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Should I Buy a Certified Pre-Owned Chevy Colorado or Silverado?

A black 2020 Chevy Colorado ZR2 is shown from the front off-roading after leaving a Certified Pre-owned Chevy truck dealer.

One is a state, and the other is a mythical city of silver. They are also two great trucks manufactured by Chevrolet. Jay Hatfield Chevrolet, your Certified Pre-owned Chevy truck dealer, will have plenty of excellent models of both of these trucks, but you need to find out which one will work best for you. So, Colorado or Silverado? Which is for you? Let’s take a closer look at these two trucks.

At the outset, they are different sizes, with the Colorado weighing in as a midsize truck, while the Silverado 1500 is a full-size pickup truck. However, size isn’t the only indicator. Okay, so with all things being equal, a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Colorado will cost less than a CPO Silverado 1500. While this is true as well, size and cost shouldn’t be the only factors you use to determine which of these two trucks is for you.

You will need to decide what you plan to use your truck for before deciding on the model that works best for you. Are you going to use it solely for work? Do you want a pickup truck as your family vehicle? Is your plan to go off-roading with your truck? Maybe you want a truck that provides you with a little of both? No matter what you need your truck for, there is a Chevy model for you, but out of the Colorado and Silverado, which is the better option?

Which Truck Has the Better Engines?

Your truck’s powertrain is the combination of its engine and transmission, while the drivetrain is the wheels and axles that deliver that power to the ground. Some truck makers offer only one powertrain and drivetrain on their pickups, using a one-size-fits-all approach. This is fine if you like generic, but if you prefer a truck that will deliver the optimal performance for its intended role, then your best choice is a Chevy.

The Colorado and Silverado have something in common, and that is offering drivers like you a multiple choice of powertrains and drivetrains in their trucks. For example, if you are looking at CPO 2020 Colorado, you will get a choice of three awesome engines and two transmissions. The base model 2020 Colorado has a very fuel-efficient 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine, while you can choose from two additional engine options, a sporty 3.6-liter V6 gas engine and a powerful 2.8-liter Duramax Turbo Diesel. The 2.5-liter I-4 and 2.8-liter Turbo Diesel each come with a Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission, while the 3.6-liter V6 is paired with a Hydra-Matic eight-speed automatic transmission.

Similarly, a CPO 2020 Silverado will also give you a great choice of powertrains. The base engine is a 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 gas engine that will give your Silverado solid performance. You can also find this Silverado with a very fuel-efficient 2.7-liter Turbo I-4 gas engine, a versatile 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 gas engine, a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 that will give you great acceleration, and a brawny 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo Diesel I-6. Chevy has paired each of these engines with a Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission, except for the 2.7-liter Turbo that sports a Hydra-Matic 8-speed automatic transmission. Each of these will give you efficient performance as well as greater control over your Silverado’s engine.

Chevy also offers a choice of drivetrains on their CPO Colorado and Silverado trucks. If you want to get better fuel economy and maximum trailering capacity, then you should consider buying a truck with rear-wheel drive. However, if you want better traction, then four-wheel drive will be the way to go. This is especially the case if you plan on taking your Colorado or Silverado off-roading, as a rear-wheel drive will not give you the traction you need out on the trail.

A red 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 is shown from the rear driving on an open road.

Which Truck Is Better for Work?

In general, the engines on the Colorado are more fuel efficient, while the ones on the Silverado are more powerful. If you are planning to use your truck for light duty, but want to save at the gas pump, then a CPO Colorado might be the best bet for you. However, if you are looking to get more from your truck with respect to towing and payload, then you should probably choose a CPO Silverado.

The ability to tow heavy trailers and carry large payloads depends on a number of factors. These include the truck’s size, the engine and drivetrain choices, and even the cab style. Larger trucks like the Silverado will be able to tow and carry more weight than a midsize truck like a Colorado. For example, if you buy a CPO 2020 Colorado with the available 2.8-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel, you will be able to tow up to 7,700 pounds or carry up to 1,578 pounds in the truck’s payload. This is easily exceeded by all of the engine options on the 2020 Silverado 1500. A CPO Silverado 1500 with an available 2.7-liter Turbo engine can tow up to 9,200 pounds or haul a max of 2,250 pounds of cargo. So, if you plan to use your CPO Chevy truck for trailering and cargo, then you might do better with a Silverado.

Which Truck Should You Take Off-Road?

Pickup trucks have many uses beyond just towing trailers and carrying cargo in the payload bed. Some folks love to go off-roading in their pickup trucks. Chevrolet has designed a line of pickup trucks with special features to make them ideal for off-roading. Three of the best that can be found CPO are the Silverado 1500 with the Z71 package and the Colorado ZR2 and Z71. Of the three, probably the one with the most bells and whistles for off-road enthusiasts is the Colorado ZR2. It features Multimatic DSSV shocks to keep you and your passenger comfortable no matter how rough the trail. It also has skid plates and rock sliders to protect the truck’s vitals, electronic locking front and rear differentials, and increased ground clearance to get you up and over obstacles.

Which Truck Is Best for New Drivers?

A CPO Colorado is also a great truck for someone who is new to the world of pickups. Its smaller size makes it easier to handle than the larger Silverado, so you will find it corners more like a midsize sedan or SUV. Many drivers start out with a Colorado before moving up to the larger Silverado model.

Some people buy pickups like the Colorado and Silverado for personal use, while others are just looking to use their trucks for work. If you are planning to buy a CPO Colorado or Silverado for use as a family car, then you will probably want one with a Crew Cab, which has four full-size doors as well as a large rear seat. If you have a larger family, then a CPO Silverado Crew Cab might be best for you. On the other hand, if you plan to use your truck solely for work, then buying a CPO Silverado with a regular or extended-cab or a Colorado with an extended cab may make the most sense. With all these options, Chevy truly allows you to find a CPO Colorado or Silverado that is designed exactly to suit your needs.