2012 Chevrolet Colorado MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado is rated 16 to 21 mpg combined across 10 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.9L 4-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2012 Chevrolet Colorado · 10 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

21MPG combined

18 city 24 highway

$3,200 a year to fuel

2.9L 4-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic

Best version costs $4,000 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $3,200 to $4,200 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2011.

Fewer complaints than a typical Colorado year

The 2012 drew 14 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 66 for a typical Colorado year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

No Colorado year stands out enough to avoid; best years: 2021 and 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Colorado year ranked The 2012 Colorado's recalls and problems

Every 2012 Colorado version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
2.9L 4-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Colorado 2WD (also Colorado Crew Cab 2WD)	21 mpg	18 / 24	$3,200
2.9L 4-cyl · RWD · 5-speed manual EPA listing: Colorado 2WD (also Colorado Crew Cab 2WD)	21 mpg	18 / 25	$3,200
2.9L 4-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 4WD	20 mpg	17 / 23	$3,350
2.9L 4-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed manual EPA listing: Colorado 4WD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,350
3.7L 5-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 4WD	19 mpg	17 / 22	$3,550
3.7L 5-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 2WD (also Colorado Crew Cab 2WD)	19 mpg	17 / 23	$3,550
3.7L 5-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic · Cab Chassis inc EPA listing: Colorado Cab Chassis inc 4WD (also Colorado Crew Cab 4WD)	18 mpg	16 / 21	$3,700
3.7L 5-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic · Cab Chassis inc EPA listing: Colorado Cab Chassis inc 2WD	17 mpg	15 / 20	$3,950
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 4WD (also Colorado Crew Cab 4WD)	16 mpg	14 / 19	$4,200
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 2WD (also Colorado Crew Cab 2WD)	16 mpg	15 / 20	$4,200

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.9L 4-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic	$3,193	$266	$15,964
2.9L 4-cyl · RWD · 5-speed manual	$3,193	$266	$15,964
2.9L 4-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic	$3,352	$279	$16,762
2.9L 4-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed manual	$3,352	$279	$16,762
3.7L 5-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,645
3.7L 5-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,645
3.7L 5-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic · Cab Chassis inc	$3,725	$310	$18,625
3.7L 5-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic · Cab Chassis inc	$3,944	$329	$19,721
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 4-speed automatic	$4,191	$349	$20,953
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic	$4,191	$349	$20,953

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Chevrolet Colorado MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 20 to 22 mpg (2010 to 2012, 2015 to 2026); highest in 2015. Diesel: 23 to 25 mpg (2016 to 2022); highest in 2016.

Best gas version
Best diesel version

2012: gas 21 mpg · diesel not offered

Show as a table

Chevrolet Colorado best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best diesel version
2010	21	–
2011	21	–
2012	21	–
2013	–	–
2014	–	–
2015	22	–
2016	22	25
2017	22	25
2018	22	25
2019	22	23
2020	22	23
2021	22	23
2022	22	23
2023	22	–
2024	22	–
2025	20	–
2026	21	–

Every Colorado year's ratings in one table

How the 2012 Colorado compares

2012 midsize pickups covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2012 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota Tacoma Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$3,050
Chevrolet Colorado This page Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,200
Nissan Frontier Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,200
Honda Ridgeline Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$3,950

Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota TacomaMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2012 Colorado recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 42 owner complaints for the 2012 Colorado.

Owners most often describe the airbag warning light (7 complaints, 17%).

See the 2012 Colorado recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 2.9L 4-cyl gets 21 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 20 with 4WD.

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2012 Chevrolet Colorado version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2012 Colorado's MPG compare with the 2011?

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 21 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.