2008 Chevrolet Colorado Review: Arguably the Best Small Truck Released in 2008

The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado is, like many small work trucks, uncomfortable, rigid, and lacking in creature comforts. But, it’s a capable work truck that can tow nearly three tons, and pricing starts at under $6,000.

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – Don’t expect the Colorado to be anything it’s not, and you’ll find it’s one of the best work trucks on the road today.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – All seven of these points are for the capable bed options. The interior is more of a cockpit than a cabin.
• Reliability 8/10 – The Tacoma will probably outlast the Colorado by a good 50,000 to 100,000 miles, but major repairs are few and far between.
• Safety 8/10 – Standard safety features are up to par, and crash test ratings are good.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – It’s more fuel efficient than a full-size, but it’s still a 2008 pickup, averaging just 15/20 miles to the gallon in the i5 model.
• Value 8/10 – The Colorado is priced to move at just under $6,000, and that’s a steal if you’re after a rugged work truck.

What Do Critics Say About the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado?

Consumer Reports liked the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado’s responsive handling. That was pretty much all they liked. They found the five-cylinder engine underpowered, the transmission shaky, the seats uncomfortable, and the interior trim cheap-feeling.

Kelley Blue Book were far kinder to the 2008 Chevy Colorado, praising the truck as a more efficient alternative to the gas-guzzling Silverado. They note that the inline-five engine is an odd choice, though, offering no real advantage over a conventional i4 or V6.

Edmunds liked the 2008 Colorado’s accessible price point, solid handling, both on and off road, and the good crash test scores. They add to the consensus that the i5 engine is a weird fit, lacking the power of its competitors, and some of the interior trim feels cheap.

What Common Problems Does the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado Have?

The 2008 Colorado has generated just 80 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly half of these are for electrical issues, with drivers reporting a handful of problems including ignition failure and battery drain.

14 airbag complaints point to airbag warning lights clicking on for no apparent reason. There have been no airbag recalls as yet.

The hydraulic brake system has led to a handful of complaints, with drivers reporting that the brakes may require a lot of extra force to bring the car to a stop at highway speeds.

There have been just 2 recalls in total for the 2008 Chevy Colorado, one for faulty brake lights and one for child safety system defects.

How Long Will the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado Last?

The Chevrolet Colorado can last well over 300,000 miles with excellent care, but a used model may start to show its age at just 200,000, depending on the condition you find it in. Be on the lookout for models that were used sparingly as work trucks, rather than run into the ground as daily drivers.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $487. The most expensive common repairs include new oil pumps, starting at $1,805, new rack and pinion systems, at $1,426, and axle shaft replacements at $1,120.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado is very basic, but you have your standard CD/MP3 player so you won’t be wanting for tunes. Just don’t expect an LCD touchscreen or a built-in DVD player or anything like that.

Safety features are good for a 2008 work truck. Anti-lock brakes are standard and you’ve got occupant-sensing airbags as standard features.

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado a Good Value?

The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado is a pretty good value. A Work Truck model with under 135,000 miles on the odometer typically lists for just $5,753, while a high-end LT model will go for around $6,030.

These prices are very fair if you know what you’re buying. This isn’t a daily driver, it’s not an SUV with a box in the back. It’s a simple, stripped down work truck, and, as a work truck, it gets the job done cheaper than most.

What are the Different Models of the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado?

The 2008 Colorado is available in three trim levels, being the Work Truck, the mid-range LS, and the high-end LT.

The stripped-down Work Truck features:

• Vinyl seating CD/MP3 player Manual air conditioning Anti-lock brakes Cruise control

In the LS you’re adding:

• Cloth seating
• Fog lights

The top-of-the-line LT adds:

• Premium cloth seating
• 6-disc CD changer
• Leather wrapped steering wheel

What Engines Come In the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado?

• The 2008 Colorado comes standard with a 2.9L inline-four engine delivering 185 horsepower and 190 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission in rear/four wheel drive, and it averages 18/24 miles to the gallon, city/highway. You should be able to tow around 3,500 pounds with the i4.
• Available is a 3.7L inline-five engine delivering 242 horsepower and 242 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic in rear/four wheel drive, it averages 15/20 miles to the gallon, and it can tow up to 5,500 pounds.

What Colors Does the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado?

The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado sacrifices a lot of comfort for simple, basic performance. This is a rugged, no-frills work truck, and the stripped-down cabin reflects that. Suspension rides a bit stiff, interior trim feels cheap, and the seats stretch just 53 inches across, which may seem tight if you’re used to full-size pickups.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado Have?

If you go with the Crew cab model you get a 5-foot bed in the back. Regular and Extended cabs come with a 6-footer. Whichever one you go with, the box stretches 57 inches across and it goes 18.5 inches deep.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2008 Colorado was the fifth model year in the truck’s 1st Generation, running from 2004 to 2012.

2006: The 2006 model Colorado came with just two cab options, Regular and Extended.

2007: A facelift model year for the truck. This was the year where Chevy introduced the 3.7L i5 engine

2008: GM OnStar made its debut as standard equipment in 2008.

2009: The powerful 5.3L V8 engine debuted in 2009, along with a new braking system to handle the expanded power.

2010: There were no big changes for 2010.

How Does the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado Compare to the Competition?

Year after year, the Colorado’s chief competitors are going to be the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger. All three of these trucks offer a more cost-effective alternative to gas-guzzling full-size pickups, and all three command their own loyal fanbase.

The Tacoma is the pickup most likely to last 300,000 miles or more, but it’s also the most expensive of the three, with typical listing prices starting at nearly $10,000.

A Ford Ranger is more affordable than a Tacoma, but still far more expensive than a Colorado, listing at around $7,335 at the entry level.

The Colorado is the most affordable of the three, and it tows up to 5,500 pounds. The Tacoma and Ranger both tap out in the mid-3,000 range. That alone may be the tiebreaker for many drivers.

Do Owners Recommend the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado?