2026 Chevrolet Colorado: Marion Buyers Guide

One engine, six different trucks

Every 2026 Colorado, WT through ZR2, runs the identical 2.7L turbocharged TurboMax four-cylinder — 310 horsepower, 430 lb-ft of torque, an 8-speed automatic, no diesel and no V8 offered on this generation. What separates the six trims is everything built around that engine: WT and Custom keep things simple and work-focused, LT adds day-to-day convenience, and Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 layer on progressively more serious off-road hardware as standard equipment rather than checkbox options. Same drivetrain in all six; six distinct jobs on top of it.

Jim Cook Chevrolet sits at 1075 North Main Street in Marion, a family-run dealership that's been selling and servicing Chevrolet and GMC vehicles here since 1935. The dealership draws from a wider footprint than just McDowell County — buyers regularly come in from Hickory, Morganton, and Asheville, and the reviews back that up: several customers describe driving well over an hour, one from as far as Knoxville and others from Charlotte, specifically because of how the buying process is handled here.

Six trims, two very different missions

WT, Custom, and LT are the street-oriented half of the lineup, and they're the only three Colorado trims with a drivetrain choice at all — 2WD comes standard, 4WD is available for roughly $3,300 more. Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 go the other direction entirely: 4WD only, no lower-cost 2WD option, because the whole point of those three trims is standard off-road hardware. Trail Boss starts that climb with a factory 2-inch lift and 32-inch all-terrain tires; Z71 adds selectable drive modes and unique interior trim; ZR2 tops the lineup with a 3-inch lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers, and front-and-rear locking differentials standard. It's a bigger jump in both capability and price from LT to Trail Boss than it is anywhere else in the lineup — worth knowing before assuming the trims step up evenly.

Pick your 2026 Colorado

What Marion buyers say about the dealership

Jim Cook Chevrolet carries a 4.7-star average across more than 500 Google reviews, and Colorado buyers show up in them by name. One customer wrote about buying a Colorado truck as a surprise for her son: "Sam Mealhouse and Allen Pruett are the best businessmen I have ever had the privilege of dealing with. From the first phone conversation to the signing of the papers very professional, courteous and friendly... Thank you both for being there... we bought a Colorado truck and surprised my son for father's day. It was an awesome experience." That's Allen Pruett, the dealership's Pre-Owned and F&I Manager, still on staff today; the review is a few years old, and "Sam Mealhouse" doesn't match a name on the dealership's current staff listing, which may simply reflect staffing changes since it was posted.

More recently, another buyer described financing a new 2026 Colorado directly: "No haggling, and their prices beat everyone else around. They worked with my unique situation, handling everything over the phone and email, and even drove the truck to me so I could sign the paperwork... Definitely a shoutout to Cameron, Josh, Allen, Mark, and Jeremy, they got me into a new Chevy Colorado and found me the best APR, beating out every credit union I'd checked." The full story behind that deal, including how the dealership handles financing and pricing, is in the pricing & leasing guide.

Owning one around Marion

The Colorado service & repair guide covers the maintenance rhythm, the tire-dependent fuel economy figures, and what Blue Ridge terrain and weather do to a mid-size truck. Money questions — North Carolina's Highway Use Tax, this year's higher destination charge, and lease-versus-buy — are in the pricing & leasing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado a redesign?

No — this is a running-change year on the current (third) generation, which launched for the 2023 model year. The most consequential change is the destination charge, up $400 from $1,695 to $2,095, plus a new White Sands exterior color (Harvest Bronze Metallic is discontinued) and new 20-inch wheel options on Trail Boss and Z71.

Does the Colorado come with a V6, V8, or diesel option?

No — every 2026 Colorado trim, WT through ZR2, runs the same 2.7L turbocharged TurboMax four-cylinder (310 hp, 430 lb-ft) on regular unleaded. There's no diesel, V6, or V8 available on this generation.

How much does a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado cost?

MSRPs run $32,400 to $50,700 by trim, before the $2,095 destination charge, North Carolina's Highway Use Tax, and registration fees. Current offers post on the dealership's specials page, and the pricing guide itemizes the rest.

Where can I test drive one in Marion?

At Jim Cook Chevrolet, 1075 North Main Street. The dealership's own website notes it can also bring a vehicle out for a test drive rather than requiring every shopper to come to the lot first — worth asking about for buyers driving in from Hickory, Morganton, or Asheville.

Six trims, one lot to compare them on

The trim guides below go deep on standard versus available equipment, but the fastest way to settle a Trail Boss-versus-Z71 debate is still sitting in both. Jim Cook Chevrolet keeps new Colorado inventory alongside its pre-owned stock, so a side-by-side look is one visit, not two.