2016 Chevrolet Colorado Z71

The 2016 Colorado is Chevrolet's midsize pickup, slotting below the Silverado and competing with the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. The Colorado drives more like a car than a truck, with composed handling and a smooth ride that makes daily commuting genuinely pleasant. The cabin is impressively quiet at highway speeds, and the available MyLink touchscreen with smartphone integration is easy to use. Some owners have reported air conditioning failures and radio glitches, though many others report trouble-free miles. The Z71 is the off-road-oriented Colorado, with a more aggressive look and a tougher suspension than the LT, but it still costs thousands less than a comparably equipped Silverado. Its 2.8L I4 makes 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic and four-wheel drive, so it pulls hard from a stop and feels confident on gravel roads. Expect a firmer ride than the LT, especially on pavement, but the Z71's hill-descent control and off-road-tuned dampers are the payoff when you leave the road.