2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss: A Comprehensive Review

The Trail Boss Chevy Colorado offers a rugged design, capable off-roading features, and a level of comfort inside that’s hard to come by. Paired with special Trail Boss goodies that upgrade this truck from less expensive submodels, you have a recipe for an excellent truck for daily use and off-road fun.

Now, the Trail Boss isn’t perfect. It’s pricey, and it’s only available with a short bed. But those are minor issues. The real question is, what does the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss bring to the table for your driving needs?

This detailed review explores this truck top to bottom, inside and out. We’ll discuss everything from the infotainment system to the engine performance to fuel economy – and much more! The photos in this article were provided by Chevy, specifically, Hanner Chevrolet in Baird, Texas, so a big thanks to them for helping us out.

So, with that, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• Design and Exterior Features
• Interior Comfort and Technology
• Performance and Engine Specifications
• Trail Boss Off-Road Features
• Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
• Fuel Economy and Efficiency
• Pricing and Available Packages
• Competitors and Market Position
• Pros and Cons of the 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss
• Final Thoughts on the 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss

Design and Exterior Features

The 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss boasts rugged, eye-catching design elements that also make it ready for adventure. Its 18″ High Gloss Black aluminum wheels and 32″ all-terrain tires provide a bold stance, while the CornerStep rear bumper and wheel flares add practical off-road functionality. A 17″ spare wheel with an all-season blackwall tire ensures you’re prepared for the unexpected, too.

Smart lighting enhances visibility, with halogen headlamps featuring automatic on/off and IntelliBeam high beams that adjust to traffic conditions above 25 mph. The cab-mounted cargo area lamps, controlled via the infotainment system, light up the bed for nighttime tasks, which gives you added utility.

The sleek exterior includes black beltline moldings, deep-tinted glass, and solar-absorbing windshield to reduce glare and heat. Power-adjustable mirrors and black door handles complete the bold styling. Additionally, the remote locking tailgate adds convenience for securing cargo, making the Trail Boss as practical as it is stylish.

Interior Comfort and Technology

The Trail Boss blends comfort with cutting-edge technology, making every drive enjoyable. The 11.3″ diagonal advanced color LCD display with Google built in offers seamless control of entertainment, navigation, and vehicle settings, complete with wireless Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility.

Stay entertained with the 6-speaker audio system and a SiriusXM® 3-month Platinum Trial, providing ad-free music, sports, and exclusive content. The cabin also features front USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, and steering wheel-mounted controls for effortless access to tech features on the go.

Comfort meets practicality with front bucket seats and a manual-folding 60/40 split-bench rear seat, offering flexible cargo and passenger options. The 6-way manual driver seat and 4-way manual front passenger seat ensure personalized seating, while rear air vents keep everyone comfortable.

Interior details include carpeted floor mats, a manual tilt steering column, and power windows with express-up/down functions. Security is enhanced by a theft-deterrent unauthorized entry system, and Remote Keyless Entry provides convenient access. In other words, the 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss prioritizes function without compromising style or comfort.

Performance and Engine Specifications

This truck is built for performance, to say the least. It’s powered by a TurboMax™ engine delivering an impressive 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. This power ensures quick acceleration and confident towing, making it a reliable partner for work or adventure.

Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Trail Boss offers smooth and efficient gear shifts. The Tow/Haul mode optimizes upshifts for added power and downshifts for controlled deceleration, which perfect for handling trailers or heavy loads.

Advanced braking features like Powertrain Grade Braking and Cruise Grade Braking enhance safety and reduce wear, too. These systems use engine and transmission dynamics to maintain steady speeds on downhill descents, ensuring confident handling on every drive.

Trail Boss Off-Road Features

Chevy certainly engineered the Chevy Trail Boss Colorado for off-road dominance. The truck has a 2-inch factory-installed lift and a 3-inch widened track, delivering greater ground clearance and improved approach and departure angles. A fully boxed high-strength steel frame ensures rugged durability, too.

The Autotrac® 2-speed transfer case with push-button controls adapts seamlessly to various terrain. Choose from 2WD, Auto, 4WD High, or 4WD Low to handle everything from highways to deep mud or snow. In Auto mode, it automatically engages 4WD when wheel slippage is detected.

The automatic locking rear differential adds confidence by synchronizing rear wheel speeds when traction is limited, while Hill Descent Control uses antilock braking to manage controlled descents without driver intervention. And with black recovery hooks and 4-wheel disc antilock brakes, the Trail Boss is prepared for tough situations. The Driver Mode Selector allows customization of performance to match road conditions, making it a versatile off-road machine.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Chevrolet designed the Colorado Trail Boss with a suite of advanced safety features to provide confidence and peace of mind on the road and trail…

Automatic Emergency Braking helps avoid or reduce the severity of collisions by using camera technology to apply hard braking or enhance your own braking efforts. It operates at speeds ranging from 5 mph to highway speeds. Similarly, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking provides alerts and braking assistance for potential collisions with pedestrians or bicyclists at speeds between 5 and 50 mph, enhancing urban and trail safety.

Another key feature of the Chevy Colorado 2024 Trail Boss is Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, which helps keep you centered by providing gentle steering adjustments and warnings if you unintentionally drift out of your lane. Meanwhile, the Forward Collision Alert warns of potential front-end collisions or tailgating risks, while the Following Distance Indicator provides real-time distance feedback to maintain safe spacing on the road.

For enhanced vehicle control, StabiliTrak® with traction control adjusts brakes and engine torque during emergency maneuvers, while Brake Assist boosts stopping power in sudden braking situations. On top of that, the Tire Fill Alert simplifies tire maintenance by providing audible and visual cues to ensure proper inflation. Other key safety features include the following:

• HD Rear Vision Camera
• Hitch View, which ensures precision when connecting a trailer.
• Six airbags, including frontal and seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the front seats and head-curtain airbags for front and rear outboard passengers.
• Halogen Daytime Running Lamps for improved visibility
• Hill Descent Control, which ensures safe descents on steep grades.

These key safety features make the Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss 2024 a truck that offers loads of peace of mind, whether you’re on a rocky trail, taking the kids to school, commuting to work, or something in between.

Fuel Economy and Efficiency

According to Edmunds, the Chevy Trail Boss Colorado gets 17 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, for a combined estimated fuel efficiency of 18 mpg. Edmunds also estimates that it costs about $213 per month for fuel for an owner who drives an average number of miles in this truck.

Pricing and Available Packages

The Chevy Colorado Trail Boss 2024 starts at $39,195. This is middle-of-the-road for Colorado models, with the WT starting at $34,695 and the ZR2 is priced at $48,695. The ZR2 Bison is the top-of-the-line option at roughly $60,000.

Competitors and Market Position

Photo courtesy of Toyota

If the Chevy Colorado isn’t quite your style, you might consider these options…

Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro

• Why it competes: The Toyota Tacoma has a strong reputation for reliability and off-road performance, especially in its TRD trims. The TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims offer features like a locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, and Crawl Control, making them ideal for off-road adventures.
• Key advantage: Proven durability and a vast aftermarket ecosystem for customization.

Ford Ranger Tremor

• Why it competes: The Ranger Tremor is Ford’s off-road-focused version of its mid-size truck, featuring off-road-tuned suspension, skid plates, a terrain management system, and trail control.
• Key advantage: A balance of off-road capability and advanced technology, such as Ford’s SYNC system.

Jeep Gladiator Mojave and Rubicon

Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler

• Why it competes: The Gladiator combines Jeep’s legendary off-road prowess with the functionality of a mid-size pickup. Both the Mojave (desert-rated) and Rubicon trims are highly capable, offering features like locking differentials, rock-crawling mode, and high ground clearance.
• Key advantage: Extreme off-road capability and removable doors and roof for an open-air experience.

Nissan Frontier PRO-4X

• Why it competes: The PRO-4X is the off-road-oriented version of the Nissan Frontier, offering features like Bilstein shocks, a locking rear differential, skid plates, and off-road tires.
• Key advantage: Solid off-road features at a competitive price.

Pros and Cons of the 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss

The good:

• Great styling (which cannot be said for the basic versions of this truck).
• Excellent suite of off-road features.
• Comfortable cabin with safety features galore.
• Good infotainment system.

The not-so-good:

• Some interior components look and feel plasticky.
• No power passenger seat option.

Final Thoughts on the 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss