In our Mid-Size Truck Shootout earlier this year, we lauded the Colorado for reinvigorating the mid-size segment, as the new truck offered the updated features and improved fuel economy the class was lacking. That’s not to say the Colorado didn’t have room for improvement, but it did finally raise the bar in terms of the technology, comfort and features offered on mid-sized trucks. Fortunately there’s more to come, too, as Chevy will follow the Colorado’s freshman year with a diesel-powered option in 2016, and it will also face fresh competition since Toyota will offer a new version of the Tacoma as well.

Even though new products are on the horizon for Chevy next year, the company isn’t done offering upgraded packages with this year’s Colorado, with one such option being its new Trail Boss Edition. The Colorado was the winner of the aforementioned Mid-Size Shootout earlier this year because our testers universally felt it was the best all-around truck in terms of performance and its offered features. In that shootout, we felt the Z71’s suspension performed well on road and in the dirt, but our complaints were about its limited suspension travel and low ground clearance. The Trail Boss Edition intrigued us, as we hoped it might offer some additional lift and ground clearance to let give Colorado’s suspension enough room to stretch its legs; unfortunately, this version does not address these points, but we do hear that another Trail Boss version is on the horizon (who knows, maybe we’ll see a ZR2 … never hurts to dream, right?). 

Check out More Colorado Trail Boss Photos

What the Trail Boss does offer is a bundle of useful features and unique appearance upgrades. It is based on a Z71, so it does offer Chevy’s most off-road-savvy package available, and the collection of upgrades do come at a discounted price when compared to the cost of purchasing them separately. The biggest upgrade to the truck’s trail performance is the addition of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac all-terrain tires, which offer a more aggressive tread pattern than the Goodyear Wranglers found on the standard Z71 package. The Trail Boos then includes useful features such as black 3-inch round rocker steps, a spray-in bed liner, GearOn cargo divider for the truck bed and GearOn moveable cargo tie-down rings. To set it apart from other Colorados, the Trail Boss features black Chevy bowties that accent the grille and tailgate of the truck, and black fender flares complete the look. Inside, all-weather Z71 floor mats keep the floorboards clean.

Although the Trail Boss doesn’t add a whole lot of additional trail performance per se, we still took it out for some time in the dirt to see how the truck feels. As we noted in our shootout earlier this year, we are fans of the Colorado’s suspension performance in terms of its ability to soak up bumps and offer a stable ride off the highway, but our gripe is simply that there’s not enough trail clearance or enough suspension travel when the going gets rough. An additional inch of ground clearance and suspension travel would go a long way on this truck. We do like how it stable it feels in the dirt, as its composed, solid feel on the highway is mirrored on moderate off-road terrain. The addition of the Goodyear DuraTrac tires help provide additional bite while playing around in the dirt, but they don’t hamper the on-road performance or create any noticeable additional road noise on the highway.

Our Rally Yellow Colorado may not be our first choice of color options (we also prefer the name Minion Yellow), but the monotone black-and-yellow color scheme looks nice. The black bowties and black wheel flares give the truck a clean look that stands out without being too loud.

Speaking of looks, the 3-inch round rocker steps may give the Colorado a tougher look, but we’re not big fans of them; it’s actually the only add-on for the Trail Boss of which we’re not very fond. Off the highway, the steps are the first thing to rub on rocks and angled slopes, and when entering and exiting the vehicle the steps just really aren’t necessary since the truck isn’t very high to begin with – we find ourselves banging our shins on them. Shorter drivers and may appreciate them, but to us they simply got in the way more often than not. The rails will offer some level of protection for the rocker rails on the side of the truck, but we’d really prefer a step that tucks up tighter to offer the same level of protection without hanging down so low.

The Trail Boss includes a spray-on bedliner to protect the truck bed. The GearOn cargo divider is included on the Trail Boss as well, separating the bed into two parts to organize cargo or simply keep gear from sliding around the bed while driving – the latter of which can be very useful depending upon the cargo in back. The GearOn cargo tie-down rings are a nice addition as well, since they provide another location with which to secure cargo in the bed.

In terms of performance, the Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Boss is no different than the Z71 truck we tested in our shootout. It is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 rated to produce 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque. During our shootout testing earlier this year, we observed a 0-60 time of 7.85 seconds, and our 1/4-mile time was 15.79 seconds at 91.58 mph.

The fuel rating for our 4x4 Crew Cab short-bed test truck is 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, with a combined rating of 21 mpg. In our earlier shootout we observed a 20.5 mpg overall fuel economy, but our number was a little lower during Trail Boss testing at 18.5 mpg.

The Final Verdict
Manufacturers are always looking to find ways to make their vehicles more appealing to consumers, and the Trail Boss is Chevy’s way of smartly packaging together accessories and unique appearance upgrades to make its truck stand out. More importantly, the Trail Boss “package” also ends up making the items cheaper than if they were to add them all individually.

When it comes to pricing, our nicely equipped short-bed Z71 Crew Cab 4x4 Colorado, before add-ons, has a sticker price of $34,115. The Trail Boss Edition upgrade is priced at $3,820, though the package discount actually saves the buyer $500, making its price $3,320. The overall price of our test truck (including a destination charge of $875 and a few other features) is $39,555. That puts this Colorado on the higher end of the price range, but then again there really aren’t too many more upgrades we can think of adding.

We do wish the Trail Boss offered more in terms of off-road performance than just the upgraded tires, but, with the exception of the side steps, the upgrades offered and the black bowtie add-ons make the package one worth considering if you’re looking to buy a Colorado. We like the Trail Boss Edition and what it brings to the table, but we’d just love to see more off-road upgrades the next go around. 

Specifications
2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition
Engine: 3.6L SIDI DOHC V6 VVT
Horsepower: 305 @ 6,800 rpm
Torque: 269 lb.-ft. @ 4,300 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4,500 lbs.
Height: 70.6 in.
Track Width: 62.4 in. (front), 62.4 in. (rear)
Length: 212.7 in.
Wheelbase: 128.3 in.
Ground Clearance: 8.3 in.
Approach Angle: 17.3 degrees
Departure Angle: 22.1 degrees
Breakover Angle: 19.8 degrees
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 6,000 lbs.
Towing Capacity: 7,000 lbs.
Payload Capacity: 1,590 lbs.
Fuel Tank: 21 gal.
Seating Capacity: 5
Axle Ratio: 3.42
MPG Rating: 18 city, 24 hwy
Aver. MPG (tested): 18.5 (combined)
Price: $39,555