Chevy Silverado 1500 vs Chevy Colorado

There’s little doubt that Chevy makes great trucks, but from there it’s up to you to figure out which truck from their lineup you actually need.

Both the Silverado 1500 and the Colorado are great choices, but the last thing you want is to overpay for more truck than you need or for the truck you have not to be able to complete the job you have for it.

That’s why we came up with this guide to break down everything you need to know about these two great trucks.

The Chevy Silverado 1500

If you’re looking for a full-sized truck, the Chevy Silverado 1500 is one of the most popular choices on the market for a reason. But what exactly can these trucks do and what options are out there? We’ll break that down for you here.

Engine and Performance Specs

When you’re looking at a Silverado 1500 there are a lot of engine options out there. Below we’ve included every engine option from 2007 and newer, but there are even more engine options than this if you go back to the first-generation Silverado 1500.

Because of the wide array of different engine options out there, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact amount of power and torque you’re going to get with a Silverado 1500 unless you take a look at what engine is under the hood.

That’s exactly what we did with this chart here.

Towing Specs

Once again with so many different engine options and packages out there it’s hard to say exactly how much a specific Silverado 1500 can tow without taking a look at the generation and what’s under the hood.

But what we can say is that the Silverado 1500 towing capacity maxes out at 13,300 pounds. So, if you need to tow under that amount, you can find a Silverado 1500 that can get the job done. Of course, you’ll need to find the right package to get that towing capacity since most Silverado 1500s can’t tow that much.

Chevy Colorado

If you’re looking for a smaller Chevy truck than the Silverado 1500, the Chevy Colorado is likely what you’re looking for. It’s not a full-sized truck, but with a payload capacity well over 1,000 pounds it can certainly perform like one.

But with so many different variations out there the exact performance specs of a Chevy Colorado can vary quite a bit. We’ll give you an idea of what to expect here.

Engine and Performance Specs

While there might not be quite as many engine options for the Colorado as the Silverado 1500, there are still quite a few choices to pick from. However, it is worth noting that you can’t get a V8 Colorado.

The largest the engines go is a V6, but those V6 engines still pack quite a punch compared to many other six-cylinder engines out there.

Towing Specs

With five different engine options and packages, it’s no surprise that the towing capacity for the ranges quite a bit too. The lowest-rated Colorado can only tow 1,900 pounds, while some newer Colorado trucks can tow up to 7,000 pounds.

There are a ton of trucks with different towing ranges in between. As long as you need to tow less than 7,000 pounds there’s a Colorado out there that can meet your needs.

The Size Difference

Of the full-sized trucks out there, the Silverado 1500 is as small as they get. The Silverado 1500 is a 1/2-ton pickup truck, while the Colorado is simply a “midsize” truck.

There’s no doubt that the Chevy Colorado is a smaller truck, but it’s not so small that you can’t use it for bigger jobs. Still, if you look at what you need and the Colorado can’t get the job done, then an upgrade to the Silverado 1500 might do the trick.

When You Want to Upgrade to a Silverado 1500

If you’re simply looking for a reliable truck to move furniture, sit a little higher off the ground, or even tow smaller equipment, there’s no reason you can’t find a Colorado that can handle the job.

But sometimes you need that extra space in the truck bed or you’re simply trying to tow or haul more equipment. And while the Colorado is certainly a hardly little truck, there’s no denying that it’s a little truck compared to the Silverado 1500.

Because of this you need to take a hard look at what you actually need your truck for. If you need the extra space or performance go ahead and upgrade, but if not there’s nothing wrong with going with a Colorado that can get the job done for you.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know a little more about both the Silverado 1500 and the Colorado it’s up to you to figure out what truck is best for you. If you have questions about either truck or need help tracking one down, feel free to reach out to the friendly experts here at Tim’s Truck and they’ll be glad to help you get on the right track.