Americans love their trucks, and in recent years it's a sector that has finally begun to make a push for fuel efficiency.
While truly gas-sipping small trucks no longer exist, the mid-size truck market has revitalized itself recently and the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and 2015 GMC Canyon are next to arrive.
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Importantly, each comes in at a healthy $5,000 under that of full-size equivalents, perhaps encouraging customers who might otherwise have selected a larger truck to evaluate the smaller, more efficient GM twins instead.
Chevy's offering is cheapest of the duo, starting at $20,995 for the single cab model, powered by a 2.5-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder with direct injection and a six-speed manual transmission.
The engine also delivers 191 pounds-feet of torque, using variable valve timing to ensure strong responses throughout the mid-range.
The entry-level Canyon utilizes the same power unit and transmission, but prices start at $21,880.
2015 GMC Canyon
Each price includes the manufacturer's mandatory destination fee--$875 for the Chevy, $925 for the GMC.
Those wishing for more power and torque can trade up to a 305 horsepower, 269 lb-ft 3.6-liter V-6. This comes equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, and each truck gains a raft of extra equipment as you move up the powertrain ladder.
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Standard equipment on the Chevy includes power windows, a rear-vision camera with dynamic guide lines, and a locking tailgate. On the GM, buyers will enjoy a little more kit--LED lighting, a four-way power driver’s seat, CornerStep rear bumper, and 16-inch aluminum wheels are all standard.
Each also comes with extended and crew cab options, five and six-foot box lengths, and two- and four-wheel drive setups.
The Colorado specifically will come with one useful option in this class--a 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine.
Full EPA fuel economy estimates are not yet available for any of the engines, but those should arrive before each truck launches in the fall.
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