Used 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab Consumer Reviews
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A Total Lemon
I bought my Colorado brand new, and have had nothing but trouble with it. It's died on me twice, I continue to have problems with the cd player. The AC squeals like a stuck pig, plastic molding had warped, carpeting comes up in chunks of fuzz. I've had problems with the ignition switch, airbag sensor, cruise control light, and interior paneling. The interior is of very cheap material and reeks of poor design. It's a sharp looking truck, and when it's not in the shop it drives and handles ok. Unless you're a die hard Chevy fan, I'd advise you to look elsewhere for a truck. Based on my experience with this, I'll never buy another Chevy truck.
I love it
I bought this Colorado used 2 years ago. Other than normal servicing, all I have replaced is the battery at 5 years. I drove it home (550 miles) in a snow storm and got 24.0 on the first tank and 24.4 mpg on the second. In town I get between 20 and 21. The work truck the seats are non-reclining and terrible. I replaced them with a used set of very comfortable LT seats. Traction on the OEM General Ameritracs is terrible. I now have 74,000 miles and can not wear them out. I bought two General AT22 for this winter and the traction is unbelievable. I'll buy two more as soon as I wear out the original Ameritracs. I'm looking at a 2006 for my daughter this week. Great truck!!!
- Z71 LS Regular CabMSRP: $9,99516 mi away
- Z71 LS Base Crew CabMSRP: $3,90057 mi away
- Z85 LS Regular CabMSRP: $10,99588 mi away
Good Solid Truck
Truck has performed very well, has a good solid engine, and idles very smoothly. Only issue is whistling noise from AC when fan is on low speed. Dealer indicates that it is typical of this truck since less sound insulation is used for this make/model. Small rattles from extra cab space typical of these stlye of trucks. Otherwise, lots of room, nice styling, well planned display and controls. Engine responds well and ride is smooth for 4WD.
cheap interior
Great performing and great looking truck from the exterior. Cheap looking from the inside. Boring interior, stiff seats, no style what so ever. cheap console between seats. Cheap thin looking plastic door panels. Rides nice. Handles excellent with good braking. If only they(GM) would of spent more than 5 minutes and $5.00 on the interior this would be one great truck.
2005 Red Chevy Colorado Z-71
It's a great truck if you want to have decent fuel mileage, but still have the ability to tow or haul. I regularly tow a 200 pound trailer with an 1100 pound generator on it, and I can't tell it's behind me (max tow weight is 4000 pounds). When hauling bags of sand or concrete blocks, the stock suspension does exceptionally well, with only a 3 - 3.5 inch drop. (An upgrade to load adjusting shocks though keeps this around 1 - 1.5 inches).
Good Little Truck
I did a lot of homework before buying this truck and test drove most of the competitors. I liked the Colorado and it met my needs at least as well as any of the others, but I was concerned because of the poor reviews the "experts" had given it. I think the experts missed the boat on this one. I had a couple of rough spots with it right out of the box (electrical problems and front end alignment) but these were quickly corrected by my dealer and I have been very pleased with it for the nearly three years I have owned it. Performance, utility and appearance are excellent and it has done all I've asked of it. Don't be fooled by the poor reviews - this is a nice little truck.
Don't Buy Chevy Colorado
I drive a 2005 Colorado and very, very sorry I purchased it. Here is the laundry list of problems with my truck, and all have resorted to one thing---money straight out of my pocket into a pit: 1. I am on my 3rd blower fan 2. The ABS light came on and cost hundreds of dollars to fix 3. Fuel cap light on (over $700 to fix) 4. Replaced ignition switch when truck could not drive over ~40mph. 5. Transmission has an extremely difficult time shifting out of 1st gear 6. There is a terrible musty smell during the summer when the AC is used. I have read to fix costs hundreds of dollars Overall disappointed and won't buy (or advise anyone) to purchase of this truck or other Chevy/GM product
Bust or superb
I have the 4 cylinder with 4.10 rear and 4x4, with automatic transmission. It lacks power like no tomorrow. Seats don't recline, and I can't unlock the door from passenger side. It's a nice looking truck on outside, but a reclining seat ought to be standard. A mite more power from this big 2.8 4 cylinder engine would be nice.
Nice small truck
Gas mileage was at 18.5 mpg until i installed the k&n air filter, then mileage went to 21.5. Have used it to tow 6x12 U-haul trailers with amazing results, plenty of power and gas mileage stayed good. It's not like my old F-150 but more economocal to drive. Only had two warranty issues so far. Front sensor on ABS and squeaky rear brakes, which the dealer took care of both.
Good all around Truck
If you dont want a full size truck, this is a nice little truck. I love the way this truck looks, especially the front end. The interior could use a little improvement. Seats are comfy, but just not too much going on inside,(too much plastic). No complaints about the 2.8L engine. It's nice and smooth, and has plenty of power to get around. Exhuast note is little funny though. 5 speed is very smooth. A lot more room than my previously owned Ranger. Overall a good little truck for a good price.
'04 Colorado
Overall a great truck for someone who doesn't routinely need a large hauling or towing capacity. I've taken several trips over 300 miles and the ride was always comfortable. Plenty of power, smooth shifting, easy on the fly transfer from 2WD to 4WD. Z71 package has a nice ride with good steering input. Holds the road well. 4WD and suspension gives plenty of grip and stability over rough terrain. Very good gas mileage. I average about 20 mpg (23- 24 on mostly highway trips, worst was 17 mpg for a tank but that was almost all stop and go short trips in cold weather). Back seats are only good for small people / short trips.
I love my truck!
Before deciding to make the jump from fun car (my Mustang) to a small truck I did a lot of research on what was out there. The Colorado kept coming out on top, so when I went "shopping" I saved the Chevy lot until last. I found the Colorado to be the best built and best looking of all the trucks I looked at and drove. 3 months down the road I am as pleased today with the truck as the day I bought it, and with the dealership that sold it to me. I highly recommend the Colorado, and to those of you near Troy, Ohio; Joe Johnson Chevrolet. (I have the 4WD Z71 Extended Cab LS package in Superior Blue, its a beauty!)
Great truck
I've waited all year to buy this truck. Well worth the wait, it's a lot of fun to drive. Plenty of power and the best look on the road of any truck in it's class.
Nothing better Quality Control won't fix
A really nice vehicle for the price. It drives well, rides well, and the strong 5 cyl engine gives a steady 23 mpg mixed use. Wish it had come with XM radio, but those were hard to find. I immediately flushed out the cheap tires for Michelins. There were too many warranty trips to fix dumb things, but the warranty service was excellent and no hassle.
Best truck for the money
Plenty of power, smooth transmission. Great looks. Perfect fit and finish. Very large bed, plenty of leg room. Haven't had a single problem. Drives much smoother than the Tacoma and Frontier. Feels and handles great. The Z71 package adds more than just looks. The anti-slip rear drive with override works perfect as sliding out in wet conditions is prevented. Perfect alternative to the full size gas guzzlers.
Living with a 2005 Colorado
This truck runs good except it seems to always be looking for the right gear. If you run it hard, it runs good. The truck is comfortable for 2 adults. It has great style and looks. The paint and fit of fenders & doors is very good. The only problem I've had so far is wind noise on pass side doors, and the radio sounds like the speakers are blown. It goes back to the garage this week because of these 2 problems. All in all it's a pretty cool truck.
New Colorado
I just recently purchased the colorado and so far i have been pleased. I have the new inline 5 cylider which does have the power of the V6 well almost and good gas mileage. I would recomend this to any buyers in the market for a good mid sized truck
Hoping For More
I talked myself into buying this Chevy because I didn't want to pay an extra 4K for the Tacoma. I tried to look past the Consumer Report ratings, but they are pretty much dead on. The gas mileage is not bad, but not great either for a 5 cyl. I average 18.5 MPG in the summer with a mix of hilly and flat driving. Winter (with warming the car up) it averages 15.5 MPG. Towing a small trailer isn't too bad, except going up hills. Handling is good. Extended cab access is good. I like the size of the truck. Interior is cheap, seats are cheap. I've had it to the dealer 3 or 4 times in less than a year, luckily the warranty covered it all. Bed feels like it's made of tin. Won't buy again.
Great truck
When the Colorado came out, I had a ZR2 S10 I thought I would never part with. After driving and looking the Colorado over I bought one. Good gas mileage, smooth ride, and when you want to get up and go, it takes off smooth and fast. I am impressed with it. No trouble with it. I have had it 6 months got the Z-71 4x4 try one out.
Outstanding
Recently purchased this vehicle after much research and I am highly impressed with this machine. External looks are impressive. Inside design suits my taste to a T. Sound system is excellent. Could not be happier with the combination of power and fuel economy of the 5 cylinder engine and 4 speed automatic. Price was also right.
Great truck
I like it that its big enough to haul something, yet small. I owned an S-10, and this is by far more comfortable and more room. It looks great and sporty if I say so myself. People stop me at red lights and comment on the color "Sunburst ORANGE", even the older people. I love this truck.
Good truck for price.
I bought the truck in June of this year. So far it has been OK. Handling is great and fuel mileage is also great. Overall this is a great truck.
(Sink) Like a Rock
For the first 1,500 miles, it was a great truck. Then the sporatic rough idling started. The dealer says that it is a computer glitch. "Bring it back in three weeks, we might have a fix for it by then", says the dealer; "Chevrolet will certainly have the glitch worked out within the next three months". In the mean time, the problem continues. The mechanic told me that "lots of Colorados have this problem". GM unleashes another untested design on the buying public. Remember the 1977 Oldsmobile diesel fiasco? I do!! This is my last GM product.
good truck
For being a 4 cylinder it has good power and great fuel efficency. I have the automatic and I get 20.8 in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The transmission is smooth.
GMC Canyon
Excellent vehicle. Terrific performance
Nice tight package - bum interior
I'm moving toward 3 months and 3,000 miles and as you might expect there are both positives and negatives. The truck is indeed very smooth and provides a certain amount of confidence on unpredictable winter road surfaces. Road imperfections from ice and snow are absorbed with aplomb. More importantly the brakes are excellent so far. Since GM's track record with brakes is not good I'll try not to worry too much about what to expect. Engine performance is outstanding and the transmission is unparalleled. With excellent acceleration, shifting, and braking its fun and effortless to drive. Note that I have the 5 cylinder with automatic. The interior is the major negative
New Chevy driver
The little truck turned out to be a lot more fun to drive than I thought. The engine is a little noisy when on the gas. I really don't like the not having a key lock on the driver's side.The gas mileage is great. I average 25mpg. I looked at Nissan and Toyota, and both were too pricey for what I needed in a pickup. I drove the Nissan and Toyota and neither truck had the power that the Chevy had.
Americal built
I have driven this truck in summer, fall and winter it has been reliable, safe, and very useful. I have had NO trouble with it at all. The fit and finish are comparable with the Toyota and Nissan that I test drove. It is quiter than the Ford and more economical than the Dodge.
Fun in Florida
I've had the truck for about 6 months now and it is awesome! The 3.5L is worth the money... if you like performance and fuel economy, that is. My city and 80mph highway driving continually averages better than 20mpg. This is good for me because I have a lead foot. The A/C is cold, and cools quickly (and I live in Miami). It looks very, very much like a Honda inside, and classy with silver accents, which is to say 'better than a Honda.' Maybe I'm easily pleased - go to a dealer and see for yourself. I'm trying to think of something bad to say about it.... (nothing yet).
Very pleasant surprise
I was tired of my older Nissan P/U, no power, no interior space and so on. I was going to buy a new Ford F-150, but after seeing a Colorado on the freeway I decided to go look at one. I was starting to get hooked on the looks of the Z71, then drove it and wow, the power of that small engine. Everything about it suited me perfect. Its been 9 months now and I'm happier than ever about buying it!
'05 Colorado Z71
I purchased the '05 Colorado after having four S-10's over the past 8 years. I was looking for more room, comfort and economy. I have found all of this and more. I was skeptical of the L-5, but that engine has all the guts of my other trucks and then some, the transmission is great. The truck has proven to be reliable and gets much better mileage than the S-10's, with just a little tweaking, air intake, chip and suspension upgrades. The 4 wheel drive has proven to be good quality system, i believe an upgrade from the S-10, whether in snow, ice or off road, construction site. The payload needs a bit of help, suspension wise. All in all I am satisfied with my puchase.
Room for improvement
With the exception of the AC its been bulletproof mechanically. Got to say GM scrimped on the sheet metal an quality plastic though. Gas mileage isn't bad, but its still worse than the heavier older model 4Runner that it replaced. The engine has plenty of power for this size of truck. Size is very similar to the 67-72 Chevys of the past. I'll keep this one a while, but I'd have to seriously think before buying another Colorado.
'05 Z71 4x4
Great looking truck. Good pulling power. Haven't had the chance to try out the 4 wheel drive.
Working Out
Like many others, I had looked seriously at the Tacomas, but for what you get the price difference is too great. For $28,000 you don't get leather, power seats, etc. I've go 26,000 miles on my Coly now and haven't had a problem yet. I've upped the tires to BFG AT's 32's, leveled the front, added a Magnaflow exhaust, K&N cold intake and it really goes. Sounds much closer to the rugged looks of the Z71. Even with the bigger tires, the mileage still hits within range the estimates. Yes, the PCM was calibrated for the tires. It's fun, quick enough and the leather seats are anything but uncomfortable.
Colorado Rocks
The 4WD system works great! I have had the Colorado on the beach many times. The front seat is roomy and it drives great. I am surprised at the power of the I-5 engine.
Nothing works like/on my Chevy truck
Chevy quality has gone downhill considerably since I purchased my 1994 Silverado. My 5 cyl. Colorado has had numerous issues: 2 CD players, 1 belt tensioner, 1 brake light switch, 1 brake light, and good luck finding an air filter at the local auto parts store (I bought a K&N instead). 5 cyl. engine requires 6 quarts of oil per oil change (my 5.7 only took 5). The 5 cyl. gets only 3 more mpg than my 8 cyl. did. Glove box can hold gloves, but thats about it. Armrest only latches with considerable pressure. The rear bumper folded up after a 5 mph "love tap" at a stop light (and cost $500 to replace). Front end required realignment after 15k miles.
Almost perfect mid-size truck
The Colorado has great pulling power as I am a landscaper and have no trouble consistently towing 3000+ pds.The gas mileage for city driving while pulling my trailer is a consistent 14 mpg.17 mpg if not towing in city.24 mpg in highway driving. I have the inline 5 cylinder engine, and it provides better acceleration than my 4-wheel drive,351cu.-in. full size truck! That truck gets 8mpg pulling trlr in city compared to my colorados 14mpg. The gas savings alone are paying for the chevy...The only drawback to this model is the seats are really not very comfortable, and the passing gear relly jerks your head rearward if you stomp on the gas to get around someone.My favorite part of truck is looks!
Colorado proves to be a surprising ride!
At the time that I was shopping for a light duty truck I was impressed enough with the Chevy Colorado to take a chance at first glance. Sure there was a lot of history with US trucks in as much as how reliable they were compared to their Japanese competitors. For once, I'm happy to report that I was right (thank goodness!) in my initial assessment of this impressive vehicle. After 63,000 miles my truck still rides fine, has been hassle free and has made me a believer. It's been just what I'd hoped it'd be and a bit more. A no-nonsense, get me there-and-back, reliable truck. It's not as fancy as most the others but I have to say I'm really happy with my purchase.
A true American shops at home!
I have driven the 05 Colorado 5cyl.w/auto & 3.43 gears for 2.5 yrs now w/no problems. I've personalized some w/16x8 American racing wheels that had counterbored to fit 2,5yrs now. Added SS fender trim to existing flares. SS bedrails and caps sprayed bedliner and many more mods. As to performance I've hauled 5000 lbs manlifts with this truck while loaded w/over 1200lbs of tools in the bed & cab. the tools have in the cab for allthis time and I still avg.19-21mpg. I add I'm not a litefoot driver. I would seriously consider in the future replacing this truck with another Colorado. Over the long run this one thing the X-perts are not the best source of info. you should speak to the horse's mouth.
2005 Chevy Colorado Z71 Ext. Cab
Driving the vehicle on a day to day basis the gas mileage averages around 18 mpg. Lacking power in some conditions and interior is cheap. The vehicle has some excess noise as well inside. Overall though the vehicle is better than the majority of the competetion. I am 35 years old and this is my 48th vehicle. I have had Porsche's, Merc's, and all sorts of SUVs, trucks. This one is just fine and the competion is lacking in space, comfort, and overall fit and finish, especially on their exteriors.
2005 Colorado
This vehicle's performance is much less than I expected. Gas mileage is nothing to brag about. The four wheel drive buttons are poorly designed in there location. The engine noise is terrible. And because of being unable to keep the front end lined-up, your tires only last around 15,000 miles. I will never again purchase a small Chevy pickup.
Great reliable truck
I have this exact truck, it's the second one I've had. These are great trucks if treated right and properly maintained. Not the best for towing but they're great for long work commutes and using as a work truck.
We're gonna' see what happens
Bought this used 2005 Base Model 2WD EXT Cab (Superior Blue Metallic) with 137k on it over in Sandusky Ohio for ONLY $4000 in 2023 (try to find THAT bargain, again!!!), and aside from very minor underbody rust and a couple dings in the tailgate, no body issues. Clean, straight I-5 Vortec 3500 engine (NOT the I-4 that this forum's options have listed) has all the "pickup" we need for a camp truck and daily driver. Had to replace a couple bearings and front brake rotors to pass PA inspection, but that's to be expected on a truck this age with that mileage. Timing belt seems strong still, but gonna' change it out within the year, as well as upgrade the shocks, and struts, which appear to be a bit lacking around western PA pothole-chocked roads. found the toolbox base for the rear seats in a u-pick-it junkyard for $5, so there's interior storage now, even though trying to fit the back seats in one your own is quite the challenge, matching up the holes. Motor seems strong and mpg is ranging between 18-24, again, not bad for the age and mileage on the truck. Hoping to milk around 250-300k from it, but the jury is out for now on that. All in all, a well-worthy purchase, especially for the price paid. Cons would be the spartan base interior with vinyl floors, cheap plastic fascia and easily stained porous interior door paneling covers. Some of the lighting, when replaced with LED, would NOT function out of the box. Also, the added DC outlets are "always on" and tend to drain the battery easy, overnight, if you screw up and leave anything plugged in at all.... but electrical issues in Chevy are synonymous with the brand, anyway. A/C and heating "face" vents seems to provide very weak air flow, but floor and defrost vents are fine. Also not a fan of the fact you cannot unlock the passenger door except from the inside. So much for being a gentleman and opening her door first, eh? And the seating seems to be weak in back support, especially over longer hauls. Pros would be the peppy but still reserved engine power, the manual window cranks (which I prefer over electronic), Good vision at night with upgraded LED headlighting, good braking even with full load in tailgate, good traction even in rain, cheaper to repair as parts are plentiful for these GM models. Overall, I cannot recommend this truck at this price point enough.... best $4000 I ever spent!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Colorado Boondoggle
Good truck other than the tires went flat a couple a times since I owned it. Once a nail and once a screw. Whats with that. Another problem is the windshield washer seems to run out every 2-3 months or so ??????Dont see a crack or leak. Also every week or sometimes sooner I have to stop at the gas station and fill tank. I just dont know??????