[chevrasaki]

Personally I don't see any reason to purchase a colorado over a silverado. The colorado really isn't that much smaller, and it's pretty close to the same price once you factor incentives into the equation. It's bed is much smaller and it might get a couple mpgs more but you don't get the sound of a V8.

Then there's the diesel debate. It's torquey and it gets excellent gas mileage on the freeway. If you're driving around town the difference won't be nearly as noticeable. And diesel engines prefer the highway, all the stop/go and idling aren't great for the DPF and SCR emission systems. Then you have to add DEF and I'd always be concerned that one day it's going to limit my speed due to some emission fault. And diesel engines adds a larger up front cost over gas engines.

If I was going to get a truck, I'd get a capable truck. One with an extended cab, an 8 foot bed, a beefy V8, and 4x4. The 5.3L V8 has been around forever, they're reliable and parts are readily available, and repair shops know how to work on them or they're easy to fix yourself if something does go wrong.

All my opinion. It really depends on what you want out of a truck, and what you plan to do with it. If you plan on doing a lot of freeway light duty towing, and want something that might still fit in your garage, the diesel Colorado is the way to go.

 

[chevrasaki]

Drove a V6 Canyon SLT. Amazing little truck that actually isn't that little. Very comfortable, almost as maneuverable as a little crossover, and very quiet. Loved it - the price for a 4x4 with some options is what kept me away.

Full size trucks are a PITA to park in areas here and even the smallest V8 (4.8) sucked down gas like crazy. Had a Silverado as a rental for a week and loved it, but definitely wouldn't want on every day.

Just wanted to point out that the 4.8L V8 gets worse gas mileage than the 5.3L V8 not by much but it is worse. The new DI ecotec 5.3L is much more powerful is gets significantly better gas mileage especially with the 8-speed than the previous vortec with a sizable increase in power.

 

[chevrasaki]

Yup, haven't had the chance to drive one of those though. Felt pretty weak for the HP number.

The Canyon makes the same HP from the V6 that the Silverado did with the 4.8 - and feels MUCH livelier. But man that V8 sounded nice.

Yeah the V6 is has some pretty impressive figures. But the HP numbers don't tell the full story. It's only a snapshot of the best part of the dyno graph. What you want is a nice flat torque curve though the whole RPM range and low down grunt. V8's generally have a much better torque curve. However, the 4.8L has in my opinion always been kind of a sub-par engine. Especially in such a large and heavy vehicle with that much drag. The 5.3L is a much better match for the full size pick ups.

And yeah, there's no better engine noise than a V8. In the Patagonia special James May and Jeremy Clarkson discuss why they like the V8 engine so much.

"It is a charismatic engine, that's why we like V8s, is cos they are imperfect.
Unlike a straight six engine, where you've got six cylinders in line,in one of those, when one piston's going down another one's coming up,
so it sort of balances itself and makes it smooth.
A V8 is inherently unbalanced, because when one piston's going down,
there isn't necessarily another one going up to balance it.
......
So that's what makes a V8 wobbly.
It is, it's inherently wobbly. And charismatic."