Chevy Colorado vs. Chevy Silverado (Which is better for you?)

Whether you’re driving through town or hitting the open road, put your trust in the reliability of a Chevy truck. Both the 2020 Colorado and the 2020 Silverado 1500 offer a great deal of power under the hood and plenty of features for you and your passengers to enjoy.

Use this guide to understand the differences between the two trucks and to discover which Chevrolet exceeds you and your family’s expectations.

A Variety of Trim Levels

Both Chevy trucks come in a variety of trim levels to ensure you’ll find one to meet your needs. The Colorado comes in five different trim levels: Base, WT, LT, Z71, and ZR2. In comparison, the Silverado 1500 ups the ante with eight unique trim levels: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, LT Trail Boss, RST, LTZ, and High Country. While both trucks have a sleek exterior, each trim level allows the vehicle to express its individuality with subtle differences when it comes to features like the truck’s bumpers, wheels, and door handles.

Powerful Engine Options

Both Chevys offer plenty of power under the hood. The Colorado comes with three engine options, depending on the trim. The Base, WT, and LT trims feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. The Z71 and ZR2 trims come with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that gets 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. You can also opt for this engine with the WT and LT trims. If you want more power, opt for a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that produces 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque with the ZR2 edition.

The Silverado 1500 lets you choose between different engines. These engines include a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that generates 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, two 5.3-liter V-8 engines that get 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 4.3-liter V-6 engine that produces 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.7-liter engine that gets 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque.

Driving Performance

In terms of performance, the Colorado’s Base, WT, and LT trim levels feature a six-speed automatic transmission, while the Z71 and ZR come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission. You can also get the eight-speed transmission as an option with the WT and LT editions.

For the Silverado 1500, the transmission varies by trim level. For example, the 3.0-liter and 6.2-liter engines come with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the 5.3-liter engine with dynamic fuel management and the 2.7-liter turbo engine feature an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the 5.3-liter engine with active fuel management and the 4.3-liter V-6 engine with active fuel management come with a six-speed automatic transmission.

When it comes to driving systems, the Colorado’s Base trim has two-wheel drive, while the WT, LT, and Z71 come with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive. The Colorado’s top-tier ZR2 solely features a four-wheel-drive system. In comparison, all Silverado trim levels have front-wheel drive, which allows for better fuel economy compared to all-wheel or four-wheel driving systems.

Interior Seating and Style

Inside the cabin, the Colorado and Silverado feature modern amenities and comfortable accommodations. While the Colorado’s crew cab models have room for up to five passengers, the Silverado 1500 seats up to six. 

In terms of style, the Colorado features cloth upholstery and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. If you want high-end features, choose the leather-appointed front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable passenger seat. The Silverado has vinyl upholstery and four-way manually adjustable front seats. You can also choose from a variety of options including cloth or leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats.

Entertainment and Connectivity

Both trucks offer plenty of high-tech amenities. The Colorado’s Base and WT trims have the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with a 7-inch diagonal color touch screen. The truck’s LT, Z71, and ZR2 trims feature the same system but with an 8-inch diagonal HD color touch screen. With the Z71 and ZR2, you can add navigation. You also get a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with LT, Z71, and ZR2, and it comes as an option with the WT. In addition, all Colorado trims feature a six-speaker audio system, but you can always upgrade to the Bose audio system with the LT, Z71, or ZR2.

In comparison, Silverado 1500 features a touch screen infotainment system with a mobile hotspot and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. With the latter two systems, you can connect your smartphone to the Silverado and get access to a variety of applications. They also let you send and receive phone calls and text messages via voice recognition. If you want to drive with luxury, opt for the Silverado’s higher trim levels that come with an 8-inch touch screen and other amenities, like wireless phone charging and built-in navigation.

Safety Features

Both Chevy trucks come with plenty of features to keep you and your passengers free from harm. They both feature StabiliTrak, an electronic stability control system with traction control that’s optimal for tricky terrain. 

While the Colorado’s Base and WT trims feature a rear vision camera, the LT trims on up have the HD version of this camera. The Colorado also features a tire pressure monitoring system and a teen driver feature on all trims. The teen driver feature encourages better driving behavior for younger drivers who get behind the wheel. Available safety features for this truck include forward collision alert, rear park assist, and lane departure warning.

The safety features you get with the Silverado vary by trim level. The Silverado 1500 LTZ and High Country come with a following distance indicator, a rear camera mirror, a safety alert seat, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, a forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, an adaptive cruise control camera, and front pedestrian braking. The High Country comes standard with rear park assist, a lane change alert with side blind zone alert, and a rear cross-traffic alert. These features are also available with the WT, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, and LTZ trims.

Both the 2020 Colorado and 2020 Silverado 1500 guarantee a powerful driving experience and plenty of modern amenities. If you want to take these trucks for a test drive, stop by Cochran Chevrolet today. We’re happy to answer your automotive questions and get you behind the wheel of your new truck in no time.