Mojo Rising

Chevy's heavily revised 2023 Colorado charges to the head of the pack.

- DAN EDMUNDS

2023 CHEVROLET COLORADO

Off-road prowess and perceived toughness increasingly define mid-size pickups. The Toyota Tacoma has owned that territory, but the 2023 Chevy Colorado has undergone an extreme makeover and is ready to mount a serious challenge.

The changes go beyond chiseled looks. The reworked air dam and shorter front overhang resulted in a healthy 29.1-degree approach angle for the Z71, which formerly had a low-hanging spoiler that barely cleared a parking block. The spare tire tucks up 2.5 inches higher for better departure clearance, and Chevy moved the lower rear shock mounts closer to the rear springs.

The new Trail Boss is a budget off-roader that sits below the ZR2 while outperforming and costing less than a Z71. Its wide stance nearly equals the ZR2's, and it gets 32-inch all-terrain tires, flared fenders, a limited-slip rear diff, and a 2.0-inch lift that adds 1.5 inches of front suspension travel and 1.0 inch out back. Arriving later, the ZR2 will bring Multimatic spool-valve dampers, lockable front and rear diffs, and a taller lift with even more rear suspension travel.