2026 Chevrolet Colorado: What's New, Trims & Specs
The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado adds a new White Sands exterior color to a lineup already packing 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. That high-output engine is a significant step up from the base 237 hp tune available on WT and LT trims. This page covers every trim, spec, and change so you can shop current Colorado inventory with confidence.
What's New for 2026
The headline addition for the 2026 Colorado is the White Sands exterior color, giving buyers a fresh neutral option alongside Summit White, Black, Sterling Gray Metallic, Reef Blue Metallic, and Radiant Red Tintcoat. That brings the palette to six colors total.
The rest of the 2026 Colorado carries forward the generation's strongest traits without dilution: the 2.7L TurboMax four-cylinder in its high-output tune, the segment-first underbody camera system, and a full suite of standard active safety technology. For shoppers in Tulsa who were waiting on a lighter, more versatile exterior finish, White Sands is the reason to act this model year.
Trim Lineup
The 2026 Colorado spans eight configurations from a work-ready base to a purpose-built off-road machine.
Work Truck (WT)
Work Truck (WT) starts the lineup in 2WD form. It rides on 17-inch steel wheels with P255/65R17 all-season tires and runs the standard 2.7L Turbo producing 237 hp. 4WD is optional on the WT.
Custom
Custom steps up from WT with 18-inch High Gloss Black aluminum wheels with all-season tires, Black badges, and the same 2.7L TurboMax engine producing 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. It adds style-focused upgrades. 4WD is available.
LT
LT steps up to 17-inch Argent Metallic aluminum wheels and adds comfort and connectivity refinements over the WT, including an EZ Lift and Lower tailgate with built-in StowFlex storage and remote start with Keyless Open and Start. The standard engine is the 237 hp 2.7L Turbo, with 4WD available.
Trail Boss
Trail Boss is the first trim where 4WD is standard. It adds 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in P265/65R18 all-terrain tires, a G80 limited-slip rear differential, hill descent control, and 9.5 inches of ground clearance. Approach angle improves to 30.5 degrees. Trail Boss is also the only trim available with the Stars and Steel Special Edition, which adds American-flag-inspired stripes, a Midnight Package with Sport Bar and Light Bar, 20-inch High Gloss Black wheels, and red recovery hooks in Summit White or Black.
Z71
Z71 builds on Trail Boss capability with the same 18-inch all-terrain setup, a 29.1-degree approach angle, and 8.9 inches of ground clearance. It layers in Jet Black interior with Adrenaline Red accents, LED headlamps, taillamps, and fog lamps, plus additional Z71-badged appearance and off-road tuning.
ZR2
ZR2 is the Colorado's most capable production configuration. It runs the high-output 310 hp / 430 lb-ft engine as standard, rides on 17-inch aluminum wheels with P285/70R17 mud/terrain tires, and uses Multimatic DSSV dampers front and rear. Ground clearance reaches 10.7 inches, approach angle hits 38.3 degrees, and it gets power-locking front and rear differentials. Max trailering on the ZR2 is 6,000 lbs.
Performance & Powertrain
Every 2026 Colorado uses the 2.7L TurboMax I-4, but output depends on trim. The standard tune on WT and LT produces 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque, with a max towing rating of 3,500 lbs in that configuration. The high-output tune, standard on ZR2 and available on upper trims, produces 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm, lifting max towing to 7,700 lbs on properly equipped Trail Boss and Z71 models.
Both versions route through the Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic with a 4.56:1 first gear ratio. EPA-estimated fuel economy comes in at 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined.
EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado ›
The rear axle uses an open differential on WT and LT, a G80 limited-slip unit on Trail Boss and Z71, and power-locking front and rear differentials on ZR2 and ZR2 Bison. Front suspension is independent coil-over-shock on all trims, with ZR2 and ZR2 Bison getting the Multimatic DSSV upgrade. The fuel tank holds 21.3 gallons.
Interior, Comfort & Cargo
The Colorado seats five with 45.2 inches of front legroom and 34.7 inches in the rear. Front headroom measures 40.3 inches, rear headroom 38.3 inches. Shoulder room reaches 57.4 inches up front.
The bed measures 5 feet and is paired with a standard payload of up to 1,684 lbs on WT and LT trims. Trail Boss and Z71 are rated at 1,587 lbs, and ZR2 carries 1,151 lbs due to the additional chassis equipment.
Curb weight ranges from 4,716 lbs on the base WT and LT to 5,298 lbs on the ZR2. An available 120-volt power outlet in the bed turns the Colorado into a mobile workstation or campsite power source.
Technology & Infotainment
The 2026 Colorado centers its cabin around an 11.3-inch diagonal touchscreen paired with an 11-inch digital Driver Information Center. Google built-in compatibility is included, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, so no cables are needed for either platform.
OnStar connectivity is available with 8 years of OnStar Basics included. The Colorado also offers up to five selectable drive modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, Terrain, and Baja. ZR2 and off-road trims use those modes to optimize throttle response, transmission behavior, and stability control thresholds for the surface at hand.
The segment-first underbody camera system is one of the standout available tech features. Forward- and rear-facing cameras mounted beneath the truck let the driver see obstacles hidden under the bumper or beneath the frame, a genuine advantage on rocky trails around eastern Oklahoma.
Safety & Driver Assistance
Every 2026 Colorado comes standard with a set of active safety tools.
Standard safety across all trims includes:
- Forward collision alert with pedestrian and bicyclist detection
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Lane departure steering assist
- Lane-keeping assist
- Blind spot intervention
- Rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking
- Rear parking sensors
- High-beam assist
Blind spot intervention is an active system that applies corrective steering or braking input, not just a warning light. Rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking goes a step beyond the passive version by intervening when the system detects a moving object during a backup maneuver.
Hill descent control is standard on Trail Boss and Z71, adding consistent low-speed control on steep descents without requiring constant brake pressure.
Who It's For vs. the Prior Year
The 2026 Colorado is the right truck for buyers who want full-size towing capability, 7,700 lbs maximum, in a mid-size package that fits tighter parking and gets 24 mpg on the highway. The White Sands color addition gives budget-conscious buyers in Tulsa a distinctive finish that was not available in prior model years.
Shoppers coming from a 2024 or 2025 Colorado will find the powertrain, chassis, and tech package unchanged, which is a positive. Chevrolet did not strip features or introduce cost-cut substitutions for this model year. The 2026 simply extends a well-sorted platform with a new color option.
Buyers cross-shopping against the 2025 Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger should note that the Colorado's 430 lb-ft of torque from a four-cylinder engine and its standard 11.3-inch touchscreen remain competitive benchmarks in the segment.
Find Your 2026 Colorado at Jim Norton T-Town Chevrolet in Tulsa
The 2026 Colorado lineup covers every use case from a daily work truck to a ZR2 Bison built for the most technical terrain. Jim Norton T-Town Chevrolet in Tulsa carries current Colorado inventory across trims, and the team can walk you through which axle ratio, drive mode package, and color combination fits your priorities. White Sands stock will move, so checking available units now is the practical next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 Colorado adds White Sands as a new exterior color option. The powertrain, chassis, technology package, and safety suite carry over unchanged from the 2025 model year.
The 2026 Colorado offers two output levels from its 2.7L TurboMax I-4. The standard tune produces 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. The high-output tune produces 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque and is standard on ZR2 and ZR2 Bison.
Maximum towing on a properly equipped 2026 Colorado is 7,700 lbs on WT, LT, Custom, Trail Boss, and Z71 trims. The ZR2 is rated at 6,000 lbs due to its off-road chassis configuration.
Yes. Both wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard on the 2026 Colorado, displayed through the 11.3-inch center touchscreen.
The 2026 Colorado offers up to five selectable drive modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, Terrain, and Baja. Availability depends on trim level.
The ZR2 has 10.7 inches of ground clearance and the ZR2 Bison reaches 12.2 inches, the highest in the Colorado lineup. The Trail Boss reaches 9.5 inches, and the Z71 offers 8.9 inches.
The six available exterior colors are Summit White, Black, Sterling Gray Metallic, White Sands (new for 2026), Reef Blue Metallic, and Radiant Red Tintcoat.
Yes. 4WD is optional on the Work Truck, Custom, and LT trims and standard on Trail Boss, Z71, ZR2, and ZR2 Bison.
The ZR2 Bison is the most off-road capable Colorado, built with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). It adds 35-inch OD mud-terrain tires, five Boron steel skid plates, 12.2 inches of ground clearance, and front and rear jounce control dampers over the standard ZR2.
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