Booth & LaDuke Motors

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Walk Around

The 2007 Chevy Colorado looks very much the same as it did in '06. There have been some changes on the paint chart, and LS and LT models now wear identifying badges. The popular 15-inch cast-alloy wheels are now offered in chrome as well as natural-look aluminum.

Colorado looks like a downsized and slightly Picasso-ized rendition of the full-size Silverado, beginning with its bold chrome horizontal-bar grille and multi-lens headlamps. The lamp assembly has a flying wedge contour, higher at the outside, and houses high and low beams, daytime running lamps and turn signals. On models so equipped, fog lamps are inset into the bumper.

Overall, the Colorado has a clean, modern look. The fender bulges are angular and aggressive, more so than Silverado's. The leading edge of the front fender flares isn't finished elegantly, however. Reach-through door handles allow a full handful of grip for easy opening, even with gloves.

The Crew Cab looks well balanced despite the extra cab length. Cargo boxes are 6-foot, 1-inch on Regular and Extended Cab models and 5-foot, 1-inch on Crew Cabs. A two-position locking tailgate, which opens to 55 degrees or to fully horizontal, provides more cargo utility. When the tailgate is partway down, the Colorado can carry a 4-by-8 foot sheet of plywood flat, supported by the wheel wells and the rear edge of the tailgate.

Ride height varies by suspension grade and has a dramatic effect on the truck's appearance. The ZQ8 Sport models look slammed with their lower ride height; although with 18-inch wheels for '07, their minimum ground clearance is just about an inch less than that of the standard 2WD Colorado. The standard Colorado has about 7.4 inches of ground clearance with 2WD and 7.7 inches with 4WD, varying slightly with cab style. The Z71 off-road suspension raises the ground clearance to around 8.8 inches, with 2WD or 4WD.

All Crew Cab and Extended Cab models ride on a 126-inch wheelbase, while Regular Cab models ride on a 111-inch wheelbase. Overall length is 207 inches for all but Regular Cabs, which are 192 inches long. Overall height is about 65 inches for the standard Z85 suspension, 68 inches with 4WD.

Chevy Truck dealers offer a range of accessories, including a bed extender, hard and soft tonneau covers, tubular assist steps and splash guards. All can be installed at the time of delivery and can be financed as part of the deal.

Interior

2007 Chevrolet Colorado

For 2007, Chevy has dressed up Colorado's interior (all but the base-level W/T, that is) with chrome accents added to door handles, air outlet control knobs, front door sill inserts, small speaker bezels, and instrument cluster trim rings. The center stack and HVAC trim are now painted silver, and cloth has been added to the door insert padding.

Otherwise, however, Colorado's interior is swathed in hard plastic that's not finger friendly but should prove to be durable, important in a working truck. Inside door releases feel solid and sturdy, but have the same hard feel. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is well cushioned, however, and feels good in hand and should remain comfortable for the long haul.

The optional front bucket seats are wide and soft, and lack lateral support, whether upholstered in cloth or leather.

Each door panel has a molded map pocket contoured for a bottle or can. The center console has cup holders that look capable of handling a variety of drink containers. The center armrest opens into a small storage space, big enough for a large wallet, but it wobbles when pushed. A small tray on the console is useful.

Instruments are traditional white-on-black with orange needles. They are easy to read and don't hide their functionality with artsy markings. This practical approach continues to the center stack. No ground-breaking innovation here, just straightforward knobs and dials that don't require a postgraduate degree to operate. Turning on the dome light requires fumbling around for a small thumbwheel, however, which we found difficult while navigating in pre-dawn darkness. For this reason, we recommend the optional electrochomic (automatic-dimming) rearview mirror, which features map lights, compass and outside temperature display. Light switches on mirrors often lead to thumbprints and frequent mirror adjustments, but in this case they're a step up.

The Crew Cab's back seat is surprisingly comfortable, particularly when compared with the back seats of old-generation compact Crew Cabs. There's a reasonable amount of leg room, especially with a little cooperation from those sitting in front, and the seat is comfortably high. The seatback angles back slightly, making it more comfortable than the bolt-upright backrest found in some other pickups. The wide cabin provides enough shoulder room for adult males, but don't expect the width of a full-size pickup. Getting in and out of the back seats is a little awkward because the door is relatively narrow and you have to swing your feet in to clear the wide B-pillar (the post between the front and rear doors).

Forget about sitting in the back of an Extended Cab. It has back seats, but they're only good for hauling kids short distances. The rear seats flip down, providing a good place for cargo and with modifications it would be okay for a medium-size dog. The rear doors are rear hinged, meaning they swing open suicide-style.

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