In a country whose best-seller automobile has been a pick-up for decades by a huge difference, an initial thought could be that it’s impossible to sell compact vehicles in the United States. This statement was actually true until the 1970s, when the oil crysis created a much stronger reason to perform changes than any personal preference: the need, which in this case was to use less fuel. And after that, the 2008 crysis forced this industry basically to become more efficient. In other words, everything converged into demanding North America to “slow down”, at least a little.
However, as many aspects of life, it would be impossible to perform this process fast. This is mostly why hybrid and electric cars took some years to get public acceptance there, as well as smaller cars in general. Big changes like those need to be gradual, in order to generate as less impact on the public as possible. Such “rules” are what ended creating a favorable environment for “not-too-compact” automobile conceptions in the US. Chrysler, GM and Ford started to take more vehicles sold elsewhere into their homeland, which turns to be a win-win strategy because satisfies the new needs of more efficient transportation while increasing their production levels around the world.
This context is what explains why Colorado became the third version of a two-year-old project offered in many countries – Brazil produces it as Chevrolet S10 for Latin America, the Thai plant produces Colorado for Asia under Chevrolet and for Australia under Holden and Isuzu offers D-Max. The first three are basically the same vehicle and D-Max received some design changes, while this article’s truck was much more altered. This choice was made because the same vehicle which is the automaker’s biggest truck in all the other countries will be Chevrolet’s smallest option in the US, given that “big pick-ups” means Avalanche, Silverado and Silverado HD there.
In other words, GM performed a very similar move as Toyota’s with the latest Camry and Corolla, which arrived in different versions according to the country. Colorado’s intention is to offer everything that makes Chevrolet pick-ups famous, but in a smaller size in order to attract those who don’t want a work vehicle. Under that reason, the front fascia received a whole new design which resembles much more the urban Chevrolet than any of its big sisters. Actually, the all-black grille directly connected to the headlights reminds very much of the new Malibu. The hood’s more solid shapes leaves it very imponent, while the painted bumper with much less chrome accents aids for an interesting sportier look.
Sides and rear look much more like the sisters’s, but this one comes only with crew or extended cabs. There’s a 5’ bed as standard for the first and an available 6.1’, the latter coming as standard for the other. Compared to the global vehicle, this Colorado received the same structural improvements seen on Silverado, improving rigidity and crash performance. The interior was completely redesigned and offers a dashboard which looks very much like the other Chevrolet pick-ups’s, including MyLink at the most expensive trims. Speaking of which, there will be Work Truck, LT and Z71, with a price range expected to overlap Silverado’s only at the most-equipped trims.
Colorado won’t cause any revolution regarding equipments, but it’s possible to expect everything that is seen on its global sister – and on the direct competitors Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. Assembled in Wentzville, Missouri, the new pick-up goes on sale late next year with an all-aluminum 2.5L engine with 193 hp and 184 lb-ft as standard and a 3.6L V6 of 302 hp and 270 lb-ft which is capable of towing around 6,700 pounds – both will use brake discs in every wheel and six-speed automatic transmission as standard, and offer AWD as optional. In 2015, the new Colorado will enter its second year adding a turbo-diesel 2.8L unit, which propels its sisters with 180 hp and 346 lb-ft.