Chevrolet News:Chevrolet Colorado Takes Home Truck of the Year Honors

[William Maley]

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Motor Trend has named its truck of the year today and it has come to a complete shock to those who were expecting the Ford F-150 to take home the golden calipers. Instead it has gone to the Chevrolet Colorado.

“After days of testing, hundreds of miles on the road, and our most rigorous truck testing program to date, our editors unanimously selected the Chevy Colorado as our 2015 Truck of the Year. Colorado is a smart, capable, and refreshingly honest truck that makes a strong value and efficiency statement. It’s perfectly sized and suited for the needs of many of today’s truck users,” said Edward Loh, editor-in-chief at Motor Trend.

The Colorado earned praise for its spacious interior, fit and finish; performance, and price tag. The most surprising part of the Colorado's win was that unanimous vote by the editors of Motor Trend.

Aside from beating out the F-150, the Colorado also beat out

• Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD
  
• Ford F-450
  
• Ford Transit 350 HR and Transit 150 MR
  
• GMC Canyon SLT
  
• GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD
  

Source: Motor Trend, GM

Press Release is on Page 2

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MOTOR TREND Names Chevrolet Colorado 2015 Truck of the Year

Midsize pickup outclasses competition in design, engineering, efficiency, safety and more

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – After its most comprehensive truck evaluation program in history, MOTOR TREND has selected the Chevy Colorado as its 2015 Truck of the Year®.

MOTOR TREND’s Truck of the Year program is only open to all-new or significantly updated trucks and vans for the upcoming model year. For 2015, seven contenders were invited to compete; three competitors were asked to bring a powertrain and/or body style variant for a total of 10 vehicles overall:

• Chevrolet Colorado WT and Colorado Z71
  
• Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD
  
• Ford F150 2.7L EcoBoost and 3.5L EcoBoost
  
• Ford F-450
  
• Ford Transit 350 HR and Transit 150 MR
  
• GMC Canyon SLT
  
• GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD
  

The 2015 Colorado emerged as MOTOR TREND’s 2015 Truck of the Year by a rare unanimous vote. The editors were particularly impressed with Colorado’s handsome, clean-sheet design, “right-sized” package, excellent handling and overall capability. Colorado’s potent-yet-efficient powertrains also returned best-in-class fuel economy according to Real MPG and EPA testing.

“After days of testing, hundreds of miles on the road, and our most rigorous truck testing program to date, our editors unanimously selected the Chevy Colorado as our 2015 Truck of the Year,” said Edward Loh, MOTOR TREND’s editor-in-chief. “Colorado is a smart, capable, and refreshingly honest truck that makes a strong value and efficiency statement. It’s perfectly sized and suited for the needs of many of today’s truck users.”

Said Sandor Piszar, Chevy Trucks marketing director: “The Chevrolet Colorado offers customers the versatility of a pickup in a powerful, refined, fuel-efficient midsize package, with up to 27 mpg EPA highway. For Colorado to emerge from MOTOR TREND’s thorough evaluation as the 2015 Truck of the Year shows how Colorado is changing the game by offering truck customers fresh new choices.”

To determine which truck deserved top honors, the MOTOR TREND test team subjected all of the contenders to numerous instrumented and real-world road tests. First up was standard MOTOR TREND testing, which included: 0-60 mph and 1/4-mile acceleration, 60-0 mph braking, and maximum lateral grip - all without payload or trailered loads.

A specific payload was then added to each truck and van, and the vehicles were then driven more than 250 miles to the Arizona/Nevada border to evaluate ride quality and loaded fuel economy. The vehicles were driven up and down the famed Davis Dam in Bullhead City, Ariz., for further assessment, including an instrumented test designed to simulate a passing situation while carrying a load.

The team then moved to a world-class automotive proving grounds for instrumented acceleration tests with nominal weight trailers. Truck and trailer were also driven through a short handling course to evaluate acceleration, braking, maneuverability and outward visibility. The final phase of evaluation involved a 21-mile road loop through hills of Arizona’s Hualapai Mountains.

Following the team’s intensive evaluation, the trucks were shipped to MOTOR TREND headquarters in El Segundo to undergo proprietary “Real MPG” fuel-economy testing. Using advanced exhaust gas and flow-rate analyzers, Real MPG measures tailpipe emissions every second during a three-hour, 88-mile drive around the Los Angeles area to record accurate real-world fuel economy.

Once testing was completed, select MOTOR TREND editors convened to determine which truck would be crowned Truck of the Year. The winner is not chosen from a direct comparison against the other contenders, but rather as a result of how each contender performed in testing and against the award’s six criteria: Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value, and Performance of Intended Function.

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[aurora97]

It's got technology and stuff!

[ocnblu]

It means the world to me. 

[daves87rs]

Not that surprised.....truck is nice, and does offer value...something the f150 does not.

 

 

And many are still out on the new frame.....

[bobo]

The Colorado does more to the mid-size pickup market than the F-150 does for the full-sizers.  It seems most full-size truck love goes to the Ram these days.

[Cmicasa the Great]

All that with as much negativity from press and fanboi as I've ever seen. On top of that GM owns the Large SUV market that is based on those very trucks.

 

Yup.. if a person buys a Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade/Suburban/Yukon XL/ESV instead of a Silverado/Sierra, do U think a Dan Ammann cuts the word "hate" in his arm?

With 225K+ SUVs being sold thus far.. I doubt it. I could see HI-5s going on so loud at RenCen that U'd swear a bag of fire-crackers had just gone off.

 

U kno some will say that GM paid for this win.. To that person I say.. “RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.” The most hated corporation on the planet Earth actually has a friend at MT.. of all places. If  its anything I have learned over at MT.. and believe me I have an extreme familiarity with their ways.. is that in order for a GM product to be considered top of the hill it must absolutely "jump thru all FLAMING hoops while doing a back-flip, playing a perfect Mozart Violin Concerto No.5 in A minor, and at the same time explaining in detail and understanding to a 14 year-old... Einstein's Theory of Relativity. "

 

We are talking Motor Trend... whose Editor (Angus) had the nerve to tell us back in 2008 that the reason why they "BLACK BALLED" a Pontiac Vibe... was not because it was a POS Toyota... not because it was underpowered by a 1.8L... not because it got worse gas mileage than a Cobalt or G5 with more power... not even because of that WRETCHED interior... but because one of their employees "dropped the ball" and didn't see a TYPO (Sept 2008 Issue of MT... where their car guide listed 162 Models... Toyota Matrix got 4 stars while the Pontiac Vibe got 2 1/2 stars.) http://forums.motortrend.com/7...

 

I’ve heard people say that the Colorado and Canyon will take away from Silvy/Sierra sales. We'll see. I think every vehicle is cross-shopped if they are on the same lot. I cross-shopped a Chevy Volt with my Camaro. I cross-shopped an Acadia with my Yukon.. I'm sure GM had no issue with me choosing either.

 

What's interesting is I doubt that they will bring this up at all when the time comes and Ford decides that bring thing Ranger back would be a great idea. Of course Ford will most likely do what I think GM should have done.. and simply call their re-imagined Ranger, the Ford F100 (GM should have called the Colorado the Silverado 1000) and combine the numbers so technically will see no cross-shopping. Its what they so with their "Suburban/Tahoe" the Expy and Expy XL. Ford fans are typically hypocrites. And their bias is fact dodging at its best.

 

The F-150 lost .  It happened. The truck will be more expensive to make.. More expensive to buy.. and quite frankly even if other makers such as GM wait it out to see how it fairs, haters should be congratulating them for allowing Ford to take the brunt on this one. Fact is that all GM has to do to match or exceed the "Aluminum Monster's" Fuel economy (Gotta Watch It's Always Sunny to get the pun ) in the Silvy/Sierra is put into rotation their already available 8-Speed.

[Drew Dowdell]

The F-150 simply wasn't a game changer like the Colorado/Canyon are. It's was among the heaviest vehicle in its class for years. It only beats a Ram 1500 RWD V6 by 1mpg on the highway but the Ram does it without expensive body materials or turbo-chargers, just their excellent 8-Speed transmission.  The Silverado is only 2mpg behind and it doesn't even have an 8-speed yet which is clearly on the way. 

[Cmicasa the Great]

The F-150 simply wasn't a game changer like the Colorado/Canyon are. It's was among the heaviest vehicle in its class for years. It only beats a Ram 1500 RWD V6 by 1mpg on the highway but the Ram does it without expensive body materials or turbo-chargers, just their excellent 8-Speed transmission.  The Silverado is only 2mpg behind and it doesn't even have an 8-speed yet which is clearly on the way. 

 

 

Some times I really think it takes GM so long to put certain thing sin their vehicles simply because they over-produced them the year before. It reminds me of the 2.4L Engine.. and the 3.5L V6.. and the 1.8L.. and even the 4speed. 

[regfootball]

My boss got rid of his Chevy and got a ram, I've been in it a few times, it's a great truck. Try to find a Pentastar ram. You almost can't they sell fast.

I think chevy got the size right on Colorado. It's capable for most casual hauling and svelte enough so it doesn't feel like a big fat truck.

Ford bet the farm on aluminum and turbos. From the standpoint of amortizing future technologies over a huge selling product it's a great idea. But otherwise the truck itself doesn't bring much new in styling or packaging. Which is not a bad thing, it's just ford trucks are evolving not breaking ground, even if they are pushing new technology.

[regfootball]

I actually would highly consider a light optioned inexpensive 2.7 ecoboost short box f150. That would be a cool truck. So would the dodge. Gm pickups look old and frumpy to me.

[Cory Wolfe]

I think it's great that the Colorado won TOTY, though, I expected the F150 to walk away with it. After reading the full article with write-ups on each competitor, it begs to reason that they made the right choice. It's pretty blatant when they still favor the much older (though thoroughly updated with goodies like the diesel) Ram over the all-new Ford. For all the progress that was made with making the truck lighter and more technological, Ford's continuing problems with fuel economy did them in.  

[Cmicasa the Great]

Various models will have varying weight. Ford did not explain it that way to the media.. and via the media the public who was fooled into believing this was going to lead to fuel economy gains were deceived. I mean seriously.. How many thought that GM and Ram were doomed when the Aluminum.. "700lb lighter" F150 debuted to the news feed? Who thought that Ford was shooting for the 30MPG gas powered truck. I can point to 100 links of speculation like that based on the info that Ford provided on the new truck. Was anyone else a bit disappointed? Was anyone else it bit surprised that they didn't touch that number?


 The bottom line, and seriously so.. I see no real benefits in Ford going to Aluminum other than the usual spin of the Gimmicks Record. Ecoboost was a similar spin. An attempt to answer a question that didn't once get asked. Truth is the depletion of Aluminum supplies and subsequent rise in costs of any and everything made of Aluminum is gonna come back to bite many in the ass. Their engines are simply not efficient enough and this only makes for a glaring visual of the fact. Yes the trucks are lighter.. but finally it has been revealed that the "lighter" is only lighter than itself from a year ago.


Seriously??? NO!!! SERIOUSLY!!!

 

[G. David Felt]

Interesting, did not know that Ram required mid grade fuel. That blows.

[Cmicasa the Great]

Interesting, did not know that Ram required mid grade fuel. That blows.

 

 

 

Not a fan of Chrysler products to be honest. I admire Jeep.. but that's pretty much where it stops. I think if GM would do a similar to Hummer trim with minimum 3 RWD based products that admiration could dissipate completely

[Drew Dowdell]

The Hemi "prefers" mid-grade, but will run just fine on regular. There is just a slight dial back in horsepower and torque when it detects the lower octane fuel. 

[hyperv6]

This truck and the Canyon are two of the most overlooked vehicles on the market. GM has done a good job on these and brought a level to this segment never seen before.

 

As for Ford they have brought you a truck with Aluminum that will reduce the weight of a truck that already was 400 pounds heavier than the GM or Ram. Their marketing has been telling everyone gee we are 700 pounds lighter then our similar older truck but they fail to tell the full story how they were the pig of the market. 

As for the Turbo engines they are great and have a solid torque feel to them with the wide power band. But to this point the MPG is not a lot better including all that Aluminum.

Also what Ford leaves out the many unresolved issues of repair and cost. Yes they are going to teach the shops how to repair but we still have only about 10% of the shops that can do this kind of repair. The cost of replacing panels is going to be more expensive vs. repairing panels. You do not do paint less dent repair on Aluminum panels. Aluminum has no memory and in most cases will lead to panel replacement not repair driving up cost.

 

The fact is Ford is doing one thing really right and that is their marketing. They are building decent cars but their marketing is the top of the market right now. GM on the other hand is building great products but yet are still not marketing them all that well.

 

As for Ram where they are making up ground is a decent looking product new and the lowest prices in the market. The problem is their repeat buyers as a company as a whole is only around 24%. This is a dead end in growth as people find out over the ownership why they ended up getting a deal. The fact is Chrysler has had a lot of nagging quality issues and many of which still need addresses. Just look at any Ram in the Midwest and just see how the rust is attacking them more than any other brand. 

 

I truly think that the future of the truck market is going to be a Mid Size truck like the Colorado then next up will be a 2500 Silverado and then your one ton Silverado. We may even see a smaller truck under the Colorado. The key is the Half Ton trucks as we know it can not be saved after the next ten years. They are being regulated out and if you want a full size the loop holes for the 2500 series will keep them alive but you will have to pay a price for them. This is why we seeing more upscale trucks in the 2500 market. Ford will soon join in with the second gen Ranger at some point and Fiat is still sorting out the mess they have and trying to make money of what they have to offer now with Ram and Jeep. Their cars are tanking right now and not much help. My in-laws just bought a new 300 for under $30K with all the discounts.  Nice car but not a great car.

 

I am gad to see GM leading a segment here. Many people do not need or want a large truck and SUV and this is why we have seen the rise of the CUV as a major force in the market. It is not just MPG and Size but the prices too. Chevy has given people a option on a truck that will be right around $10K-8K cheaper than the full size. As the full size trucks get more expensive I expect this gap to only grow. Also with the use of aluminum the full size trucks will increase in price. Ford is hiding the price increase in the options. While a base truck will not show much increase the more optioned trucks will show a higher price. Again good marketing as Aluminum is not free.

 

It will be interesting to see how the new Ford and Colorado will do in light of the present low gas prices. This is not going to play to them as much but I feel it will affect the Colorado less since it a new segment for GM again.

 

We just added a new Silverado 2015 Z71 to the family here. Nice truck but even with the discounts still very expensive. I do not plan to do it soon but will wait to see what special models of the Colorado come out and may look at a ZR2 or a Z06 if they should become available. Or I should say the GMC version if they become available.

 

I believe the Colorado since I first sat in one last July was going to be the sleeper of the year. I did not expect awards like this but I do expect a good amount of sales and profits with this line and that is where it counts. It also will lead into the future where others will follow. I know we will see more Aluminum but it alone is not going to be the magic pill to solve the future issues the truck market faces.

 

As an engineer was quoted on the SUV market. Mass is the key and it can not be done just with aluminum alone as size is what will be used in reducing it.

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm not sure I would call them overlooked... they just got here.  Many people don't even know they exist. 

[hyperv6]

At this point they are overlooked because GM did so little lead up to them.  Hell we heard about the Beer Can Fords for how 2 years now, it is almost like they have been around for a couple years with the way the Media has been talking about them and they just arrived.  

 

The average buyer has just now started to hear about these trucks and it will take time to grow them in the public eye. 

This is one area GM is still failing is marketing things properly. Ford has everyone thinking they have been first with the DI turbo engines when VW and GM had them years before. Even today GM says little about their engines and not even on the scale of what Ford does. Sam with the Ford trucks as they are not bad but they are not as big of a deal as they are being made out to be. Now if they were really 700 pounds lighter than a Ram and Chevy then we would be talking but they are only 700 pounds lighter than their own older over weight trucks.

 

GM has an advantage here that they could market but they don't. They will have their own aluminum half tons in a couple years and now is when they should be promoting them.

 

The only models GM markets well are the Camaro and Corvette and the rest could use a lot of work.

[Drew Dowdell]

At this point they are overlooked because GM did so little lead up to them.  Hell we heard about the Beer Can Fords for how 2 years now, it is almost like they have been around for a couple years with the way the Media has been talking about them and they just arrived.  

 

The average buyer has just now started to hear about these trucks and it will take time to grow them in the public eye. 

This is one area GM is still failing is marketing things properly. Ford has everyone thinking they have been first with the DI turbo engines when VW and GM had them years before. Even today GM says little about their engines and not even on the scale of what Ford does. Sam with the Ford trucks as they are not bad but they are not as big of a deal as they are being made out to be. Now if they were really 700 pounds lighter than a Ram and Chevy then we would be talking but they are only 700 pounds lighter than their own older over weight trucks.

 

GM has an advantage here that they could market but they don't. They will have their own aluminum half tons in a couple years and now is when they should be promoting them.

 

The only models GM markets well are the Camaro and Corvette and the rest could use a lot of work.

 

very very very true.... I'm not even sure what the slogan for any of the divisions besides GMC are..... GMC is still Professional Grade right?

[hyperv6]

The last I heard it was.

 

This has been a problem at Cadillac as they have changed what they are doing so many times and their marketing at best sends a mixed message. The long and short of it is we get Cadillac commercials that have dancing robots or some where Waldo like guy that does nothing to enhance the image of Cadillac.

With the new firm I am waiting to see how this affects their presentation of the product.  As for the rest of GM the messages have been mixed.

The Buick deal has worked but they need to follow through. They can not just rely on the initial That's a Buick for ever. I see it that once the new product start coming out in the next year or two they should follow up with now that is a Buick!  Sell it targeted at 30 something's with the things they like a car to represent them. Mark it smart and exciting.

 

Chevy needs to just get who ever is pushing the Camaro and Corvette to work on the Cruze and Impala. The Volt is not being pushed now because GM is not wanting to sell too many as they are losing money on the present car according to someone on the inside I heard speak off the record. The new car will spur a new surge in marketing that will sell a car that can turn a profit.

 

The one thing I see lost in many marketing companies is they seldom have anyone working on an account that has a true love for the product anymore. It used to be the guys who sold cars in advertising often were car guys in real life. I know he is a blow hard but Jim Wangers not only sold the product but he raced on his one time right up to a US Nationals class win in 1960.  I just feel the people working on these programs should have some skin in the game so they really know what it is all about and sell it with passion and soul.