Motor Trend 2015 Truck of the Year

mich800 wrote:

obgraham wrote:
Since when did Towing become the main purpose of a small pickup? Well, except here on an RV web-board, I guess.

I'd just like a small truck for the stuff I have to use a utility trailer for now -- going to the dump, grab some cement bags, and pretending I can fix stuff myself. I don't need a freekin F350 for that!

I think the issue is these are not the mini trucks of past but approaching the 1/2 ton market relative to size. So now we wait and see if GM can successfully carve out this niche that is really a blurred small truck/half ton truck. I personally would be up for a small truck just to do errands around town or lugging the bikes to the trail. But the Colorado is so close to the 1/2 ton market I would just go slightly bigger.

Not just in the US, the Global Pickups are as big as the 1/2 tons of the late 1990's. Admittedly they will not take 4 in SUV comfort but can tow 8000lb and have payloads slightly over 3000lb for single/extended cabs.
New trend in Australia is to use the European Cab Chassis Van Pickups. Max towing is 8000lb, but payloads vary from 6,000-10,000lb. Much more civilised than either a light Japanese Truck or a F250/F350