Another mid-size pickup is coming

[MillCreek]

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/2015-chevrolet-colorado-revealed-diesel-la/

The Chevy Colorado is scheduled to hit the showrooms in fall of 2014.  Finally, some competition to the Frontier and the Tacoma.

[geronimotwo]

oh, mid sized diesel pickup.

[mtnbkr]

My grandfather has a 5cyl Colorado from the Mid-2000s.  Did they go away or something?

It seems to be an ok truck.  His is 2wd and he doesn't use it hard, so I don't have any anecdotal data regarding reliability or capability.

Chris

[RoadKingLarry]

Why do I suspect they will take something that could be really good and fark it all up...

[41magsnub]

Why do I suspect they will take something that could be really good and fark it all up...

Yeah, I'm concerned they will take a $15K truck and have $10K worth of non-optional electronics on top of it.

[dogmush]

I don't like the current Colorados.  I can't imagine GM can make a diesel engine good enough to make me overcome dislike of the brand and the platform.

[charby]

Yeah, I'm concerned they will take a $25K truck and have $15K worth of non-optional electronics on top of it.

FIFY

[Tallpine]

Looks like it would be great for somebody that doesn't really need a pickup 

All that fancy interior is just a pain in the butt for us bush folks 

I wish I could get something like those diesel Land Cruiser pickups that they sell in Australia.

[charby]

Looks like it would be great for somebody that doesn't really need a pickup  

All that fancy interior is just a pain in the butt for us bush folks  

I wish I could get something like those diesel Land Cruiser pickups that they sell in Australia.

If the demand for a new pickup truck like that (with buyers), was there. Detroit would be kicking them out in mass numbers.

[Tallpine]

If the demand for a new pickup truck like that (with buyers), was there. Detroit would be kicking them out in mass numbers.

Actually the demand is there.  Look at the UTV market.  People are buying those to fill the niche that used to be jeeps and utilitarian pickups.  But you just can't use them on the highway.

All the govt regulation for air bags etc is killing the basic pickup market.  The UTVs are getting around that - for now ....

[brimic]

I don't like the current Colorados.  I can't imagine GM can make a diesel engine good enough to make me overcome dislike of the brand and the platform.

Yep. I always saw the current colorados as fail.

[Gewehr98]

The Colorado/Canyon 5 cylinder engine was a disappointment, which was too bad because Audi/VW and Honda know how to do 5 cylinder engines right.

I test drove a new Colorado a few years ago, and was thoroughly put off by both the exterior and interior design.

Hopefully, this new diesel Colorado with fresh sheet metal can revive things for GM.

[charby]

Actually the demand is there.  Look at the UTV market.  People are buying those to fill the niche that used to be jeeps and utilitarian pickups.  But you just can't use them on the highway.

All the govt regulation for air bags etc is killing the basic pickup market.  The UTVs are getting around that - for now ....

UTV is not a pickup replacement, maybe small tractor replacement or upgrade from an ATV but not a pickup. That is like comparing apples to rhinoceros.

[French G.]

10-15K for a UTV that you can't run down the highway. Economy soft or not there are still clearly people on the shut up and take my money program.

[brimic]

The Colorado/Canyon 5 cylinder engine was a disappointment, which was too bad because Audi/VW and Honda know how to do 5 cylinder engines right.

Yes, I wonder why they didn't use the 4.2L Straight-6 from the trailblazer/envoy line, which is a very solid, good performing engine.

[Tallpine]

UTV is not a pickup replacement, maybe small tractor replacement or upgrade from an ATV but not a pickup. That is like comparing apples to rhinoceros.

I dunno ... would you want to drive a fancy pickup around in the brush hauling fence posts?

Some folks around here have them street legal (or not?) and drive them all over the neighborhood on the county and private roads.  They don't use their car or pickup at all except to go to town, or farther.

I would get one except I can't justify the cost, when I can get an old junker pickup for about $1500 including the repairs.

The way that UTVs are getting bigger and more powerful, they are getting right up into the small pickup range, except for top speed.

[charby]

I dunno ... would you want to drive a fancy pickup around in the brush hauling fence posts?

Some folks around here have them street legal (or not?) and drive them all over the neighborhood on the county and private roads.  They don't use their car or pickup at all except to go to town, or farther.

I would get one except I can't justify the cost, when I can get an old junker pickup for about $1500 including the repairs.

The way that UTVs are getting bigger and more powerful, they are getting right up into the small pickup range, except for top speed.

If I was a farmer/rancher, yes because the truck would have been a business expense/tool. As a outdoors person I drive my fancy pickup truck all over god's green earth, I also buy used with low miles and let the first owner put the 1st scratch on it.

[Lee]

Two things:
1) You'd think they would have a more aggressive and/or unnique look if they intend to go after Toyoate and Nissan. It looks plain as hell.
2) They should have a V8 option. People love hot rod trucks, and they do make the corvette and camaro...right. My Nissan accelerates like a bat out of hell, but I (and many other Frontier guys) would love to have the Titan motor in it. I don't haul brush and fence posts, I haul ass...well... And mulch.

[Boomhauer]

Yes, I wonder why they didn't use the 4.2L Straight-6 from the trailblazer/envoy line, which is a very solid, good performing engine.

Youre talking about the 4.3 V6 which is an excellent engine.

What I dont understand is why I should buy a midsize pickup that gives me not much better mpg than a fullsize.

Also the new epa compliant diesels are *expletive deleted*ing nightmares...

[brimic]

Youre talking about the 4.3 V6 which is an excellent engine.

The 4.3 is another good one, but the 4.2L is a straight -6.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Atlas_engine

[Boomhauer]

The 4.3 is another good one, but the 4.2L is a straight -6.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Atlas_engine

Gotcha.


Still not very optimistic about their diesel engine once they put all the stupid EPA required *expletive deleted*it on it...

Thanks EPA for hating diesels!

[dm1333]

If it came with a plain jane interior, manual windows and door locks, and the diesel I might be interested.  What are the odds Chevy is going to sell a Work Truck these days?

[41magsnub]

If it came with a plain jane interior, manual windows and door locks, and the diesel I might be interested.  What are the odds Chevy is going to sell a Work Truck these days?

They say they have a "Work Truck" package, but what that means is not fully defined.  I know what it used to mean.

[charby]

They say they have a "Work Truck" package, but what that means is not fully defined.  I know what it used to mean.

You usually find what you think as a work truck in the 3/4 ton class.

[roo_ster]

Looked at "work trucks" a few months back.  Could not find a half-ton with towing chops (mid-line motor & tranny vs entry-level) that also did not have power equipment I did not want.  Matter of fact, pricing & rebates made the similar non-work truck 1/2 ton variant cheaper. 

Very depressing.  As someone who likes to put ~200k on a vehicle, I wanted to minimize things like PW/PDL motors, carpet, power-this & that.  I got laughed at by one salesman when I said I wanted a manual transmission. 

The only real option was to go with the entry-level 3/4 ton work truck which gets crappier MPG.