2006 Chevrolet Colorado

[jwrebholz]

2006 Chevrolet Colorado 4cyl 2WD regular cab
by jwrebholz
7/18/2005



I'm not sure why I decided to test drive a Colorado. Chalk it up to boredom, I suppose. Regardless of that, I went to a nearby Chevy dealer, intent on taking an '05 Colorado 4-cylinder for a drive. Much to my dismay (or not) ther were no '05 4-cylinder Colorados left--but they DID have a couple '06-model trucks in that fit what I was looking for. I told them I wanted 4 cylinders, 2wd, regular cab and short box, and so they brought this truck up to me.

As you can see from the picture, the truck is pretty bargain-basement. Refrigerator white, cheapo steel wheels, a pretty basic truck that would be good for someone who maybe just wants a cheap runabout for some light-duty hauling. Upon looking at the truck, my expectations were pretty low. In this trim level, it doesn't look like much. The Colorado's styling is of course there, and it's rather aggressive for a relatively small truck. Generally speaking I like the way this truck looks, although the tough effect is sorta lost when it's stripped down this heavily.





Getting into the Colorado revealed a very plain, basic but rugged interior that looks like it was built to take abuse. As you can see, my tester was equipped with a split bench seat that despite being as flat as it was was relatively comfortable. The lack of a reclining feature was unsurprising (how far can you lean back in a regular-cab truck anyway) but even without it the seats were comfortable and supportive. The instrument panel had large, clear gauges that were easy to read at a glance, and all the center stack controls were within easy reach of the driver. The console had lots of big knobs and buttons that were easy to use (and would remain easy to use for a gloved hand), and even the parts-bin GM radio fit well in the dash.



Motivating my Colorado was GM's Vortec 2800 DOHC I4, producing 175HP and 185 lb-ft of torque. I have said in the past that a four-cylinder engine does not belong in a truck. It's a good thing I hadn't had lunch yet, because I had to eat those words. The 2800 put ample horsepower to the ground through my tester's 4-speed automatic transmission. The truck accelerated effortlessly from a stop and felt quite spirited. To me, the engine felt almost as strong as the old 4.3L V6 in the '99 S-10 I used to own, which is definitely saying something positive. The only major detractor I had with the motor/trans combo is that the automatic transmission tended to hunt on hills at part-throttle, a problem common to many automatic transmissions. It was a bit annoying, but nothing I couldn't live with. The truck's handling wasn't class-leading, but it felt secure in the turns and rode quite comfortably (that's saying a lot considering most pockmarked Pennsylvania roads can rattle your fillings out in most trucks). The truck only became really upset on surfaces that could spell early suspension repairs on normal cars, and I find that very nice.

Another thing that impressed me about this truck was its fuel economy. EPA estimates peg the 4-cylinder, 2WD Colorado at 18 MPG city and 25 MPG highway, very good for a truck that can carry 3/4 of a ton and tow up to 3400 pounds.

My truck, as shown, stickered for about $16,400--note, this is without the GM Employee Discount, as it does not pertain to 2006 models. That's actually, in my opinion, a good price for this truck. So, is the Colorado a truck worth buying? When you consider the power, the fuel economy, the ride and the capability, I'd say most definitely.


All photos hosted by ImageShack.

[IAMCANADIAN]

the 4-cylinder is okay in that model but in larger models, i hear it struggles