Friday, October 17, 2014
Richmond Review · Page 13
If you’re just hauling yourself, or a pair of jet skis around back, the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado can do the job. And they do it very well. Alexandra Straub
DrivewayCanada.ca |
Welcome to the driver’s seat
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If you have to haul, do it in style DEL MAR, California. With a 12.5-metre turnIt’s a quintessential SoCal ing radius – which we (Southern California) put to the test when we morning. want to make a U-turn The marine layer is in full to take some photos effect; blocking a would– it’s quite impressive. be gorgeous sunrise. Yet Furthermore, it’s the that doesn’t stop avid all-in-one midsize truck The versatility sports enthusiasts from without compromise. and usability of taking a run along the It has the segment’s beach. Or taking to the these trucks appeal best horsepower thanks water for some morning to two great engines. to small business wave action. The first being a 2.5L, owners, families Nor does it stop couples 4-cylinder with 200 hp from walking arm-in-arm, or even outdoor and 191 lb-ft of torque, with their hands occupied lovers. the next being a 3.6L, by their morning coffee, V6 with 305 hp and Alexandra Straub and their midsize breed 269 lb-ft of torque. Both of pooch following close engines are paired to by. However, something does turn their a 6-speed automatic transmission; a heads. 6-speed manual is available on select A host of all-new 2015 midsize trucks extended cab 2WD models have them perplexed. They’ve nevCome 2015, a 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Dieer seen these kinds of Canyons or sel is scheduled to join in the engine Colorados gracing the streets before lineup. and wonder what all the commotion Want to tow a couple of dirt bikes, or is about. mount a couple of kayaks on the rear? Then again, it’s not uncommon to Sure! Not a problem. see midsized trucks in this part of the As I drove through Del Mar with a world. In fact, they’re a dime a dozen. trailer hitched to the back that carried Most are outfitted with surf racks, two incredibly clean dirt bikes, I barely toolboxes or have gear loaded in the felt they were there. bed. They are put to good use. The V6-endowed Chevy Colorado (or Anita Burke, GM’s chief vehicle GMC Canyon) tows up to 3,175 kg engineer of midsize trucks, explained (7,000 lbs.) with the trailering package, what makes this category of relatively so it has ample oomph to get it up small truck popular. The versatility some tough grades without breaking and usability of these trucks appeal to a sweat. small business owners, families or even When you want to access the bed – outdoor lovers. regardless of trim – they all come with
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a standard CornerStep rear bumper. You’ll also find 13 standard tie-down locations throughout the bed that you can use with available, movable cargo tie-down rings. Furthermore, the 2015 Colorado’s configurations are available in an extended cab model with a 6-foot bed, a crew cab with a 5-foot bed and a crew cab with a 6-foot bed. With the tailgate down, the 6-foot bed allows hauling of 8-foot-long items. Even though both trucks are built on GM’s Global mid-size truck platform, they are targeted at two different buyers. The GMC Canyon has more upscale features and a lavish cabin – something I wouldn’t have said before when it comes to midsize trucks – while the Colorado is more utilitarian in nature. No matter how you slice it, both of these trucks have impressive features. One is its quietness. Whether driving
the four or six-cylinder variants, no rattles, bangs or buzzing were heard. I actually couldn’t believe my ears as to how serene the cabin was. I guess the triple door seals are doing their job and doing it well. The transmission had a smoothness to it and the 8-inch touchscreen featuring Text Messaging Alerts and Siri Eyes Free are a bonus. If you’re just hauling yourself, or a pair of jet skis around back, the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado can do the job. And they do it very well. Pricing for the Chevrolet Colorado starts at an MSRP of $19,900 for the four-cylinder with the extended cab. The GMC Canyon has a starting MSRP of $20,600 (both exclude a destination charge of $1,695). Visit www.gm.ca for more information Alexandra.straub@drivewaybc.ca
Question of the Week The government’s EnerGuide says its fuel consumption estimates are now based on more real world tests. Have you ever come close to getting the kind of fuel consumption estimated for your current vehicle? Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer. QUESTION
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OF THE WEEK!
Safety Tip: Roundabouts can improve road safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. A few tips: yield to traffic already inside the roundabout; keep moving once in the roundabout; signal a right turn before you exit; and yield to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the entry/exit lanes.
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