2015 Chevy Colorado hands on impression

lbrjet wrote:
The payload is impressive.

Yes it is! Considering that this is a loaded up LT model I was very surprised by this number. I imagine the 4x4 LTZ will have around 1,000 lbs of payload.

Makes you wonder what the target market for this truck really is?

I suspect that this truck will find a nice niche in the truck market.

Sitting beside this truck was a 2wd LT Silverado Crew cab loaded with leather, nearly the same package as the Colorado. The price was 44k where the Loaded Colorado was 32 and change.

What appeals to me about this truck is that it's large enough to fit a family of four comfortably, haul the family boat or small RV, commute economically, and fit in most parking garages.

This could be a huge hit for GM. Especially for folks like me who don't need a full size truck but occassionally need to haul more than 3500 lbs.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

The payload is impressive.

As a former Nissan Frontier (06 V6 AT) owner having towed a 22' 4050lb TT with it. I would have no problem towing that same trailer with the GM twins. The Frontier is way down on power compared to the twins. Plus it's a little bigger overall which would help with stability.

TFL Truck did a tow test with a Canyon going up to Eisenhower Tunnel towing between 5 and 6k and were impressed. I don't know what gear they were in but the truck ran at around 5k RPM for most of the ride and was not that noisy in the cab, 70db if I remember correctly.

I posted the link in one of the other Colorado threads but here it is again, Canyon towing. They also tested a Nissan Frontier up the same route towing a boat that weighed close to the same as the trailer but it didn't do as well, Nissan towing.

Edited to add that speculations are that GM didn't use the 4.3 because they didn't want to take from the full size market share. The 3.6 also gets a little better MPGs.

Yeah it ain't nothin like the lean mean towin machine, Exploder Sport trac, but it'll do.
The new Colorados and Canyons will be pretty popular I think. No small or midsize trucks out except for the rice rides for a while now.....and a diesel option!

Fast0ne wrote:
Sorry but the sport trac is a pile of junk. Lmao

But guess what the new colorado already has a company that has built a computer reprogram.

Trifecta has gotten the little motor up 31ft pounds of torque and 27 whp. Also they are working on a s/c for it.

So end of the day it will make more power and torque then the v8 sport trac. And way more than the outdated 4.0 v6.

But all in all the truck should have got the 4.3. Can't wait to see the new diesel this year.

Man what are you smokin'?? Do you even have a clue about the Sport Trac and it's capabilities??

It's the same high output 4.6L 3V used in the newer 2009 and 2010 F150s with up to 320 lbs of torque at 4000 lbs in the F150s and 315 lbs in the Sport Tracs. That along with it's 292 HP at only 5600 rpms.

My 4WD truck was loaded with the 70 lbs factory bifold hard locking tonnea cover. Without it, my 'actual' payload was 1288 lbs which is great for a Crew Cab 4WD midsize (with a backseat a large man can use).

The truck never struggled pulling my Jay Flight 19BH, that weighed about 5000 lbs, in 40 mph Northern Indiana winds.

Had that truck bed loaded over 1000 lbs without even a sag or a whimper from it. Very reliable and quailty built. In fact it's been my most trouble free vehicle. Second only by my 2012 F150. My GMs and Chryslers never came close BUT we'll see on the new GM after all their fines. Bet it whipped them into shape and changed their company for the better.

The new Chevy looks good if it would only get rid of that Sports car engine that produced only average V6 performance in normal rpm operating ranges. As I said if GM actually thought for a minute, they should had used the new 4.3L which has great torque and HP for a V6 in a real world 'usable' rpm range.

I bet next years model will get the 4.3L.

Sorry but the sport trac is a pile of junk. Lmao

But guess what the new colorado already has a company that has built a computer reprogram.

Trifecta has gotten the little motor up 31ft pounds of torque and 27 whp. Also they are working on a s/c for it.

So end of the day it will make more power and torque then the v8 sport trac. And way more than the outdated 4.0 v6.

But all in all the truck should have got the 4.3. Can't wait to see the new diesel this year.

I think your right Mike,

In most of the world there is a bunch of smaller and very capable trucks that can haul relatively heavy loads. Once this truck gets the small diesel in production it may gain a lot of buyers who want a smaller package but a lot of capability.

This truck may be popular with outdoorsmen too. Back when the Ranger, S10, Hardbody, and Tacoma were all competing in this segment nearly all of my hunting buddy's had small 4x4 trucks.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

That new engine sounds powerful until you do some calculation and find that at normal rpms, 4000 rpms for torque and 5400 - 5600 rpms for horsepower, that's it's actually less powerful than the current 4.0L Nissan engine at those rpms.

You'll have to wind it out like a clock on a race track to get it's 305 hp.

Otherwise it seems pretty nice and at least now it does have a fairly powerful engine in the rpms needed opposed to earlier offerings.

Still wouldn't want to pull a 5000 lbs trailer with it's low torque output and it's average HP, but would be a nicefor an R-Pod or equivalent.

I would had expected the new 4.3L direct injection "TRUCK" engine, not a 3.6L car engine, but it is what it is.

Don't know how to read GMs weird pics, but looks like 7500 tow rating/900 lbs tongue rating, which is really good for a midsize. That with it's great 1/2 ton payload really demands that 4.3L to make it a 1/2 ton fullsize replacement.

I bought my previous 2008 Sport Trac V8 4.6L 3V because of it's long wheelbase (same as Chevy Avalanche), it high torque V8, and it's higher payload, and it's higher rated 730 lbs tongue weight (7000 lbs tow rating) reciever hitch.

Sounds like the industry is finally getting closer with a truck that can meet the out of production Sport Trac.