[Taboleo] 'Authentic American Pickup' Chevrolet Colorado, Unstoppable Run

Chevrolet Pickup Truck 'Colorado' Test Drive
New 3rd Generation Imported by Korea GM After 5 Years
Tough Exterior with Luxurious Interior
Equipped with Underbody Camera Showing Beneath the Vehicle
Confident Driving On and Offline

The Chevrolet pickup truck Colorado sold out its initial batch of around 400 units within a day of its launch in the domestic market last July. The response from Korean consumers to the ‘authentic American pickup’ was enthusiastic. The domestic pickup truck market is about 20,000 units annually. Although it is a smaller market compared to sedans or sport utility vehicles (SUVs), the demand from enthusiasts remains steady. There is clearly demand for pickup trucks among Korean consumers, but there have not been many new pickup truck models to meet this demand.

The Colorado is the third-generation completely redesigned model that Chevrolet brought to the domestic market after five years. Compared to the previous generation, it emphasizes a tougher exterior and upgrades the interior to be more luxurious. On the 10th of last month, I test drove the third-generation Colorado pickup truck, which combines both on- and off-road driving capabilities, around Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Chevrolet 3rd Generation New Pickup Truck Colorado
[Photo by Korea GM]

The first thing that caught my eye when I saw the new Colorado was the emphasized muscular character lines and the sleek-looking headlamps compared to the previous generation. Looking at the side profile, the wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) has been extended, but the front overhang (distance from the front wheel centerline to the bumper) is shorter, giving it a sporty feel.

The interior design has changed dramatically. It features an 11-inch large cluster and an 11.3-inch wide touchscreen, giving the impression of an advanced vehicle. The round-shaped air conditioning vents and red point color stitching engraved throughout the vehicle emphasize a young and dynamic feel. However, there is no built-in navigation system. It is somewhat disappointing that navigation must be used via Apple CarPlay or Google Android Auto.

Chevrolet 3rd Generation New Pickup Truck Colorado
[Photo by Korea GM]

I drove the new Colorado on mountain roads. Although there was some concern about driving a large vehicle on narrow mountain paths, the high body height provided a wide field of view, making it easy to drive. I used the surround vision cameras, which show the front, rear, and sides from various angles, to check blind spots that were hard to see. Additionally, the new Colorado is equipped with an underbody camera displayed on the central screen. By touching the underbody camera icon on the central screen, it shows the real-time condition of the road beneath the vehicle. If dirt or dust gets on the camera lens, simply clicking the cleaning icon on the touchscreen activates the vehicle’s self-cleaning function for the camera lens.

Underbody camera installed on the Chevrolet 3rd generation pickup truck Colorado
[Photo by Korea GM]

Throughout the winding mountain roads, the Colorado seemed to maintain composure while driving. Even when overcoming large rocks that required power, it moved quietly and nimbly without significantly increasing engine RPM. The new Colorado is equipped with a 2.7-liter gasoline turbo engine that delivers a maximum output of 314 horsepower and a peak torque of 54 kg·m.

I also sat in the rear seat once. The backrest is nearly upright, so it does not offer the comfortable ride quality of a family car, but it is still sufficiently usable. Instead, various specialized options showcase the vehicle’s identity. The cargo bed capacity is 1,186 liters, which is 16 liters more than the previous generation. Folding down the rear seats reveals space for storing long tools or luggage. Additionally, features such as a rear bumper corner step to help freely climb on and off the truck, a cargo lamp that illuminates the bed during nighttime work, and a 200V·400W power outlet are standard. Trailer towing technology, which is used to pull heavy loads like campers or yachts, has also been enhanced. The Colorado offers a maximum towing capacity of 3,492 kg.

Folding down the second-row seats of the new Chevrolet pickup truck Colorado reveals additional storage space.
[Photo by Korea GM]

The only downside is the price increase that came with the improved product value. The price of the new Colorado starts at 72.79 million won. Compared to the previous generation, it has risen by about 30 million won. A Chevrolet official explained that this is due to the inclusion of many new technologies not seen in the previous generation, as well as the significant exchange rate increase over the past five years.

Chevrolet 3rd Generation New Pickup Truck Colorado
[Photo by Korea GM]