Chevy Certified Pre-Owned Truck Shopping: The Silverado 1500 vs. The Colorado

Would you rather have what’s behind door number one, two, or three? Behind door one is a brand-new pickup truck packed with up-to-date features, while door three has a pre-owned pickup truck. However, in the middle is something in between, offering the best of both doors. Behind door two is a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) truck, which offers a high-quality pre-owned truck from the most recent model years at a price that fits your budget. For those in the Albany area looking for a certified used truck dealer with a great selection of CPO trucks, look no further than DePaula Chevrolet.

Two standout truck models in the Chevy lineup are the Chevy Silverado 1500 and the Chevy Colorado, each offering their own set of advantages for a variety of truck drivers. The differences between the two are anything but nuanced. With that said, the discussion goes deeper, and it’s an important one to have if you want to not only get the best bang for your buck but also get behind the wheel of a truck that harnesses the kind of power you need. We’re going to break this down into two parts: the Chevy Certified Pre-Owned program and the two trucks themselves. Ultimately, there are a variety of similarities and differences between the two, but how deep do these differences go? After reading this, you should know which truck fits you best, so let’s get started.

The Chevy Certified Pre-Owned Program

The Chevy Certified Pre-Owned Program is among the best in the industry, offering drivers an experience as close to the brand-new lineup as possible but with many of the benefits of pre-owned shopping. Of course, the CPO program is about cars, and the cars you’ll find on the CPO lot are Chevy vehicles that have been released no later than six years ago. Six years may sound like a long time, and in some cases, the differences between a vehicle and its preceding model from six years ago may be rather stark, but that’s not always the case.

The CPO vehicle you choose, whether it’s the Colorado or Silverado 1500, will also have no more than 75,000 miles on its odometer, which guarantees there’s plenty of life left in these vehicles. If the vehicle meets this requirement and is under six years old, it’ll have to pass a heavily-detailed 172-point inspection process. The inspection is thorough and provided by GM-certified technicians who can identify and remedy any problems that may appear during the inspection process. However, if the vehicle has an underlying problem that can’t be remedied, you won’t find that vehicle on our lot.

When you purchase a CPO Chevy vehicle, you’ll also have full access to the CARFAX report, which in the modern day, you should only purchase a pre-owned vehicle if it has an available report. Between an available CARFAX report, a 172-point inspection, and a guarantee your vehicle is in pristine condition, there’s plenty of reason to purchase a CPO Chevy. What makes a CPO Chevy vehicle like a new one is the new vehicle warranties you’ll get with your purchase.

The first warranty you’ll get with your CPO Chevy is a 6-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, which means your Chevy vehicle can be as old as eleven or twelve years old, and you’ll still have coverage for your powertrain components. A 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty also comes with the purchase of your CPO Chevy vehicle. You’ll also get two opportunities to receive free servicing within the first two years of ownership or until you’ve traveled 24,000 miles, so use them wisely.

Best of all, if you change your mind at the last minute and haven’t traveled more than 150 miles, or if it’s been less than three days since your purchase, there’s a no-question-asked policy where you can swap it out for one that you prefer. Ultimately, the Silverado 1500 and Colorado will both have identical advantages within the CPO program, meaning the real decision comes down to which of the two trucks fits your lifestyle.

Which Truck Should You Buy?

Now that you know about the Chevy CPO program, that begs the question: which truck will suit your lifestyle better? On the one hand, the Silverado is one of the best-selling vehicles in America, and the Colorado is another popular pickup truck from Chevy with plenty to offer on a budget. Firstly, it’s important to identify your budget because this will be a defining factor. On the new market, the Colorado regularly sits far below the Silverado’s price range, meaning if you can afford a Silverado, the chances are you can afford a Colorado, and on the CPO market, this also holds. However, this wouldn’t apply the other way around, as the Silverado can sometimes cost around four to eight thousand dollars more than the Colorado, so make sure to identify your budget.

Once you’ve identified your budget, you’ll need to choose a vehicle based on your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a hobbyist who enjoys towing or the general life of a pickup truck owner, but you also don’t have the room to store a full-size truck or require the raw power, the Colorado will be the obvious choice. If you have a job that requires towing, people look to you to do the heavy lifting, or you’re fully invested in the pickup truck lifestyle, the Silverado is the best place to look.

Let’s look at a couple of examples of Silverado and Colorado models to get an idea of how much power these trucks have. The 2022 Silverado and Colorado models, which can currently be found on the CPO market, provide a range of power. For example, the Colorado is available with either a 2.5L I-4, 3.6L V6, or turbo-diesel 2.8L I-4 engine, with the I-4 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2022 Silverado is available with one of four engines: a high-output turbocharged 2.7L I-4 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, a 5.3L or 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine, and a Duramax turbo-diesel 3.0L I-6 engine; the latter three paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The maximum towing capacity of both vehicles is quite different because of the powertrains, with the 2022 Silverado 1500 having a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 lbs while the Colorado sits at 7,700 lbs.

The Verdict

The verdict is simple: you should purchase the Silverado or Colorado based on your budget, capacity needs, and desired features. Regardless of which truck you purchase, you’ll have a quality product in your driveway because if there’s one thing Chevy is known for, it’s quality. The Colorado and Silverado are two examples of how Chevy’s CPO program can work to get you behind the wheel of a perfect-condition vehicle complete with warranties and other amenities without paying a new vehicle price.

The CPO program is something we believe every driver should look into because it serves as a middle ground between the new and pre-owned market, and the benefits greatly outweigh the negatives, if any. If this sounds like a viable option, or if you simply have questions about the Chevy CPO program, we welcome you to come visit DePaula Chevrolet, located conveniently in Albany, NY. We look forward to helping you find an amazing Chevy Certified Pre-Owned truck that fits your unique driving needs.