2013 Chevrolet Colorado First Drive

Why did General Motors launch the new 2013 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup in Thailand before it comes to the U.S. next year?

Pretty simple, really. Thailand is the biggest market in the world for midsize trucks. So big, in fact, that GM has a plant in Thailand's Rayong province that churns out tens of thousands of Colorado trucks a year for local and export markets.

When the U.S. version arrives in 2012, it won't come from the Rayong factory, though, it will be built in the U.S. Chevrolet hasn't said much about what we can expect from that truck, but we had a chance to drive the local market version here in Thailand to get an idea what to expect.

The New Look of the Colorado
When Chevrolet launched the first-generation Colorado, it gave the midsize pickup a macho face to portray its work truck intentions. The prominent front end, signed off with the signature horizontal chrome slab running the total width of the front, effectively matched the brand's "Like a Rock" slogan. It helped the Colorado stand out in pickup markets like Thailand where its Isuzu D-Max cousin had a stronger presence.

Fast-forward to 2011 and the new Colorado has a whole new look. This time around, the design surgeons have employed a slightly different methodology regarding the Colorado's appearance. Yes, the all-new Colorado reverts to the same in-yer-face look, albeit in a slightly more subtle manner.

Chevrolet executives conceded that many customers, particularly those in Thailand, want pickups that look a little more like passenger cars. That explains the Colorado's visual similarities with the Cruze and Malibu sedans. Sounds a bit counterintuitive maybe, but local buyers use their pickups as their primary vehicle so it's not as odd as it sounds.

GM spent roughly $2B on the development of the Colorado's new body-on-frame platform.

Still a Midsizer
Anyone hoping for a return to a truly compact pickup will be disappointed. The 2013 Chevrolet Colorado is still very much a midsizer, as many of its dimensions are marginally bigger than the previous model. The overall length of our extended-cab tester measures 210.5 inches, or about 3 inches longer than a current extended cab. It's also significantly wider at 74.1 inches, although some of that is owed to the flares that come on the Z71 model. The only noticeably smaller measurement is the wheelbase, which measures just 121.9 inches versus the current truck's 126-inch wheelbase.

Interior room doesn't feel all that compromised even though front legroom is down by 2 inches. There are no official figures on the rear-seat space, as there aren't any real seats. Expect to see a slightly different setup in the U. S. version that features at least some kind of jump seat.

In terms of perceived quality, the 2013 Chevrolet Colorado doesn't genuinely represent a huge step forward. Although the interior feels well bolted together, it's still filled with hard and tacky plastics. Fine for a base truck maybe, but we expected a little more from a loaded LTZ.

Diesel Only for This Market
In terms of engines, the Asian-market Colorado isn't likely to share much with the U.S.-bound version. There are only two options available outside the U.S., both of them four-cylinder Duramax diesels.

The base engine displaces 2.5 liters and generates 150 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Then there's an optional 2.8-liter version of the same engine rated at 180 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the extra power, the 2.8-liter engine also gets a new six-speed automatic transmission. A five-speed manual is the only other transmission offered, in this market at least.

Compared with the first-gen Colorado, the new truck's power is impressive. There's more than enough punch in real-world driving, be it under acceleration from a standstill or when overtaking others on the highway. It's not overwhelming power, though, certainly not the kind of kick you might expect from a midsize truck with 346 lb-ft of torque on tap. According to Chevrolet engineers, the final-drive ratio could have been geared more toward performance, but they feared it would have backfired when it came to fuel economy.

Regulations in Thailand don't require fuel economy numbers, so there's no word yet on how efficient the new engines are on the road. There's no talk of using them in the U.S. trucks yet, so don't get your hopes up.

A More Refined Colorado
Not surprisingly, the 2013 Chevrolet Colorado shows a noticeable improvement in driving dynamics. GM spent roughly $2B on the development of the Colorado's new body-on-frame platform, so considerable research and development time went into getting it just right.

Handling is much better than before, thanks to a stiffer body, more direct steering and wider tracks front and rear. There's less bounce, too, even though it still uses a traditional leaf spring setup in back. As refined as it has become, the majority of users in this market still expect it to function as a proper work truck, so Chevrolet could only go so far when it came to balancing ride quality and capability.

Like any truck with a stiff rear end, grip can be lacking on less tractable roads or when you get aggressive with the gas pedal. Electronic traction and stability control rein it in for the most part, though, so it's not much of an issue.

Better Value Than Ever
Prices of the Colorado in Thailand start around the equivalent of $15,000 for the most basic model and rise to as much as $30,000 for the top-of-the-line crew cab 4x4 LTZ with the 2.8-liter engine. This is the normal range for midsize pickups in the area, so we don't expect Chevrolet to deviate much from that spread.

With that in mind there's no doubt that this Colorado is a much better buy than before. In fact, the improvements it has received have now put the vehicle at the same level — if a tad higher in some respects — as the leading players in the segment like the Toyota Hilux.

Chevrolet has more or less achieved its mission of making the Colorado quite carlike while retaining its ability to work hard like a truck. At this point, the only thing holding it back is the competition. New versions of the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 are all on their way, so the 2013 Chevrolet Colorado has much to prove.

So far, it looks like it has what it takes, at least for the Southeast Asian market. The U.S. will be another story entirely, so expect some interesting changes before it lands Stateside next year. Maybe those diesels will make the trip after all.

Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.