It’s been quite a while since I drove a pickup truck. With the chaos of traffic that I experience every day, it’s not really a good idea to drive a behemoth machine especially in a crowded and tight place like Edsa or C5. You might have ended taking Uber or Grab as your alternative transport; or perhaps opted to drive a diminutive car that would help you squeeze in Manila’s “Carmageddon” traffic nightmare.



Well, the boys from The Covenant Car Company Inc—the exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet cars in the country—made sure that I’m all out for a challenge to test drive their latest top-of-the-line pickup truck: the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado 4×4 LTZ. Regardless of my daily frustrations over traffic, it’s hard to say no to take the Chevrolet Colorado for a quick spin. And besides, I’m still a dude that loves pickup trucks!

So, here are what I Learned driving the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado:

1.) Height is Might. Just like traffic, flooding is the new normal in the Philippines. The country experiences 20 tropical cyclones every year, earning it a spot in the list of countries most battered by storms in the world. With just the slightest rainfall, Metro Manila becomes a water amusement park due to the impassable and knee-deep floods. Thank God for the Colorado since it measures 1,798 mm tall. When you’re in a flooded area, you’ll be more secure and confident that your vehicle can cross knee-high floodwater with the Colorado’s wading depth of 800 mm, or equivalent to 31.5 inches.

2.) Bang-for-the-Buck Interior. I noticed, though, that pickup trucks have changed, much like how a man changes from being a testosterone-driven teen to a modern gentleman. The Chevrolet Colorado, for example, offers a new interior that offers spaciousness, refinement, and technology. The fit and finish are exceptionally high-standard with an attention to detail. And why not? It has the latest Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system with multiple smartphone OS compatibility, multimedia functionality, Bluetooth connectivity, SIRI Eyes Free, and voice recognition software, which raises your vehicle’s worth considerably. A superb bang-for-your-buck deal!

3.) Intelligent Safety Features. The Colorado offers driver assist technologies that protect your vehicle and keep it safe from any unnecessary mishaps. On the road, you’ll undoubtedly feel safe thanks to its active and intelligent safety features which includes Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and dual airbags. Moreover, the Colorado also features Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Front and Rear Parking Assist, Rear Camera with Dynamic Guidelines and an Electro-Chromatic Interior Rear-View Mirror.

4.) Intelligent Car-Like Refinement and Off-Road Performance. The top-tier variant that we tested comes with an upgraded 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces effortless acceleration. For every motorist who faces traffic every single day, rush hour is a curse that is seemingly incurable. The Colorado breaks that statement, allowing the driver to feel like he’s driving a car in every aspect, even in traffic and at high speeds. For off-road adventures, there’s a control knob that will allow you to shift from plush cruiser to unstoppable beast instantly.

5.) 5-Year Warranty coverage. Like any investment, our benchmark for convenience should always look at the long-term. Chevy is offering the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado with a special 5-year warranty coverage, which includes a 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 2-year warranty on the power train or 100,000-kilometers, whichever comes first. It also comes with 24/7 Chevrolet Emergency roadside support for 3 years. Not bad at all!

For the price of P1,689,888, the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado 4×4 has all the good deals one can find in a brand-new pickup truck. I spent the next few days driving around Metro Manila in sideways rain, and I would say that the Colorado changed my perception for driving pickup trucks in heavy traffic. It’s a tough and powerful truck that’s, at the same time, refined and efficient.