I have no clue just how militarily effective the Swiss army is, or was. But I do love its knives.
There’s not a more useful, or versatile tool you can buy than a Swiss Army Knife. All those bits and pieces, from knife, to screwdrivers, to can opener. Don’t forget the tweezers, pliers, scissors and a file.
I’m sure you could build yourself a Cray super-computer using nothing more.
If you’re wondering about the origins of this multi-faceted masterpiece, seems it evolved from pocket knives issued to Swiss soldiers back in 1886.
But it was in 1891 when the cutlery-maker Karl Elsener modified them to include a fold-out screwdriver, knife blade, reemer and can opener. The Swiss Army Knife was born.
Today’s automotive equivalent of this pocket tool extraordinaire might just be the new Chevy Colorado Trail Boss 4×4 pick-up I’ve been driving.
Here is a four-door, four-seater with a PODS-sized pick-up bed, four-wheel-drive and raised-up suspension to tackle those South Tampa floods, and a new 2.7-liter turbo engine with more muscle than Rambo.
And with a base sticker of $38,795, or $41,195 very nicely loaded, it’s a terrific value for such a versatile Swiss Army Knife on wheels.
Chevy did a major makeover of its mid-sized Colorado trucklette for 2023, stretching the wheel-base, giving it a girder-like frame from the bigger Silverado, and simplifying the powertrain options by offering just that 2.7 turbo four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic.
Five models are up for grabs, kicking off with the base WT (Work Truck) at $30,695 including destination, and topping off with the off-road focused ZR2 Bison at a, gulp, $60,095.
Our Trail Boss version sits nicely in the middle of the range and, to me, provides the best all-round balance of rugged off-road performance with more refined, smoother-riding road manners.
And it looks like it could rock-crawl across the Colorado Rockies without breaking a sweat. It features a 2.0-inch suspension lift, specially-tuned Rancho twin-tube shocks, 32-inch Goodyear Territory A/T rubber, skid plate and a locking rear differential.
Add to this a Mad Max-style blacked-out front end that looks like a face-painted Navy Seal, and you have more head-turning street cred than a new Corvette.
Like all new Colorados, it’s also a terrific workhorse. This thing can haul a 7,700 pound trailer, or carry a half-ton payload. I could almost hear it laughing when I loaded in my Christmas tree in the back.
And talking of back, the pick-up bed measures 61 inches by 58 (45 ins between the rear wheelarches). It also comes with a tailgate with a full-width, lockable storage compartment that’s perfect for stowing tools. It even has a drain so it can be used as a cooler.
With that two-inch suspension lift, climbing aboard is a bit of a step up, but inside there’s plenty of stretch-out space for four – five on short trips – with decent legroom in the back.
The interior itself is on the basic side, with black cloth trim and lots of wipe-down, shiny black plastic and vinyl. But the quality and fit and finish is terrific, and the dashboard with that 11.3-inch LED touchscreen in the center, is well laid out and easy to use.
Powering the Trail Boss is the mid-output Turbo Plus version of the 2.7 four-banger with a beefy 310 horseys and stump-pulling 391 lb-ft of torque.
With its quick-shifting, super-responsive 8-speed automatic, the Trail Boss is quick off the line, is strong mid-range, and surprisingly smooth and refined. It’s a terrific little motor.
No prizes though for fuel economy. According to the EPA, you’ll get 17mpg around town, 21 on the highway and a combined 19 mpg.
But the Boss is a blast to drive, with its elevated driving position, nicely-weighted steering, and the feeling you get of being able to conquer Everest in low-ratio if you wanted to.
No wonder then that the new Colorado just won the coveted Motor Trend Truck of the Year title. The Swiss Army would be impressed.
