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

[skiptheroad]

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

Yup, they continually make them longer and wider because it helps them meet CAFE regulations. The bigger the footprint the less stringent the fuel economy requirement. This is why Jeep is now making a longer version of the Grand Cherokee and why they introduced the Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and their L versions.

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[FloridaMan655321]

Interesting....It seems that Chevy is going with the 'Blazer' look moving forward.

 

[ZoMojave]

Yup, they continually make them longer and wider because it helps them meet CAFE regulations. The bigger the footprint the less stringent the fuel economy requirement. This is why Jeep is now making a longer version of the Grand Cherokee and why they introduced the Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and their L versions.

Got a close look at a Grand Cherokee L the other day. That is one large vehicle for a mid-sized SUV!

 

[Holes]

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.

Yup.
Except mine is my daily driver.
I told momma I was going to finally get the A/C fixed in my 2011 3/4 ton suburban. (I loved that truck)
Instead of getting the A/C recharged again...
She asked why I don’t just buy something new... ??

Ok baby.
I’ve been wanting a Jeep forever. But it was too short. No room. Then the four door arrives and I’m on board. But life wasn’t ready. Then the four door with truck bed shows up and momma was talking like that...

So I finally got my Jeep. First brand new vehicle I’ve had. So far so good.

And I’m a hunter and back roader, so it’s nice to not worry about getting stuck.

 

[skiptheroad]

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.

It's the new transformer-esque look.

 

[HankB]

I got our JT because it wasn’t a GM product. From 93 or so until 18 I drove Silverados as daily drivers and had fun cars for the weekends. Most of them rotted out after a few New England winters. One so bad the frame had to be rebuilt before I could sell it as a registered vehicle. Another had the brake lines completely rot out. I learned my lesson. So when we decided to go back to having a truck chevies were not even considered.

 

[skiptheroad]

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!

Do you mean the original ZR2 introduced in 1994?

 

[P.Lo]

Changes nothing......... Gladiators and Wranglers have their own niche, that does not cross paths with any other vehicles in my opinion. As for a "change"....... remember that Gladiators and Wranglers are essentially twins, joined at the hip. When a change comes, it will be to both of them.

 

[brianinca]

Thought that was an S10 Blazer? If not, no one remembers the nodular iron front differential housing, and no one rushed out to buy them at the time. The modern Colorado ZR2 package was seriously legit and made an impact where Chevy had no previous presence.

Do you mean the original ZR2 introduced in 1994?

 

[cmb396]

I agree, as a first time Jeep buyer, I didn't consider any pickup truck as a competitor. In fact I don't even like pick up trucks. The Gladiator is a different vehicle all together. More of a Hummer or a G Wagon style category imo.

I'm just quoting you to ask if you really have 5 mals?!? Our 1 is enough!! lol


And just to contribute to the thread, I have an 18 colorado Z71 work truck. Biggest turd of a vehicle I have ever owned! The new one doesn't look bad from pics, and the 2.7T should help, but at the end of the day, it's still a shitty GM product!

 

[The Duck of Earl]

It remains to be seen if the 3.0l hurricane will be in the JL let alone JT. The GM 2.7t hits like a small block, especially in the HO variant. This is the type of engine the JL and JT need.

Be great to see Jeep come up with something to answer. There is a reason the 2.0t is not currently in the JT (and from my experiences with other 'larger' SUVs - like an Atlas or Q7 - it is a good one). My VW GTI is a hoot with a very good 2.0t (better than Stellantis' attempt for sure) - add almost 3,000 lbs - blah.

 

[skiptheroad]

Thought that was an S10 Blazer? If not, no one remembers the nodular iron front differential housing, and no one rushed out to buy them at the time. The modern Colorado ZR2 package was seriously legit and made an impact where Chevy had no previous presence.

The Chevy S10 Blazer ZR2 was introduced in 1997. The first available ZR2 was introduced in 1994 as a 2 door regular cab short bed pickup. It was ahead of its time being lifted 3" with a 4" wider track, 31" tall tires, aluminum skid plates, 1/2 ton axle components along with the G80 auto locking rear differential which Chevy deemed the "wide stance suspension package". It was also available with a "high output" engine upgrade. Sound familiar? Chevy skipped the ZR2 package with the first gen Colorado. The second gen Colorado ZR2 was an improvement having front and rear lockers except for the tiny fender flares and tires for the size of the truck.

 

[Akgladiator]

I have no brand loyalty. Whoever engineered the superior products gets money.

Cannot wait to see how new zr2 with HO 2.7 turbo flare against gladiator diesel. Almost same torque figures between these two.

Zr2 suspension shocks are one of kind!

I will give chevrolet two years to iron out all the issues.

 

[FLGladiator]

I'm just quoting you to ask if you really have 5 mals?!? Our 1 is enough!! lol


And just to contribute to the thread, I have an 18 colorado Z71 work truck. Biggest turd of a vehicle I have ever owned! The new one doesn't look bad from pics, and the 2.7T should help, but at the end of the day, it's still a shitty GM product!

We have a dutchie/mal, corso and 2 poodles. I work with working dogs hence the photo. Detection, protection and sport.

 

[MoDean]

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.

This. I drove Chevy trucks for 20 years. I’m done with them. No redesign will get me back.

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