The Chevrolet Colorado does 20.5 mpg combined (18.1 city, 24.6 highway), which works out to about $1,873 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.8L 4-cyl does 23 mpg while 5.3L 8-cyl does 16.5 — a difference of $657 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Colorado engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Colorado ranges from 23 down to 16.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $657 a year across 8 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 4-cyl | 20 / 28.3 | 2004–2022 | $1,670 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 20 / 26 | 2015–2015 | $1,745 | |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 19.5 / 24 | 2023–2026 | $1,803 | |
| 2.9L 4-cyl | 18 / 24.2 | 2007–2012 | $1,873 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 18 / 25 | 2015–2022 | $1,873 | |
| 3.5L 5-cyl | 17 / 22.7 | 2004–2006 | $2,021 | |
| 3.7L 5-cyl | 16.5 / 22.7 | 2007–2012 | $2,053 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 / 20.3 | 2009–2012 | $2,327 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Colorado burns a gallon every 20.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 585 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.156 |
| Fuel per year | $1,873 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,365 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$379 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,189 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Colorado gives up 6.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.6 out there against 18.1 in town, a 36% drop worth $561 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.1 mpg | $2,122 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.6 mpg | $1,561 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.5 mpg (36%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Colorado changed over the years
The Colorado peaked in 2016 at 23 mpg (20 city, 27.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2012 at 18.7 — 4.3 mpg apart, or $383 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 21. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2025 | 19 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2024 | 20 / 24 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2023 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2022 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2021 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2020 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2019 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2018 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2017 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 19 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2012 | 16.7 / 22.3 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2011 | 16.7 / 22.3 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2010 | 16.7 / 22.7 | 3 | $2,021 | |
| 2009 | 16.7 / 22.7 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2008 | 17 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2007 | 16.5 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2006 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2005 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 42 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Colorado — 8 engines across 2004–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,189. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Colorado get?
20.5 mpg combined on average — 18.1 in the city and 24.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2004–2026.
How much does a Chevrolet Colorado cost in fuel per year?
About $1,873 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,365 over five years, or 0.156 dollars a mile.
Which Colorado engine is the most economical?
The 2.8L 4-cyl at 23 mpg, against 16.5 for the 5.3L 8-cyl — a difference of about $657 a year.
Is the Colorado good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Colorado figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chevrolet Colorado is $3,189 against the $1,873 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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