The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab starts from a very low price point at $27,100 and for that price, we get a model named Work Truck which is a pretty basic car, but the features are really good on offer. The price of the Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab however goes upto $33,695 for the fully loaded off-road spec Z71 Trim. While there is one model in between the two trims priced at $29,700 and that would be the LT.

Which Trim should you buy?

This Chevrolet truck is a very capable vehicle in itself and there might not be a need to go beyond that but there is no stop to how much we can wish for and my personal favorite and pick would be the Z71 with an off-road package. Buy a utility vehicle that can go anywhere.

The engine on the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab is a 2.5L inline 4. Yes, it might seem like a small engine for a vehicle that size but the engine has quite enough grunt to haul this heavy truck even when it is loaded. The small power unit produces 200 hp and 191 lb of torque and that is a decent number from an engine like that.

The RAM 1500 produces the most power at 305 hp but that is to be expected since it has the biggest power unit with the 3.6 L Inline 4 and it is moreover mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which gives it a top speed of 130 mph while helping it achieve an under 13 sec 0-60 acceleration time. 

The Ford Ranger again overshadows the Colorado with its more power from a small engine, producing a juicy 270 hp from a 2.3L inline 4 engine while being mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and having an AWD drivetrain.

How well does the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab handle?

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab comes equipped with independent front suspensions and a semi-elliptical, 2-stage, multi-leaf rear suspension. Although it does not sound very great due to the components on use, the Colorado turns out to be comfortable, offering a subtle ride at low speeds and better ride quality at higher speeds.

There is vertical movement present as the speeds increase like the other pickup trucks, it is well-managed in the Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab. But, the body roll is high and the nose does go down under hard braking. The steering also feels inconsistent at the center. Nevertheless, the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab would be able to go on a twisty bit of road.

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab Braking Performance

The Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab comes with a good bunch of brakes with 12” brakes on both the front and rear it is equipped with a good amount of stopping power and that complimented by the lightweight of 3936lbs makes this a force to reckon with in the braking front. It has brakes bigger than the Ranger and the Tacoma and that is something.

The RAM is equipped with massive brakes at 14” in both the front and the rear, which is a need considering that the truck weighs the highest at 4971lbs and that stopping power is necessary, the Tacoma comes with the smallest brakes at just 10” while being heavier than the Colorado and the Ford Ranger sits at a sweet spot with 12” brakes.

The Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab returns the least mileage in the city at just 17 mpg. It is really really thirsty while driving through the city while the competition is doing much better. However, out on the highway, it returns 24mpg, which is not great but considering that the much smaller Toyota Tacoma returns only 23 mpg on the highway this seems a win.

The RAM 1500 is just astonishing, it has the biggest engine out of the 4 trucks here, it produces considerable power and is the most fuel-efficient by returning a 20mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway, there is the combined figure of 26mpg. The Ranger sits at a sweet spot at 21mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The RAM has the biggest advantage considering the mileage figures and the huge 26-gallon fuel tank.

The interior of the Colorado is a decent place to be in, it has all the basic and better creature comforts that can be offered for the truck and space. The seats seem comfortable as well and are not a component to be complained about. The Colorado offers a lot of room in comparison to most of the rival’s segments, the quality on offer could be better. There is a lot of hard plastic on the dashboard. everything feels built to last and would go well with the abuse these trucks go through.

The RAM seems to be a segment apart it can seat 6 people and have enough space for all of them, but the Ford ranger is not too far from Colorado in terms of the spacious cabin while the Toyota is a completely different experience with very little space and lesser number of passengers. Some notable features of the Colorado’s interiors would be:

• Heated Front Seats
• Wireless Phone Charging
• Single Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror
• Automatic Headlamps
• Powered Front Seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Colorado can be bought with either a 7.0-inch or an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Chevrolet Infotainment Premium 3. The usability of this system is good, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come in as standard. Some of the highlight infotainment features on offer with the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado are:

• Chevrolet Mylink with Infotainment Premium 3
• Bluetooth with Digital Satellite Radio
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Wifi Hotspot
• SiriusXM radio
• Reversing Camera
• OnStar Services
• A 7-inch/8-inch touchscreen infotainment system

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado gets a new revised front fascia, updating the grille, headlights, and badging. The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab is the lightest truck here at 3936lbs and is considerably long at 212.7 inches it however stands as the shortest vehicle at 70.4 inches. All of these put the truck in a good position when it comes to performance and the long-wheelbase helps the truck stay stabilized and gives it the ability to carry a bit more weight.

The RAM is once again the heaviest and the biggest among the list here with the only criteria here the Toyota beats all the trucks here is the ground clearance and at 9.4 inches it is a whole inch higher than the other trucks although the very short wheelbase of the Ranger helps the handling really well. Some of the highlight exterior features of the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado are:

• 18" alloy wheels
• CornerStep rear bumper
• Projector headlamps
• EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate
• Heated and power-adjustable mirrors
• Projector headlamps
• Front fog lamps

The Chevrolet Colorado gets ABS, airbags, driveline traction control, StabiliTrak stability control, OnStar and Chevrolet connected services, Teen Driver features, and many more features as standard. The 2021 Colorado Crew Cab is also built with hard and steadfast materials, and that helps in withstanding the impacts well in case of an accident.

A few highlighted safety technologies included as an option are Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keeping Assistance with Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indicator, Adaptive Cruise Control, HD Surround Vision, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Parking Assistance. Some of the other features are:

• Following Distance Indicator
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

Chevrolet Colorado vs Ford Ranger

These two have always been rivals across different sizes, the Ford Ranger feels more like a car than a truck while driving and is actually utilitarian which helped in the truck getting really popular. These two are very closely matched in terms of performance, dimensions, etc. However based on the looks the Colorado is just superb and in terms of driving feel, the Colorado with its longer wheelbase can haul more and be more stable.

Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab is a far superior truck compared to the Tacoma and that is seen from the tables above. The chevy truck is bigger, faster, more powerful, and more efficient than the Tacoma. The Toyota is less practical than the Tacoma. The Tacoma has never really been a competitor to any truck, as it is very modest in the performance, space, and load-hauling capability. But it is one of the most affordable trucks here and not a bad option to be your first pickup truck. And the Reliability and the Durability of Toyota are known everywhere. 

Chevrolet Colorado vs RAM 1500

These two are practically not rivals at all; the RAM is clearly a league apart in terms of the dimensions, power, engine, acceleration, speed, and the number of passengers it can carry. The RAM makes mincemeat of all the three trucks here and astonishingly the big engine turns out to be even more efficient than the smaller engines used in the Chevy, Ford, and Toyota. This is RAM’s game-changer in the segment and does turn heads.

The Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab is a pretty good truck and there is no doubt that it is as good as the overrated Ranger. This truck is a great buy but in case you would want more than the RAM 1500 is even better. The past models lacked quite something and that made the Colorado undesirable and that has now become a stigma that Colorado will not be or is not that good. Chevy did take a while to realize this but, have tried to correct things and make the truck better, they have made it better. This buy will put a smile on your face.