2009 Chevy Colorado V8

The 2009 Chevy Colorado V8 just spent some time in the hands of PickupTrucks.com and they found the belated addition of three cylinders added some pep to the General's aging mid-size truck. [PickupTrucks.com]

2009 Chevrolet Colorado V8 - Short Take Road Test

Compact truck, big power.

Ever since the S-10 was introduced in 1981, Chevrolet enthusiasts have been forced to drop their own V-8s into Chevy’s compact pickups—the bow-tie didn’t see fit to offer eight-pot power in its pint-size trucks. Those folks were usually looking to go fast: big power in a light truck can make for some startling acceleration times. That sort of combination finally can be had from the factory: the Chevrolet Colorado is available for 2009 with an optional 5.3-liter V-8. The question is whether a small-block V-8 can spice up what is, frankly, a pretty lackluster vehicle.

Much-Needed Power, Same Low-Rent Interior

In its latest comparison test appearance, the Colorado finished last out of five trucks and was flayed for its rental-car interior, unrefined engine, and upright rear backrest. At minimum, the new V-8 is a good remedy for the thrashy, 242-horse, 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder engine currently found in lesser Colorados (and GMC Canyons, which also receive the V-8 option for ’09). The throaty 5.3-liter (only available on extended cab and crew cab models, 1LT trim and above) produces 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, and we saw 0-to-60-mph times fall to 6.7 seconds, a substantial decrease from the 8.7 seconds turned in by the 220-hp five-cylinder truck in the comparo. (The five was upgraded in 2007 with more power, so the difference in times would be less today.)