The Chevrolet Colorado has been loved by millions of truck fans for decades. After winning the 2016 Truck of the Year award, this mid-sized pickup has a lot to live up to. When it comes to pickup trucks, most people are looking for something that is both tough and durable. When most people think of a tough-as-nails truck, the first thing that comes to mind is a heavy-duty truck. 

While heavy-duty trucks have a long reputation for being able to handle a wide range of terrains and situations, the mid-sized pickup truck should not be overlooked when it comes to a reliable source of transportation. One mid-sized truck that seems to get overlooked quite a bit is the Chevy Colorado.  Recently, Motor Trend did some research to find out just how durable and versatile the Chevy Colorado truly is. Here is a quick run-down on what Motor Trend found out about the Chevy Colorado after taking it on a snowy road trip.

Chevy Colorado’s powertrain

The Chevy Colorado may be a mid-sized truck, but it definitely has the power and performance features of a full-sized, Heavy-duty truck. The Colorado features three different engine options The Colorado comes standard with a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that delivers an impressive 200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, the truck is capable of towing up to 3,500 lbs and is also able to get an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

For drivers who are looking for a little more power, Colorado offers an available 3.6-liter V6 engine. With 308 hp, this engine offers the best in class horsepower and delivers 375 lb-ft of torque and offers a huge 7,000 lbs of max towing capacity.

For the truck fans who prefer a diesel engine, the Chevy Colorado has you covered. Its third engine option features a Duramax 2.8-liter Turbo-Diesel. With this option, drivers get to experience the thrilling power that only a diesel engine can provide without having a truck that is too large to fit their needs. The Turbo-Diesel engine delivers 369 lb-ft of torque and has a max towing capacity of 7,700 lbs.

How does the Chevrolet Colorado handle on long road trips?

The Chevy Colorado Z71 offers a good amount of legroom and headspace for all occupants to have a comfortable ride. The Crew Cab is capable of seating up to five people comfortably.

Interior features on the Colorado also include a 7-inch touchscreen display that comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity options as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so that you can stream your favorite music and use the navigation system on your phone. There are also two USB ports located inside of the Colorado to ensure that your phone never loses power on long trips. 

How does the Chevrolet Colorado handle snowy conditions?

A photographer for Motor Trend named Brian Vance had recently taken the Chevy Colorado Z71 on a road trip from Northern California to Nevada. The trip was filled with different types of weather conditions, including heavy snow. This was the first time that Vance had ever taken the Colorado on a long road trip and he said that he was pleasantly surprised with how versatile the truck was.

During the trip, Vance had planned to go skiing. He had said that the truck bed was big enough to haul his ski gear, workbench, coffee kit, and luggage. He had also said that the truck handled icy conditions with ease. 

“I drove from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe in a late-night snowstorm. Toward the top of the crest of the Sierra Nevadas, I had to go from 2WD to 4WD Hi. Easy to do by just turning the dash-mounted switch to 4WD Hi and waiting for the message on the dash indicating that all four wheels were engaged,” Vance had said.

One of the downsides that Vance did note about the Colorado was the fact that the transmission seemed to do a lot of “downshifting and hunting” when the truck was having to climb the Sierra at a high altitude.

The Chevrolet Colorado may not be one of the top-selling trucks on the market today, however, when it was taken on a long, and sometimes hazardous, road trip, it proved that it has the capability to compete with the other trucks on its class.