2 Odd Things Hold the 2023 Chevy Colorado Z71 Back
We’ve been taking the new Chevrolet Colorado all over the state of North Carolina, where it feels at home on back country roads and twisting mountain trails. For the most part, we like what we’ve learned so far about this midsize truck. However, two things keep the 2023 Chevy Colorado Z71 from reaching its full potential.
Is the 2023 Chevy Silverado Z71 worth buying?
Yes, the 2023 Chevy Colorado Z71 is an excellent trim level to consider. This model features beefy off-roading upgrades with extra comfort and convenience features for relaxing highway drives after a long day of work.
However, we found two features that may take some getting used to.
1. The Chevrolet Colorado Z71 doesn’t have a driver’s side handle
This 2023 Chevy Colorado Z71 feature is mostly an issue for short people, but the cabin has no grab handles in the front driver’s side. To climb into the truck, you must grab the steering wheel or center console.
The passenger side does have a handle, but I may be old-fashioned with my preference to drive my own truck instead of ride in it.
It might look a little funny to climb up into the truck like a monkey, but getting up there behind the wheel is worth it. Perhaps adding running boards or side steps would be a good idea. The Z71 has a ground clearance of 8.9 inches, which is tall for shorter folks. (I’m 5’1″, by the way.)
2. The Colorado is constantly locking
The 2023 Chevy Colorado Z71 loves to automatically lock its doors. Every time you get out and close the door, it locks, so you have to find your key fob and unlock it again to get your groceries, gear, pets, or kids out of the back.
Pressing the unlock button before exiting the truck provides some extra time, but if you linger for too long, the doors lock again.
Also, the doors automatically lock once you walk away, and the horn honks. Personally, the constant honking as I walk to my home or a store is a bit annoying. I’m not trying to alert all the dogs in the neighborhood. It’s not a bug by the way, just a setting to adjust.
But Chevrolet has a solution. You can go into the vehicle settings and change your personal preferences and change the lock/unlock settings. We recommend removing the horn feedback and enabling passive unlocking.
What does the 2023 Colorado Z71 come with?
The 2023 Chevy Colorado Z71 features extra engine power. The standard turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine cranks out 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Colorado Z71 gets the Turbo Plus variant, which is tuned to produce 310 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque.
Red tow hooks and tinted privacy glass help provide a confident and upscale look. You also get more sound-dampening materials and solar-absorbing glass to help keep bright rays and heat at bay.
It rides on 18-inch Android Dark gloss black wheels wrapped in 32-inch all-terrain tires. Plus, it has a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, and a rear-locking differential. The 11.3-inch infotainment system has standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
The 8.0-inch digital guage cluster is modern and attractive. There are plenty of USB and USB-C ports available with a 120-volt outlet and a mounted 120-volt outlet in the bed. The bucket seats are supportive and well-bolstered.
What are our favorite Colorado Z71 aspects so far?
We’re still learning about the 2023 Chevy Colorado Z71, but so far, we enjoy its smooth and efficient power delivery. It has plenty of power for passing others and for an engaging performance.
It’s a very comfortable truck as well. Only rougher patches of the road are noticeable in the cabin, but disruptions are quickly dampened. The truck is peaceful at highway speeds, as wind android noise is kept at bay.
The Chevrolet Colorado Z71 offers the most comfortable performance over gravel and dirt roads compared to the 2023 Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. The front seats also offer superior comfort and visibility.
Stay tuned for updates. We still have more off-roading to do. Plus, our full-length review is coming up. But the Colorado could have better access, and locking settings need to be adjusted.
