Skip to main content
Price Range: Less Than
$28,855
$154,765
mpg/MPGe Range: More Than
11
126
Top Searches:
Introduction:

To help members understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) began testing and reviewing vehicles over a decade ago

For the 2024 edition, we include testing and ranking cars and light trucks with the latest technology, including having at least one advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) feature. In addition to vehicle evaluation, the guide covers a number of pertinent automotive topics in detail—for example, the latest advanced safety features, how to properly maintain your vehicle, and new vehicles coming to market in the next few years.

2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss Crew Cab

Vehicle Type: Pickup Gasoline
71
 overall score
Category Ranking: 5

Vehicle Price

Base Price: $37,000
Price as Tested: $41,055

Fuel Information

Fuel Type: Regular
Fuel Capacity (gal): 21.4
EPA City mpg17
EPA Highway mpg21
EPA Combined mpg19

Advanced Safety Features

  • Advanced Headlights [S]
  • Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
  • Forward-Collision Warning [S]
  • Lane-Departure Warning [S]
  • Lane-Keeping Assistance [S]
  • [S] Standard, [O] Optional

Overall Observations

Chevy's midsize Colorado pickup was completely redesigned for 2023. Its exterior looks bolder and more aggressive—like a mini Silverado, in fact. A turbocharged inline 4 (in 3 different horsepower/torque configurations) is the only engine; all are mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission. A crew cab with a 5-feet-2-inch bed is the only body style. The Colorado qualifies as a good value—the base price is lower than the average new vehicle's. It's rugged and well-equipped, with decent cargo capacity, lots of interior storage, and strong towing and off-road capabilities. The interior is far more modern, with a standard 8.2-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.4-inch touch screen. The infotainment system is intuitive, with logically laid-out menus. Our midlevel Trail Boss edition came with numerous off-road upgrades, including 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, a 2-speed transfer case, and increased ground clearance. On the downside, those off-road features contributed to an expected rough ride on pavement. The engine is noisy, vibrates a good deal, and exhibits noticeable turbo lag and throttle surge. Plus, the interior materials look cheap—there's too much hard plastic, especially around the center stack. The halogen headlights can be controlled only by the infotainment screen. Finally, many desirable advanced safety features—such as blind—spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning—are optional, even on higher trim levels

For more information on AAA Car Guide licensing:

Click Here
Want to buy this car?

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Good value; impressive utility, ruggedness, offroad capability
  • Intuitive infotainment system
  • Lots of cargo space, storage compartments
  • Attractive exterior styling

Cons

  • Harsh ride quality
  • Excessive noise and vibration from the engine
  • Noticeable turbo lag and throttle surge
  • Cheap interior materials, unimpressive fit and finish
  • Lack of standard advanced safety features

Vehicle Specifications

Model year tested: 2023
Number of passengers (F/R): 2/3
Curb weight (lbs): 4971.0
Exterior L / W / H (in): 213.2 / 76.4 / 71.9
Wheelbase (in): 131.4
Number of air bags: 7
Warranty (months/miles): 36/36,000
Tire manufacturer and model: Goodyear Wrangler Territory
Front and rear tire size: 265/65 R18
Max towing capacity (lbs): 7,700
Headlight type: Halogen
Transmission type: Auto 8-speed
Drivetrain type: Four wheel
Engine/motor: 2.7L I4 turbo
Engine horsepower @ RPM: 310 @ 5,600

Test Data

Test Vehicle Scores

Advanced Safety Features:

6.20

Fuel Efficiency:

3.56

EPA Emissions Score:

7.00

Acceleration:

4.94

Braking:

3.52
Handling: 5.33
Quality and Drivability: 5.83

Ride Quality:

6.00

Interior Size:

5.42

Easy of Entry and Exit:

6.68

Visibility:

5.14

Interior Noise:

6.65

Cargo Capacity:

5.21
Car Search Results:
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat
Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Pickup
More Details
Pickup Electric 78/63 $86,229 100
 out of 130
2023 Kia EV6 GT.
2023 Kia EV6 GT
More Details
Midsize suv Electric 85/74 $62,865 99
 out of 130
2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Prestige.
2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Prestige
Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Midsize SUV
More Details
Midsize suv Electric 98/83 $74,350 99
 out of 130
2023 IIHS Top safety pick.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60
Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Large
More Details
Large Electric 85/89 $151,995 100
 out of 130
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV
Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Large SUV & Overall
More Details
Large suv Electric 79/74 $138,580 104
 out of 130