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If you’re unfamiliar with the highlights of each truck, you’ll want to check out this comparison by the Baierl Chevrolet team. Read on to discover which one is the better fit for your needs.
The pickup truck is good for many things: off-road adventuring, poor weather travel, and—perhaps more than anything—towing. Few vehicles can muster the towing capability of a pickup.
The Chevy Silverado 1500 falls into the full-size pickup truck sector. For this reason, you’ll see that it’s a bit more strength-minded and better suited for large hauling jobs. With its top engine equipped, the Silverado 1500 is capable of towing as much as 13,400 pounds of cargo.
If you own a big boat or camper, the Silverado 1500 will ensure you make it to your vacation destination with ease.
The Chevy Colorado is a midsize truck, so towing power is reduced. The Colorado’s maximum towing capacity is 7,700 pounds. While this is still great for a trailer, rowboat, or ATVs, it can’t carry the same loads as its bigger sibling.
The cargo you stow in the bed of your truck is just as important as the cargo you hitch to the back. Due to the difference in class sizes, the Silverado and the Colorado have two very different payloads as well.
The Colorado can carry 1,578 pounds, making it a standout in its own class. If you regularly haul smaller equipment or leisure-time gear, that payload should be more than enough.
For drivers who intend to use their truck in a work capacity, a higher payload is a must, and the Silverado 1500 delivers. It offers a maximum payload of 2,250 pounds to help you carry around some bigger gear.
Of course, towing capacity changes depending on which engine you choose, and both these trucks have multiple options.
Since the Chevy Colorado is a midsize truck, its three engines are a bit smaller. There are two 4-cylinder engine and one 6-cylinder engine. However, one of those 4-cylinder engines is a Duramax® turbo-diesel model, meaning it churns up excellent power. With 369 lb-ft of torque, it’s no slouch in the muscle category.
The Silverado 1500, on the other hand, offers V8 engines you won’t find in the Colorado. Its top producer is the 6.2L V8 engine. This vastly larger powertrain churns up a maximum 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque for an output that truly takes command of all roads.
The Colorado isn’t the only Chevy truck with a turbo-diesel engine option. Almost every Chevy offers one, including the Silverado 1500.
Diesel engines have been around since the 1920s, steadfastly maintaining a reputation for high power. In recent years, Chevy has been perfecting this powertrain with the turbocharged Duramax®.
Not only is the Duramax® powerful, but it’s also quiet and efficient, making it a great available option for either of these pickups.
Just because you’re driving a truck doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice fuel efficiency. The Silverado 1500 and the Colorado both offer options to reduce gas station pitstops.
The Chevy Colorado is the most efficient of the two when the Duramax® engine is equipped. With this engine, you don’t just get that 7,700-pound towing capacity, but you also maintain an EPA-estimated 30 highway MPG.
The Silverado 1500 offers a turbo engine option, too, with the 3.0L turbo-diesel. It ekes out just a little bit more fuel efficiency than its smaller counterpart. The Chevy Silverado 1500 gets an impressive 33 MPG highway with this available engine.
Furthering its drive to keep the pickup segment as efficient as it is powerful, Chevy offers auto stop/start technology with some of its engines.
This technology is a big part of the reason the Silverado 1500 can maintain such good fuel efficiency. With this feature equipped, the engine will autonomously turn on and off during idling periods, such as when you’re stopped at a red light. It helps you save every last drop of fuel during your commute.
While these two trucks have some different offerings and specs in terms of overall strength and efficiency, one area where they come together is safety. No matter which Chevy truck you choose, you’ll have numerous driver-assisting safety features available to improve protection.
How do driver-assist features differ from standard safety features? They utilize sensors and cameras to actually monitor and respond to changing road conditions and hazards.
A great example of these capabilities is the Lane Departure Warning available in both the Colorado and the Silverado 1500. By reading road markings, this feature knows when you’ve unintentionally veered out of your lane without signaling. It will then send you alerts to snap you back to attention.
Other such available features for both trucks include Forward Collision Alert and the Rear Park Assist.
At Baierl Chevrolet, we’re committed to helping Wexford, Pittsburgh, and Cranberry Township drivers find a pickup truck that can help them take on every adventure with confidence.
While the Chevy Silverado 1500 is a bigger truck with a little bit more power, the Chevy Colorado makes for a more compact option that favors efficiency. Read the rest of our Silverado 1500 reviews and Chevy Colorado reviews to learn more about these Chevy trucks.
Want to experience your favorite pickup firsthand? Contact our team online or over the phone to schedule a test drive today.