General Motors’ pickup truck line for the North American market is mighty robust, with models like the Chevy Silverado frequently slotting at the top of their segment with regard to sales volume. Nevertheless, General Motors currently does not offer a compact pickup truck model in North America, despite rivals offering something in the segment. Which leads us to ask – should GM build a compact pickup truck for North America?
2023 Ford Maverick
For the moment, the smallest General Motors pickups offered in North America are the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, both of which occupy the midsize segment. Meanwhile, rival automakers continue to offer compact models, such as the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Sant Cruz. There’s also the Ram Rampage, which has yet to be officially confirmed for the U.S. and Canada, but would also be considered a compact pickup rival.
Looking beyond the U.S. and Canada, General Motors does have at least one smaller pickup model on offer, specifically the Chevy Montana, which is sold in Mexico and South America. Unfortunately, the Montana presents a few issues when it comes to selling in in the U.S. or Canada – essentially, the Montana is a sub-compact pickup, rather than a compact, and it’s powered by a turbocharged 1.2L I3 engine producing 130 horsepower. As such, the Montana is actually a class below the Ford Maverick, and would be ill-suited for the U.S. and Canada.
Chevy S10 Max
It’s also worth mentioning the Chevy S10 Max, which is also sold in Mexico and South America, but is roughly the same size as the Chevy Colorado. The Chevy S10 Max is also essentially a rebadged and reengineered Maxus T70, sold from the third-party Chinese brand as the first Chinese-made pickup to wear a Chevy badge.
At this point, there are no plans at General Motors to build a new compact truck for North American. Nevertheless, if such a vehicle were made, we think it would likely be equipped with the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine, rated at 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
But we want to know – do you think General Motors build a compact pickup truck for North America? Possible something wearing a Chevy or GMC badge at a more-affordable price point than the Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon? Tell us by voting in the poll below, and be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more General Motors business news, Chevy news, GMC news, and around-the-clock General Motors news coverage.
Comments
Yes, BUT. The Maverick isn’t small enough and should have been offered in a 2-door version that some small businesses (and a few non-commercial buyers) would likely want. Ford overshot the intended market with the size of its truck.
A small compact pick-up can be sold anywhere globally in every car market in the world that exists, in both LHD & RHD it should be a one-design only fits all markets small pick-up truck, start selling it via the internet only first where General Motors markets don’t exist in the market at the moment, may be start with just a few dealers location centrally in major high population zones.
Stick with the plan never give up, don’t spend to much on marketing ads or big budgets target big DIY/builders/Farmer magazines & be strong at letting the local public the GM small pick-up via motoring mags/online car website by offering the test drives done for free on a shoe sting marketing budget, only grow the marketing as take off grows, Tesla don’t need a marketing department it’s sold by using motoring journalism by word & mouth.
Chevy simply make the best pick-ups on the planet, a small pick-up they are can be sold anywhere , should simply sell themselves, simply destroy anything if they look as traditional practical truck a Maverick, not some gormless unpractical truck that it looks like it designed to win a F1 race like an extremely boring Mitsubishi L100 design, where passengers in the rear bang their heads with a low slung rear cab roofline off-road in the rear of a double cab, keep the rear windows nice practical rectangular with superb rear vision, no stupid blind spot inducing rear side panels behind the rear of the cab, that also make it harder to remove anything from the front of the bed from the side, keep it practical keep it sensible like the Maverick, would prefer RWD/AWD set up you can put a lot more torque through the rear wheels if needed with top of the range model.
I think GM should do both: a small utilitarian truck as you described…call it S10 … and a slightly larger Santa Cruz-esque truck based off the Equinox…call it Avalanche.
They had the S10 and just basically abandoned the segment. The first gen Colorado looks were disappointing. I miss all my S10s that I had. ZQ8 extra cab to crew cab 4×4. Even an Xtreme Blazer.
Agree. The S10 was a good product. Inexpensive, durable, simple/straightforward and the right size for many entry level PU buyers. It even looked the part. And while the old Iron Duke was a marginal passenger car engine (vs contemporary competitors) it was an excellent small truck engine.
I knew people that worked their I4 S10’s to death for 20 years and well over 200,000 miles with minimal maintenance. The 2.8 V6 did nearly as well if well maintained.
Yes in 3 versions. A 2.o or equivalent hybrid with a 6 ft bed , and a 2.7 AWD version 4k tpw with the quad cab with 4 .5 bed OR a extended cab version with 6ft bed with same features.
Had a 1984 S-10 for 5 years and put 60K miles on it. Sold it to my 2nd cousin who drove it for 15 years and Lord only know how many miles. The power of the engines was just right for the truck. The one issue was the radiator hoses would bust in the summer time and you could overheat the engine.
Yes, Chevrolet needs a small, affordable pickup truck with an optional extra-long bed similar to what the S-10 used to offer. Make the truck similar to a Ford Maverick for the North American market, i.e., the USA and Canada. It should have a reasonably powerful normally aspirated four-cylinder motor AND a hybrid variant powerplant available like the Ford Maverick. But be forewarned: don’t even bother if you plan on dropping an underperforming, overstressed 1.0 to 1.3 liter three-pot paint shaker into the thing.
Yes, the Colorado and Canyon keep growing and are no longer economical.
Carl, you are correct, l looked at the Colorado/Canyon and the mileage numbers were terrible, traded for another Silverado with the 5.3. I get 21-22 MPG on the highway, and it only has 3,000 miles on it. Why spend similar bucks on a smaller pickup with worse mileage? Plus the Silverado rides so nice!
I and a friend of mine between us had 5 different S10 regular cab, short bed 4 cyl 5 spd trucks. All 5 got driven over 200k miles with just regular maintenance, (no clutch jobs either)
Never have understood why GM just walked away from that market. Used to see that little truck everywhere…
Customers got too fat!
I had 6 new ZQ8’s (Sonoma and Colorado) just like that and still have my 2007 ZQ8 . Over 170k miles and counting !
Yes. Name it “The Luv” which only comes in red, black or white and short wheel base with manual roll up windows. It has the 240 air conditioning system on it and manual 6 so transmission. Price it under $20,000.
My first new vehicle was a 1982 S-10 Sport. It was a V-6 reg cab, short bed with two-tone paint yellow over black. It was a looker and fun to drive! I traded it in on a new Fiero in 84 which was even more fun! MSRP for the S-10 was $9911 and the Fiero was $11k and change. Ahhh those were fun times. Then I got married had 3 kids and a 4-door sedan.
Also, add some rust proofing materials into the frame and body. Something like Ford did with the aluminum F-150, Or get away from pinch welds on the wheel wells.
Why not make the body from fiberglass like the Corvette!
Absolutely YES. I may not be a truck guy, but I’m not blind. Trucks sell. People want them. However, not everyone wants some huge honking truck with average of 15 +/- MPG. As we all see, Ford hit one out of the park with the Maverick, but even that is just a touch too large.
GM must offer a small truck in regular and 4 dr (like the Maverick) and offer it in just one overall length. So if you get the regular cab, you get the longer bed. If 4 dr, you get a shorter bed. Make it more basic with just one hybrid powertrain in front or AWD. Have the features in set packages with prices that match. Base front drive reg cab for 18 grand. Base 4 dr for 20 grand. Mid range features reg cab for 20 grand and mid range 4 dr for 22 grand. Loaded reg cab for 22 grand and loaded 4 dr for 24 grand. Offer AWD on them all for $1,000 more and make them all automatic.
Do that and they wouldn’t be able to build enough of them.
Back in the eighties, the family had an auto parts store. The Datsun/Nissan, Toyota, and Chevy Luvs made great delivery trucks. Good on gas, and being small, easy to park to get in and out. Made sense then. Makes sense today.
Totally agree. Start model line-up with basic cab, manual trans. rear 2WD and windows, good radio and comprehensive, affordable options before moving up to more equiped models. Had basic S10 & 3 Colorado. Would go back to a basic S10 for other needs. Thanks
Yes, get one going, from anywhere. Make it meet or exceed Ford Maverick’s towing capacity. I seriously looked at a Maverick, but when I suggested it to my wife she said ” no way you’re getting a Ford. Very low quality !”
Yes bring back the Chevy S10 and offer a base model similar to the one enjoyed! I owned a 2003 Chevy S10 for 15 years. It was the base 2 wheel drive model with a 5 speed, 4 cylinder, rubber floor covering, hand crank windows and AC. Fun truck and it cruised well on the hi-way or in town with great MPG. I originally bought to use in landscaping my new home. I kept it long after the landscaping was complete because it was such fun to drive especially with the 5 speed. The S10 only needed normal maintenance which I which I always had done the dealership.
Agree that GM needs a small truck like the “OLD” S-10. I had at least 6 or 7 S-10’s and they were all great trucks. They were easy to park, enter and exit, had a great 4WD system, and weren’t bad on fuel. When Chevy went to the Colorado in the mid 2000’s they ruined a great little truck. I had a 2005 Colorado Z-71 but not for long. It was a rough rider, had a terrible turning radius, and just wasn’t fun to drive. It needed running boards to enter and exit. I couldn’t wait to trade it.
Wake up GM. Of course, if GM makes a small truck, all you will get are fancy advertisements and a promise to get you a new truck within a year. My best friend ordered a new GMC Canyon on July 10th, 2023. He’s still waiting for an order confirmation. He sure wishes he would have bought a TACOMA!!!
Yes they should but don’t load em way up on options nothing worse than buying a vehicle and having all these options that never get use. Thorn in my side not to mention monthly payment keep it simple stupid.
Arthur: I couldn’t agree more. Basic, basic, basic!
Last year or maybe two, I recall this same subject being brought up on GMA. Back then I said the same thing I say now and same as you. I was very quickly shot down on here and many were telling me how a smaller basic truck will never sell. Well, I guess the Maverick has shown them wrong and even that truck get’s too pricey and too many options.
It’s not so much that a smaller truck wouldn’t sell, it’s more that GM doesn’t want to sell it. It’s all about profit margins, and if they can sell bigger, more profitable trucks, they will. Now, this S10 Max would fit the bill for a basic truck, since it has a regular cab/long bed option. But I just don’t think it would gain acceptance in the US market.. at least, I’m not sure Chevy would put their badge on it here, after the dismal City Express sales.
If the Montana is smaller than the Maverick and has no competitors in the US for its size, doesn’t that make it a better idea to bring to the market? Has GM still not learned anything from the Bolt?
People say they want a smaller truck, but they mean on the outside. When they get in they’ll complain there’s not enough room. And since the Montana is unibody, it has to have a large cabin for structural integrity, so a regular cab with a longer bed is unfortunately not really an option.
YES. No four doors and small like they used to be so they will fit in my garage. Used to have one many years ago, and would like to still have one.
Cab and a half with jump seats!
Use the old Ford Focus Fiesta model. When they built the fiesta it had a cap of 60 70% of the cost of a focus. If GM did the same thing with the Colorado/Canyon to a smaller pickup that would make it affordable useful and not overly equipped with unnecessary luxury features.
Correction meant to say Escort/Fiesta Ford Model for pricing…
It would be great to have a small, relatively simple, and sensible truck to market. But, they would probably do something stupid with it, like the new trax. Great looking, getting all the accolades, and it has a timing belt running in OIL!!!!! I don’t care what the engineers say, that will be the new vega, as the engine pukes and craps itself in about 40k. Please do something smart!
Ford has had wet belt failures that have totally destroyed the engine
Check out YouTube (I Do Cars) on there 1 litre engine
Also the new 2.7 eco boost has a wet belt now.
Absolutely a stupid idea
Have watched several of your videos on GM and Ford engines tear downs; extremely entertaining.
Not all people want to spend 60 – 80 k on a new truck. Make something simpler and nice – economical and reliable Something that fits in the garage. !!
To me, the current Colorado/Canyon pickups are pretty much where the 1967 C-10s were back when, except they are about 6″ narrower. Widen the current C/C models and you suddenly have what would be a 1/2 ton pickup truck of workable size that can replace the existing Silverado/Sierra 1/2 ton vehicles. Leave the current Silverado/Sierra vehicles in the 3/4 ton and up vehicles, due to their needed high cowl height to clear the Duramax V-8s.
Such a widened Colorado with the HO 2.7L 4cyl would suddenly be the fastest vehicle in its class. Put the 6-cyl Duramax in it, too.
The problem with the original S-10s was that with their fancier Tahoe trim, with power accessories, their selling price was far too close to what a similar Silverado MSRP’d for. It should have cost less, but didn’t. No cost-related reason to buy a smaller truck for the same price as a larger truck. So keep the new S-10 more basic, but nice. No touchscreens or such, just basic analog stuff. Voice control can be good, but not touchscreens. Engineer them for a quiet ride without a lot of sound insulation, which can be done and save money in the long run. Body has to be stout for crash issues, too. Keep the automatic transmission to a 6-speed. A small turbo motor, or even the 2.7L base turbo should work well with little additional cost. Choose interior materials that the car magazines will not associate with “cheap vehicles”, “rent cars”, or “taxis”, but very durable. In other words, a nicely-done vehicle that will last for decades with little wear-related issues . . . which CAN be done for few $$ more.
For exterior styling, go back to look at how pickups were styled in the 1960s, with body contours which made the bodies stronger and quieter. With accent lines which can also lend themselves to two-tone paint and such! While still being aerodynamic to require little power to run them down the road at 70mph (for great fuel range). MUST NOT be tall, either, for easy of entry and exit! Let GM become the style leader and market leader in the smaller truck segments!
more options is never a bad thing.
You mean like my 87 s10 that still takes me to home depot and just about every auto supply had at least one ? Of course, they should have never stopped making them.
Forget the small fries. Bring back the Avalanche and I’ll buy 2 of them. One for me and one for the misses. We love our Avalanche.
I agree build a small truck. Keep it simple but don’t make it look cheap like the Maverick.
One thing I notice with Ford they price there vehicles based on how ugly they are.
The Maverick is one ugly truck.
GM call it S10
But people don’t forget who runs GM. She really needs to go….
You’ve got to that right.. Mary Barra should never have been put into the position in the first place. Misstep after misstep after disaster.. has proven herself totally unfit for the job.
Yes
I would love to see a basic S15/S10 built again. I had an 84 S15 extended cab that came with a 2.8L V6 and 3 speed automatic when I bought it used in 98. It needed a motor so I pulled the 2.8 and dropped in an L69 5.0L V8 which I replaced the distributor fly weights and springs, Accel ignition module and high output coil, 1″ carb spacer below the rejetted 720 Quadrajet 4 barrel carb, Camaro rear dump exhaust manifolds and, cut down Ypipe into a side by side dual exhaust with staggered Niehoff performance cats out to Thrush CherryBombs dumping before the rear end, 85 Monte Carlo 4 core rad with Cavilier electric cooling fan and relay to a dash switch with oil pressure and temperature gauges mounted in a custom stainless steel dash plate replacing the dash storage pocket, 2.5″ Sun tachometer on the A pillar, longer valve duration ratio rockers instead of a cam, Turbo 350 tranny with 2800rpm stall converter and Be&My Stage 2 shift kit, custom built and balanced one piece driveshaft so deleted hanger bearing cross member and modified rear floor to clear the shaft. Z24 mirrors and bucket seats, 82 Camaro front springs etc, etc, etc. Sold it in 2006 to get a more family oriented vehicle. Hard to find another to build nowadays in Ontario Canada and have always regretted getting rid of it. Got great milage if driven easy, could 1/4 mile low 11s, fit any parking space, carry 4’x8′ sheets of drywall and almost anything a full-size bed could carry. Sorry I’m rambling. A small S15 retro styled offering with several drivetrain variations to choose from with basic standard roll up windows and rubber floor and only minimal options and electronic upgrades to keep it cheap to buy and maintain and be a pickup truck that can be used without fear of mucking up the interior or require detailing like a luxury car.
I believe that there is a huge want and need for a small pickup! All a lot of people and more importantly small businesses in areas with snowy winters is an updated, but by no means fancy, last gen S10. V6 or a torquey 4cyl, real 4wd, extended cab (not for daily 4 passengers but storage), and a basic interior. A 12″ infotainment is not required just a truck! I know that it will never happen due to profit margins but there’s a need!
They can’t supply Canyons/Colorados to dealers in quantity so why open this door?
That’s either by design to keep the selling prices inflated OR due to bad management at GM. Take your pick.
Hell yeah make a small utility pick up cheap but no less than a 4 bangers and a manual tranny as std equip and auto as opt. Manual crank windows but with a/c 2 doors long bed and 4 doors short bed on the same w/b would be great…..
Just saying..
Bring back the S10 ! and keep a simple ohv N/A engine in it ! My 94 2.2 unrebuilt engine trans and rearend has over 657,000 miles on it and still runs great ! Easy to maintain and parts are still plentiful and low cost !
Yes
Montana with a 2.0L LSY engine to compete with the Santa Cruze. I also think it will take away some sales from Maverick even though it’s smaller, but direct size against Santa Cruz…
Don’t skimp on the engine size… GM SEEMS TO BE KNOWN FOR THAT……
Like don’t come back with the Chevy LUV That was a nightmare when you tried to drop a 327 under its hood
I think it would be a perfect place for a 200 mile range electric truck- something for small contractors and delivery vehicles for auto parts and the like.
It is time for GM to wake up and listen to their faithful. Build a truck like the S10 and don’t turn it into a sports car.Jjust make a good practical small truck and every Chevy enthusiast will love it!!!!!!