Tieing it all together is the Colorado's ladder frame, which GM claims to be some 250 percent stiffer torsionally than the S-10's. You can feel the solidity. This helps pay off GM's move from recirculating-ball to more responsive rack-and-pinion steering in the new pickup. Though the rest of the Colorado chassis specification reads like the compact-truck norm, the stiff frame helps the double A-arm front suspension, leaf-sprung live rear axle and anti-lock front-disc/rear-drum brakes play together like they're on the same team. This is an engaging truck to drive, from the liveliness of the engines to the precision of the manual-transmission shifter and the responsiveness of the chassis. Whether you choose the standard-height Z85, high-riding Z71, or lowrider ZQ8, the same pleasing synergy applies. Chevrolet is offering traction control on 2WD models for the first time--kind of a poor man's 4WD and not widely available in smaller trucks. Other options new to Chevy's smallest truck are XM Satellite Radio ($325), OnStar ($695), and side-curtain airbags, starting at $195.
Maximum towing capacity of the Colorado is down to 4000 pounds, compared to 5900 pounds in the S-10. This reflects new thinking that compact or midsize truck owners don't tow or do a lot of heavy hauling. So why not make the truck more enjoyable to drive lightly loaded? Buyers will move up to a full-size truck if they regularly do heavy towing.
Or maybe they'll just borrow their buddy's Silverado for the next annual weekend outing to Lake Wobegone.
While you're here, meet the GMC Canyon
Mirroring the Colorado almost model for model is the Canyon, GMC's new entry in the midsize-pickup market. The new Canyon sports front-end styling true to the GMC Professional Grade image, has a few more standard items than its equivalent Colorado model, and carries a $300-$700 higher tariff. GMC won't offer a two-wheel-drive regular-cab sport-truck version of the Canyon like the Colorado ZQ8. GMC originally wasn't slotted to take a version of the new midsize pickup because it didn't seem consistent with the brand's move upmarket. But every brand needs fresh buyers to replace older ones who stop driving, and with sister division Pontiac's sales decline in recent years, a midsize pickup priced starting in the teens became an attractive proposition. Hence, the all-new Canyon. --R.S.
Base price, Canyon (inc dest): $16,530 (2WD), $19,140 (4WD)