Chevrolet has long been known for its prowess in the truck segment. Its pickup trucks are consistently reliable, safe, and powerful, making it difficult to decide on the perfect Chevy truck model. If you’re struggling to choose between the Silverado and the Colorado, read this guide to help determine which one’s right for you.
Size
The Chevy Colorado is a midsize pickup, whereas the Silverado is a full-size. If you’re looking for a large truck with a bed that can fit all your gear and equipment, opt for the Silverado. The cargo space in its bed ranges from 63 cubic feet to a class-leading 89 cubic feet.
Price
Being the smaller of the two trucks, the Colorado costs less at a starting price of $21,300 than the Silverado, which starts at $32,200. As you move up the trim levels and add more packages and features, these prices will go up. But if you’re basing your decision on price alone, choose the Colorado.
Power
The most powerful engine on the Silverado is a 6.2-liter V-8 that generates 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Colorado’s most powerful engine is a V-6 that gets 308 horsepower. Chevy does offer a 2.8-liter four-cylinder Duramax diesel option on the Colorado that has less horsepower but produces an impressive 369 pound-feet of torque.
Towing and Hauling
If you need a truck for towing big loads, you probably want the Silverado. It can tow up to 12,500 pounds, depending on the trim, while the Colorado has a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. That’s plenty of power to haul a boat or a trailer. The Silverado can handle a payload of up to 4,572 pounds when properly equipped, and the Colorado can carry up to 1,578 pounds.
Off-Road Ability
You can go off-road with confidence in either of these Chevy trucks, and both have trail-specific trims and packages. The Silverado’s Z71 Off-Road Package adds skid plates, all-terrain tires, special shocks, and an automatically locking rear differential. Its Trail Boss Package adds off-road tires and 2 inches of ground clearance.
The Colorado’s ZR2 trim comes with skid plates, front and rear locking differentials, and Multimatic shocks. The ZR2 Bison trim adds Boron-steel skid plates, a steel bumper, and off-road tires.
Comfort
Both the Colorado and Silverado have high-quality and comfortable interiors, but the Silverado has slightly more space. Its rear seats, in particular, can fit two to three adults more comfortably than the Colorado’s. On the other hand, the Silverado comes standard with a front bench seat, whereas the Colorado has a standard power-adjustable driver’s seat.
Technology
The Silverado has a slightly more modern infotainment system and technology. It comes with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, a 7-inch touch screen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Colorado has Chevy MyLink, which includes similar features as the Silverado but is one year outdated.
If you’re choosing between the Silverado and the Colorado, base your decision on budget, size, towing ability, cargo space, technology, and creature comforts. Take them both for a test drive at Barkau Chevrolet!
