How Do the Chevy Colorado and Silverado 1500 Compare?

When you hear about the Chevy Colorado and Chevy Silverado 1500, you’re oftentimes comparing them to their respective competition from other brands in the midsize and full-size segments. But have you ever thought about how they compare to one another and whether you should buy one or the other based on your trucking preferences? If you’re shopping for a 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 for sale or looking to shop for a 2024 Chevy Colorado, you might be interested in discovering the differences between the two and how one compares to the other in the overall truck segment. We’ll do a quick breakdown so you can figure out which Chevy truck might be more in line with what you’re shopping for out of a pickup truck.

Dimensions, Cab Sizes, and Bed Differences

The most obvious difference between the Colorado and Silverado 1500, when comparing them, is the sizes. It’s all in the name: one is midsize, and the other is full-size. But you might be interested in how this breaks down in terms of dimensions and weight ratings. The 2024 Chevy Colorado has a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 6,250 lbs. The 2024 Silverado 1500 has a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 7,300 lbs, depending on equipment and trim.

The wheelbases also diverge between the two in a significant way as well, which determines the cargo volume for both trucks. For instance, the Silverado 1500 rides on between a 126.5-inch wheelbase for the regular cab standard bed and a 157-inch wheelbase for the crew cab standard bed. The Colorado, however, is only available as a crew cab and has a fixed wheelbase of 131.4 inches. This also affects the bed sizes. The Colorado is only available with a short 5.2-foot bed that offers up to 41.9 cu.ft. of cargo volume, whereas the Silverado 1500 is available with three different bed sizes in the form of a short 5.8-foot bed with 62.9 cu.ft. of cargo volume, a standard 6.6-foot bed with 71.1 cu.ft. of cargo volume, and a long 8.2-foot bed with 89.1 cu.ft. of cargo volume.

Trim Lineup Differences

The 2024 Silverado 1500 and 2024 Colorado have similar yet very distinct offerings when it comes to the trim options. The Colorado is available in five different trims, including the WT, LT, Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2. You can also get the ZR2 in a special ZR2 Bison Edition, featuring upgrades and equipment from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). Each trim is basically designed for a certain segment of shoppers, but the 2024 Colorado definitely has a strong focus on off-road and enthusiast trucking for those shopping for a midsize pickup.

The 2024 Silverado 1500 offers a much more diverse lineup of trims that span from entry-level options all the way up to performance, luxury, and off-road options. There are a total of nine different trims available for the Silverado 1500, starting with the entry-level WT, which is followed by the Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, LT Trail Boss, RST, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2. Much like the Colorado, the Silverado 1500 is also available with a special edition of the ZR2 in the form of the ZR2 Bison Edition, featuring AEV equipment and badging.

While both trucks offer different trims, the Colorado is definitely more enthusiast-focused, whereas you have more distinct trims for different segments with the Silverado 1500. The Custom and Custom Trailboss are for entry-level convenience and entry-level off-roading, while the RST is themed around sporty performance. Then you have the LTZ, which provides mid-grade luxury, and the High Country offers a higher grade of luxury. So, the trims are themed around what you’re looking for out of a pickup in terms of features and style.

Performance Differences

The 2024 Colorado is available with two different powertrains, including a standard 2.7-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder that makes 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and a 2.7-liter TurboMax turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the Silverado 1500 has four different powertrain configurations available. While the Silverado 1500 shares the 2.7-liter TurboMax with the Colorado, which provides the same performance specs in both trucks, it also has three other powertrain options.

The other options come in the form of a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 that delivers 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 that makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six that provides 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. The TurboMax for the Silverado 1500 is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the other three powertrain options are paired up with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While both the Colorado and Silverado 1500 are available in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, you do have more powertrain options available with the Silverado 1500.

Towing, Payload, and Utility Differences

The towing capacity, payload, and utility differences between the Chevy Colorado and Silverado 1500 are quite stark. You have a max towing capacity of 7,700 lbs with the Colorado, which is quite high for the midsize segment. You also have a max payload capacity of 1,684 lbs. The Silverado 1500, however, has a max towing capacity of 13,300 lbs, which it can achieve with either the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 or the 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel. The Silverado 1500 is also capable of achieving a max payload of 2,260 lbs. Another highlight is that the Silverado 1500 comes with the Multi-Flex Tailgate, which provides six different optional functions for the tailgate for added utility.

Tech and Touchscreen Differences

Tech-wise, the 2024 model year outings for the Colorado and Silverado 1500 are quite similar. You have the same Chevrolet Infotainment System powering both trucks, with Google Built-In capabilities, Alexa voice commands, and wireless phone projection via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both vehicles also come with Wi-Fi support, Bose audio options, and various comfort and convenience features. The differences are slight but notable.

The Colorado’s driver information display tops out at 11 inches, whereas the Silverado 1500’s digital driver display tops out at 12.3 inches. Both have an HD infotainment touchscreen, with the Colorado’s being 11.3 inches and the Silverado 1500’s topping out at 13.4 inches. However, the Silverado 1500’s touchscreen is only seven inches on the entry-level trims, whereas the Colorado’s touchscreen is uniform across the entire trim lineup. You also have eight-way power seats in the Colorado and up to 10-way power seats in the Silverado 1500.

Another big tech difference is that select Silverado 1500 trims are available with the semi-autonomous, hands-free driving system known as Super Cruise. This feature has been made available on more recent models within the current generation of Silverado trucks. Sadly, this feature is not available for the 2024 model year of the Chevy Colorado, which is something to consider if you want that tech feature available in your pickup truck.

Need Help Shopping for a Chevy Pickup Truck?

Keep in mind that while it might look like the Silverado 1500 does everything the Colorado does but better, you need to consider the price. The Silverado 1500 starts at a much higher MSRP compared to the Colorado. It’s also important to note that even the highest Colorado trim, the ZR2, is a fraction of the price of the Silverado 1500’s ZR2 trim, so if price is a big deciding factor for you, then that’s something to consider if you’re shopping for a Colorado or Silverado 1500 for sale. You can definitely get a lot more with the Silverado 1500, though, so if you want a bigger, more capable, and more customizable pickup, the higher price could be worth it. If you need help shopping for the right truck, contact us at The Faricy Boys Automotive. We can answer any questions you might have about the differences and benefits of shopping for either a 2024 Colorado or a 2024 Silverado 1500.