Never Have I Ever: The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss

Writing about cars for (part of) a living for 26 years, driving 104 cars a year, the list of things I have never driven is fairly small.

• A Tesla, because they don't have test fleets (or a PR department, for that matter).

• A Rivian.

• A Lamborghini.

• A McLaren.

• An Aston Martin.

• A Polestar.

• A Fisker.

Oh, and a Chevy Colorado. Until now.

I know. Weird, right? Here's a vehicle that's been around for 20 years, unlike the list above is not limited production by any stretch of the imagination, and of the two thousand or so vehicles I've driven since its introduction, one has never found its way to me. From all accounts, Chevrolet picked the right moment to rectify that oversight, because, they say, the new Colorado is vastly improved over the last one, which debuted ten years ago. Larger trucks are a given in the current moment---even in the midsize segment. The '23 Colorado has roughly the same dimensions as a '93 full-size Silverado---it's just taller. In fact, the new Colorado's only meaningful change in dimensions over last year's is in height---79 inches to the old one's 70. And our tester---the Trail Boss---with a suspension lifted two inches for off-road use and riding on meaty 32-inch all-terrain tires---is actually 82 inches tall. That gives you a commanding view of the road ahead, from about five feet in front of you to the horizon. Anything that's closer than that and not at least four and a half feet tall---well, it's invisible.

There's an engine under that black plastic---a 2.7-liter V6 Turbo Plus engine---310 horsepower, 390 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Naturally, it has automatic four wheel drive, has an auto-locking rear differential, and a skid plate underneath to protect the essentials. 0-60 happens in 7.3 seconds, and the EPA fuel economy estimate is 19 mpg combined city/highway.

Going with a work truck-level interior trim helps Chevy keep the Colorado Trail Boss base price on the sane side of $40k ($38,495 with destination), and that brings a fair amount of standard equipment with it, including automatic start/stop, remote keyless entry, keyless start, an 11.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a remote-locking tailgate, and a modicum of active safety features (auto high beams, following distance indicator, forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and front pedestrian and bicyclist braking).

Our tester also had extra-cost options. The Advanced Trailering Package (in-vehicle trailering app) was $620, the Trail Boss Convenience Package (sliding rear window, rear window defroster and cruise control) was $375, the Trail Boss Convenience Package II (EZ Lift and Lower tailgate, tailgate-keyed cylinder lock, Stowflex trailgate and storage, an eight-way power driver's seat with power lumbar) was $545, the spray-on bedliner added $475, the Glacier Blue metallic paint was $395, and a 220-amp generator was $150.

Bottom line of the window sticker---$41,055.

In a world where full-size trucks have become cartoonishly large, commonly sticker for between $60,000 and $80,000 and are often not used for any purpose but commuting, a truck like the Colorado Trail Boss---the size of a full-size before the madness began, with the capability to haul things and people on or off the pavement, for just a shade over $40,000, is actually refreshing.