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  • The 2022 Chevy Silverado can tow up to 13,300 pounds
  • The 2022 Chevy Colorado has a robust infotainment system
  • Both pickup trucks have the ZR2 premium off-road trim level

The 2022 Chevy Silverado and 2022 Chevy Colorado face off in a sibling Chevy pickup truck battle. The Silverado is an excellent traditional pickup truck and competes with industry giants like the Ford F-150. The Colorado is smaller and a little less capable but is versatile and comfortable to drive. Either of the offerings from Chevy can be great options, but which one is right for you?

Specification2022 Chevy Silverado2022 Chevy Colorado
Price Range$30,095-$56,395$30,595-$43,745
Engine Options2.7L four-cylinder, 6.2L V8, 5.3L V8, Duramax Diesel 3.0L inline-six3.6L V6, 2.8L diesel four-cylinder, 2.5L four-cylinder
Horsepower310, 420, 355, 277308, 369, 200
Torque (lb-ft)420, 460, 383, 460275, 369, 181
Transmission8-speed automatic, 10-speed automatic6-speed automatic, 8-speed automatic
MPG Rating (City/Highway/Engine)23/33/Diesel, 20/22/2.7L, 16/22/5.3L, 16/21/6.2L19/25/2.5L, 17/24/3.6L, 20/30/Diesel
NHTSA Safety RatingFour starsFour stars
Specfications from CarAndDriver, Chevrolet, and NHTSA.

2022 Chevy Silverado vs. 2022 Chevy Colorado

A black 2022 Chevrolet Silverado parked on grass with a mountainous background
2022 Chevy Silverado | Chevrolet

The two sibling pickup trucks share a lot of the same positive traits. Both offer plenty of engine options with tons of power, for instance. Buyers who require a powerful, tow, and haul-ready truck can get that with either of these options. Those wanting a more fuel-efficient vehicle for driving comfortably can have that as well.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado is larger overall, and therefore offers a more sizable engine. The 6.2-liter V8 produces the most horsepower of the entire bunch. The 2022 Chevy Colorado offers the most fuel-efficient non-diesel option, which is the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Both pickup trucks’ diesel options offer longevity, fuel economy, and ample power.

The Silverado is much more capable

The 2022 Chevy Silverado is capable of towing up to 13,300 pounds. That’s good for beating the Ram 1500 and barely losing out to the Ford F,150. Although the diesel engine or 6.2.-liter V8 is required to hit this milestone; the 5.3-liter V8 can still tow a respectable 11,500. The Silverado’s payload capacity ranges from 1,870 to 2,280 pounds, depending on the powertrain.

As for the 2022 Chevy, Colorado isn’t quite as capable though it can get the job done. The Trailering Equipment package and the diesel engine can tow up to 7,700 pounds when purchased with the Trailering Equipment package. Swapping out the diesel engine for its V6 option lowers the capability to 7,000 pounds. Its payload capacity ranges from 1,270 to 1,560 pounds.

The Colorado has a premium infotainment system

The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck on a wilderness road
2022 Chevy Colorado | Chevrolet

The base 2022 Chevy Colorado comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth audio streaming for two devices. In addition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are included. Purchasing higher than the base model upgrades the touchscreen to 8.0-inches. It uses the highly regarded MyLink system with responsive touch functionality, beautiful menus, and more. For a monthly payment, the Chevy Colorado pickup truck can also serve as a Wi-FI hotspot.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado matches the Colorado’s touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Although the physical knobs and buttons are easy to use, they look and feel a bit on the cheap side. You’ll also get a 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google voice assistant and available Amazon Alexa integration from the LT trim and higher.

2022 Chevy Silverado is more spacious

A black 2022 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck parked on grass near a lake with a mountainous background
2022 Chevy Silverado | Chevrolet

Chevy’s bigger pickup truck offering provides more space than its little brother; Who would’ve guessed? The Silverado High Country’s crew cab has a large rear seat with tons of room for passengers. There are even storage cubbies hidden throughout the cabin for added cargo space. Its bed comes in different sizes to satisfy owners’ needs, and it comes with the Multi-Flex tailgate.

The Chevy Colorado’s long and short boxes offer 50 and 41 cubic feet of space, respectively. That’s better than the Honda Ridgeline’s 34 and the Toyota Tacoma’s short-bed with just 38 cu-ft. Inside, the rear seat can be tight with more than one person. The center console bin and under-seat storage compartment provide lots of interior cargo space. Although the interior is comfortable to ride in, it is not as spacious as the higher Silverado trim levels.

2022 Chevy Colorado offers less for more

A 2022 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck rips through the mud with its off-road capability
2022 Chevy Colorado | Chevrolet

Despite the many shortcomings of the Chevy Colorado, including being a smaller truck, it is nearly just as expensive as its big brother. The Colorado’s base Work Truck model starts at a slightly higher price than the Silverado’s base model of the same name. However, its LT and Z71 trims are more affordable than the Silverado’s Custom and LT trims. If you’re buying a Colorado, you’re better off going for the more expensive ones, or you might as well buy a Silverado.

Both pickup trucks offer off-road trim levels

For the Silverado, it’s the brand new ZR2 off-road trim. The ZR2 attempts to compete with the best of the best, the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX. Each of the two options are bigger, powerful, and mostly better than the Silverado ZR2. Although the official ZR2 pricing is not yet available, its one strength will be affordability—something the Raptor and TRX are not.

The Colorado’s recommended trim from CarAndDriver is the ZR2 model. It’s offered for $43,745 and provides tons of features for off-road driving. Every Chevy Silverado ZR2 gains a broader body, spool-valve shocks, electronic locking differentials, and more.

Which Chevy pickup truck is right for you?

An orange 2022 chevrolet colorado ZR2 extreme off-road concept from SEMA 2021
2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Extreme Off-Road Concept | Chevrolet

Overall, the Chevrolet pickup truck lineup is bigger and better than ever. Each of these two options is an excellent one depending on your individual needs. Those needing higher towing capacity and overall space can’t go wrong with the 2022 Chevy Silverado. If, instead, you’d prefer an easier-to-handle, versatile, comfortable daily driver, the 2022 Chevy Colorado is ready and waiting.

Either way, Chevy pickup trucks come with a modern tech-filled interior, tons of storage space, and ample engine choices. They’ve proven themselves to be at the top of their respective classes time and time again. Although the two trucks don’t dominate industry giants like the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tacoma, there are plenty of areas where Chevy beats them. That isn’t something many brands can say, especially in the pickup truck segment.

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