2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO BUILDS ON AWARD-WINNING PACKAGE OF CAPABILITY, EFFICIENCY AND STYLE
07/01/2015
Chevrolet
Chevrolet Colorado made an auspicious debut in 2015. The all-new, segment-busting midsize pickup was named the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year and Cars.com's Best Pickup Truck of 2015 - and was the fastest-selling truck in the industry, prompting a third shift to be added to the Wentzville, Mo., assembly facility.
With the most horsepower and best highway efficiency in the segment, as well as the highest available trailering rating - 7,000 pounds (V-6 2WD) - and higher payload rating - 1,590 pounds (V-6 2WD), it's easy to understand Colorado's appeal.
For 2016, Colorado returns with the same award-winning combination of refinement, maneuverability and efficiency, while continuing to offer innovative features such as Chevy MyLink with a built-in available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert. They complement true truck elements such as the available G80 locking rear axle and a highly flexible bed with Chevy's available GearOn(TM) system.
New phone integration technology on Colorado's MyLink system displays content from Apple iPhone 5 or later models on the multicolor screen through the Apple CarPlay feature. Supported apps for the system include phone, messages, maps, music and compatible third-party apps.
Colorado is available in four-door extended- or crew-cab models, with a choice of a four-cylinder or a V-6 engine. Models and trim levels include Work Truck (WT), LT and Z71. The off-road-inspired Z71 features a gunmetal grille surround - a change from the standard chrome on the other models - projector headlamps and 17-inch aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires and automatic locking rear differential.
A new 2.8L Duramax turbo diesel engine will be offered in Fall 2015. Details will be available closer to the start of production.
Design details
The Colorado's North American design is unique, with a confident stance and a sporty demeanor. It features triple-sealed doors inlaid in the body sides, like the Silverado, for improved aerodynamic performance and a quieter interior.
To help keep overall mass down, lightweight materials such as a segment-first aluminum hood are used. It also offers the segment's first active aero grille shutters, designed to enhance aerodynamics when closed.
Cab and bed configuration choices include an extended cab model with a 6' 2" bed, a crew cab with a 5' 2" bed and a crew cab with a 6' 2" bed. With the tailgate down, the 6' 2" bed allows hauling of 8-foot-long items.
Colorado's innovative solutions for hauling and accessing cargo include:
Standard CornerStep rear bumper design pioneered on the 2014 Silverado
EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate that uses an internal torsion bar to make raising the tailgate easier with one hand, and a damper for more-controlled lowering; it is standard on Z71 and available on WT and LT models
Standard locking tailgate
Standard two-tier loading that allows a platform to effectively split the bed into upper and lower sections, making it easier to haul, store and conceal items such as tools
Thirteen standard tie-down locations throughout the bed for use with available, movable cargo tie-down rings
Standard bed rail and tailgate protectors
Available factory-installed spray-in bed liner
Sixteen-inch steel wheels are standard on WT and 16-inch aluminum wheels are available
Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels are standard on LT and 18-inch aluminum wheels are available
Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels are standard on Z71
Exterior colors: Red Hot, Rainforest Green Metallic, Red Rock Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Black, Cyber Gray Metallic and Brownstone Metallic.
A WT Appearance Package is available on WT models and includes 16-inch aluminum wheels, body-color outside mirrors, spotter mirror and body-color door handles. The EZ-Lift-and-Lower tailgate is included with the WT Convenience Package, which also includes remote keyless entry, theft-deterrent system and cruise control.
For LT models, an available convenience package includes a rear window defogger, rear sliding window, front fog lamps, remote vehicle starter and the EZ-Lift-and-Lower tailgate.
The GearOn(TM) accessory system complements Colorado's cargo-carrying versatility. It is designed for easy configuration with a multitude of mounting accessories for everything from bikes, kayaks, skis and stand-up paddle boards to a bed-mounted tent. Many of the GearOn accessories allow the bikes, boards and other "tools" of adventure to be mounted on upper rails, leaving room in the bed below for complementing gear. (See section below for more details.)
An interior for work, recreation and everyday comfort
The Colorado's interior is comfortable, thoughtfully equipped and well connected. A bold, upright instrument panel with large controls and a center console with a floor-mounted shifter similar to those found in midsize cars and crossovers.
Colorado cabin designers paid exceptional attention to detail and premium appointments, including a sculpted headliner that enhances headroom, halo lighting on key controls for easier view and an open area at the front of the center console for easier phone charging. The Z71 model features exclusive color and trim details, including embossed seatbacks and contrast stitching.
Additional interior details include:
Sculpted door panels that make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle
Upper-instrument panel storage bin - when not equipped with the uplevel audio system - and large glove box volume
Standard center console with room to store a tablet
A door-to-door rear under-seat storage offers additional concealed cargo management in the cabin.
Colorado's seats are designed for long-haul comfort and wear, too. They use dual-firmness foam for greater comfort on long drives and high-wear, stain-resistant cloth seating trim. Leather-appointed seating is available.
Comfort is enhanced with technologies, connectivity and other features that support owners' daily and recreational lives including a 3.5-inch-diagonal driver information screen in the instrument cluster.
Additional interior features include:
New for 2016: Enhanced multicolor driver information center display in the gauge cluster on LT and Z71
Standard 4.2-inch-diagonal color radio with a USB port on WT models
Four standard USB ports on LT and Z71, including one on the dashboard, one inside the center console and two on the rear of the center console
Eight-inch-diagonal color touch screen radio is standard on LT and Z71; navigation is available on LT and Z71
Enhanced connectivity and convenience with MyLink includes text message support and Siri Eyes Free for compatible iPhones
OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot is standard on LT and Z71 with a 3 month/3GB(whichever comes first) trial, and available on WT
Bose(R) premium seven-speaker sound system is available on LT and Z71
Cruise control is standard on LT and Z71, and available on WT
Rear window defogger is standard on Z71 and available LT
Standard rearview camera system
Heated front seats are standard on Z71 and available on LT
Standard power window with driver's Express Up and Down
Remote vehicle starter is standard on Z71 and available LT
Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and tilting/telescoping steering column are standard on LT and Z71
Sliding rear window is standard on Z71 and available on LT
Interior colors: Jet Black, Jet Black/Dark Ash and Jet Black/Dark Galvanized on Z71.
A Luxury Package is available on LT models and includes leather appointed seating, four-way power front passenger seat adjuster, power driver lumbar control, power front passenger lumbar control, heated driver and front passenger seats, automatic climate control, projector-type headlamps, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, heated outside mirrors with chrome finish, chrome rear bumper and door handles.
MyLink with phone integration technology and OnStar 4G LTE
New for Colorado in 2016, Chevrolet's new MyLink system with an 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen is compatible with Apple CarPlay, which puts iPhone features (iPhone 5 and later) on the display in a smart, simple manner, allowing drivers to make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music right from the touchscreen or by voice via Siri. That helps drivers spend more time with eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Using Apple CarPlay is simple. A "Projection" icon on the MyLink screen is visible when a phone is not connected, then changes to indicate CarPlay when a compatible phone is connected via a USB. Compatible apps need to be downloaded to a phone before using and Apple's privacy statement and terms of use apply. Data plan rates may also apply.
Apple CarPlay-supported apps include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music and compatible third-party apps. A full list of those apps can be found at Apple.com/ios/carplay.
While development and testing is not yet complete, Android Auto compatibility may be available later in the 2016 model year.
Complementing MyLink to enhance Colorado's connectivity is new OnStar with 4G LTE featuring a standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial, whichever comes first.
4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network - 10 times faster than 3G and 100 times faster than the 2G network. And with OnStar, customers have a powerful antenna built right in to the vehicle's electrical system.
Active from the time of purchase, six months of OnStar Guidance includes all of OnStar's advisor-based safety and security features, including Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, as well as Turn-by-Turn navigation.
Five years of OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, which runs monthly checks of vehicle systems - including the engine, transmission and anti-lock brakes - and sends a diagnostic update to the owner via email; and Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends a diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer to simplify service scheduling. The Basic Plan does not include any emergency services.
Chevy truck DNA
The Colorado delivers the capability expected of a Chevy truck - engineered to offer better payload performance than any competitor and segment-leading trailering. Like the Silverado, the Colorado has a fully boxed perimeter frame, which provides the strength to support its capabilities, as well as a confident, smooth and quiet ride.
A coil-over-type front suspension features aluminum knuckles that are low in mass and high in strength, contributing to a more responsive feel and efficiency. Colorado also features the segment's first application of electric power steering, which enhances efficiency by avoiding the energy used by what conventionally is an engine-driven feature.
The Colorado has a short turning radius of 41.3 feet (12.6 meters), enabling easier turning in tight areas such as city streets or backing a trailer into a camping spot.
Four-wheel disc brakes, with four-piston front calipers, are standard and feature Duralife(TM) brake rotors - also pioneered on the Silverado. They can offer up to double the service life, which can save money on maintenance.
Another Chevy truck feature offered on the Colorado is the G80 automatic locking rear differential. Introduced by Chevy more than 40 years ago, it gives drivers a traction advantage when needed. It is standard on Z71 and available on WT and LT.
The four-wheel drive system employs an electronically controlled transfer case that allows the driver to shift from 2WD to 4WD. The driver can select from three modes, 2WD, 4WD HI or 4WD Lo.
Powertrains designed for work, efficiency
The 2.5L and 3.6L engines offered in the Colorado are based on proven designs found in other Chevrolet vehicles, but tuned uniquely for truck duty - including more torque at lower- and mid-range rpm levels - for a more confident feeling of power when the Colorado is loaded or pulling a trailer.
They're also the most efficient in the segment, with up to 27 mpg EPA-estimated highway mileage with 2.5L 2WD models and 26 mpg with 3.6L 2WD models, when properly equipped.
The 2.5L four is rated at 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 191 lb-ft of torque (259 Nm), with approximately 90 percent of the peak torque available from 2,000 rpm to 6,200 rpm. The 3.6L engine is rated at 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 269 lb-ft of torque (365 Nm).
Aluminum blocks and forged-steel crankshafts, along with dual-overhead camshafts with variable valve timing, direct injection and jet-spray piston cooling, are features shared on both engines. A number of extended-life components can help reduce maintenance intervals and reduce the cost of ownership.
All models are matched with a six-speed automatic that complements the truck-tuned engines with features that make hauling and trailering easier and more comfortable, including auto grade braking and a tow/haul mode. Extended cab 2WD WT models equipped with the 2.5L engine are also available with a six-speed manual transmission.
Customer focused safety features
Colorado is designed to help keep occupants safe on the road, employing a number of active and passive safety features. Standard features include:
Six air bags, including head curtain side air bags
Large rearview mirrors and standard rear-vision camera system for greater visibility and safety
StabiliTrak stability control system with rollover mitigation technology, trailer sway control, hill start assist and hill descent control (Z71).
A Safety Package is available on LT models and includes segment-first Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, which use camera-based technology to warn drivers of potential crash threats.
Accessories add versatility
Work and lifestyle accessories were developed in tandem with the Colorado to match the truck's capabilities with integrated functionality and designs that complement its distinctive styling.
The lineup includes the all-new, patent-pending GearOn(TM) system and a variety of accessories designed to make cargo hauling easier and more convenient, as well as exterior styling enhancement and interior items.
Colorado's GearOn(TM) system is designed to fit perfectly within the bed, for significant storage and hauling flexibility. It is upgradable, with modular cargo dividers and tiered storage to accommodate 4 x 8-foot sheets of plywood above the wheelhouses. It also uses the box's four permanent and 13 tie-down provisions to allow for a variety of secure and convenient cargo stowage options.
Customers can have accessories installed when they purchase their new truck, so they are ready at the time of vehicle delivery. In fact, they can even roll the cost of the accessories into the monthly payments for the Colorado, and include them in the vehicle's warranty.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.