2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss test drive review

The race is on in the compact truck segment, and the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss is here to play. We really enjoyed the previous generation Colorado and GMC cousin, Canyon, and when Chevrolet sent us the much-hyped new Colorado Trail Boss, we were very excited. As many Utahns, we love trucks, and the new Colorado’s styling alone was enough to whet our appetite.

The Trail Boss represents something of a sweet spot in the Colorado lineup — but it isn’t without some drawbacks. After a week with the new Trail Boss, we generally felt very positive about the truck and think it represents a good value in the compact truck segment. It’s stylish, capable, quick, comfortable and, best of all, affordable. Shop the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado on KSL Cars

Price and value

For $41,095, the Trail Boss is a solid value. It has a factory 2-inch lift, 32-inch Goodyear Territory tires, a 3-inch wider track, 310 horsepower, 390 pound-feet of torque, a locking rear differential, an optional skid plate package and more. It’s not all roses, however, as the Trail Boss does lack some modern features like LED headlights and foglights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The MSRP range for the four-wheel drive 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is $33,995-$48,295. It is available in five trim levels, with a suite of standard features that include a 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, an 8-speed automatic transmission and a crew cab configuration. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below.

• WT: $33,995 See listings

17-inch steel wheels

11.3-inch LCD infotainment screen

Push button start 

• LT: $36,395 See listings

17-inch aluminum wheels

Body-color door handles

Rear air vents

• Trail Boss: $38,495 See listings

2-inch factory-installed lift kit

18-inch gloss black wheels

Autotrac two-speed transfer case with push button controls

• Z71: $41,395 See listings

120-volt box-mounted power outlet

18-inch dark full gloss aluminum wheels

LED headlamps and daylight running lamps

• ZR2: $48,295 See listings

DSSV Multimatic dampers

3-inch factory-installed lift kit

3 inch wider track

If you’re willing to forgo some niceties found on the Z71 and hardcore off-road ZR2 trim, the Trail Boss is a great value.

Performance 

There has been much ado about General Motors’ new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and rightfully so. It replaces the existing V6 engine options and even the 5.3-liter V8. This modern engineering marvel is the only engine available for the Colorado, but it comes in three power output variations. 

The Trail Boss comes with the middle of the options, producing 310 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The ZR2 trim ups the torque figure to 430 pound-feet. Those are impressive numbers, especially for a 4-cylinder engine, and we enjoyed its eagerness to move. It does sound odd, though, almost a bit like a high-pitched diesel motor, which left us wishing for a sportier-sounding exhaust note. See all 2023 and newer Chevy Colorado listings on KSL Cars

What is surprising, though, is the fuel economy. Many manufacturers, including GM, are pivoting to smaller, turbocharged engines from larger V6 and V8 engines, partly for the sake of fuel economy. During our week of testing, we averaged 16 mpg in our combined highway and city driving. That’s three mpg below the estimated combined 19 mpg. Last year in our testing of the V6 powered GMC Canyon AT, we averaged 18 mpg. In our review of the V6-powered 2022 Colorado ZR2, we averaged 15 mpg. Chalk it up to living in the hilly area of Bountiful, but so far we love the power of the new 4-cylinder, but the fuel economy has left a little to be desired. 

Questionable gas mileage aside, the Colorado Trail Boss hustles from 0-60 mph in just over six seconds. It’s nice to drive around town and could easily be someone’s commuter. Only time will tell how this engine, and its various iterations, will hold up over the long run.

Interior comfort and convenience

The previous generation of Colorado’s interior was fine, but with an abundance of hard plastic and styling cues dating back nearly a decade, it was time for an update. The Trail Boss’s new interior, while a huge leap forward in terms of styling, remains firmly rooted in its work truck trim. 

On the one hand, there are excellent features such as wireless Apple CarPlay. On the other hand, the steering wheel is plastic and the door panels look as if they could be picked up at Home Depot. There’s an 8-inch digital gauge cluster and an impressive 11.3-inch infotainment screen, but no heated seats and no power adjustment for the passenger. It’s very much a mixed bag. See all Colorado listings

It is a comfortable place to spend time, though. The cloth seats are soft and enjoyable for long drives, and the ergonomics and seating position are excellent — even if the view over the large, bulging hood is a bit obstructed. Rear seat space remains fairly tight, just as the last generation was, but should be fine for shorter jaunts with two regular-sized adults or kids in tow. Overall, the interior looks nice, just don’t expect much in terms of material upgrades over the basic Work Truck trim.

Exterior appearance and functionality

If you can’t spring for the top-dollar ZR2 off-road monster trim, the Trail Boss is the most rugged-appearing Colorado offering. It features a 2-inch factory lift, 18-inch gloss black wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires and a 3-inch wider track than the lower-trimmed Colorados. It’s an awesome-looking truck, with an athletic, muscular stance that will look good for years to come.

Continuing the affordability theme from the interior, though, there are some surprises. Namely dim halogen headlights and a front grille that is largely dark, matte plastic. We’d appreciate some LED lights here, and there are filled cutouts where fog lights are standard on other trims. We’re also concerned about the sun bleaching the grille’s plastic, but only time will tell if that concern proves warranted. Shop 2023 Colorado models on KSL Cars

Those minor qualms aside, this truck looks fantastic. If you simply want a truck that looks hard core and has some pretty good off-road components, the Trail Boss is your ticket to ride.

As for towing and payload, the Colorado Trail Boss gets it done. Towing is rated at 7,700 pounds, which is more than nearly all the competition; payload is rated at 1,725 pounds.

Safety

It’s nice to know that Chevy includes its well-equipped Safety Assist package on the 2023 Chevrolet Trail Boss. As of this writing, the pickup has yet to be tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, we expect it to perform very well. 

Just some of the features included in Chevy’s Safety Assist package include: 

• Intellibeam automatic high beam

• Forward collision alert

• Lane-keep assist with departure warning

• Automatic emergency braking

• Front pedestrian and bicyclist braking

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss carries a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a complimentary first maintenance visit.

Final Impression

The 2023 Colorado Trail Boss is a very cool, pretty capable truck. If you can’t spring for the fancy-schmancy ZR2, you shouldn’t feel bad about it. While the Trail Boss does lack some modern comfort features and does wear its WT trim roots on its sleeve, its muscular exterior appearance and off-road capability are plenty to be tantalized by. Especially for the price. 

Our tester came in at $41,095 — a pretty compelling value — and that’s with a few extra options added in like the Advanced Trailering Package, Trail Boss Convenience Package II, a spray-in bed liner, Glacier Blue Metallic paint and a 220 amps generator. We’d recommend springing for all those options, even the amazing blue paint. 

We didn't get close to the 19 mpg combined rating, but it is still slightly more efficient — while being much more powerful — than some of the competition. The Trail Boss should make a lot of buyers happy, and we can’t wait to drive it again. 

Curious about the new Colorado Trail Boss? Find yours on KSL Cars. 

FAQs

Is the Trail Boss fun to drive? 

This new 4-cylinder engine moves. With 310 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, it’s hard to not have fun with this truck.

Is it fuel-efficient? 

Blame it on living in the hills of Bountiful, but we did not achieve the 19 mpg combined driving estimates; we averaged 16 mpg.

Is it good for families? 

Not really. The cabin is tight, especially in the back seat. For those with child seats, look to Chevy’s full-size Silverado options. 

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com