The all-new Chevy Montana made its world debut on December 1st in Brazil as the first compact unibody pickup in Chevrolet‘s history, and now let’s see how it stacks up against the competition in size, powertrain and price.
General Motors claims that the Chevy Montana ushers in a new compact pickup concept by combining the convenience of a utility vehicle with the versatility and ruggedness of a truck. However, other manufacturers offer similar products in this category, which is growing in popularity in both South and North America. We’re comparing the new Montana with the Fiat Toro, Renault Oroch, Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick.
Starting with size, the automaker claims the Chevy Montana measures 185.9 inches in length and 71.7 inches in width, putting it at the bottom of the compact pickup segment – slightly longer than the Renault Oroch, smaller than the Fiat Toro. In fact, these are the new Montana’s main rivals in South America and the most similar in concept, since they’re all based on subcompact crossovers.
| New Montana | Renault Oroch | Fiat Toro | Hyundai Santa Cruz | Ford Maverick | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase (in.) | N/A | 111.4 | 117.7 | 118.3 | 121.1 |
| Length (in.) | 185.9 | 185.0 | 193.5 | 195.7 | 199.7 |
| Width (in.) | 71.7 | 71.7 | 72.6 | 75.0 | 72.6 |
| Height (in.) | N/A | 66.7 | 68.7 | 66.7 | 68.7 |
As such, the architectural configuration that the all-new Chevy Montana shares with the Fiat Toro and Renault Oroch, which are also built in Brazil, differs markedly from the other two models built for North America. The Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick are larger pickups because they are based on compact crossover platforms (Tucson and Escape/Bronco Sport), which in turn makes them more refined, powerful, and expensive products.
Fiat Toro
Renault Oroch
Mechanically, the Chevy Montana is equipped with a turbocharged 1.2L engine producing 133 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The powertrain also positions the Montana at the bottom of the segment, sitting between the base versions of the 120-horsepower 1.6L Renault Oroch and the 139-horsepower Fiat Toro 1.8L – and far behind the Maverick and Santa Cruz.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Ford Maverick
Finally, pre-sales of the all-new Chevy Montana have started in Brazil with the LTZ and Premier trim levels starting at 134,490 and 140,490 reais – about $25,720 and $26,870 USD at current exchange rates, respectively. Notably, the new range-topping Montana falls below the base Fiat Toro Endurance at 142,000 reais ($27,230 USD) and the more-equipped Renault Oroch Outsider at 145,700 reais ($27,900 USD).
| New Montana | Renault Oroch | Fiat Toro | Hyundai Santa Cruz | Ford Maverick | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | I-3 Turbocharged | I-4 Naturally Aspirated | I-4 Naturally Aspirated | I-4 Naturally Aspirated | I-4 Naturally Aspirated |
| Displacement | 1.2L | 1.6L | 1.8L | 2.5L | 2.5L |
| Horsepower (hp) | 133 | 120 | 139 | 191 | 191 |
| Torque (pound-feet) | 155 | 117 | 140 | 181 | 155 |
All of this shows that the all-new Chevy Montana is an entry-level compact pickup that will compete right in the heart of South America’s fastest-growing category, where GM hopes to position it as the new sales leader ahead of the popular Fiat Toro. The new-generation Montana will go on sale next February in Brazil, and it is expected to begin reaching other countries in the region during the 2023 calendar year.
| New Montana | Renault Oroch | Fiat Toro | Ford Maverick | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 134.490 BRL / $25.720 USD | N/A | 142.000 BRL / $27.230 USD | N/A |
| Top | 140.490 BRL / $26.870 USD | 145.700 BRL / $27.900 USD | 217.600 BRL / $41.690 USD | 240.490 BRL / $46.080 USD |
It’s worth noting that at the moment, the Ford Maverick is only offered in a single Lariat FX4 configuration in Brazil with the 250-horsepower 2.0L turbocharged engine, priced at 240,490 reais ($46,080 USD). Meanwhile, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is not currently marketed in Brazil, so there are no prices to compare the Montana with.
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Comments
My Choice :
1. Hyundai Santa Cruz, the most interesting
2. Renault Oroch
3. Ford Maverick
4. Fiat Toro
5. Chevrolet Montana
Wifes Choice :
1. Ford Maverick
2. Chevrolet Montana
3. Fiat Toro
4. Renault Oroch
5. Hyundai Santa Cruz
PS TO GMAUTHORITY… wrong, the first compact unibody pickup in GMB Chevrolet‘s history was the Chevette Pickup, then the second the first montana, actually this is the third. The Fiat Toro is already in Brasil since 6 years, so soon would receive a facelift, it comes a third pickup in subsegment for Fiat, so really hard for Montana to gain a good market with 3 Pickups of Fiat, Strada, Toro and the new.. Indeed the Montana came too late, 2 years delayed at least
What about the LUV truck of the early ‘80’s??
Was not a Uni-body. All the new Junk, IS.
LUV truck was Isuzu, not at all offered and produced in Brasil, only Chile, and was 2 bodies
MK, the Chevy 500 (Chevette Pickup), Chevy Corsa pickup, and first two Chevy Montana are small/subcompact pickups that were offered exclusively in two-door bodies. The new Montana four-door crew cab is Chevrolet’s first unibody compact-size pickup.
Check out the Ram 700 sold in Mexico, like your list, but after seeing a 700 … it too should make the top of your list, especially since you like the Fiat Toro anyway.
well as RAM & Fiat are Stellantis so RAM 700 and Fiat Toro are same platform and body.
BUT no, we are here not interested in Pickups, we have nothing to do with. Our 2013 Dacia Hatch it is already ok, not the most beautiful car in world but a transport and costed us the cheapest as new. As previous worker of General motors do brasil, in 1995, know the chevy 500, corsa pickup in which worked a few, and after were the first unibody or pickup monoblocks from GMB chevrolet, just because was a GMB worker for 3 years was interested in see what is GMB today, but of course none interest in pickups at all, we like sedan, if we were going to change car which we wont because it is only offered electric here in Germany and there is none Chevrolet. Our car was € 7700 and a Montana is US$ 27000, so no chance for Montana or other Chevrolet in our Garage
If there’s no 2-door AWD version I will probably go with a Bronco, tired of waiting for GM to compete with Wrangler/Bronco.
It’s too long and low like the Jeep pickup. Jeep would double their sales if they offered their pickup in 2-door.
Like them just wish for a smaller cab and 6’ box . like to put a cap or topper camper shell on the lil truck and use it for camping do not want s roof top tent
People, just remember you get what you pay for! A pickup with out a full frame REALLY!? A LUV TRUCK 2.0 , just another Piece of $hit! QUIT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS ARE DOING, ITS BAD ENOUGH THE CARS ALL. LOOK THE SAME , IF THE REST OF THE MANUFACTURERS MAKE A PIECE OF $HIT, GM I FIGURED YOU WERE SMARTER THAN THAT! SIT BACK AN WATCH THEM JUMP OFF THE ROOF. YOU DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW THEM. YOU DIDN’T LEARN ANYTHING FROM THE LUV TRUCK?!
The Montana and Oroch are the only pickups derived from B-segment crossovers (Tracker and Duster, respectively). The Toro is derived from a C-segment crossover (Compass), so much so that its dimensions are virtually identical to the Santa Cruz.
Considering that the Toro platform is the same as the Compass and Tonale, it would be possible for this pickup to receive the 2.0T engine used in the latter and obtain performance closer to Maverick and Santa Cruz.
Fiat just doesn’t do that, because the Latin American consumer is very different from the North American one. While in North America, pickup customers prioritize towing capacity, Latin Americans in general prioritize cargo capacity.
I believe that Maverick and Santa Cruz are not and were not considered as competitors by Chevrolet for the development of the Montana, as the Montana was developed for a different market. So much so that despite having proposals similar to North American models, their positioning is totally different, just compare Maverick with Toro, which is a reference in its region.
MF, the Fiat Toro was first introduced in early 2016 several months before the current Jeep Compass, so it is actually based or “derived” on Jeep Renegade – the first Jeep made in Brazil.
In any case, the very name of the FCA ‘Small Wide 4×4’ platform that supports the Toro reveals the subcompact origin of technical bases. This does not occur with the platforms of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.
indeed, north america nda Brasil is very different in terms of roads. USA was made by Englanders and did correct wide streets and avenues, so large cars and large pickups is very easy to drive and find. But Brasil unfortunate was made by Portuguese, Spanish and Italian people, so europeans with tiny roads. So Brasil is a large country but all cities have thinner roads only a midsize pickup can have. In Brasil a large pickup would have huge problems in avenues, Then in USA many owners of pickup carry Yachts and Boats and this behaviour does not exist in Brasil. Pickups like Montana, S10, Saveiro, Fiat Toro most carries nothing behind, it is just a show off mode. If you put a baggage behind, like tools or lagguage most are stolen in streets of Brasil when you park the car and leave. In North america the respect is greater and this is more seldom to happen, but has. Indeed Brasil is Latein America, not America
Always under powered GM wake up
How do you plug it in? Or does it still have a holder for the buggy whip?
Unless you live in Brazil the Montana means nothing. Can’t buy it in the USA folks..
The sales numbers to this point are clear that there is not a large market yet for this. The Honda. Ford and Hyundai combined will not sell 100K units combined this year when a Nox may sell 250,000 units not counting the Terrain.
I expect this, GM designed this to if it is needed they can bring it here fast. But if the market does not develop more and more models just fight over the same size piece of pie then they won’t.
Ford did the same on the Ranger. Many said GM was taking a big risk on the Colorado. It worked out but this is much different as the Ridgeline never has sold well.
In fact one magazine recently questioned why Honda still sold the Ridgeline as it is a NA car only and sells less than even the poor selling Camaro.
Ford media has really been doing a good job selling the public on sold out models. What they fail to say is they sold out as they are short parts. Many of the sales are for dealer models too and are not customer sales. Got to do something to prop up stock prices.
These are not the second coming of the S10.