The pickup truck segment has been gaining in popularity across generations, so Chevy decided to shake things up with a restyled exterior, improved interior layout and more powerful engines for its new Trail Boss Crew Cab. Rough looking and ready for the outdoors, the third-generation pickup is wider with a stretched wheelbase that makes the mid-size truck look, well, much larger than it really is.
Eight years earlier, Chevy’s second-generation pickup got its power from a Z71 package followed by a throaty ZR2 for more gusto. Chevy research showed there was room in the middle for a new, less expensive version that retains lots of power and, voila — the Trail Boss became a reality.
A Duramax diesel and V6 had been in the mix for Colorados, but as my uncle Tony would say, “fuhgeddaboudit” — both are “swimming with the fishes.”
A versatile turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four-cylinder engine is standard with 273 horsepower for much of the Colorado lineup, including the base WT and LT models. The Trail Boss uses the same engine, tuned to 310 ponies with twice the torque of rivals. Weighing just over two tons, our tester sprinted to 60 miles per hour from a dead stop in 6.2 seconds, above average for this segment. EPA rated mileage is 17 city and 21 highway miles per gallon.
Resting on 18-inch alloys with 32-inch all terrain paws for a rugged look, the Trail Boss adds fender flares for a sporty look along with four-wheel-drive.
An available spray on bedliner covered the 5-foot, 2-inch space — not the largest, but with an EZ lift and lower tailgate, the space can handle longer items with a trail gate.
If you are venturing off-road or trailering, we’d recommend the Convenience package that includes an in-vehicle trailering app, 220-amp generator, eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, sliding rear window, defroster, cruise control and special paint for $2,700. A 45-inch lockable storage box inside the tailgate is standard.
Towing capacity is a bright spot for the Trail Boss. At 7,700 pounds, it beats most rivals including Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.
The Colorado’s four-door Crew Cab is available in five trims — WT, LT, Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2 — with base prices starting in the low $30s to high $40s.
We did venture off pavement through muddy waters, sand and dirt trails and were delighted with the result. Gearing and throttle response in Terrain drive mode made the journey child’s play. We did not seek out boulders, mainly because South Florida doesn’t have any. A 2-inch lift increased ground clearance in the Trail Boss, making our trail time a fun time.
Back on pavement, the ladder shaped frame delivered a relatively smooth ride while absorbing most road imperfections with some noise entering the cabin at highway speeds.
Interior upgrades include an 11.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, newly designed center console with shifter located closer to passenger side with a new gauge cluster. Safety features are plentiful and include forward emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist with available adaptive cruise control.