Biding Its Time: 2021 Chevrolet Colorado to Gain the Smallest of Refreshes

Appearing midway through 2014 as a 2015 model, the Chevrolet Colorado and its GMC twin, the Canyon, are growing long in the tooth, which isn’t too big a concern in a segment that hosts the Nissan Frontier. However, consumers like alterations that show their truck is newer than other trucks.

As such, there’s a 2021 model-year refresh on the way for General Motors’ midsize pair. Just don’t expect wild changes.

We can’t show you what a stock 2021 Colorado looks like, as it’s still under wraps ahead of an Oct. 10 debut at the 2019 Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic. The off-road ZR2 variant, on the other hand, is here for your viewing pleasure.

GM apparently wants to better differentiate Colorado trims, so it went to town on the model’s front fascia. This is where the only real major change lies.

As you can see here, the ZR2’s grille ditches the bowtie logo and instead spells out the brand name — just like you’d find on Ford’s F-150 Raptor or Ram’s Rebel. Out back, you’ll find an embossed CHEVROLET tailgate, which is a feature coming to all Colorados. For lesser trims, the bowtie remains up front (gold on the WT and LT, blacked-out on the Z71).

Colorados without cutaway front fenders will see similar alterations up front: revised center bars and lower bumper cover, plus rejiggered skid plates. Oh, and there’s red tow hooks for the off-roader. Plus a V8.

Nah, just kidding.

Being that this is a minor late-cycle refresh (a replacement is expected in 2023), powertrains are expected to stay the same. That means a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 3.6-liter V6, and optional 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder diesel, coupled to either a six- or eight-speed automatic transmission.

With midsize truck buyers now able to choose an entry from Ford, Chevy faces greater competition than in past years. Advancing age and a new rival isn’t a great recipe for sales growth, and indeed the Colorado’s U.S. volume took a hit this year. Through September, Colorado sales are down 7.6 percent.

Still, it’s worth noting that last year was the nameplate’s best sales year to date.

[Images: General Motors]