efficient option?
F1 Turbo 4s run the 90 min race at about 8000 rpm. All kind of things go wrong with the cars but blowing an engine is virtually unheard of.
Of course they’re a few $Mill per copy …. !
I love my 2022 crew cab long bed red line edition colorado 3.7 L … i dont like the new one looks to much like a tacoma
Had 2018 colorado 6 cylinder. Transmission went out 2 k miles after warranty. Then got 2023 canyon at4. Wasnt feeling the 4 cylinder. Traded in for tacoma 2019. Best running truck ever owned
If you want a truck that shakes at highway speed…like a rental GXR V8 Land Cruiser I drove then be my guest….
I have a 23 Colorado and this thing rips. Has more torque then my 07 Silverado with the 6.0. I’ve always been a V8 guy still believe the 1500 trucks should have at least the 5.3. That’s my opinion. Having said that, this L3B engine in my Colorado runs like a scalded dog and have no complaint about power and this is coming from rolling a 6.0 prior to this truck. As far as lag, I like someone to show me where that is!! Willing to bet that’s coming from someone who’s reading and not driving one.
I love my 2017 Colorado, 3.6L V6, 8spd!!