These days, full-size trucks have become so massive, they come with their own postal code, or zip code if you’re reading this in the US. That’s where a truck like this comes in. This is the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado. It’s a mid-size truck, which ironically, has now become as big as full-size trucks were a couple decades ago. But anyway, this one is the Trail Boss which is the “goldilocks” of the Colorado range. So is it any good?
Performance
Engine – Under the hood, Chevy has done something that would make a traditionalist weep. They got rid of the V6. Every Colorado now uses a 2.7 L turbocharged 4-cylinder. They call it the TurboMax engine and it produces 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque (231 kW & 583 Nm). The power is similar to that of the old V6 but the torque is more than the old diesel that used to be offered with the Colorado.
On the road, this engine is punchy. It doesn’t feel like there’s too much turbo lag and it quickly gets up to speed when you merge onto a highway. That is, of course, when it’s unloaded like right now. I haven’t had a chance to fully load up this truck or tow something with it but most of the time, these trucks are going to be driven with an empty bed anyway.
Fuel Economy – With 2 fewer cylinders than the old V6, you’d expect this 4-cylinder to be frugal with the go faster juice. But, that’s not really the case. With the 4WD, the Colorado is rated for 13.6 L/100 km (17.3 MPG) in a city and 10.7 L/100km (22 MPG) on a highway. That’s marginally better than the old V6 in a city but actually worse on a highway. But at least in the real world, you can achieve the rated numbers as I averaged 12.1 L/100km (19.4 MPG).
Transmission – Paired with this turbo 4-cylinder engine is an 8-speed automatic transmission. In everyday driving situations, the transmission shifts gears very smoothly. They’re hardly noticeable. But when you need a burst of acceleration to overtake another vehicle, this transmission is very slow to react. It takes a few moments before the transmission downshifts to the appropriate gear.
Braking – One area of the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado’s powertrain that does not need any improvements is the braking system. The brakes are strong and the brake pedal inspires confidence when you put your foot on it.
Handling – The Chevrolet Colorado is not a baja truck or some form of sports truck. That means that the steering is light for ease of maneuverability but it feels stable through corners and at highway speeds. The 2026 Colorado Trail Boss sits a bit higher off the ground due to the standard 2” factory lift but it is also wider than the previous generation. Overall, it’s an easy truck to drive whether it’s on back country roads or in a bustling city.
Capability – This new truck is capable of towing up to 7,700 lbs and carrying up to 1,726 lbs in this Trail Boss trim. But don’t plan on carrying very long items because, for the time being, the 2026 Colorado is only available as a crew cab with a 5-foot 2-inch bed. The box’s total length is 61.7” by 58.1” in width. The width between the wheel gaps is 45.5”. The bed has two tie down points at each corner along with additional tie downs being available as accessories. The tailgate is damped and features a small storage compartment inside it that is waterproof. There are also GM’s corner bumper steps which make getting into the bed a lot easier.
As for off-road capability, the Trail Boss comes standard with 4×4. As I mentioned earlier, this truck has a factory 2” lift with a 2-speed transfer case and an automatic locking rear differential. This diff will only lock once it detects wheel spin. You cannot lock it whenever you, the driver, want to. You’ll have to go for the ZR2 trim if you want to manually control the locking differentials. Overall, this version of the Colorado may not crawl over boulders or blast through sand dunes like the ZR2, but it’ll get you down a forest service road or to a remote campsite without getting you stuck.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – With the off-road focused nature and suspension that is tuned for heavy loads in the bed, the Colorado Trail Boss’ ride is a bit bouncy when unladen. It doesn’t feel like it’ll rattle your fillings out but something like the Ranger Raptor has a better ride thanks to its more advanced suspension.
Interior Space – Front occupants still have plenty of legroom and headroom with a tall driving position. Rear occupants don’t have as much space as the front occupants but the Colorado has a bit more space than its mid-size truck competitors. There is a little bit of storage underneath the 60/40 rear seats but it’s not a lot.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Cabin noises are average for the Colorado Trail Boss. Engine noise is not too loud, even when accelerating at a normal pace from a stop. It is, however, more noticeable when you have your foot to the floor. Wind noise is somewhat noticeable from the side mirrors on highways but the most noticeable noise is that of the tires against the road. You don’t need to shout to your passenger to have a conversation but you do need to raise your voice a bit. The truck is equipped with an auto start/stop function that is smooth to turn off and on the engine. If you don’t like it, there’s a physical button on the dashboard to turn this function off.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – Now let’s talk about money. The base 2WD work truck Colorado starts at $39,499 CAD ($32,400 USD) which is very competitive. This Trail Boss 4WD starts at $48,799 CAD ($40,500 USD). This truck has an as-tested price of $57,534 CAD ($45,350 USD).
Gadgets – Being a mid-level trim, you’d expect this Trail boss to come equipped with quite a few convenience features already. But that’s not the case. If you want things such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, remote start, a power driver’s seat, and a wireless phone charging pad, you have to option the truck with the Convenience package. If you want adaptive cruise control, rear pedestrian alert, and surround view cameras, you have to add the Technology package. Standard features on the Trail Boss include things like wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, a 6-speaker audio system, manually adjustable front seats (only 4-way for the passenger), and a digital driver display. Everything else is an add-on.
Furthermore, Chevy has skimped out on other features such as keyless entry. You have to pull the key fob out of your pocket to lock or unlock the truck. Also, while the driver gets a power seat, there are no memory controls and the passenger doesn’t get any power options. It also has halogen headlights which are as bright as candles in the night.
As for the infotainment system, it’s brilliant. It’s displayed on an 11.3-inch touchscreen that looks fabulous. There’s wireless CarPlay & Android Auto that I mentioned earlier along with built-in Google services such as Maps and Play store, and Amazon Alexa. The quick access icons on the left side will take a bit of getting used to because they look very different than in any other infotainment system but after a while, you’ll know what each one does and they can be rearranged to your liking.
Interior Design – Design wise, the Colorado has a nice blend of physical buttons and some touchscreen controls. However, one of these functions should have been integrated into the touchscreen. I’m referring to the exterior light controls. There’s an icon at the top of the touchscreen and it always remains there but with the bouncy ride of this truck, it’s just that much more difficult to accurately press this. Granted, by default, it’s always going to be in the auto position. And when turning on the wipers, the lights will turn on. But in foggy conditions, the exterior ambient light might not be low enough to trigger the auto lights. So I personally prefer some physical exterior light controls like the previous generation Colorado.
Also, it’s very plasticy in the Colorado. Sure, there’s some gloss black on the center console (which will easily get scratched up) but for a new generation truck, there’s more plastic here than there is on the face of a Beverly Hills trophy wife.
Exterior Design – The Colorado Trail Boss looks the part of a mild-off-roader with its knobbly tires and raised ride height. The aggressive looking front end shouts “Get out of my way!” but as I mentioned before, the halogen headlamps don’t shine as brightly as LEDs would at night. The Z71 trim does get them but they should be standard on every trim.
Safety – The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado comes equipped with just enough standard safety features. Some of which include forward collision alert with emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keep, rear cross traffic braking, blind zone sensors, 6 airbags, Teen Driver, and OnStar.
Warranty – The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. In America, these warranties are 3 years / 36,000 miles and 5 years / 60,000 miles respectively. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – So, what’s the verdict? Well, the Colorado Trail Boss is a bit of a contradiction. It has a tiny engine that acts like a big one. It has a high-tech screen but “budget” plastics. And it’s a rugged off-roader that’s quite easy to maneuver.
If you live in a city and occasionally go to a cottage, buy an SUV. There are plenty of rugged options out there. But if you need the towing capability and the usable bed without wanting to go to a full-size truck, this is one of the most capable on sale today. But you are sacrificing a few features, especially with this trim. And you also don’t get any say in whether it has a longer bed or a different cab configuration like the Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma. So, the Colorado Trail Boss is a capable, good looking, and easy to drive mid-size truck, but more options would have been better.
Thank you to Chevrolet Canada for providing the 2026 Colorado. www.Chevrolet.ca
2026 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss Gallery
