Powers Swain Chevrolet · Used Truck Guide
Best Year for a Used Chevrolet Colorado to Buy
There are really two used Colorados: the V6 and diesel truck built through 2022, and the turbo-four truck built since 2023. Which one is right depends entirely on what you want out of it.
Start Here: There Are Two Different Trucks
Most used-truck guides give you a single year and call it done. That does not work for the Colorado, because Chevrolet redesigned it completely for 2023 and changed what the truck fundamentally is.
Second generation, 2015 through 2022. Multiple engines, multiple cab configurations, multiple bed lengths. A 2.5L four-cylinder, a 3.6L V6, and from 2016 a 2.8L Duramax turbodiesel. This is the Colorado for people who want a V6 or a diesel, or who want an extended cab or a longer bed.
Third generation, 2023 and newer. One engine, the 2.7L TurboMax, making 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft on every trim. Crew cab and a five-foot bed only. An 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in. Simpler to shop and stronger where it counts, since 430 lb-ft is 155 more than the old V6 produced.
Decide which of those two trucks you are actually shopping before you start filtering by year. It saves a lot of time.
Back to topThe Years Worth Shortlisting
Best all-round used buy
Late second generation
2020 to 2022
By 2020 the second-generation Colorado had been in production for six years, the 3.6L LGZ V6 and its eight-speed automatic had been paired since 2017, and the powertrain lineup was fully sorted. These are also the last three years you can get a Duramax diesel in a midsize Chevy.
- 3.6L V6 at 308 horsepower with the eight-speed automatic
- 2.8L Duramax turbodiesel still available, 181 hp and 369 lb-ft
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard
- Crew cab, extended cab and two bed lengths still on the menu
- ZR2 available with the full off-road hardware set
This is the shortlist for most buyers, and the one to watch if you specifically want a V6 or a diesel that the current truck no longer offers.
Best if you want the newest truck
Third generation
2023 and newer
The redesign is the biggest jump in the Colorado's history. Every trim gets 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft, which beats the old V6 on both counts and beats it on torque by a lot. The cabin moved to an 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in on every trim, including the Work Truck.
- 2.7L TurboMax, 310 hp and 430 lb-ft, on every trim
- Up to 7,700 lbs towing when properly equipped
- 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, standard
- Chevy Safety Assist standard on all trims
- Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2 off-road ladder
The trade-off is choice. No V6, no diesel, crew cab only. If none of those matter to you, this is simply the better truck.
Best value for a V6 shopper
Back to topMid second generation
2017 to 2019
2017 is the year the LGZ V6 and eight-speed automatic arrived together, and it is also the year the ZR2 was introduced. Trucks from this window carry the powertrain most V6 buyers are looking for at an older truck's price.
- 3.6L LGZ V6, 308 horsepower, eight-speed automatic
- First years of the ZR2 with Multimatic dampers and dual lockers
- Duramax diesel available
- Typically the most affordable way into a V6 Colorado
Older trucks reward a careful inspection more than newer ones do. Use the checklist further down this page and take the test drive seriously.
What Changed, Year by Year
The short version of a decade of Colorado, so you can see which changes land inside your budget.
| Model year | What changed | Why it matters to a used buyer |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Second generation launches with a 2.5L four-cylinder at 200 hp and a 3.6L LFX V6 at 304 hp | The start of the modern Colorado. The oldest trucks worth shopping in this generation. |
| 2016 | 2.8L Duramax turbodiesel added at 181 hp and 369 lb-ft. Updated driver information display and Apple CarPlay capability | The first year you can get a diesel. Also the first year the infotainment stops feeling dated. |
| 2017 | 3.6L LGZ V6 replaces the LFX at 308 hp and is paired with an eight-speed automatic. Colorado ZR2 introduced | The single most important year in this generation. Both the V6 powertrain most people want and the off-road flagship start here. |
| 2018 to 2019 | Trim and appearance updates, powertrains carried over | Mechanically the same as a 2017 with a little more content. Shop on condition, not on the year badge. |
| 2020 to 2022 | Mature second generation. V6 and diesel both still available through the final year | The sweet spot of this generation, and the last chance at a diesel or a V6 Colorado. |
| 2023 | All-new third generation. Single 2.7L TurboMax at 310 hp and 430 lb-ft, crew cab only, five-foot bed only, V6 and diesel discontinued | A completely different truck. More torque than the V6 ever made, and far simpler to shop. |
| 2024 and newer | Third generation continues with trim and equipment updates | The newest used trucks, often still inside the balance of the factory warranty. |
Engine output figures are manufacturer specifications for the model years listed. Availability of specific engines, cab configurations and trims varied by year and by how the truck was ordered, so confirm against the window sticker or build sheet of the actual vehicle.
Back to topWhat to Check Before You Buy
None of this is Colorado-specific. It is what anyone should do before buying any used truck, and it is the part most buyers skip because the truck looks clean in the photos.
Drive it properly
Get it to highway speed. Let the transmission work up through every gear and back down again. A quick loop around the block tells you nothing about how a truck behaves at 65 on I-95.
Engage four-wheel drive
In the lot, before you leave. Shift into 4-high and 4-low and confirm both engage and disengage cleanly. On a truck that has never used it, this is exactly where surprises show up.
Ask for the service records
Transmission fluid intervals matter on any truck with an eight-speed. On a Duramax, ask about fuel filter service. A truck with a paper trail is worth paying a little more for.
Look underneath
Especially on a ZR2 or anything wearing all-terrain tires. Skid plates, control arms and the exhaust tell you honestly whether the truck lived on pavement or in the woods.
Pair your phone
Thirty seconds, and it confirms the infotainment, the Bluetooth and the USB ports all work. Sorting that out after you have signed is a much worse afternoon.
Run the VIN for recalls
Free at nhtsa.gov and it takes a minute. Any open recall is repaired at no charge by a franchise dealer, so this is information worth having before you negotiate rather than after.
You can do all six of these on our lot at 4709 Bragg Blvd, and we would rather you did. A buyer who checked the truck properly is a buyer who does not come back annoyed in three months.
Check any VIN for open recalls at NHTSA.
Back to topBuying a Used Colorado in Fayetteville
Cumberland County is a used-truck market. Fort Bragg turns over constantly, which means trucks come onto the local market on PCS timelines rather than on a national schedule, and a lot of them are well-maintained because they were somebody's daily driver rather than a farm truck.
It also means the sand and the salt-free winters here are kind to a used truck's underbody compared with what you would find on a trade from further north. When a truck arrives at 4709 Bragg Blvd from somewhere else, that is worth checking rather than assuming.
Two practical local notes. If you are buying a diesel, ask where it was serviced, since not every shop in the area is set up for one. And if you plan to tow a boat to Jordan Lake or a camper down NC-87, tell us before you pick a truck, because the trailering equipment on a used Colorado varies by how it was originally ordered.
Inventory changes weekly. Check what used Colorados are on the lot right now, or look at the full used inventory if you are open on model.
Current-generation Colorado shown. We do not hold photography of the 2015 to 2022 truck.
Thinking About New Instead?
It is worth doing the arithmetic. A late-model used Colorado and a new Work Truck are closer in price than people expect, and the new truck brings 430 lb-ft, a full factory warranty and the 11.3-inch screen.
If that is a live question for you, our Colorado trim comparison lays out all six new trims, and the horsepower and engine guide explains why the four-cylinder replaced the V6 without giving anything up. You can also start a pre-approval to see what the payment difference actually looks like before you decide.
Sources: Chevrolet published specifications for each model year, chevrolet.com, and EPA fuel economy ratings.
Used Colorado Questions from Fayetteville Buyers
What is the best year for a used Chevrolet Colorado?
It depends on which of two very different trucks you want. If you want the classic Colorado with a V6 or a diesel, look at 2020 to 2022, the last three years of the second generation, when the 3.6L V6 and eight-speed automatic had been in production for several seasons and the 2.8L Duramax diesel was still on the order sheet. If you want the newest truck and the strongest torque figure, look at 2023 and later, when the all-new third generation arrived with the 2.7L TurboMax making 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft on every trim.
Which used Colorado years came with a V6?
Model years 2015 through 2022. The 2015 and 2016 trucks used the 3.6L LFX V6 at 304 horsepower. From 2017 the LGZ V6 took over at 308 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic, which is the combination most V6 shoppers want. The V6 was discontinued when the third generation arrived for 2023, so no 2023 or newer Colorado has one.
Which used Colorado years came with the Duramax diesel?
The 2.8L Duramax turbodiesel arrived for the 2016 model year, rated at 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft, and stayed available through 2022. It is the only diesel Colorado ever offered in this country. If a diesel midsize truck is what you are after, 2016 to 2022 is the whole window, and those trucks tend to sell quickly when they come in.
What changed when the Colorado was redesigned for 2023?
Nearly everything. The third generation dropped to a single engine, the 2.7L TurboMax turbocharged four-cylinder, making 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft on every trim. The V6 and the diesel both ended. The body simplified to crew cab with a five-foot bed only. The interior moved to an 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in. A 2023 or newer Colorado makes 155 lb-ft more torque than the old V6 did.
Is a used ZR2 worth looking at?
If you actually run trails, yes. The ZR2 arrived for 2017 with Multimatic dampers, front and rear locking differentials and a factory lift, and it has been the most capable factory midsize truck in the segment ever since. Two things to weigh: a used off-road truck deserves a closer look underneath than a used commuter, and the ZR2's tires and gearing cost fuel economy every day. Look at the undercarriage in daylight before you decide.
What should I check on a used Colorado test drive?
Drive it long enough to reach highway speed and let the transmission work through every gear, both accelerating and coasting down. Engage four-wheel drive high and low in the lot before you leave. Ask for the service records, particularly transmission fluid and, on a diesel, fuel filter service. Look underneath if it wore all-terrain tires. Pair your phone to confirm the infotainment works. And run the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov, which is free and takes a minute.
How many miles is too many on a used Colorado?
Mileage alone is the wrong question. A 90,000-mile truck with complete service records that spent its life on I-95 is usually a better buy than a 45,000-mile truck with no history that lived on sand roads. Ask what the truck did, not just how far it went. We will pull the history report with you at 4709 Bragg Blvd rather than making you take our word for it.
Do you have used Colorados in stock in Fayetteville?
Used inventory turns over constantly, so check our used Chevy Colorado page for what is on the lot today or call (910) 864-9500 and we will tell you what is here and what is coming. If the year and configuration you want is not on the ground, tell us and we will watch for it. We take trades every week, so trucks arrive between website updates.
What Our Fayetteville Customers Say
Come Look at One in Person
Powers Swain Chevrolet
Family owned on Bragg Blvd since 1961. Tell us which generation you are after and we will tell you honestly whether we have it or whether you should wait.
- 4709 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
- Sales: (910) 864-9500
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- Serving Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Raeford and Sanford
Tell Us the Year You Want. We Will Watch For It.
Used inventory changes weekly and trades arrive between website updates. Call and we will tell you what is on the ground today.
Powers Swain Chevrolet · 4709 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303