2023 Chevy Colorado just dropped... What does that mean for the Gladiator.

[Orange01z28]

Ugh, 2+ inches wider, 3+ inches longer, +550 lbs for ZR2 trim. Always moving in the wrong direction. (not that this is unique to GM of course.)

They're dropping the diesel, no surprise. But I guess we can expect fairly good MPG and range from the 2.7T gas motor with cylinder deactivation.

Front and rear e-lockers now in ZR2, before it was G80 rear and front e-locker so this is arguably an upgrade?

Tailgate storage compartment is nice

I wonder how this new "midsize" size compares to say, a 1972 C10?

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[Orange01z28]

And at the end of the day, more real competition is always better.

 

[Klicht87]

I had the 2018 Colorado and Chevy is just so far behind in the market. I tried to modify it but was just getting too expensive. Aftermarket parts aren't there and they aren't cheap. I smile everytime I get in my gladiator. I need a truck, otherwise I would have got a JLU. My JT brings more joy than my Colorado did despite the 15k inflated price difference.

 

[AmosMoses]

Looks like another truck manufacturer following the bandwagon design of more window slant and taller grill. Pretty soon the whole front end will look like the back of a school bus. Toyota just shot for all out ugly on the new tundra.

 

[ZoMojave]

Looks like another truck manufacturer following the bandwagon design of more window slant and taller grill. Pretty soon the whole front end will look like the back of a school bus. Toyota just shot for all out ugly on the new tundra.

Agreed. The Toyota design teams have completely lost their minds.

 

[Rahkmalla]

7700# towing capacity... gee, i wonder why they targeted this number. Just wait, the 2024 JT refresh will come out with 7750# maxtow package

 

[Lunentucker]

They have some interesting things going on here.
There's definitely a market for a better handling, more comfortable, more powerful, and slightly less off-road capable machine out there, and they'll take a larger bite out of Tacoma and a lesser one from Jeep.

 

[AustinL911]

I bought my JT with a specific purpose in mind, and it checks all the boxes that no one else could. I bought it as a 2nd vehicle that will be used for recreation first, and a backup vehicle second. My primary recreational activity is hunting locally here in the Midwest and usually a couple times a year out West.

My criteria:
1. Manual transmission/fun to drive.

2. Will damn near go anywhere. It seriously brings a smile to my face when I'm out scouting for deer on public land and I articulate across a 3ft deep ditch without a care in the world, knowing full well I won't struggle in the least to get out of it. I can't say I'd feel the same way trying to do that type of thing in any of the current IFS offerings. I take it on forest service roads out West and short of rolling it off a cliff, it will go wherever I need to go. Front and rear lockers. Solid axles. 4:1 low range. It inspires confidence.

3. It just looks 'right'. 35s. Unique colors. Rugged. Sunrider. Doesn't look like a Transformer. I promise (you guys can surely attest) I get more compliments on the looks of this thing than any of the other mid sizers. Guaranteed.

 

[Sprinkler-Fitter]

I don't really think it changes anything. The gladiator is kind of its own niche of solid axle convertible pickup trucks. Let's not forget, If you really need torque, an engine with that much torque is available on a gladiator.

Correct. I bought a Jeep because I wanted a Jeep, if I wanted a Chevy I would buy a Chevy.

 

[Jteakus]

In my opinion, the IFS is just no competition for the solid axle.

 

[brianinca]

I'm delighted to see GM pushing the large displacement turbo 4 into the mainstream. That's a hilarious amount of torque to get, even on the base trim!

I still remember the completely insane Porsche 968 Turbo S, 3L 4 cyl and 175 MPH 30 YEARS AGO. Now we can get mainstream pickups with essentially the same technology, yay!

The "overseas" tax preferred 2.0L turbo 4's should be 50% bigger in the States, dammit! With the Silverado "beta testing" for the 2.7, hopefully the bugs are squashed.

While I really like the revvy little V6, at 8,000' a few weeks ago, I could really feel the altitude even with the little Jeep trailer. I think this new Colorado will be a big hit with the overlanding crowd, glad they validated the work on the original ZR2 - even the Silverado is souped up, now!

 

[brianinca]

Without a doubt, it's not even close offroad. BUT - we pay for it on the road, and that's fine by me. But, GM staying relevant and competing will make our next Jeeps even better.

In my opinion, the IFS is just no competition for the solid axle.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

I was the guy that got the added torque and power out of the 2.7L and I can tell you the vehicle teams were targeting the Gladiator as a competitor.

As a JTR owner myself, thinking of daily driver, the Colorado wins hands down - but that's not why I bought a JTR instead of waiting for the new Colorado. I wanted a Jeep, so I bought one - but I think people cross-shopping between would go with the Colorado if they had a chance to drive each of them. (and if GM doesn't price them out of the segment)

I cross shopped the JT with the Colorado ZR2. I found the ZR2 Multimatic shocks to be supernatural, and the rest of the truck to be crap. The front seats were horrendous, my wife and I both wanted out after 10 minutes. Rear seats are very small, overall interior quality is crap, V6 is mediocre (just like the JT) except for the fact that I could get a manual in the JT. Add in the bonus of the JT being able to do Jeep stuff and it was a no-brainer. I drove the Mojave immediately after the ZR2 and it was all over.

 

[Holes]

A redesign of the Colorado means nothing to me personally. You can't really compare the two.

If GM doesn't step up the quality of the vehicles that it builds, it won't matter anyway. Cheaply built with dismal quality control. And this comes from a once hardcore Chevy guy (that happened to work for GM for thirty years). Sad to see the decline of a great product.

You’re not wrong...
However I think ALL auto manufacturers need to step up their QC. They’ve gotten used to everything being sold six or more months out. They are getting complacent.
I love my Gladiator. But I’m almost at 30K and I’m dreading the “process” of getting my leaking rear window fixed before factory warranty is up.

 

[Klutch]

Crazy so if I shipped mine to Bogota to live, it would be at a 24% loss of power at 8k feet.

Or worse in Leadville, Colorado which is at 10,151 feet.

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