Pickuptrucks.com Mid-Size Challenge

Canyon/Colorado get the 8 speed auto for 2017.

 

Revised engine for Colorado/Canyon already. Toyota, your move!

http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevy-colorado-gets-new-v6-eight-speed-transmission-for-2017-92664.html

 

Wow that's awesome!

 

So the GM twins bring their axle ratio down and you say awesome, but when there's a rumor that the new '17 Tacos are bringing their axle ratio up you get bent out of shape because you wanted that too?

Just messin with you.

You know, I honestly worry about 8 and 10 speed autos because anymore with these EPA guidelines on when to shift, it seems like the controller would want to constantly be climbing up another gear. Never hitting the meat of the power band unless you nail it would make any truck feel pretty limp-dick.

 

I drove a Colorado and I can say the 3.6 feels more lively than the 3.5 from Toyota. I know that will offend someone here but that is just my opinion. I still prefer the Tacoma but I really liked the way the Colorado 3.6 drives.

 

26 MPG is awesome, but you can certainly count on the 8 speed shifting more. Even the GM twins get criticism for gear-hunting on the 6 speed.

 

Agree this mirrors my experience in test driving the Colorado duramax

 

Its all good none taken, the colorado diesel is even stronger.

 

These transmissions these days are the most complex part of a truck. I too wonder about their long-term reliability.

 

Looks like 1st gear on the new Colorado will be lower to help with towing and getting off the line. That feeling of off the line torque is what truck drivers crave. Even in a mid-size. I am pretty impressed with GM taking the mid-size class seriously.
Looks like they are addressing the issue of the stupid airdam too. This looks nice.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/news/1608-2017-chevrolet-colorado-zr2-gas-model-testing/

 

I've owned this truck for 6 months... 20k miles.

On your next test drive;

Turn off the traction control and hit turn ECT on and try calling it a pussy with your foot all the way down.

 

Still looks like it's wearing high waisted jorts.

 

I did this and now my hood vibrates, my rear leafs squeak and my rear diff is howling.

 

Pulling the same trailer the Tacoma smoked the duramax up the ike gauntlet. Almost a minute faster.

 

Get ready folks. The EPA is getting ready to bend over any possibility of the consumer getting what they want out of a vehicle. This will probably be my last new vehicle.

 

I saw the same thing but the diesel didn't have to work to pull it and got better mpgs. Even though the Tacoma may have had a better time it doesn't mean it towed better.

 

Yeah, it towed at 6,000 RPM the entire way. Who buys towing truck for speed anyway? It's already known that gasoline engines are generally better for acceleration.

 

Merging in traffic with a trailer is a big deal. I pull a 20k trailer a few times a month. With my old diesel it took a while, but my new one has the horsepower to get me out there.

 

Revised engine with more power... 8-speed transmission that is the same weight and size as the 6-speed, so no more weight added. MPG not shared but rumors are that no big increment (+1 or +1.5 mgp at best). Transmission to have better off the line response. All reads like a great move in the right direction. I do hope that the transmission is shared with the diesel option as well. I love the looks of the GMC Canyon over the Chevy Colorado. They are also coming out with the Chevy Colorado similar to the ZR2 Concept. Would be cool to see what that ends up looking like... Too bad there will not be a GMC Canyon version of it...

I really hope that all this competition gets Toyota to take a closer look at the issues with the Tacoma and fix them...then improve on the competition and come out with some competitive upgrades/revisions for next year.

 

People complain about the Tacoma, but at the end of the day when they really think about it, it is a better truck and they wont switch. Maybe Toyota knows that also. I think the increase in sales for mid-size is new buyers to this market. Toyota couldn't build more trucks right now anyways.