Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 10 model years, from 2017 to 2026. Across those years its best rated version returned 20 mpg (2017) and its thirstiest returned 16 mpg (2023). The EPA record holds 16 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 20 mpg | 17 mpg | #3 of 6 (60th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular, Diesel | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2018 | 2 | 20 mpg | 17 mpg | #3 of 6 (60th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2019 | 2 | 19 mpg | 17 mpg | #5 of 7 (33th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2020 | 2 | 19 mpg | 17 mpg | #4 of 5 (25th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2021 | 2 | 19 mpg | 17 mpg | #4 of 5 (25th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular, Diesel | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2022 | 2 | 19 mpg | 17 mpg | #5 of 6 (20th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular, Diesel | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2023 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #9 of 10 (11th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2024 | 1 | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | #10 of 13 (25th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2025 | 1 | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | #36 of 43 (17th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2026 | 1 | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | #41 of 55 (26th pct) | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 placed highest in 2017 at #3 of 6, and lowest in 2026 at #41 of 55. It spent 2 of its 10 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 16 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.7L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 17 | 17 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 527 | 3/10 |
| 2025 | 2.7L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 17 | 17 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 527 | 3/10 |
| 2024 | 2.7L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 17 | 17 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 527 | 3/10 |
| 2023 | 2.7L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 16 | 16 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 539 | 3/10 |
| 2022 | 3.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI | 16 | 18 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 529 | 3/10 |
| 2022 | 2.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Diesel | 2.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 18 | 22 | 19 | 605.3 | 18.8 | $4,700 | 525 | 3/10 |
| 2021 | 3.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI | 16 | 18 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 510 | 3/10 |
| 2021 | 2.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Diesel | 2.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 18 | 22 | 19 | 605.3 | 18.8 | $4,700 | 525 | 3/10 |
| 2020 | 3.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI | 16 | 18 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 532 | 3/10 |
| 2020 | 2.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Diesel | 2.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel, start-stop | 18 | 22 | 19 | 605.3 | 18.8 | $4,700 | 525 | 3/10 |
| 2019 | 3.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI, start-stop | 16 | 18 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 532 | 3/10 |
| 2019 | 2.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Diesel | 2.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 18 | 22 | 19 | 605.3 | 18.8 | $4,700 | 524 | 3/10 |
| 2018 | 3.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI | 16 | 18 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 532 | 3/10 |
| 2018 | 2.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Diesel | 2.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 19 | 22 | 20 | 575.0 | 17.9 | $4,500 | 506 | 3/10 |
| 2017 | 3.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI | 16 | 18 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 532 | 3/10 |
| 2017 | 2.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Diesel | 2.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 19 | 22 | 20 | 575.0 | 17.9 | $4,500 | 506 | 3/10 |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 → 2019 | 20 → 19 mpg | -1 mpg | 605 gal |
| 2022 → 2023 | 19 → 16 mpg | -3 mpg | 719 gal |
| 2023 → 2024 | 16 → 17 mpg | +1 mpg | 676 gal |
What Colorado ZR2 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 burns 676 to 676 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $2,029 | $2,029 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,368 | $2,368 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,706 | $2,706 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2026 model year is $3,650 to $3,650 a year in fuel, or $7,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
Across the 28 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Pickup Trucks 4WD, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 17 mpg the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is 5 mpg below the median, which is worth about $538 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Small Pickup Trucks 4WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Chevrolet nameplates
Every Chevrolet model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.