My Week With The 2025 Chevrolet Colorado Midsize Truck At Willis Chevrolet Of Granger: An Iowa Driver's Perspective
View InventoryWhen Willis Chevrolet Of Granger invited me to test drive the new 2025 Colorado for a week, I'll admit I was skeptical. As someone who's lived in Iowa my whole life, I've driven my fair share of trucks across our farmlands and city streets. Would this midsize pickup really deliver on both work capability and everyday comfort? After seven days behind the wheel, here's my honest take.
Quick 2025 Chevrolet Colorado Stats Worth Knowing
| Engine: | 2.7L TurboMax I4, 310 hp, 430 lb-ft torque |
| Towing: | Up to 7,700 lbs (I tested with a 4,500 lb boat with ease) |
| Fuel Economy: | I averaged 18 MPG city, 21 MPG highway (4WD Z71) |
| Tech: | 11.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
| Safety: | Comprehensive Chevy Safety Assist package standard |
| Bed: | 5.2-foot with tie-downs and available 120V outlet |
| Warranty: | 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper |
First Impressions: More Than Just Another Truck
Pulling into the Willis Chevrolet lot, the Colorado immediately caught my eye. I opted to test the Z71 trim in Reef Blue Metallic, and let me tell you—photos don't do this color justice. It shifts beautifully in the Iowa sunlight, standing out without being flashy.
The sales team at Willis was refreshingly straightforward. No pushy tactics, just genuine conversation about what I needed in a truck. They let me pick the trim that matched my lifestyle instead of trying to upsell me to features I wouldn't use.
Power When You Need It: The TurboMax Experience
My first real test came the next day when I helped my buddy move his boat from storage to Saylorville Lake. The 2.7L TurboMax engine impressed me immediately—310 horsepower feels like plenty in a truck this size. Hitching up the boat (about 4,500 pounds) was easy thanks to the backup camera system, and I hardly noticed the weight while towing.
Merging onto I-80 was a breeze. The 8-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, and I never felt like I was lacking power, even on the steeper highway ramps. The boat barely registered as I cruised at highway speeds.
Daily Driver Comfort: Not Your Grandpa's Work Truck
During weekday commutes around Des Moines, I came to appreciate the Colorado's interior comforts. The leather seats in the Z71 are supportive without being stiff, and the heated seats made my early morning drive to work much more bearable during a surprise late spring cold snap.
The 11.3-inch touchscreen becomes second nature after a day or two. I found myself using the Google voice commands constantly—asking for directions to a new client's office in Ankeny or playing my favorite podcast while stuck in traffic.
What really surprised me was the quiet cabin. Even on rougher country roads outside Granger, road noise was minimal—a far cry from the trucks I grew up with. I took a work call using the Bluetooth system, and the person on the other end had no idea I was driving.
Off the Beaten Path: Weekend Adventures
Come Saturday, I decided to put the 4WD to the test on some trails near Jester Park. After a week of spring rain, conditions were muddy and rutted—perfect for seeing what this truck could do.
I won't pretend I'm an off-road expert, but the Colorado made me feel like one. Switching to Off-Road mode, the truck handled the slippery conditions confidently. The ground clearance (8.9 inches on the Z71) meant I cleared obstacles that would have hung up my old sedan, and I never felt like I was pushing the truck beyond its capabilities.
Later that afternoon, I loaded up the bed with camping gear for an overnight stay. The 5.2-foot bed has these clever tie-downs that kept everything secure over bumpy terrain, and the 120-volt outlet in the bed came in handy for charging my portable cooler.
Real-World Fuel Economy
Fuel economy was better than I expected for a truck with this much power. Around town, I averaged about 18 MPG, and on a longer highway drive to visit family in Ames, I saw numbers closer to 21 MPG. Not compact car territory, but reasonable for something that can tow nearly 4 tons.
Technology That Actually Helps
I'm not usually a tech person, but Colorado's systems won me over. The blind spot monitoring saved me from a close call when a car hid in my blind spot on University Avenue. The lane-keep assist is subtle but effective—it gently guides you back without jerking the wheel.
The surround-view camera system made parking at the crowded farmers market in downtown Des Moines surprisingly easy for a midsize truck. I especially liked the bed view camera when I was loading up lumber from the hardware store.
The Little Things I Appreciated
After a week with the Colorado, it's the small details that stand out:
- The split-folding rear seats that let me bring my dog along while still having space for groceries
- The wireless phone charger that kept my phone topped up during a long day of errands
- The tailgate that doesn't slam down but lowers gently
- Multiple USB ports (both A and C) that kept everyone's devices charged during a family trip
2025 Chevrolet Colorado Trim Differences: Finding Your Perfect Match
During my week with the Z71, I stopped back at Willis Chevrolet Of Granger to explore the other trim levels. Each one tells its own story and fits a different kind of Iowa driver.
Is the 2025 Colorado Right for You?
After returning the keys to Willis Chevrolet Of Granger, I found myself browsing their inventory online that evening. The Colorado strikes a balance that's hard to find—it's capable enough for weekend projects and adventures but refined enough for everyday driving.
If you're hauling heavy construction equipment daily, you might need to step up to a Silverado. But for most of us in Granger and the greater Des Moines area, the Colorado handles everything we throw at it while being easier to park and more fuel-efficient.
My Recommendation
If you're on the market for a new truck, the 2025 Colorado deserves your attention. Willis Chevrolet Of Granger made the shopping experience pressure-free, and they know these trucks inside and out.
I'd suggest the Z71 for most Iowa drivers—it's the sweet spot of comfort, capability, and price. But honestly, with the same powerful engine across all trims, you can't go wrong with any of them.
For me, the Colorado proved itself as a true companion for Iowa living—ready for work, play, and everything in between. It's the kind of truck that makes you take the long way home, just because you can.
Stop by Willis Chevrolet of Granger and ask for a test drive. Just be warned—you might end up like me, looking at your current vehicle a little differently after experiencing what a modern midsize truck can be.
Questions I Had (That You Might Too)
Is the Colorado big enough for my family?
During my test week, I took my spouse, two kids, and our Lab on a day trip to Ledges State Park. The Crew Cab comfortably fit everyone, with plenty of headroom and legroom in the back seats. My 6'2" teenager had no complaints about the rear seat space, which surprised me. For a midsize truck, it feels remarkably spacious inside.
"How does it handle Iowa winters?"
While I tested the Colorado in spring, the salesperson at Willis Chevrolet showed me how the 4WD system works with the drive mode selector. Several customers had apparently shared their winter experiences with the previous year's model—the combination of good ground clearance, 4WD, and the weight distribution of a truck apparently makes it a confident winter driver. The heated seats and remote start would definitely make those January mornings more bearable.
Can it really tow my camper?
This was my big question too. My buddy's boat was around 4,500 pounds, and the Colorado handled it like it wasn't even there. Willis Chevrolet has a handy towing guide that matches your specific trailer to the right truck configuration. With the max towing package, the Colorado can pull up to 7,700 pounds—enough for most campers and boats in the 20-25 foot range.
What's maintenance like?
The service team at Willis walked me through the maintenance schedule. Oil changes are recommended every 7,500 miles, which is better than my current truck. The 3-year/36,000-mile warranty covers most issues that might come up early on. I appreciated that they have Saturday service hours, which works better with my schedule.
Is it worth the upgrade from an older Colorado?
Having driven a 2018 Colorado previously, I can say the difference is night and day. The new interior tech alone makes it worth considering. The ride quality is substantially better, and the new TurboMax engine provides noticeably more power while maintaining similar fuel economy. If your Colorado is more than 4-5 years old, you'll definitely feel like you've stepped into the future.
How does the Colorado compare to the Toyota Tacoma?
I actually drove a Tacoma the week before my Colorado test (shopping around, as one does). The Colorado felt more powerful and had a more comfortable interior in my opinion. The tech interface is more intuitive in the Chevy. The Colorado offered more towing capacity and felt more planted on the highway. For Iowa driving, I preferred the Colorado's balance of comfort and capability.