Chevy Notches Another Winner With the 2024 Colorado

September 13th, 2024 by

A red 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss is shown from the front at an angle after leaving a Chevy dealer near Powell.

The 2024 Chevy Colorado is a hit with drivers and critics alike, logging strong sales and cruising to its third MotorTrend “Truck of the Year” title in the last nine years. The leading industry publication cited Colorado’s cutting-edge interior, adaptable cargo bed, and rugged off-road trims like the ZR2, ZR2 Bison, and all-new Trail Boss as some of the major factors that saw this pickup outshine more than a dozen midsize rivals to land the coveted award. 

The Colorado wasn’t the only Chevy model to earn the coveted award, with the Blazer EV taking home “SUV of the Year” and logging a banner year for the storied automaker. From budget-friendly WT and luxurious LT and Z71 to the off-road-focused Trail Boss, ZR2, and ZR2 Bison trims, there’s a Chevy Colorado for every type of driving and driving scenario. The 2024 model has lots of surprises in store, so before you head to your local Chevy dealer near Powell, let’s dive in and see how this midsize pickup manages to live up to the hype.  

Performance

A turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four engine and eight-speed automatic transmission lies at the heart of every 2024 Colorado. The motor’s modest displacement and cylinder count are offset by a little forced induction with a turbocharger that lets the pickup churn out 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque on the WT and LT trims. Those seeking a more potent powertrain can upgrade to a high-output version of the inline-four, which just so happens to be the same engine found under the hood of Chevy’s best-selling pickup in the Silverado 1500. 

Standard on the Colorado Z71, Trail Boss, ZR2, and ZR2 Bison and offered as an optional add-on for the WT and LT, the re-tuned 2.7-liter engine ups the trims’ stat line to an impressive 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. That’s a pretty solid resume for the midsize class, allowing the 2024 Colorado to outperform some of its closest rivals in the Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma, and Jeep Gladiator. 

If you’re trying to max out the Colorado’s towing power, head straight for the Z71 and Trail Boss trims. These hardy trims offer a lineup-leading 7,700-lb towing capacity, which should be more than enough to haul that boat, camper, trailer, or whatever else you might need to bring along for your next job site or weekend adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains. The ZR2 trades towing capacity for off-road utility but still punches well above its weight with a maximum rating of 6,000 lbs, while the WT and LT bring up the rear at 3,500 lbs.  

The Colorado isn’t just a standout in terms of power; its turbocharged engine also allows it to log some of the best fuel efficiency in its class. When equipped with rear-wheel drive, the 2024 Colorado delivers an EPA-estimated 20 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. This makes the Colorado an exceedingly practical choice for those on the hunt for a brawny midsize truck that can double as an economical daily driver. 

The four-wheel drivetrain is a little thirstier at 18 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway, but it’s a reasonable trade-off for the type of traction, safety, and confidence the 4WD setup can provide. The ZR2 and ZR2 Bison top out at around 17 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on the highway, though fuel efficiency will probably be the last thing on your mind as you’re tearing through the trails at Windrock Park or exploring some off-the-grid locales. 

Interior & Tech

There are few better ways to modernize a vehicle than performing a comprehensive overhaul of the interior. While a vehicle’s size, powertrain, and styling tend to enjoy modest revisions between generations, the interior is often treated as a blank slate. This is certainly true of the 2024 Chevy Colorado, which welcomes its third generation with a fully redesigned cabin that is leaps and bounds beyond the outgoing second-gen model. From new comfort features to convenience-enhancing tech, durable, premium materials, and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, the new Colorado is well ahead of the curve. 

We’ll start with what has become the newest litmus test for any modern vehicle: the size of the dash-mounted infotainment screen. Bigger isn’t always necessarily better, but when you’re adjusting various settings, monitoring multiple camera feeds, and keeping an eye on the GPS navigation, an expansive screen sure comes in handy. Chevy has embraced some infotainment equality for the new model year by outfitting every trim with a generous 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. 

The infotainment system includes all the apps and goodies drivers have come to expect, including clever connectivity options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the available Google Built-In feature with responsive voice recognition can handle everything from music and navigation to vehicle settings and personalization. Other noticeable tech features include a new, customizable 11-inch digital gauge cluster that replaces the 8-inch version previously found on some lower trims, as well as a wireless phone charger and an available seven-speaker Bose premium sound system that’ll allow you to blast “Rocky Top” on the way to a Vols game. 

The black interior of a 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss is shown from the driver's seat.

Interior materials vary by trim, but none of the 2024 Colorado offerings come across as cheap by any means. The WT and Trail Boss place a premium on hard plastic surfaces, which is likely a budget consideration in the case of the WT and a logical sacrifice in the name of easy clean-up for the off-road-focused Trail Boss. The LT and Z71 take a different approach, mixing in some comfortable padding and premium materials to create a cabin that’s a bargain at any price. Chevy has taken a pretty restrained approach in terms of the upholstery, outfitting most trims with a timeless black design, though the Z71 adds some racy red accent stitching, and the ZR2 is available with an optional gray hue.     

Design and infotainment tech aside, it’s the Colorado’s long list of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that really distinguish it from the rest of the midsize segment. The truck’s extensive Chevy Safety Assist suite includes not only common features like blind-spot warning, forward-collision warning, and automated emergency braking, but it also comes standard with lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. 

Available adaptive cruise control allows drivers to sit back, relax, and lay off the pedals; at the same time, a 360-degree camera system is sure to be helpful whether you’re trying to avoid obstacles on a challenging stretch of off-road trail or just assess the likelihood of squeezing into the last parking spot on the block.  

The ZR2 Bison

First introduced in 2017, the ZR2 trim transforms the Chevy Colorado into a true off-road machine, complete with a two-inch suspension lift, 33-inch off-road tires, rock sliders, and a track that’s 3.5 inches wider than the base trim. Throw in locking front and rear differentials, skid plates, a high approach-angle front bumper, and a host of heavy-duty suspension components anchored by Multimatic’s DSSV position-sensitive shock absorbers, and you’ve got the most capable Colorado on record… until the debut of the ZR2 Bison.  

The success of the ZR2 has inspired Chevy to up the ante with the release of the all-new ZR2 Bison trim in 2019. The trim, which takes its name from the horned hoofer that adorns the logo of American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), represents a fruitful collaboration between the automaker and the Montana-based off-road parts and accessories manufacturer, though it was conspicuously absent from the third-generation model when it first hit the market in 2023. 

That all changes for the 2024 model year as Chevy returns the rough-and-tumble ZR2 Bison trim to the lineup. Between the AEV-supplied wheels, front and rear bumpers, boron-steel skid plates, and badging, it’s hard to ignore AEV’s influence—but that’s just half the story when it comes to the ZR2 Bison. 

The ZR2 Bison isn’t just a deluxe equipment package or an attempt to capitalize on AEV’s stellar off-road reputation; it’s a comprehensive reimagining of the Colorado’s off-road arsenal. While the first-gen Colorado ZR2 managed to cram a lot of off-road gear into a truck that wasn’t necessarily designed for the task, the second-gen model is a whole different story. Strong sales and ample buzz let Chevy know they had a winner with the ZR2, so when it came time to design the next model, the team took a far more comprehensive approach. 

A white 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is shown from the front at a low angle.

Chevy moved the Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) shocks to the outside of the leaf springs and made room for massive 35-inch tires by moving not only the front axle but also revising the fender liners and raising the suspension by a half-inch. This tweak sees the ZR2 enjoy a towering 12.2 inches of ground clearance, which should be more than enough when you’re trying to avoid logs or the rocky terrain that Tennessee’s off-road trails are famous for. 

Rolling out a specialized off-road trim is all the rage in today’s pickup market, but some automakers take the task more seriously than others. There’s no doubt about which side of the spectrum the ZR2 Bison falls on, especially when you get a look at some of its professional-grade equipment. Take the truck’s 17-inch AEV beadlock-capable wheels, for example; this unique design gives drivers the ability to bleed a substantial amount of air from the tires without risking a blowout—a feature that can make all the difference when you’re trying to glide over sand, snow, mud, or other loose surfaces. 

Then there’s the ZR2 Bison’s Multimatic hydraulic jounce bumpers. These high-capacity bump stomps are the perfect complement to the hulking 35-inch tires, soaking up the shocks that can come with aggressive off-road driving while preventing the truck from bottoming out when you hit a particularly nasty rut or when those bumps in the road start looking like the perfect excuse to send it. 

The Trail-Hungry 2024 Colorado

The new third-gen Chevy Colorado encapsulates everything drivers have come to love about the award-winning truck. From its class-leading performance and redesigned interior to exciting new additions like the ZR2 Bison and Trail Boss trims, Chevy has been working overtime to keep the Colorado at the top of the highly competitive segment. The Colorado might be a midsize model, but by pairing it with the exact same engine that can be found in the full-size Silverado 1500, Chevy has sent a clear message about this truck’s performance credentials. 

While it might not offer the same cargo or towing capacity as its larger cousin, the Colorado does bring some real advantages in terms of practicality and off-road prowess. A shorter wheelbase translates directly into increased maneuverability, giving Colorado drivers the opportunity to tackle even the tightest trails with confidence. If you want to learn more and see what all the fuss is about when it comes to the 2024 Chevy Colorado, come on by Rusty Wallace Chevrolet today.