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About The Used Chevrolet Camaro, Colorado, & Cruze

Chevrolet offers a wide array of makes and models to fit everyone’s tastes and driving style. Over the years, Chevrolet made some updates and changes to many of the popular models you will find here at Spencer Chevrolet. In this segment, we will look at three of those models: the Camaro, the Colorado, and the Cruze.

Chevy Camaro

The Camaro is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2017 model year. The first Camaros were made available for sale on September 29, 1966, as a 1967 model year at Chevrolet cars dealerships. The Camaro was originally designed as a pony car to go head-to-head against Ford’s Mustang.

Fun Fact: General Motors also rolled out the Pontiac Firebird as 1967 model and used similar components and platforms as the Camaro.

The original Camaro went through four generations:

1967 – 1969
1970 – 1981
1982 – 1992
1993 – 2002

Each generation saw a new redesign of the popular sports coupe with several mid-cycle updates and enhancements along the way. General Motors (GM) decided to discontinue production on the Camaro in 2002 due to declining sales.

Fortunately, Camaro fans and interest in the vehicle changed GM’s mind, and they reintroduced the Camaro in 2009 as a 2010 model, the start of the fifth generation. The 2014 model year saw a refreshed design before this generation was retired to make way for the sixth generation Camaro.

The sixth generation began with the 2016 model year. New technology features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and enhanced safety features were also some of the newly added features.

Fun Fact: The current generation Camaro uses more than 70% unique components not shared with any other model being produced by Chevy or GM.

In 2017, Chevy introduced new trim package options to the LT and SS lines, as well as a new ZL1 package and a 1LE option that can be added to certain trim packages. Current trim packages include:

There is also a special “50th Anniversary” edition of the Camaro for the 2017 model year. Other changes for 2017 include:

Special anniversary badge on the steering wheels of all trim packages.
New teen driving features for parents to promote better driving habits, even when the parents are not in the car.
Arctic blue metallic added as a new exterior color.
The 7-inch touchscreen is standard on the 1LT, with an option to upgrade to the 8-inch touchscreen.
The 8-inch touchscreen is standard on the 2LT.
Updated 4G LTE with wireless hotspot connectivity.
All models now have standard keyless starting and opening.
The 2LT now features ventilated and heated leather seats.
New convenience and lighting packages with various features and options with upgraded safety features and alerts.
All models come standard with backup cameras, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system, front safety belt pre-tensioners, and airbags.

Fun Fact: The first Camaros sold at Chevrolet cars dealers back in 1966 had a base sticker price of $2,466, and an AM radio was an optional upgrade for another $57!

Chevrolet received over 18 different vehicle awards for many 2017 models. The Camaro received Car and Driver’s 10 Best Cars award and the Hispanic Motor Press’ Best American Muscle award.

Chevy Colorado

The Colorado is Chevy’s compact/mid-sized pickup truck that first launched back in 2003 as a 2004 model. The new pickup truck replaced the Chevy S-10. The first generation lasted until 2012. However, even though the second generation started in 2012 with the introduction of a redesigned Colorado in New Zealand and Australia, it was not released in the United States until 2014 as a 2015 model.

Since its introduction to U.S. truck buyers, Chevy has made minor updates and changes to the Colorado. The Colorado is available in both 2-wheel drive (2WD) and 4-wheel drive (4WD) models and several different trim packages, including:

Base
WT
LT
Z71
ZR2

The Base is only be offered as a 2WD model, and the ZR2 is only be offered as a 4WD model. The WT, LT, and Z71 are available in either 2WD or 4WD at your Chevrolet cars dealers.

Since 2017, Chevy incorporated the following changes:

A new 3.6-liter V-6 engine.
A new 8-speed automatic transmission.
Autotrac transfer cases now standard on all diesel models and on gasoline-powered LT and Z71 4WD models.
New parental controls with standard teen driver features on all models.
New exterior colors added are Cajun red metallic and graphite metallic.
7-inch touchscreen with Chevy’s MyLink radio is an available option, with the 8-inch touchscreen offered on select models.
A special Custom Special Edition model.
Optional heated and powered front cloth seats.
4G LTE wireless hotspots.
Backup cameras are standard on all models/trim packages.
A new safety package is offered on LT models.

Fun Fact: The Colorado has the highest maximum towing capacities of compact/mid-sized pickup trucks at 7,700 pounds, but does require the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine.

Just like the Camaro, the Colorado received a few rewards for the 2017 model year, including the Consumer Guide Automotive’s Best Buy for a Compact Pickup award and the Hispanic Motor Press’ Best Pickup for Medium Size (trucks) award.

Chevy Cruze

The Cruze was first brought to U.S. Chevrolet cars dealerships in 2011 as a four-door compact sedan. However, prior to the U.S. and worldwide release of the newly redesigned Cruze, the vehicle brand name was used in Japan to market and sell a subcompact vehicle from 2001 until 2007.

The first generation was designed and developed during the restructuring processes at GM during the automotive crisis from 2008 to 2010. It started to be produced and be sold in foreign markets as early as 2009.

The Cruze was being rolled out in the United States to replace and eliminate several GM models, including the Chevy Cobalt, Holden Astra, and Daewoo Lacetti, and Pontiac G5. The Cruze was a pivotal model for GM and contributed significantly to the car manufacturer’s recovery.

The first generation lasted until 2016. For the 2017 model year, the Cruze is all new, with a refreshed design, which also kicks off the start of the second generation. The 2017 Cruze comes in several different trim packages, including:

LT Hatchback
Premier Hatchback
L
LS
LT
Premier
Diesel

The L trim package is only available with a manual transmission. All other trim packages are available with either manual or automatic transmissions.

Both the hatchback and diesel models/trim packages are new for 2017. Other updates for the second generation Cruze includes:

Teen driver safety features where parents can set preset controls and be notified when teens are driving poorly.
A “charge-only” USB port was added to the rear of the center console on all LT trim packages and select Premier trim packages.
New exterior colors of pepperdust metallic, artic blue metallic, Cajun red tintcoat, and graphite metallic for sedans.
New exterior colors for hatchback models include current colors for sedans, along with the new sedan color options for 2017.
A standard 1.4-liter turbo engine for faster accelerating.
OnStar with 4G LTE and wireless hotspot connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
New Driver Confidence and Driver Confidence II packages on select models/trim packages.
All models include a standard backup camera, ten airbags, and enhanced crash protection.

Fun Fact: The new Chevy Cruze diesel has an EPA-rating of 52 mph highway—the highest fuel economy for a non-electric/non-hybrid vehicle!

To learn more about the Camaro, Colorado, or Cruze, or to take one for a test drive, please feel free to stop by our showroom at Spencer Chevrolet, your authorized Community Chevy dealer in Indiana, or give us a call at 812-829-4843 today!

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