The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado gets 16 to 21 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Colorado 2WD at 21 mpg.
In the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for 2026, the Colorado ranks 9th (tied with 3 others) of 12 for combined mileage (19 mpg), 7th (tied with 4 others) of 12 for yearly fuel cost ($3,300 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 9th (tied with 1 other) of 12 for tailpipe CO2 (462 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 21 mpg, costs $3,200 a year and puts out 433.5 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 167 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Colorado's best version, 15 other models get the same and 52 get less. The 2026 Colorado's cheapest version costs $2,950 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 122 cost less, 7 the same and 96 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2026 Honda Ridgeline | 2026 Ridgeline AWD | 21 | $2,950 | 441 |
| 5 | 2026 Ram 1500 | 2026 1500 4WD (Hybrid, 6-cyl 3.6 L) | 21 | $2,950 | 417 |
| 8 | 2026 Toyota Tundra | 2026 Tundra Hybrid 4WD | 20 | $3,100 | 439 |
| 9 | 2026 Chevrolet ColoradoThis car | 2026 Colorado 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 462 |
| 9 | 2026 GMC Canyon | 2026 Canyon 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 462 |
| 9 | 2026 Jeep Gladiator | 2026 Gladiator 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 469 |
| 9 | 2026 Nissan Frontier | 2026 Frontier 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 479 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Colorado 2WD, 4-cyl 2.7 L: 19 mpg city, 24 highway, 21 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Colorado version is $2,950 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Colorado costs $143 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Colorado costs $715 less to fuel than the Canyon (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Colorado (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Colorado | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 GMC Canyon | 2026 Canyon 4WD | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 2 lower | $350 more a year | - |
| 2026 Jeep Gladiator | 2026 Gladiator 4WD | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 2 lower | $350 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 Nissan Frontier | 2026 Frontier 4WD | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 2 lower | $350 more a year | Compare |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Colorado 2WD | 4-cyl 2.7 L | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-wheel | 19 | 24 | 21 | $2,950 | 420 | cheapest |
| 2026 Colorado 4WD | 4-cyl 2.7 L | Automatic 8-spd | 4-wheel | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,300 | 462 | +$350 |
| 2026 Colorado Mud Terrain Tires 4WD | 4-cyl 2.7 L | Automatic 8-spd | 4-wheel | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,450 | 494 | +$500 |
| 2026 Colorado ZR2 4WD | 4-cyl 2.7 L | Automatic 8-spd | 4-wheel | 17 | 17 | 17 | $3,650 | 527 | +$700 |
| 2026 Colorado ZR2 Bison 4WD | 4-cyl 2.7 L | Automatic 8-spd | 4-wheel | 16 | 16 | 16 | $3,900 | 564 | +$950 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Colorado; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Colorado 2WD puts out 420 grams per mile; across the 5 tested versions the figure runs from 420 to 564.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Colorado 2WD: fuel economy score 4 (3 to 4 across versions), greenhouse gas score 4 (3 to 4 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Colorado gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 25 mpg | 8 | 4 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 25 mpg | 10 | 4 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 25 mpg | 10 | 4 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 23 mpg | 10 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 23 mpg | 8 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 23 mpg | 8 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 23 mpg | 8 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 22 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 22 mpg | 7 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 20 mpg | 5 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 21 mpg | 5 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 5 versions were tested then and 5 now; the best figure went from 20 to 21 mpg (up 1).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Colorado 2WD, 4-cyl 2.7 L | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Colorado 4WD, 4-cyl 2.7 L | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Colorado Mud Terrain Tires 4WD, 4-cyl 2.7 L | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Colorado ZR2 4WD, 4-cyl 2.7 L | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Colorado ZR2 Bison 4WD, 4-cyl 2.7 L | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 CHEVROLET COLORADO PU/CC N/A 4WD | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| 2026 CHEVROLET COLORADO - ZR2 BISON PU/CC N/A 4WD | not rated | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | not rated |
The agency lists 3 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 22 complaints, 1 recall, 1 investigation.
Includes agency records filed under: COLORADO, COLORADO - ZR2 BISON.
22 complaints for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | |
| Service Brakes | 4 | |
| Steering | 4 | |
| Engine | 3 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 |
0 of the 22 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: COLORADO, COLORADO - ZR2 BISON.
1 recall is on file for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: COLORADO, COLORADO - ZR2 BISON.
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet ...
Fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Colorado itself is at 19 mpg.
More Chevrolet models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Colorado 2WD with 21 mpg combined (19 city, 24 highway).
The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado costs between $2,950 and $3,900 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Colorado 2WD at $2,950; the dearest is the 2026 Colorado ZR2 Bison 4WD at $3,900. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 Colorado 4WD: 19 mpg combined (17 city, 22 highway); 2026 Colorado Mud Terrain Tires 4WD: 18 mpg combined (17 city, 20 highway); 2026 Colorado ZR2 4WD: 17 mpg combined (17 city, 17 highway); 2026 Colorado ZR2 Bison 4WD: 16 mpg combined (16 city, 16 highway).
The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado is 9th of 12 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado at 24 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 21 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Toyota Tundra at 20 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 GMC Canyon at 19 mpg.
The 2025 model had 5 tested versions and the 2026 model has 5. The best figure went from 20 to 21 mpg (up 1).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 CHEVROLET COLORADO PU/CC N/A 4WD: overall 4 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 3; 2026 CHEVROLET COLORADO - ZR2 BISON PU/CC N/A 4WD: front 4, side 5. The agency lists 3 variants; the first 2 are shown.
22 complaints for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (5 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.