The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is one of the best work trucks available on the used market today. It’s stiff, uncomfortable, cramped, and CD players and power windows cost extra. But, if you want to tow 4,000 pounds and haul a load of gravel, the Colorado can get the job done cheap.
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – Excellent for what it is: A bare bones work truck. If you want comfort and convenience, look elsewhere.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 6/10 – All six of these points are for the capable bed options, which can easily go toe-to-toe with any full-size pickup. The cabin feels like you’re riding around in a cardboard box.
- Reliability 8/10 – Expect to make lots of little repairs for melted wires and worn switches, but the engine and powertrain will go the distance.
- Safety 6/10 – Safety features are outdated, and they weren’t that impressive in 2005. But, anti-lock brakes come standard, and that wasn’t always a given back in 2005.
- Gas Mileage 8/10 – Your MPG will depend on your options, but every configuration of this truck gets a few more miles to the gallon than you expect it to.
- Value 8/10 – If you know what you’re looking for, if you’re not expecting the Colorado to be anything it’s not, it’s one of the best deals you’re going to find on a work truck.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
Consumer Reports praised the 2005 Colorado’s sound handling, but that’s about the extent of their positive remarks on the pickup. They didn’t like the truck’s “unrefined” five-cylinder engine, they found the ride rough, the seating uncomfortable, and the overall interior quality cheap.
Kelley Blue Book users give the 2005 Colorado a solid 85% recommendation. While confessing that the truck is uncomfortable and less powerful than larger pickups, drivers report that the truck will easily last for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper care.
Edmunds liked the Colorado’s fuel-efficient engines, versatile size, and the inclusion of anti-lock brakes as a standard feature. They were less impressed by the lack of V6 and V8 engines, the subpar build quality, and the wimpy torque.
What Common Problems Does the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Have?
Most of the little repairs you’ll be making on the 2005 Colorado will likely be electrical. Drivers have reported failing tail lights, melted wiring, and anti-theft systems kicking in and locking the ignition up. Electrical issues make up 69 of the vehicle’s 353 total National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints.
A number of braking issues have been reported with the most worrying being brake failure at low speeds. A driver reports in 2012 that their anti-lock brakes kicked in, preventing them from bringing the vehicle to a stop on warm, dry pavement. The good news is that this was the final complaint on the matter.
Engine and powertrain complaints are uncommon below 200,000 miles, but a 2021 complaint reports hesitation when pressing the accelerator pedal at 169,000 miles.
The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado has just 3 recalls on file with the NHTSA. Most of the repairs you’ll be making on a Colorado in the first few years of ownership will be pretty minor. Expect lights and speakers and switches to fail, but the powertrain is built to last.
How Long Will the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Last?
Chevrolet Colorado drivers typically report lifetime mileages ranging from 200,000 to 300,000. With proper maintenance you should expect a used Colorado to get somewhere in the 250,000 mile range.
RepairPal report a typical annual maintenance cost of around $599, with the most expensive common repairs being new fuel injectors starting at around $734, and variable valve timing actuator replacements at $831.
Yes it is a very reliable vehicle. It has a good motor and battery strength. The breaks are great for stopping quick if needed. There are no current problems with the vehicle.
Probably the most reliable I've owned. Outside of some overdue maintenance on my used one I've had no trouble.
I have kept up with the routine maintenance and have had few problems through the years. It has never left me stranded.
Yes it has a few problems and issues like the gas valve sticking and shutting the truck down. Put 500 into it but still having the same issue.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology in the 2005 Colorado is pretty basic, but decent for the model year. AM/FM comes standard, and higher trim levels feature an MP3 player, which might not be that impressive now, but it wasn’t always a given back in 2005.
Safety technology is, likewise, decent for 2005, if a bit basic. Anti-lock brakes come standard, and traction control is available as an option.
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado a Good Value?
The 2005 Chevy Colorado is a very good value. A high-end LS with a regular cab typically lists at just $4,948. Kelley Blue Book numbers show pretty much every model and variant listing within a hundred dollars of this price, so you can go ahead and look for the Colorado of your dreams without worrying about the sticker price.
There are more fuel-efficient vehicles out there, but most of them don’t have a pickup bed in the back. The truck is relatively low-maintenance compared to other pickups, so cost of ownership is below average. In short, this is one of the best deals you’re going to find on a work truck.
What are the Different Models of the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is available in two basic trims, the Base and the LS, with a handful of packages you can add to the deal.
The Base Colorado features:
- Cloth seating
- AM/FM stereo
- Manual windows and door locks
- Manual air conditioning
With a high-end LS you’re adding:
- CD and MP3 player
- Premium cloth seating
The Comfort Convenience Package adds:
- Tilt-wheel
- Cruise control
With the Power Convenience package you also get power door locks and windows.
The off-road Z71 package features:
- Off-road suspension package
- Front underbody shield
What Engines Come In the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
- The base engine found in the 2005 Colorado is a 2.8L inline-four delivering 175 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque. You should average 18/24 miles to the gallon with the i4, city/highway, depending on your bed and cab options.
- With the 3.5L inline-five engine you’re getting 220 horsepower and 225 lb.-ft. of torque. The i5 averages 16/22 miles to the gallon. Both engines are paired to a 4-speed automatic in rear or four wheel drive, depending on your options, with maximum towing capacity peaking at 4,000 pounds.
What Colors Does the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is not very comfortable. It rides a bit rugged, which is a nice way of saying rickety, with jittery suspension that has you feeling every bump in the road. The seats are stiff and cramped and interior trim options are limited.
There’s no sugarcoating it, the Colorado is built for short rides to the lumber yard or the feed store. The bigger cabs max out at around 52 inches of hip room, which isn’t bad, but combined with short leg room your passengers won’t have much room to stretch out.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Have?
The Colorado is available with a 61′ Short bed or a 73′ Long bed. Whichever you go with, it’s 57′ wide inside, and 18.5′ deep. This is comparable to the Silverado and other full-size trucks. The Colorado is smaller in the cabin and under the hood, but it can pack anything an F-150 can pack.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado was the second model year in the truck’s 1st Generation, running from 2004 to 2012.
2004: Chevy launched the Colorado with a pair of engines, a 2.8L i4 and a 3.5L i5, and Regular and Extended cab options.
2005: Isuzu debuted the i-Series in North America, being just a rebranded Colorado, which, alongside the GMC Canyon, brought the total up to three identical trucks with different names.
2006: No big changes for 2006, but Chevy reconfigured some of the trims and packages.
2007: 2007 was a facelift year for the Colorado, and the year Chevy debuted the 2.9L i4 and 3.7L i5 engines for the truck.
How Does the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Compare to the Competition?
We can skip comparing the Colorado to the Canyon and the i-Series, since they’re all the same truck. If you’re trying to choose between those three, just buy whichever’s cheapest with the fewest miles.
As for real competition, the 2005 Ford Ranger doesn’t deliver quite as much power as the Colorado, ranging from 143 horsepower to 207, but it’s a bit more fuel efficient, a bit more comfortable, and a bit more expensive.
A 2005 Dodge Dakota ranges from 210 to 230 horsepower thanks to its V6 engine options, it features a more comfortable, spacious interior, and it lists in the same range as a Colorado at the entry level.
Any of these trucks would be a solid purchase, but the Colorado may be the best choice if you want a stripped down, low-maintenance work truck for putting in long hours on the job site, while the Dakota is the best all-arounder if you want something versatile and comfortable enough to function as a daily-driver.
Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
Yes it is a reliable vehicle. Low miles. Ok on gas. It is a 4 wheel drive to get you through snowy conditions.
Absolutely, I never worry that it won't start or that it won't make it. It's a little finicky about cold weather and gave me a few codes in the winter but outside that it's been great.
Yes. Mine has been very reliable, gets good gas mileage for a truck, and is comfortable to ride in.
Yes, overall but valve trouble. Want to trade soon. Need a four door vehicle that is dependable and not shutting down all the time because of a valve sticking.
