The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado is a popular mid-size pickup truck known for its versatility and capability. For prospective buyers, safety is a paramount concern. This report delves into the safety performance of the 2019 Chevy Colorado, based on evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Understanding these ratings can help you make an informed decision about the safety of this vehicle for you and your family.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver Side (2017-22 Models)
The driver-side small overlap frontal crash test simulates a collision where just the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a fixed object. For the Chevrolet Colorado and its GMC Canyon counterpart, models from 2017 onwards show significant improvements in driver protection in this challenging scenario. These enhancements involved reinforcing the A-pillar, door lower hinge pillar, and door sill.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
During the driver-side small overlap test, the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado demonstrated a “Good” overall rating. The structural performance was rated as “Acceptable,” indicating that while the occupant compartment held up reasonably well, there was still some room for improvement. Crucially, driver injury measures for the head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated “Good,” signifying a low risk of significant injuries in a real-world crash of this type. The vehicle’s restraints and dummy kinematics were also deemed “Good,” indicating that the airbags and seatbelts functioned effectively to protect the driver.
Analysis of the dummy’s position after the crash test reveals that the driver’s survival space was maintained reasonably well. This is a critical factor in preventing serious injuries. The frontal and side curtain airbags worked in concert to effectively shield the head from contact with hard structures or external objects.
Furthermore, intrusion into the driver’s side space was well-managed, resulting in a low risk of leg and foot injuries for the driver.
Technical Measurements – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Crash Test
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 12 |
| Footrest | 14 |
| Left toepan | 9 |
| Brake pedal | 11 |
| Parking brake | 15 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 3 |
| Steering column | 5 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 13 |
| Upper dash | 11 |
| Lower instrument panel | 9 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 79 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 5 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.21 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 2.7 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 2.0 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 5 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 9 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.39 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.74 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 3.9 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 2.2 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 98 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 67 |
Learn more about the small overlap front test
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger Side (2015-22 Models)
While the driver-side protection was enhanced starting in 2017, the passenger side of the Chevrolet Colorado did not receive similar structural upgrades. This difference is reflected in the passenger-side small overlap crash test results.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Marginal (M) |
| Structure and safety cage | Poor (P) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Marginal (M) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado earned a “Marginal” overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap test. The “Poor” rating for structure and safety cage is a significant concern, indicating that the passenger compartment did not withstand the crash forces effectively. Although passenger injury measures for the head/neck, chest, and hip/thigh were “Good,” the lower leg/foot injury measure was “Marginal,” suggesting a higher risk of injury to these areas compared to the driver side.
The dummy’s position post-crash indicated that the passenger’s survival space was not well maintained. Extensive intrusion of vehicle components into the passenger compartment contributed to the lower leg injury risk.
Despite the structural deficiencies, the frontal and side curtain airbags still performed well in protecting the passenger’s head.
However, the extensive intrusion of the dashboard, toepan, and door hinge pillar resulted in a significant risk of injury to the right lower leg and a moderate risk to the left lower leg and both knees for the passenger.
Technical Measurements – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Crash Test
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Passenger Side)
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 26 |
| Footrest | 24 |
| Right toepan | 13 |
| Center toepan | 9 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 0 |
| Center dash | 15 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 21 |
| Upper dash | 19 |
| Right lower dash | 17 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 113 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.3 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 12 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 17 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 4.9 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 5.2 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 15 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 15 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 3 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 5 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.88 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 1.14 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 3.2 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 5.7 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 70 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 123 |
Driver Injury Measures (Passenger-Side Test)
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 50 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.5 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 6 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.13 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 23 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 0.0 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 0.1 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.14 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.20 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 0.9 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 1.0 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 34 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 29 |
Learn more about the small overlap front test
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test (2015-22 Models)
The moderate overlap frontal crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacting a barrier. For this test, the IIHS utilizes data from tests conducted by General Motors for the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, left | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footrest | 4 |
| Left Footwell | 5 |
| Center Footwell | 6 |
| Right Footwell | 6 |
| Brake pedal | 2 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Left | 0 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Right | 0 |
| Steering column movement – Upward | -1 |
| Steering column movement – Rearward | -4 |
| A-pillar rearward movement | 0 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 210 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 16 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur force – Left (kN) | 2.2 |
| Femur force – Right (kN) | 0.7 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 9 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.60 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.25 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 2.4 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 1.8 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 90 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 63 |
Learn more about the original moderate overlap front test
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test (2015-22 Models)
In the original side impact test, a moving barrier strikes the driver’s side of the vehicle. The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado performed well in this assessment.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado achieved a “Good” rating across all categories in the original side impact test, for both driver and rear passenger protection. This indicates robust protection in a typical side collision scenario.
Technical Measurements – Original Side Impact Crash Test
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat | -21.0 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 183 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.3 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.7 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 36 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.25 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.57 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.3 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 3.8 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 43 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 18 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 85 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 42 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 2.1 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 35 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.33 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.62 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 106 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | -40 |
Learn more about the original side crash test
Side Impact Crash Test: Updated Test (2015-22 Models)
The IIHS updated its side impact test to be more demanding. The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado was also subjected to this updated test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
In the more stringent updated side impact test, the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado still maintained a “Good” overall rating. While the structure and safety cage rating was “Acceptable,” and the driver pelvis injury measure was also “Acceptable,” all other injury measures remained “Good,” confirming a continued high level of occupant protection even in a more severe side impact scenario.
Technical Measurements – Updated Side Impact Crash Test
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat | -16.0 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 69 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 27 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 24 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.09 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.35 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 4.1 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 171 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.9 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 20 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.84 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.34 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 3.1 |
Learn more about the side crash test
Roof Strength Test (2015-22 Models)
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,162 lbs |
| Peak force | 21,460 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.16 |
The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado earned a “Good” rating in roof strength, demonstrating a strong roof structure capable of protecting occupants in a rollover.
Learn more about the roof strength test
Head Restraints & Seats
평가 Seat type: Power cloth seat
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
The head restraints and seats of the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado with power cloth seats received a “Good” overall evaluation, indicating effective protection against whiplash in rear-end collisions.
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats
| Seat type | Power cloth seat |
|---|---|
| Backset (mm) | 26 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 34 |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 11.5 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 60 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 15 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 414 |
Learn more about the head restraint & seat test
Headlights
The headlight ratings for the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado are “Poor,” across different trim levels and headlight variations.
Headlight Ratings by Trim Level
Z71 trim / LT trim with Luxury package (Halogen projector/reflector headlights)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | Poor (P) |
Base trim / WT trim / LT trim (Halogen reflector headlights)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | Poor (P) |
The poor headlight rating indicates that visibility in nighttime driving conditions may be compromised. Both low beams and high beams were found to have deficiencies in providing adequate illumination, and in some cases, low beams created excessive glare.
Learn more about the headlight evaluation
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado offers an optional Forward Collision Alert system.
System Details
- Optional Forward Collision Alert
Package Name
- Optional Safety Package
Overall Evaluation
Basic
The optional Forward Collision Alert system meets the requirements for forward collision warning, but automatic emergency braking is not available. Therefore, the front crash prevention system is rated as “Basic.”
Learn more about the original front crash prevention test
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The LATCH system for child seat anchors in the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado is rated as “Marginal” due to usability issues.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Marginal (M) |
| Vehicle trim | LT |
| Seat type | cloth |
The Colorado has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and one additional position with only a tether anchor. However, the lower anchors are positioned too deep in the seat, and tether anchors are hard to find and can be confused with other hardware.
LATCH Ratings by Seating Position
| Position | Rating Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tether anchor (hard-to-find, confusing hardware), Lower anchors (too deep in seat) |
| 2 | Tether anchor (hard-to-find, confusing hardware), Lower anchors (none available) |
| 3 | Tether anchor (hard-to-find, confusing hardware), Lower anchors (too deep in seat) |
Learn more about the child seat anchor evaluation
Conclusion
The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado demonstrates a mixed bag in terms of safety performance based on IIHS crash tests. It achieves “Good” ratings in moderate overlap front, side impact (original and updated), roof strength, and head restraints tests, and shows improved “Good” driver-side small overlap protection from 2017 models onward. However, the passenger-side small overlap protection is rated “Marginal” due to structural issues. Headlights are rated “Poor,” and the child seat LATCH system is “Marginal” for ease of use. The optional forward collision warning system is “Basic.”
For potential buyers of a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado, it’s crucial to weigh these safety ratings. While the truck performs well in many crash tests, the “Marginal” passenger-side small overlap rating and “Poor” headlight rating are areas of concern. Prioritize safety features and consider these ratings in your purchase decision, especially if passenger-side small overlap and nighttime driving safety are critical for your needs.
