The price for the 2023 Chevy Colorado, the bow-tie brand’s midsize truck that is similar to the mechanically identical GMC Canyon, has been released. Long overdue for an update, the Colorado received one for 2023 that included a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, new styling, a new interior, and other improvements. And yet, for all this newness, the Colorado’s price increase isn’t as much as you’d think, considering how much more of a truck you’ll get.
According to crude math, the base 2023 Colorado WT (Work Truck) costs $1,165 more than a base 2022 with an equivalent configuration. On the other hand, a 2023 Colorado ZR2 designed for off-roading is $2,120 less expensive than a current diesel-fed ZR2 and only $1,600 more expensive than the previous V-6-powered gasoline ZR2. The new gas-only ZR2 doesn’t reach the $50,000 mark like the outgoing diesel ZR2 did. Yes, it is true that the baby Duramax option was fairly expensive, as was to be expected. (Have you seen how much diesel engines add to HD trucks?) No matter how you look at it, the new Colorado is essentially a brand-new truck for around the same price.
There are five different trim levels available for the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado, all of which are four-door crew cabs with short beds. The less common long bed and extended-cab configurations are no longer available. The available trims are WT, LT, Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2. The Trail Boss trim, which was previously an add-on package, is new this year. Although two-wheel drive is an affordable and simple alternative to four-wheel drive for all trims, the WT and LT are also available.
The 2.5-liter four-cylinder (200 hp/191 lb-ft of torque), 3.6-liter V-6 (308 hp/275 lb-ft of torque), and diesel 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder (181 hp/369 lb-ft of torque) engine options are also no longer available. Instead, starting in 2023, a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four gasser with three power outputs and an eight- These outputs are Turbo (237 horsepower/259 pound-feet of torque), Turbo Plus (310 horsepower/390 pound-feet of torque), and Turbo High-Output (310 horsepower/430 pound-feet of torque).
The starting price for the base 2023 Chevy Colorado WT is $32,190. (Be aware that every price includes GM’s $1,495 destination fee.) The cost of adding four-wheel drive is $3,300, and upgrading to the mid-output 2.7-liter (for an extra 73 hp and 131 lb-ft) costs $1,420. With its 17-inch steelies, black plastic exterior, black door handles, halogen headlights, and cloth-trimmed manual seats, it may appear to be a work truck (which is completely fine). However, don’t be deceived by this appearance. It has a lot of features for a base truck, including an 11.3-inch LED display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8.0-inch color driver information center, Chevy Safety Assist, and Hitch View to assist in trailer alignment, for example. Regarding options, there are many available for a base truck, including rear air vents, adaptive cruise control, heated power mirrors, Evotex seat trim, remote locking tailgate, and power driver seat.
Again, four-wheel drive can be added for $3,300 to the base price of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado LT, which is $34,590. The mid-output 2.7-liter adds $1,285 to the price. The LT has less raw plastic and more body-color trim pieces, not to mention nicer 17-inch aluminum wheels and optional 18-inch “Android Dark” full gloss aluminum wheels. For the first time, a sunroof is an option, and a skid plate package is available to make the LT more off-road capable.
The mid-output Turbo Plus 2.7-liter and four-wheel drive are standard on the new-for-2023 Colorado Trail Boss trim, which costs $39,990. Over 3.0 inches wider and 2.0 inches higher than the LT thanks to the Trail Boss’s improved suspension. A G80 automatic locking rear differential is standard on the Colorado Trail Boss (as well as the Z71).
Pricing starts at $42,890 for the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 model. It has a mid-output Turbo Plus 2.7-liter engine and four-wheel drive as standard, just like the Trail Boss. Standard twin-tube off-road tuned shocks, aluminum wheels measuring 18 x 8.5 inches, and all-terrain tires measuring 265/65R18 (31.6 x 10.4 inches) are included with the Z71 (and Trail Boss). With trim-unique cloth/leatherette seats, the Z71’s interior is sporty and accented in Adrenaline Red.
Starting at $49,790, the desert-focused 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 is available. The top-of-the-line midsize off-roader from Chevy comes standard with four-wheel drive and a high-output 2.7-liter engine with 430 lb-ft of torque. It has the most aggressive suspension, boasting a 3.0-inch lift and a track width that is 3.5 inches wider than the base models. The amazing Multimatic DSSV dampers from the previous generation are also carried over to the ZR2, but with updated shafts, seals, and tuning.
A fifth Terrain Mode, Baja, which enables an additional drive mode beyond Baja that essentially eliminates all electronic intervention, as well as electronic locking front and rear differentials, are also included. They are mounted on 17×8-inch wheels and have 285/70R17 (32.7 x 11.2-inch) mud-terrain tires. There’s a special ZR2 called the Desert Boss, which adds 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, a special “off-road” front bumper with push bar, a bed-mounted sports bar with a sail panel and LED off-road light bar, an underbody camera, and unique “Desert Boss” graphics.
These base prices are exponentially increased by packages and options, and let’s face it, it’s much more difficult to find base-trim trucks with fewer options than high-end trims with more options. We configured a $65,000 ZR2 Desert Boss Special Edition on Chevy’s website without trying too hard—but to be fair, we did tack on some things we could live without, like $50 yellow seat belts to “[add] a contrasting color to an important safety feature.” On the other end of the spectrum, and possibly more impressively, we configured a Radiant Red WT for an affordable $43,720. We spent $235 on a full-size spare wheel or tire, but it also necessitates a number of other choices. We would prefer manufacturers to provide something similar without any restrictions, but we will reluctantly pay more for a full-size spare tire than a compact tire.
News source: motortrend.com
