- pickup 173,007
- 3,197 below average
- 5,900 great
- Eugene, OR
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- autoshopper.com
- 3,197 below average pickup 173,007
2005 chevrolet colorado review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Roomier and more stylish than its predecessor. introductiona roomier cab was a key design goal when the chevrolet colorado was launched last year. Designed from the ground up to replace the s10 compact pickup, colorado brings a fresh name and perspective to gm's line of trucks. That perspective includes more space for humans. colorado is bigger than the old s10, and that's the trend: compact pickups are no longer compact. They're growing in size, so much so that the term 'compact pickup' may be obsolete. Colorado is an inch wider and a couple of inches longer than the s10, and its wheelbase is three inches longer. The new dodge dakota is even bigger. The new toyota tacoma is even bigger yet. Meanwhile, nissan is coming out with a new frontier that's dramatically larger than the old one. Left behind is the aging ford ranger. Ranger is five inches shorter than a comparable colorado. Yet they're still substantially smaller than full-size pickups such as the chevy silverado. the reason for this increase in size is comfort. Often, these trucks are often alternatives to cars, and their owners want more hip room, leg room and head room. Most are willing to sacrifice bed length for cab room. That's why regular cab trucks, which typically offered the longest beds, are all but extinct. The extended cab has replaced the regular cab as the truck for serious haulers, many of whom like being able to stash gear, tools, luggage, groceries behind the seats. Crew cabs have taken off in popularity because they offer the convenience of comfortable back seats for family and friends. Still, it has a six-foot bed with regular and extended cabs, and a five-foot bed on crew cabs. Colorado also gives up a little towing capability for a smoother ride. That's not to say it's lost the capability that makes a truck useful. A properly equipped colorado is rated to tow 4,000 pounds, enough for transporting atvs, dirt bikes, personal watercraft, light boats or small camping trailers. And in most configurations, the colorado can carry more weight in the bed than could a similarly equipped s10. So it'll get the job done. indeed, we think the trade-offs have paid off. Colorado is much smoother and feels more refined than the old s10, which bounced around on rough roads. And it's a bit more stylish. Order the five-cylinder engine and it accelerates smartly. (that's right: five-cylinder.) the crew cab features a roomy back seat that's surprisingly comfortable and not bolt-upright. Yet colorado fits into tight parking spaces, something that can't be said of full-size pickups. though introduced as a 2004 model, the colorado is still new to the street and we found the 2005 models continue to turn heads. The chevrolet colorado is mechanically identical to the gmc canyon, but trim and packaging differ. The z71 off-road suspension is available with 2wd and 4wd. Appropriately, the low-riding zq8 sport suspension is only available with 2wd. Each comes in base or ls trim, though equipment varies with the suspension package. A 3. 5-liter five-cylinder rated 220 horsepower is optional 1,000). Exceptions are zq8 ls and z71 ls crew cabs, which come only with the inline-5 and automatic. the colorado 15,695) z85 base model comes with air conditioning, am/fm stereo, a 60/40 split-bench folding seat, anti-lock brakes, and 15-inch steel wheels. Upgrading to ls trim adds color-keyed carpets, a center armrest with storage, tilt steering column (on extended and crew cab models), cruise control, cd player, bright interior accents, and 15-inch aluminum wheels with p205/75r15 tires (on regular and extended cabs; crew cabs roll on slightly wider rubber). It's available as an extended cab 18,040). The 4wd versions are available in both regular cab 18,255) and extended cab 20,600). the zq8 sport model 17,040) rides about two inches lower than a base colorado, and features a monochromatic paint scheme, fog lamps, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Otherwise it is equipped similarly to the base suspension/base trim model. It comes only with 2wd and rolls on p235/50r17 tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Again, there's an ls version 18,600) with trim and equipment upgrades, although bench seats remain standard. power windows, locks and mirrors are standard on crew cabs and optional 500) on other models. Traction control is standard on 2wd ls crew cabs, and on all 2wd z71s but optional on other 2wd models 295). Curtain-style side-impact airbags designed for head protection come standard on ls crew cabs, but are optional on other models. New gen 6 onstar 695) boasts easier hands-free operation and other refinements for 2005; it's available only with ls trim. Ls crew cabs also offer optional heated, power-adjustable bucket seats with leather seating surfaces 1,495). two commercial-fleet models are available as regular cab 15,045) and extended cab 17,390) versions of the base-trim, base-suspension, 2wd truck. They come with hose-it-out vinyl floor mats and base cloth seating, ideal for muddy-boot applications. Bumpers are painted, shocks are heavy-duty gas-charged units, and air conditioning is an extra-cost option. They're good trucks to buy for other people to drive. walkaroundchevy colorado follows the styling lead of the silverado, with its bold chrome horizontal-bar grille and multi-lens headlamps. On models so equipped, fog lamps are inset into the bumper. colorado's fender bulges are angular and aggressive. The leading edge of the front fender flares isn't finished elegantly, but otherwise the colorado has a clean, modern look. The crew cab looks well balanced despite the extra cab length. Reach-through door handles allow a full handful of grip for easy opening, even with gloves. cargo boxes are 6-foot, 1-inch on regular and extended cab models and 5-foot, 1-inch on crew cabs. A two-position locking tailgate, which opens to 55 degrees or to fully horizontal, provides more cargo utility. When the tailgate is partway down, the colorado can carry a 4-by-8 foot sheet of plywood flat, supported by the wheel wells and the rear edge of the tailgate. the zq8 sport models look slammed with their lower ride height. In fact, they ride 3. 5 inches lower than the standard 2wd colorado, with a ground clearance of just 5 inches. The standard colorado has 8. 5 inches of ground clearance, 2wd or 4wd. The z71 off-road suspension raises the ground clearance to 9. 3 inches, 2wd or 4wd. all crew cab and extended cab models ride on a 126-inch wheelbase, while regular cab models ride on a 111-inch wheelbase. Overall length is 207 inches for all but regular cabs, which are 193 inches. Overall height is about 65 inches for the standard z85 suspension, 66. 3 inches with 4wd; 63. 5 inches for the low-rider zq8 sport models; 67 inches for the z71 off-road models, 2wd and 4wd. chevrolet dealers offer a range of accessories, including a bed extender, hard and soft tonneau covers, tubular assist steps and splash guards. Inside door releases feel solid and sturdy, but have the same hard feel. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, however, is well cushioned and feels good in hand and should remain comfortable for the long haul. the front bucket seats are wide and soft, but both cloth and leather versions lack lateral support. Getting into the z71 off-road models requires stepping up. The center console has cup holders that look capable of handling a variety of drink containers. The center arm rest opens into a small storage space, big enough for a large wallet, but it wobbles when pushed. A small tray on the console will be useful for all sorts of oddments that don't nee. Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ AM/FM✔ Cruise Control✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Player✔ Aluminum Wheels
5,900 Eugene, OREugene, OR at autoshopper.com