Colorado/Canyon 6cyl gas mileage numbers released

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2014/09/gm-releases-v-6-mpg-numbers-for-2015-chevrolet-coloradogmc-canyon.html

Underwhelming in the end.

Until the diesel shows up, it's pretty much as expected.

Just not enough bump in mileage to give up the comforts and capabilities of a fullsize.

Same old story....and the price of a diesel along with the price of a diesel doesn't make sense yet either. Be interesting to see what it does get though. But I expect they will need to upgrade the 6 speed to make a difference.

Considering the current competition, it could be worse....

2015 Colorado/Canyon vs 2014 Tacoma vs 2014 Frontier

Pretty respectable considering the power produced and the near exact identical dimensions to the full size GMT-400 trucks.

Not going to set the world on fire with MPG figures.  Expectations by many were likely set too high. Comparatively in the segment the six cylinder mileage is best in class.

The upcoming 2.5 4 cyl will likely get another MPG or two.  The upcoming diesel should be pretty decent as well.

So the base Colorado extended cab with the four banger starts at just over $27,000? Wow!

Colorado Online Configurator

They didn't go small enough with this truck IMO.
Instead of a 7/8s sized Silverado it should have been a 3/4 sized one.

Diesel Dan wrote:

They didn't go small enough with this truck IMO.
Instead of a 7/8s sized Silverado it should have been a 3/4 sized one.

With the ever expanding waist bands of the US, 3/4 sized would likely eliminate much of the addressable market.

The full size trucks have steadily grown in size now each generation, thus providing some room for the smaller trucks to go larger as well.

The S10 crew cab for a normal size person was still a tight affair. When people have grown accustomed to more room, versus less, the majority seems to prefer more room. We've seen name plates that have been around for decades continually grow larger with each generation. Heck even Mini is making larger versions.

Some lesser number of enthusiasts however would like to see the smaller size, however would they be purchased in the same quantity versus the larger. Moreover would people pay $27k for an S10 sized Colorado? As most of the hard costs aren't going to change with minimal size differences.

Sizing is an age old argument.
Segment decline is as well.

It is easy to point out that the Colorado/canyon did not sell in the numbers that the S10 did. What is harder to explain is why. There are many that say it was just a shrinking market but there are also many that point out that the manufacturers quit supporting that segment.

I have talked with many S10 owners who bought a GMT355 and were not happy with the product. Several went up to a fullsize but still miss their S10s. The Colorado/Canyon, IMO, never looked right. Many were/are not happy with how the I5 performs and the truck was released with less tow capacity than the S10 it replaced.

So did the consumer leave the segment or did GM push them away?

Diesel Dan wrote:

there are also many that point out that the manufacturers quit supporting that segment.

Big time, it showed in the product details when compared to other vehicles, investment and innovation in the market at the time. Ford was right in lock step with lack of innovation and investment on the tired Ranger platform. Given a choice however I would tend to slide toward the Ford.

Quote :

I have talked with many S10 owners who bought a GMT355 and were not happy with the product. Several went up to a fullsize but still miss their S10s. The Colorado/Canyon, IMO, never looked right. Many were/are not happy with how the I5 performs and the truck was released with less tow capacity than the S10 it replaced.

So did the consumer leave the segment or did GM push them away?

I believe the latter was 80% of the reasoning. Also the market did shift likely that was inevitable when the full sizes got all the attention and investment. A predetermined outcome really.

GM's attempt was half baked on the GMT-355. I got to drive one at a GM road show event though a structured course. I thought the chassis wasn't as solid as it should have been. Power was decent. The material inside was very unappealing. Conversely the materials on the full size were better and it showed.