2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO

Great Truck, Forget the Touch Screen

Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 1 Value Rating: 4

First off, I'm a guy that uses a truck. I've had many, and buy them for actual work...home and/or towing. Last truck (the one I traded in on this puppy) was a 2012 GMC Sierra X-Cab set up for towing a travel trailer. We are pausing the camping / trailer duty, but I still need a truck. Didn't want the full size version. In short, this is a great medium sized truck. Wish it was a bit smaller, lower, but overall it fits me well. A trip to Chicago from Peoria got me 22 MPG. That's not the trip computer, that's old fashioned miles divided by gallons method. It is fairly comfy, roomy, and love the 7,000 lb tow rating for the V6. Here are the negs: The 305 claimed HP is only at the very top of the RPM range. Trucks should have grunt....I'd happily give up MPG for more grunt. The engine feels weak until you lay in it, but even then its kinda numb. The transmission shifts fine....I know others complain about it hunting gears...and it does. But I mostly drive it like a car, even when towing a utility trailer, so I've not had quite the issues others had. Again, I'd pay more and sacrifice MPG if the XSMN held gears longer, and the engine had more grunt, but it works "okay" as is. Biggest complaint: The worthless infotainment system. In IL, it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving. Yet, I can nearly hit a pole while trying to figure out how to change a radio station. I dislike touch screens to the fullest. My phone has bluetooth, but will not pair with the radio. Guess what? TOO COMPLICATED. I prefer a good CD player....and they offer none in this truck. I knew this going in. Why do new cars / trucks think we need a complicated device in the dash to distract us from a simple station change....done in the past via moving your arm and doing it by feel. No longer! Now, use a touch screen, which has no feel, to go thru menus. Painfully stupid. I sound negative, but in reality I really like the truck. I've used it as a truck and will continue to do so. And, it hauls my kids. Looks good doing it. Engine and trans are fine...and will be better when I install a custom tune to hold gears longer and adjust a few things. Radio (I just can't call it infotainment) works, and music on USB sticks is okay, but not the same as CD's. I got a great deal on closeout '16's which is why I have the Z71 over the lesser models with more normalized radio. $5,400 off sticker just for walking in. BOTTOM LINE: I bought this over the Tacoma due to towing capacity and rebates / price.