A Pre-Owned Colorado or Silverado: Which One Best Meets Your Needs?

In the market for a pickup truck? We here at Newton Chevrolet of Russellville sell a variety of pre-owned Chevy Colorado and Silverado models. Both are excellent choices given their reputations as reliable and durable pickups with plenty of comfort and convenience features—but which one will better meet your needs?

As the premier used Chevy dealer near Franklin, KY, we have seen many Colorado and Silverado models come across our lot over the years. These pickups have a lot of appeal for buyers, given their strong off-roading capabilities and remarkably comfortable, utilitarian cabins—but they are nevertheless two different classes of pickup trucks.

The smaller, lighter Colorado is a popular choice for buyers wanting more fuel efficiency. However, the flagship Silverado series offers greater torque and towing capabilities. So, as you can see, both have their unique strengths; neither is a lackluster truck, and you can further balance your choice by guaranteeing you’ll save money through the purchase of a lightly-used model—one that still comes with warranty coverage through Newton Chevrolet of Russellville.

So how exactly do the Colorado and Silverado differ from each other? Besides size and probable price, there are a few key differences between them that are worth considering…

Power & Performance

Chevrolet typically equips the Silverado with a more powerful engine than the Colorado. Of course, you need to consider that this is a big part of why the Silverado is much heavier than the smaller Colorado. Some of the more recent Colorado model years come with a 200-hp 2.5L I-4 engine as a standard offering. However, there are options to upgrade to something more powerful, such as a 308-hp 3.6L V6 or a diesel-powered 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-4 (which serves up 369 lb-ft of torque).

Quite naturally, the Silverado—being the bigger pickup and the flagship model for Chevy’s trucks—has a long list of available powertrain options. You can find slightly older Chevy Silverado models with a 2.7L Turbo High-Output I-4 (310 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque), a 5.3L V8 (355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque), a 6.2L V8 (420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque), or a 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6 (277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque).

Performance is superb from any of the powertrains on either model. You will notice that fuel economy differs a bit between them, though, and that could impact your decision on the model and powertrain you prefer. Regardless, you will find that both the Colorado and Silverado are able to get up and get going, so you will not have to worry about struggling to merge or pass other vehicles on the highway.

Off-Road Capabilities

Chevy knows how to make a strong off-roader; there’s no doubt about that. The Colorado and Silverado both function well off the beaten path, but having the ZR2 package equipped makes them even more capable. The problem here is that the ZR2 has been available longer on the Colorado than it has on the Silverado; it was introduced to the Silverado for the 2022 model year, so if you’re dead-set on having it on a Silverado, you’ll need to consider this. You’ll definitely have an easier time finding it on a used Colorado, which has the added benefit of being more affordable and nimbler in the wilderness.

That being said, the ZR2 package is absolutely worth having equipped, no matter which Chevy truck you snag. On the Silverado, this package gives you the 6.2L V8 engine as a standard feature, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission; it can tow up to 8,900 lbs.

On the Colorado, this package lifts the suspension by 2.0 inches and widens the front and rear tracks by 3.5 inches; front and rear locking differentials are included, plus you also get the segment-first off-roading Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve for enhanced damping. The 3.6L V6 engine powers the Colorado Z72, so it is able to move around on unpaved terrain with ease.

Towing Capacities

The Colorado and Silverado are both capable haulers, showcasing impressive numbers for their respective segments. For example, the 2020 Silverado 1500 can tow up to 13,400 lbs. A Colorado from the same year can tow up to 7,700 lbs; its lighter body structure makes it less ideal for towing extremely heavy loads, but the Silverado models are more than able to get the job done.

Depending on the equipment of a given truck, there will be some variances in maximum towing capacities on each model; there can also be some differences between the model years themselves. Before you buy one of these pickups, check with us to learn more about the specific towing and trailering specifications. That way, you will know exactly what your truck is capable of doing in terms of towing, hauling, and trailering.

Fuel Efficiency

As already mentioned, there are some rather noticeable differences in the fuel economy of the Colorado and Silverado. There are, of course, differences between the engines for each model, too; their fuel estimates tend to fall into the same bracket and, for their segments, are reasonably good.

Let’s stick with the 2020 model years as our examples here. The 2020 Silverado with the 3.0L Turbo-Diesel I-6 engine on an RWD model nabs the best estimates at 27 MPG combined. Meanwhile, a Silverado with a 6.2L V8 on a 4WD TrailBoss only gets 15 MPG combined.

On the other hand, the 2020 Colorado with a 2.8L diesel four-cylinder and RWD gets 23 MPG combined; equipping the 3.6L V6 and RWD gets an estimated 20 MPG combined; and a 2020 Colorado ZR2 with 4WD and the 3.6L results in an estimated 17 MPG combined.

Tech & Safety

There are not too many major differences between the Colorado and Silverado in terms of tech and safety features, but there are a few variances worth noting. Both typically come with the same Chevy Infotainment system with the same-size touchscreen display options. Both also come with smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. They also come with a lot of the same driver assistance features, such as Teen Driver mode, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and Forward Collision Alert with Automatic Emergency Braking.

The Silverado, being the pricier of the two vehicles, includes a few features beyond what the Colorado has to offer. On newer pre-owned Silverado models, you can find features like Super Cruise on higher trims. This is a semi-autonomous, hands-free driving mode employable on hundreds of thousands of miles of pre-programmed roads across the United States and Canada. Free your hands and let Chevy take the wheel!

Cabs & Comfort

Both the Colorado and Silverado have ample comfort inside their finely crafted cabins. The Colorado gives you two cab options: the crew cab and the extended cab, and a long or short box can be equipped with either one. The Silverado 1500 can come with either a double cab, regular cab, or crew cab; standard, short, and long box options are available.

Both trucks have spacious cabins with plenty of comfort, but it’s safe to say the Silverado’s available perforated leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel make this truck slightly more high-end. You can, however, get heated front seats on either one, and both give you automatic climate control.

Which One Strikes Your Fancy?

Buying a used Chevy pickup means you get a lot of different options. The Colorado and Silverado are indeed capable vehicles with tons of features and configurations, so you’ll have no trouble finding something that suits your needs. What will likely make the difference for you is their fuel economy and towing capacity. The Silverado has the edge in towing and hauling, and even though it is more expensive than the nimbler Colorado, it is still considerably affordable when you buy a pre-owned one.