• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Duramax Canyon/Colorado

J

jaha2000

Senior member
Nice to see some reviews rolling in on this one.. For as often as i use my truck as a truck, i find myself wanting for something a bit smaller. The crewmax tundra is nice for the kids, but the MPG is a bummer and i dont use the bed nearly as often as i should...

The little duramax has had my interest since they announced it. 30MPG real wold highway in a 4X4 is compelling. But wow, 42k for one just does not make a whole lot of sense with all the incentives you get on a 1/2 ton truck these days..
 
5-6 MPG increase.
take a 1000 mile sample.
80 bucks for fuel at $2 a gallon and 25MPG
77 bucks for diesel at 2.30 a gallon and 30 mpg

Diesel option is 3K, puts the break even at 1 million miles or so? But your correct if your not towing the benifits are small. From a tow stand point, your MPG takes a much smaller hit on the diesel than a gasser. The diesel in this case can tow 2000lbs more than the gasser.

Unproven obviously, but generally the diesel is going to have a longer life span. Componets tend to be more industrial.
 
I'd like to get one, remove the air dam, lift it a few inches and put on some over sized tires for off roading. I'm driving a 2002 Taco TRD now. It only gets 17 mpg on the highway. My 'old 74 K2500 did that. But then 40+ grand is just too much. When my wife's Tahoe is payed off I'll look for a used one.
 
Be prepared to lose 4-6mpg by lifting it and removing the air dam, and another few mpg with the tire change.
 
My plan is to get one in a year or so since I'm starting to trailer the Corvette for racing. I don't want a full size so this seems like a perfect compromise. Perfect size, gets decent mileage and can tow a fair amount even compared to a 1500 w/5.3L.
 
Looks like it may be more like an 8-9 MPG increase. Thats a drastic range increase.
My only bummer is i still have kids with car seats. The backward facing infant seat is massive.
May have to wait till im done with that.
 
KentState said:
My plan is to get one in a year or so since I'm starting to trailer the Corvette for racing. I don't want a full size so this seems like a perfect compromise. Perfect size, gets decent mileage and can tow a fair amount even compared to a 1500 w/5.3L.
Click to expand...

I'd personally still gravitate towards a true 1/2 ton for towing trailer+car. I'd rather my tow vehicle have a bit more weight. Not towing capacity per say, but the actually weight of the tow vehicle. It makes a difference.

If you are only going to be towing short distances to the track then the smaller truck would probably be fine.
 
WackyDan said:
I'd personally still gravitate towards a true 1/2 ton for towing trailer+car. I'd rather my tow vehicle have a bit more weight. Not towing capacity per say, but the actually weight of the tow vehicle. It makes a difference.

If you are only going to be towing short distances to the track then the smaller truck would probably be fine.
Click to expand...

It will be mostly longer distance tows 8 (< 500 miles each way) weeks a years and then misc. stuff the other weekends like runs to Home Depot, power equipment and so on. My Mazda 6 gets an abysmal 19mpg at the most in mix driving. My hope was to move up to something to replace that and fulfill my towing and other needs.

The trailer is a open light-weight aluminum so total it would be 5,000 lbs plus fuel, tires and tools. Was hoping with a proper weight distribution hitch and dual trailer brakes, that a Canyon could handle it.
 
I can't see any problems towing 5000 with it, I did that with my S-10. Your looking at less than 600 lbs on the tongue.
 
Do know that the sticker on domestic trucks is never, ever the price you pay. Far from it. I bought a Sierra a little over a year ago that stickers for $44k, but ended up paying $36k OTD TTL.

As for the truck, I've heard great things about them. You aren't going to touch the MPG with any other truck. I'd think about getting one, but I need the full size for what I do. If they ever came out with a 1/2 ton diesel I'd seriously consider it when it was time to get a new truck.
 
KentState said:
It will be mostly longer distance tows 8 (< 500 miles each way) weeks a years and then misc. stuff the other weekends like runs to Home Depot, power equipment and so on. My Mazda 6 gets an abysmal 19mpg at the most in mix driving. My hope was to move up to something to replace that and fulfill my towing and other needs.

The trailer is a open light-weight aluminum so total it would be 5,000 lbs plus fuel, tires and tools. Was hoping with a proper weight distribution hitch and dual trailer brakes, that a Canyon could handle it.
Click to expand...

TFLTruck on youtube was able to tow over 5k with a Tacoma, so the Colorado with diesel should do it no problems. May want to subscribe to their channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/tflcar They are in the middle of doing tow MPG testing on a lot of trucks. They haven't done the Colorado yet, but it is coming up.
 
So when do they start selling the ZR2 that til now has just been another concept ? It seems like a lot better option than the ZR1, which adds very little to an upgrade package, and the Trail Boss that adds better offroad tires and a light bar ... woop-dee-doo.
 
WT said:
So when do they start selling the ZR2 that til now has just been another concept ? It seems like a lot better option than the ZR1, which adds very little to an upgrade package, and the Trail Boss that adds better offroad tires and a light bar ... woop-dee-doo.
Click to expand...

I've been following the colorado off and on for a while but I haven't seen anything new on the ZR2 concept. The Detroit Auto show kicks off next week so we may hear something but I wouldn't bank on it.


As for the diesel engine I remember reading Chevy wants to equip it in around 10% of total colorados produced with the v6 going in the majority. If that is true demand will remain fairly high for a while and deals may be few and far between.
 
I parked aside of a red one today. To be honest, it was a bit smaller than what I expected. I felt like chatting up the owner, but it was a convenience store at lunch so I'm sure he had better things to do than answer questions about his Colorado.

I seriously doubt I'm going to buy new again, but my warranty FINALLY runs out on my current SUV in March, and I've narrowed my search down to my first choice, a 2009 Chrysler Aspen, but a truck also offers me better towing capacity, as well as a bed to haul the ATV in.
 
KentState said:
It will be mostly longer distance tows 8 (< 500 miles each way) weeks a years and then misc. stuff the other weekends like runs to Home Depot, power equipment and so on. My Mazda 6 gets an abysmal 19mpg at the most in mix driving. My hope was to move up to something to replace that and fulfill my towing and other needs.

The trailer is a open light-weight aluminum so total it would be 5,000 lbs plus fuel, tires and tools. Was hoping with a proper weight distribution hitch and dual trailer brakes, that a Canyon could handle it.
Click to expand...

Maximum trailering rating of 7,700 pounds (3,492 kg) for 2WD models and 7,600 pounds (3,447 kg) for 4WD
Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings of 6,000 pounds (2,721 kg) for 2WD and 6,200 pounds (2,812 kg) for 4WD

Well, in theory it can on paper. Whether it does it confidently or not nobody knows as of yet. I imagine we'll be seeing some towing tests by some independent rags sooner or later.

I'm not in the market for one. My trailer is too big. Before I up sized to the F-150 and larger trailer I was waiting on Dodge to put a diesel in the Dakota like they had originally planned....Then they killed the Dakota and none of the other mid-size trucks could really tow what I needed - safely.

Price wise, I don't think this is compelling against a full size, but if you drive enough the mileage should be the deciding factor.
 
WackyDan said:
Maximum trailering rating of 7,700 pounds (3,492 kg) for 2WD models and 7,600 pounds (3,447 kg) for 4WD
Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings of 6,000 pounds (2,721 kg) for 2WD and 6,200 pounds (2,812 kg) for 4WD

Well, in theory it can on paper. Whether it does it confidently or not nobody knows as of yet. I imagine we'll be seeing some towing tests by some independent rags sooner or later.

I'm not in the market for one. My trailer is too big. Before I up sized to the F-150 and larger trailer I was waiting on Dodge to put a diesel in the Dakota like they had originally planned....Then they killed the Dakota and none of the other mid-size trucks could really tow what I needed - safely.

Price wise, I don't think this is compelling against a full size, but if you drive enough the mileage should be the deciding factor.
Click to expand...

What got me interested was this video from a few months back. It's not a full review, but seemed to do what I wanted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu22AS5Lhj8
 
I tow every day, in city, on highway, long and short trips, panic stops (1-2 per year) the whole nine yards.

I do not believe the Colorado/Canyon will confidently tow 5000lb-class trailers regardless of motor and transmission. This might change with a fifth-wheel setup or a weight distributing setup. An ordinary Class 3/4/5 hook up and go setup is going to be great at 3500lb and not great at 5000lb.

Most 1/2ton trucks are now rated up to ~10k lb towing. In reality they start to become uncomfortable and less surefooted above 5000lb. In general this seems to be more about tongue weight acting as payload than about weight of the towed vehicle.

If you are regularly planning to tow 5000lb loads, get a 1/2ton. More than this you will be happier with a 3/4 tonne.

For truly occasional towing I'm sure you can trust the manufacturer's tow ratings a little more, but watch tongue weight because it will creep up for anything but a perfectly loaded trailer.
 
Yes, I'd use one when towing over 5000lbs. You see the back end squatting on a lot of people towing campers. Getting up close you can see they don't have a weigh distributing hitch.
 
SparkyJJO said:
If you are towing 5000 pounds a WD hitch is recommended anyway is it not?
Click to expand...
I should say, if you are going to tow the same load every time, it is a great idea with very real benefits. You can only massage things so far with ~1500 payload. Manufacturer tow ratings are much more about 'maximum capability' than 'everyday use'. Especially in the last 10 years as tow rating has become a bit of a contest between manufacturers.

I would not enjoy stopping a 5000lb to (rated) 7000lb trailer in a truck the size of a Colorado the day something acts up on the electric trailer brakes. I also do not want 12000 lb behind an F150 even though Ford says it's OK.

For hauling an ordinary car on an appropriate trailer (4500-6500lb total), it would be better to have enough truck in the first place, especially with the low cost and much better payload of 1/2 ton vehicles.

They look like great little family trucks for regular light hauling/towing with the ability to tow 5000lb in a pinch, but I wouldn't buy one to tow like that regularly.
 
I'd agree also, I would want a 1/2 ton minimum for your use being 5000# trailer on longer hauls. I go by the 70% rule, if your towing a trailer fairly often you don't want it to weigh more than 70% of your tow rating for a "comfortable" tow rating. ALSO all midsize and 1/2 tons come with crappy P rated tires unless it's a off-road model then they come with a stiffer C rating sometimes. C or D rated tires on a 1/2 ton take quite a bit of sway out caused by the soft sidewall P rated tires. I just Put D's on my 2012 F150 and it far more stable now while towing than the stock Passenger rated goodyears.
 
Update.
I was able to dest drive one last weekend.. Nice truck. The GMC version (which i have only driven the gasser) is WAY nicer on the inside than the chevy. Worth the 1500 or so premium in my book.
I drove a crew cab long box. Even though its not THAT much smaller than my Tundra is sure did feel it pulling in and out of parking spots and sitting on the inside.
The motor is very impressive. Its quite quiet, makes gobs of torque and seems to fit the transmission better than the gasser.
Is it worth 40K? (Yes thats what they are getting for them OTD) Maybe. If i was doing long haul towing with a large popup/small camper i think it would be.
If it was 5K cheaper, i dont think they would be able to keep them on the lot, but there is just too much overlap with the 1/2 ton market.
 
jaha2000 said:
Update.
I was able to dest drive one last weekend.. Nice truck. The GMC version (which i have only driven the gasser) is WAY nicer on the inside than the chevy. Worth the 1500 or so premium in my book.
I drove a crew cab long box. Even though its not THAT much smaller than my Tundra is sure did feel it pulling in and out of parking spots and sitting on the inside.
The motor is very impressive. Its quite quiet, makes gobs of torque and seems to fit the transmission better than the gasser.
Is it worth 40K? (Yes thats what they are getting for them OTD) Maybe. If i was doing long haul towing with a large popup/small camper i think it would be.
If it was 5K cheaper, i dont think they would be able to keep them on the lot, but there is just too much overlap with the 1/2 ton market.
Click to expand...


Yea once the newness wears off I think they will come down 4-7k give or take.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top