2026 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss Midnight Edition First Test: Lights the Way

The Chevrolet Colorado impressed us during the 2024 Truck of the Year competition, earning the Golden Calipers thanks in part to versatile trims like the Trail Boss. At the time, we felt the Trail Boss needed only a more aggressive tire setup to unlock its full off-road potential. Now, with the 2026 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss  fitted with the new Midnight Edition package, we’ve taken another look to see what’s changed—and whether the $4,195 upgrade is worth it compared with the standard Trail Boss and the rest of the midsize truck field.

Adds Weight … and New Tires

Even with a 39 lb-ft torque increase compared with the 2023 Trail Boss we tested two years ago, the 2026 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss Midnight Edition posted slower acceleration. Its 0–60-mph time was nearly a full second off the earlier truck’s pace. The same trend showed up in the quarter mile—14.5 seconds at 94.9 mph in 2023 versus 15.3 seconds at 88.9 mph for the 2026 model—and in braking performance, where stopping from 60 mph stretched from 121 feet to 130 feet. Curiously, both trucks delivered virtually the same results in our figure-eight and skidpad handling tests.

So what’s behind the slower straight-line numbers? It’s difficult to say definitively, but we have clues. The Midnight Edition model weighed an extra 104 pounds, mostly due to its bed-mounted sport bar and the 40-inch LED light bar perched on top. The tires could also be a factor. We previously noted that the Trail Boss’ Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires limited its off-road capability, and Chevrolet swapped them for Bridgestone Dueler A/T RH-S rubber on the Midnight Edition. Although intended as an upgrade, they may have contributed to the reduced acceleration and braking performance. Trackside observers also pointed to the eight-speed automatic’s sluggish behavior as a possible culprit. Sometimes, the full answer isn’t clear-cut.

The upside is that the added weight sits over the rear of the truck. That complements the elevated LED light bar, which projects a beam far beyond the reach of the standard headlights to improve visibility during night runs on your favorite trail or when navigating deep darkness in the woods.

The sport bar itself doesn’t get in the way of loading cargo until you reach the area near the cab. At that point, the dual tubes can make things tricky for items taller than the third brake light. It doesn’t disrupt the placement of the bed’s interior tie-downs, though Chevrolet cautions against using the sport bar as a tie-down point. The bar may also interfere with certain tonneau covers, but options that mount inside the bed space—such as the RealTruck Advantage soft roll-up cover—should still fit without issue.

Still a Very Capable Truck

The encouraging news is that the 2026 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss Midnight Edition remains the same well-rounded, highly capable truck we’ve come to appreciate—whether cruising on pavement or kicking up dust off-road. Naturally, it feels most at home once the asphalt ends.

During testing, we noticed a bit of wheel hop under hard braking, but it wasn’t severe or unusual for a truck built with this mission in mind. The steering also feels a touch slow on initial turn-in, largely due to the taller tire sidewalls flexing before they bite. Those same sidewalls contribute to a bit of extra body lean in corners, but again, nothing unexpected for an off-road-focused pickup.

Despite those small shortcomings, the Trail Boss’ suspension is tuned well enough to keep you feeling confident and in control, even with its taller ride height. Off-road terrain and rough pavement will naturally jostle the truck around, but the damping isn’t so stiff that slow, deliberate trail driving becomes uncomfortable. Hit a sharp dip too quickly, though, and you’ll notice a bit more rebound than ideal. It’s nothing dramatic, but it’s a reminder that the Trail Boss’ suspension isn’t designed to mirror the ZR2’s DSSVs or a set of internal bypass shocks. Nor is it meant to. This is a tough, purpose-built off-road truck, and some on-road compromises simply come with the territory.

Is Adaptive Cruise Too Much to Ask?

Our two biggest gripes with the 2026 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss Midnight Edition aren’t dealbreakers on their own, but they’re becoming harder to overlook as the midsize pickup class evolves. The first is the continued absence of adaptive cruise control. The Colorado is smart enough to flash a warning when you’re following too closely, yet somehow still isn’t equipped—or even optional—with true adaptive cruise functionality.

Meanwhile, key rivals have moved on. The Ford Ranger FX4 offers adaptive cruise for as little as $43,960, and the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road includes it at $44,010—both comfortably below the Midnight Edition’s $46,690 starting price.

Big Power, Bad Fuel Economy

Our other major complaint centers on fuel economy. The 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four cranks out an impressive 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, but it’s thirsty—rated at just 17/22/19 mpg city/highway/combined. By comparison, the Toyota Tacoma’s 2.4-liter turbo with 4WD and an eight-speed automatic returns 20/23/21 mpg, while the Ford Ranger’s 2.3-liter turbo 4WD with a 10-speed manages 19/26/22. To be fair, the Ranger produces only 270 hp and 310 lb-ft, and the Tacoma tops out at 278 hp and 317 lb-ft.

If you want power and efficiency, the rivals offer even stronger options. Ford’s 2.7-liter turbo V-6 delivers 315 hp and 400 lb-ft, while Toyota’s 2.4-liter i-Force Max hybrid pumps out 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. Both engines outperform the Colorado while still posting better fuel economy—19/23/20 for the Ranger V-6 and 22/24/23 for the hybrid Tacoma. Even more notable: upgrading to those powertrains costs less than stepping up to the Trail Boss Midnight Edition package.

The Competition Is No Joke

Fundamentally, the 2026 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss Midnight Edition isn’t a radically different truck from the one that earned our 2024 Truck of the Year honors. It remains composed on pavement and impressively capable off-road, depending on how it’s equipped. But the midsize segment has evolved rapidly in just two years, and fresh rivals are closing in on the Colorado’s former advantages. Some buyers may overlook the lack of adaptive cruise control or its lackluster fuel economy, but the $50,780 price tag for a midsize pickup could be a sticking point—LED light bar or not.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to what you truly value in a truck. For diehard Chevy loyalists, the Colorado will naturally stay at the top of the list. And for those buyers, the combination of strong power, upgraded all-terrain tires, and the added sport bar and light bar make the Trail Boss Midnight Edition an appealing package.

However, shoppers who prioritize convenience features or better fuel efficiency can find both—for nearly $7,000 less—in the Ford Ranger FX4 or Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road. And if you want comparable power along with those features, the Ranger’s 2.7-liter V-6 or the Tacoma’s i-Force Max hybrid deliver it while still costing around $2,000 less, depending on configuration. The midsize truck market is more competitive than ever, and the Colorado—regardless of trim—now faces a much tougher fight.

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss 4WD Specifications

Harja.Tn Test Results