The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado is not the most popular choice for the best midsize pickup truck, yet MotorTrend ranked it the highest. Nearly every publication has ranked the 2022 Honda Ridgeline highest out of every midsize pickup truck. In fact, the Chevy Colorado isn’t a popular choice at all. What did MotorTrend see in the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado that everyone else missed? 

Is the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado a good pickup truck? 

MotorTrend ranked the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado number one for best midsize pickup trucks for 2022. This is surprising because many publications ranked the Honda Ridgeline first and the Chevy Colorado a bit further down. For instance, Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Honda Ridgeline a score of 82/100, a higher rating than any other pickup truck tested, period. The Chevy Colorado landed in sixth place with a score of 45/100. 

This extreme shift in taste is what makes Motortrend’s list of best midsize pickup trucks so strange. Let’s see how MT explains its choice to elevate the Colorado. 

What are the best parts of the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado? 

MotorTrend starts by praising the capability and utility of the small Silverado, saying, “despite its size, the Colorado is a truck that makes few compromises.”

The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado has a few engine options like the base 2.5-liter inline-four making 200 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. This option comes in either AWD or RWD and a six-speed automatic. The next engine is the 2.8-liter inline-four turbodiesel. This oil-burner makes 181 hp and a whopping 369 lb-ft of torque, also paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and optional AWD. Lastly, the 3.6-liter V6 makes 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. This is the only version of the Colorado that comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Aside from the strong engine options, MotorTrend liked how smooth the Colorado’s ride was. This is not an area where smaller pickups often shine. The tough springs underneath most trucks need to be tough to handle the weight of a load or to tow. This makes the unweighted pickup truck feels bouncy and stiff. This is apparently not the case for the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado. 

Lastly, MotorTrend notes that with the ZR2 Bison model, there is a trim for every kind of customer. The lower tier models are strong, simple, and relatively cheap if you want a budget work truck, starting at $25,435. But with the ZR2 topping the spec sheet with its plethora of off-road features, this model hits all the marks you want a good pickup to hit. 

What are the worst parts of the 2022 Chevy Colorado? 

The interior is the first stop on the complaining train for MotorTrend. The testers were disappointed in the interior. It gives off an impression of cheapness and low quality. This is one thing Consumer Reports and MotorTrend agree on. Hard plastics abound plenty throughout the cabin. 

Another weak spot for the model is the inefficiency of the base four-cylinder engine. According to MotorTrend, it gets basically the same fuel economy as the more powerful V6. This needs no further context for why that’s an annoying issue. 

Lastly, the Colorado is pretty light on the standard safety tech. The Colorado scored four out of five stars on the IIHS Crash test. However, active safety features are limited in the Colorado. To get forward collision and lane departure warnings, customers have to step up to the LT and Z71 trims. 

The 2022 Chevy Colorado still landed the number one spot

Despite these major issues that hurt the pickup truck for most other reviewers, MotorTrend saw past them to find a truck that they felt did the most important things well. The amount of practicality and utility the Colorado offers from such a small package carried more weight than the flaws.