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We were eager for the 2023 Chevy Colorado’s arrival here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse last July, which featured a revised exterior, an overhauled interior, a new powertrain, and a model line with numerous other updates. Drivers who love to spend their recreational hours traversing through off-road trails with supreme confidence were even more thrilled to see the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss, which was previously offered as a feature-rich upgrade for the LT and Z71 trim levels, but now exists as a trim on its own.
GM Authority executive editor Alex Luft was featured in a cool new video last week that drew an in-depth comparison of the two vehicles’ most notable exterior differences and began his journey at the front fascia. This is where both the Colorado and the Trail Boss have the most differences. The Chevy Colorado Z71 has a piano black grill surround and body-colored lower fascia section, and the Colorado Trail Boss shows off a matte black finish on the grille surround and lower fascia.
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Both pickups also incorporate different lighting setups, with the new Colorado Z71 equipped with LED headlights and an LED accent strip. The Trail Boss bears the different halogen incandescent lights and maintains its off-road-ready stance without the fog lights. Of note to the expert explorer is that the Trail Boss boasts a 2-inch suspension lift and features considerably wider fenders and running gear. The turbocharged 2.7-Liter inline 4 L3B gas engine pairs perfectly with the GM 31XX-2 platform.
When the Car and Driver crew put the Trail Boss to the test, they loved the way that its suspension absorbed rough terrain without passing any noise or vibration into the cabin. Another much-appreciated highlight was the limited-slip rear differential. The true shining star is the linear brakes, which incorporate an efficient electronic booster instead of a vacuum unit.
As the Autoblog review team was inching towards a cliff with their Trail Boss, they used the new underbody camera for a low front view in addition to the normal front view ahead. Interior technology is state-of-the-art thanks to Google, and with all this tech, the Trail Boss is “trying to steal lunch money from the Tacoma.” Chevy powertrain engineer Kevin Luchansky told the Jalopnik team that the 2.7-liter 4-cylinder now had an excellent reputation for durability and that it blends the best traits of the outgoing V6 and turbo diesel smartly together.
One significant design element that stands out on the Z71 is its red stitching throughout, along with leather-appointed seats, which give it a more upscale feel. The tires on the Trail Boss are a set that became one of our instant favorites, with standard 32-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT numbers that will clear a path quickly!
