2004 Chevrolet Colorado

Transmissions are a standard 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic; both with overdrive top gears, and the Insta-Trac electric-shift transfer case can be shifted on the fly between 2WD and 4WD-high at the touch of a button. Three suspension choices—standard, off-road Z71 or sport—are available with any of three cab configurations: regular, extended or crew cab.


Styling is subjective, but we think this new Colorado looks terrific. It resembles a scaled-down Silverado with its Chevy trademark chrome (or body-color) grille bar bisecting stacked high-intensity halogen lamps, wheels pushed nearly to the corners and character creases capping squared-off fender flares. Its stance is at once rugged and sporting, especially the lowered sport version.

Inside, Colorado looks and feels more like a spacious, well-appointed full-size pickup than a compact or midsize truck.

Inside, Colorado looks and feels more like a spacious, well-appointed full-size pickup than a compact or midsize truck, with good-to-excellent materials and craftsmanship throughout. The Regular Cab provides ample legroom and usable storage behind its standard 60/40 cloth bench seat, the Extended Cab has four doors and forward-facing folding rear seats (instead of the usual side-facing jump seats), and the Crew Cab offers a 60/40 split/folding rear seat capable of accommodating three full-size adults.


Material choices include plain or deluxe cloth or surprisingly nice leather, and storage compartments are designed into as many nooks and crannies as possible. Triple door seals help keep out wind noise, water and dust, and safety features include head curtain and side-impact air bags.


The Colorado's ladder frame is more than 2.5 times torsionally stiffer than the S-10's, which improves ride, handling, crashworthiness and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Stabilizer bars front and rear further enhance handling, while power rack-and-pinion steering improves on-center feel and sharpens response. All exterior body panels (except the roof) are corrosion-resistant two-sided galvanized steel, and the exhaust system is aluminized stainless steel from the catalytic converter back.