Real world driving, prices, and complaints??

08CHEVYMAN · December 13, 2014

Just wondering are the new midsizes worth it? Having good experiences? Thinking about switching to midsize!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

newdude · December 13, 2014

Not a personal one but, there is a GM sales training rep who gets his company/training vehicles via our dealer. Had no complaints about the truck except he was on the lower side of MPG. Averaged about 19mpg over 3500 miles. Other than that, he flat out loved it. Crew cab long box Z71.

08CHEVYMAN · December 14, 2014

I've been hearing good things about them just don't know if it's worth it! I'm on the edge of 1/2 ton and these midsize I wish they were a little more fuel efficient but can't complain when comparing it to its competitors. I'll have to get to a dealer and drive one!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

KARNUT · December 15, 2014

I like the looks, sat in a couple, but I get 16 MPG average with all in town driving. I got 22 MPG on a road trip. So Im waiting on the diesel, the 180 HP is a little low. Ive been down the high TQ low HP before in the real world equals slow acceleration, for 38 MPG highway I could deal. Anything less then the Ram V6 diesel starts looking good.

Colossus · December 16, 2014

Give it 2 years before purchasing one. Trust me on this one please.

bboyce536 · December 16, 2014

I agree,especially with gas prices...I get same numbers with my k2xx v8 as the 3.6 colorado. I am waiting for the diesel but 181hp?? C'mon..and I thought my buddies ecodiesel with the agressive axle ratio and 8 speed was slow. Unless things are mis-stated and/or mpg is 35mpg+ I think GM missed it big.

08CHEVYMAN · December 17, 2014

Give it 2 years before purchasing one. Trust me on this one please.

why wait? Everything in these trucks doesn't seem like new technology, 3.6 v6 which is used for a lot of gm's crossover vehicles and the diesel has been used over seas for years.

KARNUT · December 17, 2014

why wait? Everything in these trucks doesn't seem like new technology, 3.6 v6 which is used for a lot of gm's crossover vehicles and the diesel has been used over seas for years.

I would wait till the newness wears off and can get better prices. They are nice looking smaller trucks but, I got my full sized 14 for cheaper than their selling the mid sized for with the same equipment plus a V8. Speaking of that I want to see the real world gas mileage, losing 80 HP in a truck that's 1/3 smaller for 5 MPG that cost more is not a winning formula. Im sure time will cure the cost problem.

BigBadSierra · December 17, 2014

I would wait till the newness wears off and can get better prices. They are nice looking smaller trucks but, I got my full sized 14 for cheaper than their selling the mid sized for with the same equipment plus a V8. Speaking of that I want to see the real world gas mileage, losing 80 HP in a truck that's 1/3 smaller for 5 MPG that cost more is not a winning formula. Im sure time will cure the cost problem.

This was done on purpose. GM wants the 2016 diesel engine to take off so they put a less efficient v6 in the mid size.

The new 4.3 would have been to close the diesel engine fuel millage wise.

I've owned an 2005 4x4 z71 extended cab and a 2007 2wd Colorado Crew. Then did a two Traverses as the kids got older.

Kids are grown and out of the house and I'm so happy to be back in a Truck. Went full size as we want to go with a bigger camper now. IE one with a real bed for the old folks ha ha.

The Mid sized trucks get the job done but have to work to do it. Space was and is still and issue in them.. The new ones are better but it's still a cozy cab.

KARNUT · December 17, 2014

This was done on purpose. GM wants the 2016 diesel engine to take off so they put a less efficient v6 in the mid size.

The new 4.3 would have been to close the diesel engine fuel millage wise.

I've owned an 2005 4x4 z71 extended cab and a 2007 2wd Colorado Crew. Then did a two Traverses as the kids got older.

Kids are grown and out of the house and I'm so happy to be back in a Truck. Went full size as we want to go with a bigger camper now. IE one with a real bed for the old folks ha ha.

The Mid sized trucks get the job done but have to work to do it. Space was and is still and issue in them.. The new ones are better but it's still a cozy cab.

I can see myself in one in about a year, going to wait on the diesel.

Northside · December 19, 2014

I had a '98 S-10 ZR2 that I loved and regretted selling so I thought I'd look at the new Colorado. I have a '14 Silverado LTZ so it was mostly curiosity. The sales guy let me drive it. Loaded Z71 Crew Cab. It really is a nice little truck. Leather trim with cloth in the center of the heated seats. The Bose stereo was like mine sounded fine. It felt really solid and more nimble that my Silverado. I guess I'm just spoiled by all the features that my truck has that this one doesn't. No Auto 4wd, just 2Hi, 4hi, and 4 Low. No volume and station change on the back of the steering wheel, and no garage door opener. It doesn't have near the giddyap of my 5.3 either. I sat in the back seat and I fit all right it's just not as wide as a full sized truck. $38,000 sticker is about $10,000 cheaper so.....All in all, it's a great little truck, just not great enough to get me out of my Silverado.

rvsixer · December 27, 2014

...Speaking of that I want to see the real world gas mileage, losing 80 HP in a truck that's 1/3 smaller for 5 MPG that cost more is not a winning formula. Im sure time will cure the cost problem.

Owner reported at fuelly.com (sample size on the new platform is a bit small, but it is better than swag'ing for sure):

2014-2015 GM 1500 5.3L ~17.3 mpg average

2015 GM Colorado/Canyon 3.6L ~19.1 mpg average

So one should not buy the smaller truck for fuel savings alone for sure.

I can get a new 5.3L full size 4x4 in the mid-trim LT level that I like for around $30K out the door (no one would actually pay MSRP on a vehicle, right ?) . So agreed market pricing really needs to come down to make these viable (the main draw I see for them now is for those wanting/needing smaller and or better/funner handling).

For myself, offer the baby Dmax Colorado with at least 25+mpg average/30+mpg hwy at the same market price as a full size V8, and the twins have a chance as my next truck. Otherwise its probably another full size for me.

GuyGene · January 24, 2015

I want to test drive these mid sized trucks. But, I think we about have to just ignore mpg except in the 4 cylinder. Because the competition in full size trucks does as good or better. I read on F150 forums that most old boys with the 5.0 V8 get about 20-23 highway. All I care about is highway mpg, I never look at normal around town driving mpg.

So, for me, mpg will have about no influence on whether I would get a Canyon or Colorado. Since I'm used to 18-20 highway mpg in my current truck, that's become my standard. And it seems all makes are getting that now, except Tundra and Titan. Weird that the Japanese brands are the big truck gas hogs, eh?

rvsixer · January 24, 2015

I want to test drive these mid sized trucks. But, I think we about have to just ignore mpg except in the 4 cylinder. Because the competition in full size trucks does as good or better. I read on F150 forums that most old boys with the 5.0 V8 get about 20-23 highway. All I care about is highway mpg, I never look at normal around town driving mpg.

So, for me, mpg will have about no influence on whether I would get a Canyon or Colorado. Since I'm used to 18-20 highway mpg in my current truck, that's become my standard. And it seems all makes are getting that now, except Tundra and Titan. Weird that the Japanese brands are the big truck gas hogs, eh?

I suppose if you drive at 50-55mph a 20-23mpg average number is possible. If you head over to fuelly.com, you will find most every real world Ford V8 owner is reporting 18-21mpg highway mpg max average, so call it around 19.5 plus or minus mpg highway average. No surprise there, can't get around the physics. A Colorado V6 will beat that by about 2 mpg, imo not enough to sway a buying decision unless you drive a lot (see my "So one should not buy the smaller truck for fuel savings alone for sure" comment/numbers above).

BTW I put more trust in the fuelly.com numbers since people there are conscientously recording odometer and gas pump numbers and doing the math, rather than people simply posting what they see on thier instantaneous/average fuel flow readouts (I had one of those that consistently overstated long haul highway mpg by 10-11%, versus my gps verified miles traveled divided by real number of gallons pumped back in mpg number).

bboyce536 · January 25, 2015

I worked at a chevy dealership back when the k2xx trucks were being released and we did a big "Chevy vs. All" campaign where we brought in similarly equipped Ford and Dodge trucks. I had nothing going on one day and literally spent a few hours testing all the different trucks on the same route (nothing scientific mind you) as similarly as possible. In the end the Ram actually impressed me but it was clear the Silverado was a step ahead. As Far as mpg went, the Ford with the 5.0 was last,followed closely by the Ram and best was the Chevy.

Another big complaint we had about the 3.6 in both the Traverse and equinox was the poor MPG.

Point is, Fords V8 sucks fuel and so does the 3.6. I know the 5.3 would have been overkill but sure seems GM did something right with that motor since they get pretty much the same mpg as the smaller and lighter Colorado.