The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss is a popular choice for those looking for a midsize truck with off-road capabilities. But how does the lifted suspension and all-terrain tires affect its highway fuel economy? Today we take a closer look at the real-world highway fuel economy of the 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss.
The Third Generation of the Chevy Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss is part of the third generation Colorado lineup, and it comes with an entirely new engine. Sporting a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, this mid-level trim gets a tune with more power and torque compared to the base work truck trims. While it may not have the same torque as the HO motor in the ZR2, it still delivers stout performance.
Real-World Highway Fuel Economy Test
The goal of the real-world highway fuel economy test is to provide a more realistic figure compared to the EPA’s highway fuel economy test, which only averages 48 miles per hour in this article. To conduct the test, the team at Daily Motor filled up the Colorado Trail Boss at a gas station and set out on a 100-mile round trip on the highway, averaging 70 miles per hour. The test was conducted with the tire pressures set to the recommended 35 PSI, and the climate control set to mid-level temperature with one or two levels of fan (no auto HVAC on this one).
Impressive Performance and Quiet Ride
One of the standout attributes of the new Chevy Colorado is its quiet ride. The lack of wind noise, road noise, engine noise, and even squeaks and rattles impressed the team during their test. Even during moderately intense off-roading, the cabin remained remarkably quiet, showcasing Chevy’s attention to detail in sound insulation. However, one disappointment noted by the team was the absence of blind-spot monitoring in this trim. It would have been a nice addition to enhance safety on the highway.
Comfort Concerns for Long Drives
During the test, the team also noticed some comfort concerns. The seat bottoms were found to be too narrow, causing discomfort and squeezing against the thighs. This could be an issue for those planning on long drives in their Chevy Colorado. Additionally, the padding itself was not very comfortable, leading to a desire to get out of the seat after extended periods of sitting.
Chevy Colorado’s MPG Results
The real-world highway fuel economy test yielded better results than expected. The 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss achieved an average of 22 miles per gallon, surpassing the EPA’s rating of 21 miles per gallon. This is quite impressive considering the truck’s lifted suspension and Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires. The team noted that if the test were conducted with a standard WT trim or truck trim, the fuel economy could potentially reach 24-25 mpg. With the 21.4-gallon fuel tank, this Trail Boss Colorado could squeeze out 470 miles of highway cruising before needing more 87 octane.
The 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss offers a good balance of off-road capability and highway fuel economy. With its impressive fuel efficiency and range, it is a practical choice for those who put a lot of miles on their trucks. However, potential buyers should be aware of the comfort concerns and the lack of blind-spot monitoring in this trim. Also, with the refreshed Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma coming onto lots soon, this mpg figure could be irrelevant.
Check out the video of the Colorado mpg test here!
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