At present, the Toyota Tacoma outsells GM’s midsize pickups, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, by a significant margin. The reasons behind the gap are varied, but one of the reasons has to be GM’s decision to drop the Colorado and Canyon nameplates in 2012.
So then – exactly how big of a gap are we talking about? Well, according to the latest sales figures, the Toyota Tacoma leads the mainstream pickup segment with a massive 42 percent market share, selling 237,323 units during the 2022 calendar year. By comparison, the Chevy Colorado grabbed 16 percent of the market with 89,197 units sold, while the GMC Canyon grabbed 4 percent of the market with 27,819 units sold.
Sales Numbers - Midsize Mainstream Pickup Trucks - 2022 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 | YTD 22 SHARE | YTD 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA TACOMA | -6.02% | 237,323 | 252,520 | 42% | 42% |
| CHEVROLET COLORADO | +22.17% | 89,197 | 73,008 | 16% | 12% |
| JEEP GLADIATOR | -13.22% | 77,855 | 89,712 | 14% | 15% |
| NISSAN FRONTIER | +25.52% | 76,183 | 60,693 | 13% | 10% |
| FORD RANGER | -39.84% | 57,005 | 94,755 | 10% | 16% |
| GMC CANYON | +15.31% | 27,819 | 24,125 | 5% | 4% |
| TOTAL | -4.95% | 565,382 | 594,813 |
That’s quite a shame, given the GM models are arguably the better products. That includes the outgoing generation, produced between the 2015 and 2022 model years. Compared to the Toyota Tacoma, the two GM pickups are more modern and offer a better overall driving experience, with better infotainment, better powertrains, and, with the previous generation being the only vehicles in the segment to offer a diesel engine, more powertrain diversity as well.
So the question remains – why aren’t the two GM models keeping up with the Toyota Tacoma?
For starters, GM opted to drop both nameplates for two years, discontinuing the models in the U.S. in 2012 before reviving the Colorado and Canyon in 2014. GM’s decision coincided with Ford’s decision to drop the Ranger in 2012 as well, providing Toyota with an opportunity to improve its brand image and make the Tacoma a household name for midsize pickup truck buyers.
And that’s exactly what the Japanese automaker did. The Tacoma is now recognized as a tough-as-nails, ultra-reliable, nearly bulletproof truck. Toyota also seems to have more production capacity, as Tacoma production is spread across two plants, with 113,000 units produced in Guanajuato, and 133,000 units produced in Tijuana, through November of the 2022 calendar year.
Meanwhile, the brand image for the GM’s two pickup models went the other direction. Consumer Reports, for examples, has highlighted the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon as among the least reliable vehicles available today, while the trucks’ eight-speed automatic transmission certainly hasn’t helped.
That said, the two GM models are poised to improve for the 2023 model year, at least from a product standpoint. Both nameplates were recently overhauled, including that troublesome eight-speed automatic.
But we want to know – why do you think Toyota is outselling GM in this segment? Will the 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon help to close the gap in terms of sales volume? Let us know by posting in the comments, and remember to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Colorado news, GMC Canyon news, Chevy news, GMC news, GM business news, GM sales news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
All I can say is, I spent a week in Colorado in a Tacoma and I have never had a more miserable riding/driving experience in my life. Never again, in a Tacoma.
But have you driven a Colorado in Tacoma?
I definitely like to redesign of the Colorado for the 23 year but there’s only one thing that’s itching me is that GM has made up their mind to take away the other variance of power i.e.the V6 and 2.7 Duramax diesel for these trucks and have settled for only a 2.7l 4 cylinder that makes 310 horsepower at the crank, this truck should be powered with a 3.6l V6 or the 3.8 V6 diesel that are sticking in their Silverado.
The Canyon will be approximately 15 pounds per horse. For perspective the Sierra 1500 Denali with a 6.2L engine is approximately 14 pounds per horse. That is a very similar power-to-weight ratio. (For further perspective the GMC Terrain with the 1.5L LYX is approximately 21 pounds per horse, while the Hummer EV Edition 1, with its insane performance, is approximately 10 pounds per horse.) Anyone who tells you the 2.7L L3B isn’t powerful enough for the Canyon hasn’t driven a 2.7L L3B.
While we’re at it, do you know how much power the 3.6L V6 (LGZ) produces? 308 HP and 275 lb ft of torque. That’s 2 fewer horsepower and ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE lb ft less torque. Still think that’s a better fit for the Canyon? Really?!?
There are plenty of things to criticize about the new Canyon (no long bed option, still no power sliding rear window, still no Homelink / Universal Home Remote, etc.), but power isn’t one of them. Swing and a miss.
And there lies the problem. Ask an American Japanese person if they would buy a Toyota Tacoma or Colorado. The answer is a given. So ask an American and 4 cylinder trucks are unheard of. The answer goes back to early American civilization when sixes and eights ruled the streets.
Yeah. Ignorance is the problem. It almost always is.
Personally I strive for understanding objective reality rather than relying on “givens”, which are actually just an indicator of an unquestioned assumption. As someone who has spent time in Japan, who speaks Japanese, and who has sold GMCs to Japanese customers, I can assure you, your assumptions about Japanese people are not so accurate as you believe. MANY are very interested in Western/American culture. There are people in Japan who are so interested in it that they go through the expensive, difficult process of importing a Chevy truck or SUV, and paying the very expensive taxes and emissions fees to register them. They are well aware that there are Japanese trucks and SUVs available to them. That’s not the only factor. There are MANY factors that guide people’s purchasing decisions.
An assumption is something that has taken a form of it’s own. No facts are needed. The obvious is Japanese strive for perfection and cling to it like shit on a diaper. We Americans love our rumbling V8 engines and refuse to accept that a sissy 4 banger belongs in a truck. The Tundra will never Compete with American Trucks yet the Japanese will continue to buy them because supposedly those trucks are perfect. I had a Japanese friend in High School and another in College. So no bad intent towards them. It’s a culture thing. So your point has no point and people in Japan I don’t think drive Colorado’s instead of Tacoma’s. I drive a 2004 Silverado hd V8 with the same belts, hoses, radio, air conditioning,shocks etc. Purrs like a Siamese Cat.
SMDH you are wong. Japanese love their cars and Americans love their cars and the world goes round and round. I love my 2004 Silverado HD 1500 with all the original belts hoses etc etc. It doesn’t clunk like a 2022 Chevrolet 4 banger. Purrs like a kitten still and finds those gears when it needs to.
That is positively hilarious! I mean a simple Google search would reveal the many Japanese owners of American trucks. But you just enjoy your ignorance. ✌️
OK so I looked it up. They need the steering wheel on their right. No deal for American Auto makers. Jeep does supply these. They want tiny cars not luxury cars. No big profits for GM so no deal. And free top of the line service that they pick up your car and then return it serviced. Strike three. So let’s just keep them them out of the conversation. Topic is Colorado. And yes I am very ignorant growing up a laborer and then a full time provider. Never had the chance to excel. But common sense tells me if a four banger and V8 get the same MPG on the same vehicle then take the top of the crop. The Colorado will lose a sale.
I have always been a diehard ford and Chevy fan but I hate to say it but it’s true these trucks are unreliable to much electrical parts to fail slow down I’d rather have a dependable truck rather than the next new gadget last good vehicles made by American companies where in 2003 I can’t stand to see it this way these trucks remind me of BRANDON ——WORTHLESS as tits on a turtle. I hate to say it but I bought a toyota for the first time first foreign ride and wow it feels nice to just drive buy gas and oil changes and brakes that’s it for the last 3.5 years have impala total trash heep put me in the poor house. Have some pride in your vehicles not your bottom line. About to go buy a 23 Tacoma can’t find a reason to buy these trucks blowing up with 10k on them trans going out in 30k crazy step up your game Chevy ford or you will be gone in 10 yrs because I would love to be able to say Chevy ford is reliable and drive what I would like to drive so bad but I’m not going to fight for companies who are passing off junk for me to foot the bill for new motors or trans or all the other half ass cheap ass parts my Toyota has 345,000 runs and drives like one with 30 k on it no joke!!!!
That’s why the Colorado/Canyon is the best midsize truck. And yes, you can tell just from one vehicle, especially with toyota, because toyota is all chinese, and plastic junk. Colorado and Canyon is real metal, steel, iron, any steel.
Three dislikes, not my problem people can’t handle the truth, SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The Tacoma has a reputation for durability and the V6 engine is old but very reliable. The GM 3.6 V6 early on had its issues which GM has ironed out over the years, but everybody from your friend to your cousin and to the auto rags make sure to remind you about those old GM engine issues as if they are getting paid to do so. Already pin heads on here have been getting at the 2023 Colorado/Canyon 2.7L turbo 4 and the 8 speed automatic because of their previous iterations, deliberately ignoring GM’s significant updates to these power train components.
Here’s the deal, until I can be convinced the 8 speed transmission/torque converter is indeed fixed I’ll continue to be skeptical of gm. I had a 2018 Colorado and liked it more than my current Tacoma in many ways. The problem was the transmission was slapping, clunking, jerking, driving me nuts! I couldn’t take it anymore and went over to a Tacoma. Now that I’ve had the taco since 2020, I miss a lot of things about the Colorado including the auto 4×4 and g80. The Colorado is a much better on road experience and daily driver as well. If they can assure me that the transmission issues are fixed I might give gm another try.
All of GM’s engines are the engines with the least amount of problems, and I am not getting paid to talk good about GM, I talk good about GM, because they are the best company, soooooooo
I have heard of one million miles on a Toyota and a Hundai. GM is in an incubator at the moment wanting to grow on public opinion and the purchaser is still very weary of their offerings. GM will learn the hard way, that purchasers will not continue to buy 80000 dollar vehicles that cushion their bottom line. Americans will wise up after they learn how quickly them cars and trucks are depreciating. Love GM but controlled chaos in building their lines of vehicles is going to place them in third place. If GM doesn’t listen to me and you then what’s the point.
GM is the best, and you know it, sooooooooo
So Lemons for us all. For reals though my brother got a refund on his canyon through the lemon law.
EVERY manufacturer has its problems. My daughter, like many other Hyundai owners, is hoping to get 70k miles out of the engine in her 2016 Tuscon. At 60k miles, like clock work for various Hyundai engines, the engine began to consume copious amounts of oil (multiple quarts in less than 1k miles). Hyundai puts you through an extensive oil consumption/analysis process before they eventually commit to the need to replace the engine. Upon entering the service write-up area at the local dealership, one could not help but notice the large quantity of engines sitting in crates along the wall awaiting installation. Hyundai appears to be well aware they have a problem that extends across several model years. The service advisor could have just hit the replay button on a recorded speech as he appeared to have given the same spiel to countless other customers before. This particular Hyundai won’t even make 1/10 of a million miles!
Among many reasons is that gm does not spend the ad money to promote either truck. Additionally, it’s hard to combat the brand and reputation Toyota has built over the years for the Tacoma.
When you reintroduce the trucks and you have problems and on top of it you don’t promote it, that’s a recipe for lagging sales behind the leader. The Tacoma is uncomfortable and has a weak V6. I owned one and sold it after a year.
I have a 2015, it me six months to get the truck in the color I wanted. This kind of slow production hurts sales. I haven’t a new truck since then because the color I wanted wasn’t available. If the color I want is available in in June 2023 when they are suppose to come out is available I will buy a new Colorado. Having to wait till Jun is also luticuratis, the year is half over.
The Tacoma is a great truck,that said I wouldn’t buy one because GM has never left me walking.I own an 8 speed transmission in my 2017 SS Camaro and I had the shudder and(21K miles) took care of it with the TSB being performed,no issues since.The Colorado and Canyon trucks are good trucks,don’t be scared to buy one,especially since Consumer Reports doesn’t know their head from their a##! GM like everyone else struggles with supply chain issues but things will get better and I think customers will come around.Afterall GM outsold Toyota in 2022.
GM outsold Toyota in total sales. The Tacoma is destroying the competition selling over Two Times more then the other oems in segment. Its not even close.
Production is supposed to start later in January. I’m thinking these will hit lots by March end.
Offering one version isn’t going to increase sales, either. Not building a vehicle for three years isn’t/wasn’t a great strategy. Did same thing with Camaros. They did same thing with Montana truck. Whatever?
I don’t believe you researched this topic very well. For to the 2008 model year sales of Toyota tacomas were 135,000 units. For Chevrolet Colorado and that model year sales were 54,000 units. So the Tacoma always outsold the Chevrolet and GMC trucks combined even back in when they were still in production so your contention that Gneral Motors made a mistake by dropping them is uninformed at best and flat out wrong at worst.
But I guess something like this is all about clickbait content. No wonder they’re asking for automotive journalists on this posting.
Not to mention, the first generation Colorado/Canyon wasn’t exactly a class leading truck, and was WAY passed it’s sell-by date in 2012. Just sit in one, and you’ll realize what I mean within 30 seconds. The interior would have been barely passable for an MCE on the S-10 in about 1998.
Yeah, as I was reading I kept thinking that the Tacoma’s reputation was already VERY well-established back then and was considered by many as the ‘gold standard’. Prices being asked for used (even high-mileage…) examples in 2010-12 certainly indicated that. Without any $$$ going into Colorado/Canyon development at that time, GM may have actually spared themselves more reputation damage by putting those trucks – with their 6-7 yr. old interior designs – on ice and making those efforts a more distant memory.
Single bed and cab configuration, one engine and high price… three strikes!
The motors are not the same. They come in three different tunes (boost) and there are different components on the 2.7 as well on the ZR2 or trail boss for an example. HP ranges from 237HP to 310HP. And torque starts at 259 lbs to 430 lbs. On top trim, 430 lbs of torque is entering V8 territory. That truck is going to be a beast.
I bet that 4 banger is going to sound mean how about American muscle v8 baby I’m stoked to see how the new raptor R does with the new V8 don’t even mind a v6 but 4 banger I can’t get on board in 30 yrs people be having there hoods open at car show like check out this 4 like yeah sweet bro looks like the chevette I owned in 1988.
I love V8s. I currently own a modern muscle car with one. But did you really just compare a Raptor R versus a regular mid-size pickup truck? lol. The Raptor R is a 100 thousand dollar truck. Come on man. The 2.7 in the new gm midsize trucks makes respectable horse power and up to 430 lbs of torque. I’d love more power, but the fact is that the truck should get around pretty dang well with that amount of power.
The engine is going to be fine as it will have a much better feel and power than the V6 with the high torque curve.
As for bed and cab. When you don’t sell enough to justify the development cost why build them.
Pricing and profits are tight in this segment and the Long bed was a slow mover. It was not the same bed on the extra cab either. Also the extra cabs had a lot of warranty issue due to door rattles as most extra cabs had.
Why spend a lot of money to make little to nothing. GM did that before and went bankrupt.
The price and scale is not the same here as the full size.
First, lets talk about re-sale value where the Tacoma also destroys the GM offerings. Then, lets talk about powertrains…..GM first dropped their nice diesel and now, they drop the V-6 which Toyota still offers in their truck along with an available 6-spd manual tranny for those that enjoy shifting for themselves. Next….colors…..don’t see Toyota ripping-off customers for every color except good old basic White like GM has started doing. Seems people are doing some comparison shopping for themselves on a lot more items than those few I mentioned and voting with their wallets while GM management continues to be clueless and unresponsive.
The v6 in the tacoma will be replaced by the 2.4 turbo 4 on the next refresh.
Um, while the Tacoma is the resale king in the midsize truck realm, it isn’t by much. We are talking a few percentage points here and considering how far behind in most every experience the Toyota is that should have zero impact on the decision. Constantly the Tacoma is rated at the bottom from truck capabilities (excluding off roading), interior ergonomics, ride and handling as well as towing and hauling.
Yes, GM went to one engine choice, but it is a fantastic one that covers all three of the others combined. The Tacoma is going to have a smaller and much less powerful turbo 4, though it may get a hybrid in addition which is huge.
As far as sales, those are so skewed with the Tacoma it isn’t even funny. It lives on the pedestal from the 80’s and 90’s reliability that just no longer exists. I was on those Tacoma forums fora few years when considering them, they are riddle with complaints and reliability issues. Toyota in whole, let alone the Tacoma, is no longer some mystical over built dead reliable machine, far from it these days as they have fallen and the others have caught up. Buyers just blindly buy based on this no longer feasible reliability ratings and they settle with all the other short comings the truck offers. Give me a truck that depreciates say 20% and have a much better overall experience and capabilities than a vehicle that only depreciates 15% any day of the week, especially when both are equal in terms of reliability…
Judging quality by forums is always risky business for any brand. Every brand has some quality issues and the vocal few can make it their full time jobs to work the forums if they fill wronged. Happy customers don’t post. Just a fact
Well the article says it all, the tacoma is ultra reliable and the twins are not. Who wants the hassle and cost of dealing with a truck that has issues. The tacoma is not without issues. Driving position and the constant gear hunting of the drivetrain are just some of the issues. But people are willing to deal with those issues.
It is kind of amazing the article starts with mentions of better drive trains, yet later admits the reliability of the drivetrain options was not that good. Kind of agree, that says it all. only so many times the buyers can overlook unreliable drive train with shiny objects inside the cabin.
Let’s not forget that more entries came into the market over these last few years. Ford brought back Ranger, Jeep introduced Gladiator. More competition for the remaining pieces of market share, and more comparisons to find any issues/concerns with the GM products.
How about they have the vehicles on the lot with the options that the customer wants! I am die hard chevy products since 1965. My son just came back from overseas and shopped all the brands. The Tacoma was the only one in this market willing to deal while the others wanted $5 K (chevy Colorado) to $10 K (Ford Maverick Hybrid) over MSRP. Chevy / GMC lost a future lifelong customer in this whole ordeal.
That says a lot about the dealer!
I want a compact pickup truck. Maverick and Santa Cruz are calling me to their showrooms, I Don’t know how much longer I can hold out,! Sell me a Montana.
I have a 2003 S-10. Just love that size! It is as big as I need.
Let’s also not forget that Dodge/Ram discontinued the midsize Dakota pickup around the same time. U.S. legacy manufacturers see more profits in only making full size pickup trucks.
i have been waiting 12 years now for a new Dakota! but i did buy a Colorado and really like it except for the color.
Only 27k Canyons sold? Wow! Maybe make Canyon extended cab long bed only to fill that niche.
Hi. GMC dealer here. That configuration SUCKS. They don’t sell. They celebrate birthdays on the lot. We practically have to beg people to buy them. We never order them but occasionally GM has forced us to take some. We have one on the lot right now. We’ve had it for months. I won’t be surprised if we still have it 6 months from now, unless the New Car Manager slashes the price well below our cost just to get rid of it.
GM is well aware of those statistics. They didn’t cancel that configuration because there’s a demand for it. They canceled it because there isn’t. Not enough to be a viable product strategy.
How about when you get to a Chevy lot to look at a Colorado, for a few grand more and only a 1-2 mpg hit you can get an entry level Silverado. Better ride, capacity and resale value, why wouldn’t you upsize? Unless your physically restrained by the size of a half ton, the additional incentives on them make quarter ton trucks hard to justify.
I can’t fit a full size in my garage so the colorado or canyon is the best choice for me. I’m mainly going to use for towing and little bit of hauling. No reason to be driving a big truck around.
The tacoma is sells well because it looks flashy and people think its a good truck. They rust badly have bad frames…however most never know how bad the fram is because most don’t take them off road. Four those who think the 4 cylinder turbo is bad you need to go drive a new turbo 4. They are very strong and probably will last a long time.
I like 4 cylinders more than V6’s, but that’s coming from a farm and driving big ol’ NA deisel 4 cylinders. So I’m a little partial towards 4 cylinders over 6 cylinders.
I will say, Murphy law is real, and while I think a 4cylinder turbo has more to go wrong with it than a small block V8, that 4 cylinder turbo is going to be way more reliable than a twin turbo DOHC V6 with 3 timing chains.
Yes, but when you start adding the nice equipment that you can have in the Colorado into the Silverado the price goes up significantly! It all depends on what size truck you really want or need and if options and luxuries are not an issue.
That largly depends on the year model and incentive packages. Right now the currently available Colorado that you can buy, when I compare it to the new Silverado custom with the convenience package and the current 4K$ incentive, both ride around 40K and have similar features, and in some ways I thing the Silverado has more features. When this generation Colorado came out, it was more competitive with the K2xx Silverado, but the incentives on the Silverado were steeper. With this new generation of Colorado, that should change things, especially as the 2 trucks share engines, so that is something they will have in common.
This is exactly why I bought my 2016 Colorado Z71 when I was replacing my ’99 Silverado. To get a comparable equipment package on a Silverado would have cost me $10k more.
With my boat only weighing 2000 lbs and me being of the age that I’m not putting 1000lbs of anything in the bed, the Colorado is all the truck I needed.
The 8sp transmission problems were caused by transmission fluid issues when 1st released. Since 2019 issues have been taken care of. My Colorado V6 is efficient, comfortable and pulls my 5500# boat with ease.
Last I looked.. lots were empty of the twins.
Gm stopped production around October. I have not seen one at my dealer in a long time. Not sure why its taking them so long to retool for the next generation. Their 4th quarter is going to be abysmal. Production is going to start up in the end of January. I’m figuring the dealers will start seeing them by March end. In contrast, Nissan turned their line around in a few weeks on their third gen Frontier. But then again, that model is more of a refresh on their F-alpha platform. The new Colorado is considered a new gen from the ground up.
There are often more changes than just setting up the new model. They wait for other facility upgrades until between tooling changes.
It’s remarkable that nearly everyone assumes manufacturers do a lot of what they do regarding vehicle designs in order to save/make money, yet few seem to apply the same reasoning to apparent production issues. Everyone seems to know better than the (sometimes largest in the world) manufacturer how to manufacture vehicles. It fascinates me.
Yes, but when you start adding the nice equipment that you can have in the Colorado into the Silverado the price goes up significantly! It all depends on what size truck you really want or need and if options and luxuries are not an issue.
I think the logical reasoning of GM loyalist buyers is that the full size makes a better investment in terms of better overall usage. So in turn it takes away from the sale of the Colorado and Canyon. “I should have had a V8.”. I still don’t get why they would chop off two cylinders to make four. Could it be the reverse? To not take the profits they are reaping from the full size. So then GM must be comfortable with their present sales figures and the profits they are seeing currently. So it’s not much satisfying the loyal GM purchasers but to allow profits satisfy their investors.
A big part of the GM decision to go to the mid-size truck vs. the Silverado size, was overall fuel economy. At the time of the decision-making, the fuel economy standards were getting stricter, and the advent of the electric vehicles had not happened. GM opted for the mid-size trucks and the “variable timing” 4-6-8 V8 engines for the Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban models to help achieve the new fuel economy mandates. From a profitability standpoint (2012-2022), this seems to have been a great strategy! As for Ford, they opted to go to the all-aluminum truck bodies to help achieve the federal mandates. While the new F-150s have done well in sales, the whole conversion process just about tanked the company (see profit/stock price trends 2012-2022). I don’t recall what FCA (now part of Stellantis) did, if anything, to meet the new standards…seemed like they were just going to pay the fines.
I don’t understand Gm not having a power rear window. Why would I buy a vehicle without that option especially living in Minnesota when the weather changes constantly. I am not interested in getting out of my 2021 Canyon to close the rear window when it starts to rain. I have been a loyal GM customer for 55 years and probably will buy a different make in the near future. Wake up GM
Unlike trucks 55 years ago, all modern trucks come with standard air conditioning. And people don’t smoke. And it blocks your view out the rear. And the sliding rear window is also a common way for people to break in because they are only supported on two sides by tracks and can be kicked in.
The whole sliding rear window is an obsolete feature that’s there only cause of old people’s habits.
False. I use my sliding rear window on a regular basis, particularly when picking up materials that are longer than the bed and which will fit through the rear window. I do so every month or two. I also open it so I can hear music from the cab when loading or unloading the bed. It’s also helpful for hearing your spotter when lining up a trailer (definitely not necessary with GM’s trailering features on these newer trucks, but it is how I use mine).
That’s just a few uses from one truck owner. Your assumption is entirely, demonstrably false.
“And people don’t smoke” is probably the funniest part of what you wrote. I don’t know that it’s a major consideration when shopping for a truck with a sliding rear window, but it’s very funny regardless.
– A GMC Dealer who regularly deals with trade-ins that have been used as ashtrays.
An incorrect conclusion was my point.
I remember going to look at a Colorado and as soon as I opened the door and saw the cheap door panel I walked out. Have had two new Silverados since then, double cab and now crew cab. Have the same transmission issues, but it has options I wanted not available in the Colorado, roomier, better ride, can haul much more. Haven’t regretted the decision.
Well open the door on a silverado Custom and see that CHEAP 4″ screen ..and the steering wheel missing any kind switches on one side .. CHEAP
Thay version pre production end was a cheap penalty box. Inferior products hurts you a long time reputation wise. One would think GM has learned that lesson the past 40 yrs
Here sone things left out here that are in play.
#1 Toyota always outsold everyone in this class for years. They really were the originator of it in this country. This where they gained their advantage in the 70’s.
#2 the first gen Colorado and Canyon were kind of crappy. More Isuzu than GM and stuck wit an orphan engine.
#3 Toyota no longer is problem free as Tacos have had a history of issues but people still believe the fable.
#4 Trucks are very brand loyal and while GM enjoys this in the full size the mid class loyalty is in Toyotas favor.
#5 the mid size class is a tough class to build and price. If you give everyone everything there is little meat on the bone left profit wise as their are limits to what people will pay for a small truck. The new AT4X will test these limits and I suspect after the first run they will be slow movers. Pushing $70k is a bit much while most on the GM forums complain about $40k.
#6 The long bed one foot longer was nice to offer but it required new sheet metal and chassis. It was a very slow mover and often was discounted to sell on lots.
The extra cab again more new sheet metal including the bed as it was not the same as the crew.
This all got expensive to develop and made them cut corners in other places. By skipping the slow movers we will have better interiors, sun roof and a number of other features many were begging for.
I love my 17 and it for sure better than the Taco. The seating position in the Taco is a killer with your legs straight out. Drum rear brakes etc.
GM has many good things under the sheet metal that many miss like 4 piston fron calipers and rear disc. Full boxed frame and more.
The time off really did not create this difference as it was already there.
As for the Montana. Let’s just see how the others sell. The Santa Cruze and Maverick through three quarters did not sell 80,000 units combined. Not great numbers for a truck.
Sure GM would love you to buy one but will there be enough buyer after the initial rush? This is not the second coming of the S10 as the bed is much mallet and capacities are well under most real trucks.
Maverick is a hotcake. The 22’s pretty much sold out in the end of 2021. And folks had to wait until summer to order a 2023. The only limiting factor on that truck is manufacturing capacity. And when your a manufacturer that is considered a good problem to have and overcome.
The mavericks are not selling at all. Sales are so down that it will not go back up, ever, soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
They sold 50,802 in three quarters. That is what the Camaro sells and you all here complain that is too low.
Ford likes to tout sold out as it drives excitement of those who don’t look at production numbers.
I would like to think Ford could build more than 50k units in 9 months.
Fords biggest issue is parts shortages and the chips are going to where there are more sales F150 and Explorer sales.
Heck they even screwed up the Bronco with a right mirror 1/3 behind the A pillar. They also have has the small Bronco sales drop.
To this point this is not a sure thing. Even the Santa Cruze has only sold 28k in 9 months. Not good numbers there.
Even the Ridgeline only averages 30k per year in a good year.
I have nothing against the Montana coming but I also understand GM wants to know if there really is a market for this before the blow the money on it.
GM saw people say bring us a
Cruze Diesel
Cruze hatch
Regal sedan
Regal wagon
AWD Lacrosse
Diesel Equinox
They brought all this out and no one purchased. Even the Impala was a sales disappointment.
All good cars and people all screamed for them till they built them.
Great question. Generated a lot of response as well as it should. Same question could be posed regarding the F150. I have nothing negative to say about GM’s midsize trucks because I have never owned or driven one. My daily driver for the last 16 years has been a Tacoma. I’m on my 2nd one. Would still have the 2006 TRD Sport but it was totaled in 2018 by a distracted driver. My insurance gave me $23K for a 12 year old truck w/160K miles on it. I went out and brought another one as 75% of Tacoma owners do. They are dependable, good looking and a solid financial investment. Really enjoyed reading all the responses.
I worked for GM for thirty years and have never been impressed with there business decisions! I bought a brand new 1995 Chevy S-10 extended cab with the High Output V-6. Super truck, we drove it to Wyoming and drove it at the higher speed limits, 75 to 80 mph and got a steady 28mpg for the whole trip! But the car mags said the engine(it had 4 valves per cylinder, a modern V6) was to noisy so Chevy dropped it! It was only noisy if you put your foot in it, otherwise it was a super engine! I paid a little over $18000 for it and everyone at the dealership had to see for themselves, a S- 10 for that price, unreal! Now look at the Colorado prices and you’ll understand why I have a Silverado today! Chevy had a super S-10 but let the car mags convince them otherwise! No wonder they are sucking hind titty today!
Doug here was the issue with the 4.3. I owns on in 97 GMC Sonoma.
The prime issue was emissions. The 3.6 has better emission and actually gets better MPG in the new truck that is about 900 pounds heavier.
The 4.3 had its time but it is over.
My new Canyon with 4×4 Crew is much heavier and has gotten 20 MPG over 18,000 miles with no very little highway driving. When I did I saw 25-26 mpg.
My Sonoma only saw 19 and 25 with extended cab and 2wd with a 342 gear.
I loved my Sonoma but the Canyon and my present engine is a much better set up.
FYI your S10 today would be pushing $40K like the Colorado today.
The magazines did nothing to make these changes it was all government regulations and what customers wanted.
Apples to apples the old iron 4.3 was only down about 15hp from the 305 v8.
An equivalent modern 4.3 would be a genV, 5.0-5.2, pushrod v6 with an 8 speed and a likely mild hybrid. Then, no pushing turbo 4’s on people, and no more 5.3 v8. People are paying enough to deserve a 6.2 anyway.
Stop equating 15-25 years ago with today. That’s how you started the Malibu crossover mpg argument.
It is not about the power but more about the emissions.
They have 4 valves because they can get a better burn. They use oil cooled pistons and DI for cooler cylinders so they can run higher compression for a cleaner combustion. The end side effect is more power too.
It is about clean burn and better emissions. Power will come from that. That is why so many engines are 11 to one or more today.
Ok I will add my two cents. Toyota and Ford are completely different trucks.
I have Leased 2015 Z71 and turned it in for a 2017 Z71, when my lease ended. I liked both trucks.
I really like what GM has done on the New style trucks Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon. I don’t need a full back seat, and a 5 Ft box sucks., but I can live with the full Cab With that said I am glad they have done some of the things they have. I drove a 2.7 in a Silverado, and it is as good or better then my 2017 Z71with the 6.
I sure hope they have fixed the 8 speed trans, even though I didn’t have any problems with shifting.
I did have trans shutter problem with my 2017, early on, but it got corrected after they flushed the transmission. I now have 100,000 miles on it and it runs fine. Very few problems, and I pull a 3500 lb boat.
I am considering the GMC AT4 but am told I may not get it till maybe June? Really? GMC needs to be more up front with customers. No set date on delivery, No gas mileage estimates No per order incentives and I should lay out close to $50k I may as well wait till there is one I can test drive, and there are some incentives!!!
I believe the Tacoma’s are all now made in Mexico while the Colorado/Canyon is made in the USA.
I think the fact the last version before they killed it was a penalty bix contributed more.
It’s not complicated as to why Toyota dominates the segment…and it’s not because GM dropped the nameplate for three model years – lol – or never made a single-cab, long-bed 4×4 diesel with a stick sold only in the color “brown” (as so many people online so oddly seem to scream about). The reason ‘Yota has half the market is simply “reputation and reliability.” Whether either one is accurate, I dunno – I wouldn’t own a Toyota if they were having a “half off” sale (well maybe 😆) – but almost undeniably, the previous iteration of the Colorado was’a half-baked, Isuzu-based pile’a unreliable junk – typical of GM’s “swirling the drain” years during the 2000’s. And prior to that, the S-Series trucks, while beloved, couldn’t hold a candle to the longterm durability of Toyota’s trucks going back to the 80’s!
Now I’m a diehard GM fan, and if that company disappeared, I’d buy Ford because, home team 🇺🇸❤️, but truth is truth. GM made’a mediocre product for sooooo long, that they destroyed their reputation for an entire generation, and all the while, Toyota was there to scoop up every lost, pissed and dejected customer with mediocre, but mechanically simple and by-and-large bulletproof series of trucks, decade after decade. And btw, while I’ve never owned a Toyota, my family drives nothing BUT vehicles from that infuriating brand (since I was a kid)! From Corollas to Tacomas to a Tundra – every one went 150 – 250K miles with literally nothing but basic maintenance. Have experiences like that over and over, and unless you’re like me and wanna buy simply because you love your country and wanna support our industry, and there really isn’t a reason for anybody to switch to or BACK to GM.
But! All of that said, a reputation wrecked can be rebuilt, and GM’s well underway. The current Colorado outperforms the current, ancient Tacoma, and I’m sure the next gen will do the same with with Toyota’s NEXT iteration! If the quality stays up, and GM gets the word out to places where the company’s rep has long been dead (like the West Coast), and over time, good product will be very hard to ignore.
And for the record? I currently drive a Colorado. I love it, plan to keep it right up until I trade it for another Colorado in another couple years.
Better products? One way to beat Toyota is make a truck that looks like a Toyota . Shame on you GM,
No I think the body language steals more from their own full size Silverado with the grill, headlights and tail lights in particular. Just a smaller version of it. And it even shares an engine with it. Whereas Nissans’s new frontier definitely copied the Tacoma.
Thank you for bringing this article to us. I understand that others may not agree, but GM dropping these trucks for those 3 years did a ton of sales damage that is very difficult to rebuild. Anyone who reads my comments will know that I feel GM and Ford are making huge mistakes by dropping models (mostly sedan’s now) because this business is cyclical. When GM drops cars from their lines and then decide to bring them back (under same name or new name), it takes a lot more to bring them back and they may never recover those lost customers that the abandoned.
Back in the late 80’s and 90’s when I was at the Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Honda store, the owners/managers there didn’t personally like the S-15/Canyon, so they never wanted to stock any. Myself and other sales people kept telling them that we were losing sales and customers from this, but it didn’t matter to them. When they did stock some, they always loaded them up with all the options and drove the price up. This caused customers to go buy from the dealers that stocked more and at lower prices. This in turn gave the owner/managers more fuel to not stock them saying that they didn’t sell. Instead, they would stock just the full sized trucks. I was never able to convince them otherwise. Bottom line is that not everyone who wants a truck, wants a large one. There are times when I would love to have a truck again, but there’s no way on earth I’m driving some huge truck year round for so little need while struggling to find a place to park them in the area I live. For those saying the full sized only get a couple miles per gallon less MPG, that can add up to a lot over time.
So I understand that Toyota has always sold more in this segment, but we all know (if we’re being honest) that it’s not because the Tacoma is better. It’s because they kept it over the years, didn’t change the name, stocked them at the dealers and offer them in many different body styles, thus selling a lot of the base reg cab models to businesses for way cheaper than GM trucks.
I have a 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 2 wheel drive, 75000 miles and Zero trouble, keep the oil & filter changed, with Amsoil, gets good gas mileage also,
Would like to see what Toyota sales did when the gm stopped production from 2012-2015.
Can’t say I really ever gave two hoots regarding how GM’s offerings compared against something from Toyota. I don’t plan to purchase a Toyota truck. Not sure why these comparisons are often noted in this forum. I rather hear what GM is doing in the U.S. While I have no seat of the pants review of a Toyota truck, I do know that my daughter’s Chevy Cruze rode better and was quieter than my boss’ Lexus clone (Toyota Avalon).
“The Tacoma is now recognized as a tough-as-nails, ultra-reliable, nearly bulletproof truck.”
Jeez, can the author Jonathan Lopez please stop repeating the mantra from Toyota advertising that’s an obvious lie. He needs to do some due diligence on his reporting. If Toyota trucks are so ultra-reliable and nearly bullet proof, why did Toyota settle the $3 billion class action frame rust issue that plagued Tacomas, Tundras, and Sequoias?
And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has accumulated a list of owner complaints over the last 7 years include: a wide range of electrical issues; engine coolant leaking, rear axle leaking, two separate Toyota Tacoma recalls for fuel pump failures in 2017 to 2020. Tacoma automatic transmission problems are well reported. The ball joint in many Tacomas has a tendency to wear out faster than normal. Tacoma drivers made complaints that their check engine lights came on because of a faulty airflow sensor which causes an imbalance in the fuel combustion process. And the list goes on and on.
The author needs to stop the lame repeating that Tacomas/Tundras have bullet proof reliability. It’s a disservice to people looking for relevant info on Toyotas and when comparing vehicles. Let Toyota repeat their advertising slogans and instead do some research and a better job of reporting.
My brother is an ASE certified master technician, specializing in Toyotas. He has made six figures fixing Toyotas for decades. They make great (but not flawless) engines and transmissions. The rest of the vehicle around those is another matter. Bar none the least durable paint in the industry. Seatbelt tensioners lose their tension twice as fast as other brands. Door stay detents wear out. I could change the starter for my Chevy by removing three bolts and laying on the ground, not even bothering with a jack much less a lift. My Sequoia took hours to remove the entire intake manifold and gaskets (which had to be replaced), just to replace the solenoid contacts! The air conditioner didn’t just fail, it detonated, leaving debris through the entire system, so the entire system had to be replaced, out of warranty. It was such a common problem that there are now aftermarket AC compressors with built-in filters to catch that debris so you don’t have to replace the whole system to prevent another failure.
They’re good vehicles, but the idea that they are bulletproof is absolute nonsense. Repeating that myth just sets people up for disappointment. EVERY component of EVERY product manufactured has a failure rate greater than zero. Consumer demand forces more and more features in these vehicles, which means more and more components that can break. The idea that any vehicle is going to be perfectly reliable is nothing short of magical thinking.
I’ve owned Chevy trucks since the mid 90’s. My most recent Chevy truck was a 2018 Colorado. I decided I wanted a stick and a sunroof, so I got a Tacoma TRD off-road. The Chevy was more comfortable and more powerful, but the Taco is more fun!
Toyota has the reliability to fall back on. The Colorado is nice looking, but the dependability has been terrible. Hopefully it’s better now, but GM has been promising better dependability for decades.
If GM was smart they would have offered them with a V8 option and brought back the Cyclone/ Typhoon trim packages. I’d own one of each if they had.
Dick Indiana: Around 2008/2009/2010 you could order a GMC Canyon with the 5.3 V8. I was really tempted to order one back then, but they were pricey.
Can confirm. They’re rare but do exist. What people don’t realize as they reminisce about the Cyclone and Typhoon is that they were incredibly unpopular. They had birthdays at their dealerships before they got insane discounts to get rid of them. Like $15k? Something like that. That would be huge in today’s money (not just current inventory status), but it was truly insane back then. It was a fun idea but the market wasn’t there. The 5.3L option was discontinued for the same reason. Most people looking for these smaller trucks aren’t interested in a V8. Some are, I get it, but not enough to make it a viable market/product strategy.
Credentials: GMC dealer.
SMDH: I agree with you on those points. Funny thing is that today, if you find a Cyclone or Typhoon for sale, they bring huge money due to the rarity. The problem with them (back then) is that they were kind of poor “trucks and/or SUV’s” and people didn’t get them. You could put them in the same category as the 80’s Buick Regal GN and GNX. I think today they would sell well.
Going back to the Chevy/GMC twins offered with the V8: The reason I liked them and wanted one was because the MPG was nearly the same as the inline 5 cyl they had, but with more power. Gas prices weren’t really an issue then for me. But above all else, they were fast and smooth and with the right trim, the GMC Canyon V8 was really nice.
Taco sales by year
2005 168,811
2006 178,351
2007 173,238
2008 144,653
2009 111,824
2010 107,198
2011 110,705
2012 131,753
2013 159,485
2014 155,041
2015 179,562
2016 191,631
2017 198,124
2018 245,659
2019 248,801
2020 238,805
2021 252,490
2022 215,853
Their sales were on a decline like everyone else.
They saw a small rebound in 2012 but did not increase till GM returned with their trucks and brought attention back to this class.
Everyone claimed GM was foolish for bringing them back. Well they did well.
Global sales would help but they lost much of Asia with the break with Isuzu.
Anyone know when the GMC AT4 truck or the Z71 Colorado trucks will be at some dealers?
I an kinda hesitant to order a new truck at close to $50K and not be sure when it will arrive.
My local dealer tells me Maybe June? What is that all about….I would guess the dealers would get them First, and I would sit waiting for a new truck.
Hi Wayne! Dealer here. We have orders in for about half a dozen of the new Canyons. We have received allocation for only one to be built so far, and it is scheduled for production in late February. Several of our waiting orders are for the AT4X which won’t be available until at least the summer, so it’s a pretty short line for other configurations. GM allocation has been on hiatus for a few weeks, but we should be getting more soon.
Hi. I sell GMCs new and every brand used. I have handled every trim of every generation of Tacoma. There is no comparison. They are nowhere near as comfortable and the feature set is generally more limited. A base Colorado is more comfortable than the most loaded Tacoma.
Tacoma has a cult following which has allowed Toyota to not need to do much to maintain their market advantage. I say this as the owner of a Tundra. It’s a great truck, and someone traded it in with a ton of miles in immaculate condition so I snagged it. So I’m not a Toyota hater. I just do not understand the cult following of the Tacoma and 4Runner.
It is brand loyalty. Toyota has it in the mid size class but not in the full size as Chevy or Ford has.
These loyalties are hard to break even if you have a better truck.
C8.R: You just nailed it there. Very true.
When GM replaced the S10/S15, with the Colorado and Canyon, the problems were too numerous for the buyer to ignore. It unfortunately turned buyers away from the nameplate.
I was a GM buyer and supporter for decades. They were the only vehicles that would even consider buying. My classic car was a 69 Pontiac Grand Prix. I was hardcore. GM!!!
.
But, l got sick and tired of the constant issues with GM vehicles. My last one was a 2000 S10. Long.bed extended cab with the 4.3v6. I loved that truck.
Anything l bought after that was constantly causing me headaches. I couldn’t take it anymore and had enough of visiting the dealership for problems. I very reluctantly gave up on my lifelong support of GM vehicles.
I do like the Colorado and Canyon and have read numerous positive reviews and owners reports on them. I do hope that GM keeps up the quality, as I’ll be in the market soon, and am willing to buy GM again.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Richard: Here’s hoping that we see you back in the GM family soon!
I had a extended cab long bed 4.3 Sonoma ZQ8. I loved that truck. I hated the first gen Colorado as it was poorly built. But I came back in 2017 to a Canyon Crew Denali and I just love this truck. It is a great joy and no real issues.
I avoided the transmission shudder when GM offered the free fluid change and it made the Transmission what it should have been with even smoother gear changes.
The new truck should be a step up from even what I have.
Looks like GM is great at making Hot Wheels diecast cars. Cute little toys that are great stationary and pretty to look at.
I heard that GM was going to replace their engines with squirrels. They only have to be fed nuts and will have squirrel deactivation. And the chirping sounds will sound like a modern day turbo.
As odd as it sounds, it’s hard to compare sales numbers because all of these trucks are being sold as fast at they can make them. So the current sales volumes are probably more a factor of production capacity vs popularity, a fault of GM demand estimates being too conservative, afraid the Colorado/Canyon wouldn’t be as popular as they are. The article mentions the Taco has 2 factory, but GM slid the Colorado/Canyon in where there was some capacity available where the full size vans were being built, which are also being sold as fast the they can be made, even though they haven’t been updated in forever.
If the trucks were starting to pile up on the lots, that would be a better sign that demand caught up with production. I wonder what % capacity the Taco plants are running at.
YES. Tacomas have fewer features than Canyons and Colorados. Parts, especially microchip, shortages have impacted GM more than Toyota. I haven’t looked at the numbers over the years to try to understand what the ultimate difference that has had on units in the shortage vs before, but I do know as a GMC dealer how often I have a customer talking to me about a Canyon (almost always a matter of reserving one on order, not yet built) and they tell me they can go get a Tacoma or Frontier right now for less money. This happens often enough for me to feel confident (though still reliant on my limited sample size and selection limitation) that Toyota and Nissan have been able to produce more relative to their demand than GM has at least in this category. (Also GM has DEFINITELY prioritized production of heavy duty trucks over all other models, as they have far less competition there than any of their other segments.)
I am not sure about problems with the current generation Tacoma, but previous Tacomas were far from bulletproof. Terrible frame and body rust and V6 engine head gaskets failing were significant problems. Toyota markets and prices the Tacoma aggressively, probably to run its two Tacoma assembly plants at or near capacity. GM has one assembly plant making both the Colorado and the Canyon. Since GM only has one assembly plant making its midsize trucks it is not pressured to price its midsized trucks as aggressively to run its Wentzville Missouri assembly plant at an efficient level.
OK. So I have figured out a way I think to make this engine fail. The cam slides back and forth with three different cam lobes. High and medium lift. Then two flat lobes for 2 cylinder deactivation. So what if you tow a trailer heavy enough down a hill hauling but with only two cylinders activated. I think that that should warp cylinders one and four. Not trying to be a bad guy I just want my V6 back.