Entries Tagged 'trucks' ↓

Like the full-size Chevrolet Silverado pickup, but want something a little different? Take a look at the Sierra, GMC’s stable mate for the Silverado. The half-ton GMC Sierra 1500 offers respectable gas mileage for a full size pickup when fitted with the base 4.6 liter six cylinder engine. When coupled with a five-speed manual transmission in a 2WD Sierra, the 4.6 liter six provides 15 city and 20 highway miles per gallon.

GMC Canyon Engine Options
GMC offers a wide range of engine options in the half-ton Sierra 1500 range. Although GMC offers diesel engine options for the heavy-duty Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD, the Sierra 1500 choices are gas-only.

• Vortec 4.3 liter V6
• Vortec 4.8 liter V8
• Vortec 5.3 liter V8 (iron-block, Active Fuel Management, with or without FlexFuel)
• Vortec 5.3 liter V8 (aluminum-block, Active Fuel Management, with or without FlexFuel)
• Vortec MAX 6.0 liter V8 (Active Fuel Management)

The 2500HD and 3500HD come standard with the Vortec 6.0 liter V8, with the Duramax Diesel 6.6 liter turbo V8 available as an option. GMC does not publish mileage ratings for the Duramax diesels, which are produced by a joint venture between GM and Isuzu.

Continue reading →

The popular Dodge Dakota pickup was introduced in 1987 and redesigned in 1997 and 2005. The Dakota produces average gas mileage figures for a mid-sized pickup, with highway mileage ratings reaching 20 miles per gallon (MPG) with the standard V-6 engine. Gas mileage ratings for the V-8 Dakota running E85 are underwhelming. The distinctively styled Dakota fills a niche by being larger than the Ford Ranger, but smaller than the F-150.

A 3.7 liter V-6 producing 210 horsepower (HP) is the standard engine in all 2008 Dakota models, with the exception of the top of the line Laramie. The 2008 Dakota Laramie is equipped with a 4.7 liter V-8 engine that produces 302 HP. The 4.7 liter V-8 is available as an option in the SLT, TRX, and Sport models. While a diesel engine is not currently available in the 2008 Dakota, rumor has it that the new 4.2 liter V6 Cummins turbo-diesel will soon be found under the Dakota’s hood.

Continue reading →

The mid-sized Chevrolet Colorado was introduced in 2004 as a replacement for the Chevy S-10 to compete with the Dodge Dakota. Gas mileage ratings for the Colorado are solid for a mid-size pickup, with the standard engine delivering 24 miles per gallon (MPG) on the highway. The Colorado is twin of the GMC Canyon and a close cousin of the Isuzu i-Series; all three trucks are built in the same plant in Shreveport, LA.

The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado is fitted with a 185 horsepower (HP) 2.9 liter inline four cylinder as standard equipment. The Colorado’s optional 3.7 liter inline five cylinder engine produces a healthy 242 HP. While a diesel engine is not currently available in the Colorado, a fuel-efficient 16-valve DOHC intercooled 3.0 liter turbo diesel inline four cylinder engine is available in the Isuzu D-Max pickup truck overseas. It would not be unreasonable to expect to see this engine appear under the hood of the Colorado and its corporate cousins in the near future, as highway gas mileage could easily eclipse 30 MPG. Would America buy a diesel Colorado? In a heartbeat …

Continue reading →

First introduced in 1998 as a compact pickup, the Nissan Frontier grew to become a mid-sized truck with a 2005 redesign. The Frontier’s gas mileage ratings fall a shade behind the Toyota Tacoma, with the current model’s highway ratings topping out at 23 miles per gallon (MPG) in the 4-cylinder manual transmission-equipped 2WD. The 2008 Nissan Frontier is available with two engines: a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder rated at 152 horsepower (HP) and a 4.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine rated at 261 HP.

While a diesel engine is not currently available in Frontiers sold in North American a torquey 2.5 liter DOHC intercooled turbo-diesel is available under the hood of the Frontier overseas, where it is known as the Navara. As a point of comparison, manual transmission-equipped diesel King and Double cab Navaras are rated at 23.9 urban / 32.8 extra urban MPG in the UK. That’s roughly 19.9 city and 27.3 highway here in the States.

Continue reading →

The rugged full-sized Nissan Titan was introduced in 2004 to compete with the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Dodge Ram pickup trucks. Nissan boasts about having the most powerful standard V-8 in its class, but the Titan’s gas mileage ratings lag behind the competition, with the E85-capable versions offering the dubious distinction of single-digit city ratings.

The 2008 Nissan Titan is available in crew cab and king cab configurations, and is equipped with a brawny 5.6 liter DOHC 32-valve V-8 engine that produces 317 horsepower. Flex Fuel capability is available as an option. All versions of the 2008 Titan (4×2 and 4×4) are rated at 12 miles per gallon in the city and 17 miles per gallon on the highway. The Titan is slated for a redesign for the 2009 model year. It is likely that a diesel engine option will be added at that time.

Continue reading →