In an unsurprising, yet still massively important move, for the second year in a row on Monday.
The revamped mid-sized truck exploded onto the scene last year, shaking up a segment of the market that was desperate for more options. This year’s repeat proves Chevy is committed to continued innovation in this small, but .
The standout feature in the 2016 Colorado is a new engine: the much-anticipated . If you’re not a diesel fan, allow me to enlighten you: imagine an engine smaller than your standard V6 that has better torque, towing capacity, and fuel economy. The , for example, lets you tow up to 7,700 pounds but still gets 31 miles per gallon on the highway. You read that right—you can now own a truck that’ll match a Subaru in MPG.
Downsides? I can’t think of any. Really. Chevy even figured out a way to build a torque converter that , which means you can’t tell you’re driving a diesel. And the truck is beautiful to boot.
It’s hard to know why the mid-sized truck segment has largely been ignored (until now) by every automaker except Toyota, and maybe Nissan. We’re big fans of the Tacoma, but we’re also glad to see the segment diversify. Even more importantly, we’re glad to see innovation. Chevy’s little 2.8L will hopefully push other manufacturers to think outside the box and keep finding ways to make trucks more powerful, efficient, and reliable. Heck, isn’t that what a truck is supposed to be in the first place?