2021 Chevrolet Colorado MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado gets up to 22 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 23 mpg with the diesel, across 8 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Chevrolet Colorado · 8 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

22MPG combined

19 city 25 highway

$2,850 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas)

Fuel economy score4/10

2.5L 4-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic

Best diesel version

23MPG combined

20 city 30 highway

$4,100 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $6.13 a gallon (diesel)

Fuel economy score5/10

2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel · RWD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $9,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,850 to $4,950 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2020.

One of the best Colorado years by owner complaints

The 2021 drew 25 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 66 for a typical Colorado year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.

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 2021 Colorado's recalls and problems

Every 2021 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
Gas
2.5L 4-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 2WD	22 mpg	19 / 25	$2,850
2.5L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 4WD	21 mpg	19 / 24	$2,950
3.6L 6-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 2WD	21 mpg	18 / 25	$2,950
3.6L 6-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 4WD	19 mpg	17 / 24	$3,300
3.6L 6-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic · ZR2 EPA listing: Colorado ZR2 4WD	17 mpg	16 / 18	$3,650
Diesel
2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel · RWD · 6-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Colorado 2WD	23 mpg	20 / 30	$4,100
2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Colorado 4WD	22 mpg	19 / 28	$4,300
2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · ZR2 EPA listing: Colorado ZR2 4WD	19 mpg	18 / 22	$4,950

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas and $6.13 a gallon for diesel. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.5L 4-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,727	$227	$13,636
2.5L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$2,857	$238	$14,286
3.6L 6-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,857	$238	$14,286
3.6L 6-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic	$3,158	$263	$15,789
3.6L 6-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic · ZR2	$3,529	$294	$17,647
2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,998	$333	$19,989
2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$4,180	$348	$20,898
2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · ZR2	$4,839	$403	$24,197

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

2021: gas 22 mpg · diesel 23 mpg

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 2021 Colorado compares

2021 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.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Jeep Gladiator Best: diesel	24 mpg	19 mpg	$3,300
Chevrolet Colorado This page Best: diesel	23 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Ford Ranger Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Toyota Tacoma Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Honda Ridgeline Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Nissan Frontier Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,100

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

2021 Colorado recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 80 owner complaints for the 2021 Colorado.

Owners most often describe shaking or vibration (8 complaints, 10%), then power steering problems (6). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2021 Colorado recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, 4WD lowers the combined rating by 1 to 2 mpg: the 2.8L turbo 4-cyl diesel gets 23 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 22 with 4WD.

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado need premium gas?

No. The diesel runs on diesel fuel, the rest use regular.

How does the 2021 Colorado's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 22 mpg, the same as the year before and the best diesel version is rated 23 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 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.