I have a 2016 Colorado Z71 Duramax with about 140,000 miles on it. I regularly get 30 MPG loaded up (not towing) running between Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC. Other than consumables (oil, filters, tires, etc.) I did not have one component failure until about 120K miles, and those were NOx sensors. This has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned (over 40+ years). I did not like the price I paid ($40k+), but I am happy with the truck.
I have a 2017 duramax. It’s been a great truck so far. She’s almost at 100k mi. and still runs great. DEF has been easy for me too. There’s a DEF pump nearby so getting DEF is no more difficult than filling the diesel tank.
I purchased a used 2016 Z71 Duramax. When I bought it, it had right at 160,000 miles. Picked it up at a steal for $24,000. Was still bone stock. Even had the factory plastic covering in the floor despite me being the third owner. Only issues I've had were the nox sensors (super easy) and a split in the intercooler pipe which caused me to have some DPF issues and had to do multiple forced Regens. Once I finally traced it down and installed a new pipe (10 minutes with a screw driver) it has been the best vehicle I've ever owned. I just hit 225,000 and still get 32-35 mpg (not towing) on the interstate. Just keep changing oil and fuel filters, add DEF when you are supposed to, and just keep up basic maintenance, it is just a hard worker.
I'd love to see you guys do some base model, bare bones, full size tests. The base, work models of the F150, Ram and Silverado would be quite interesting to see how well they handle the Ike. The company I work for has us use base models to tow trailers with. I'd love to see what you guys think of the low end spectrum of new trucks.
My company exclusively buys base model trucks too, so all my towing is in full size V6 trucks, the only option checked off is the long bed. It would be interesting to see how the various truck company's base trucks do.
Bob Hope Yeah, maybe a white fleet model test run would be an interesting video that a lot of people would relate to. I'm normally a V8 Ford guy, but got the idea after I driving this Chevy that they made me take.....with a V6. It's not my Ford, but quite comfortable for a base model.
This has been a common request, however the manufacturers never make those trucks available because they want the press to see the cream of the crop. Thus you always see loaded trucks being reviewed, not the base W/T .
Impossible test. GM and Ram destroy Ford with the basic test since Ford's best MPG economy is the 2.7 Eco-Joke, Ram's is the 3.0 EcoDiesel, and GM's is it's Denali power and economy out of a V8. They are all apples and oranges.
House of Diesel are you slow? the eco diesel is not the base engine... it's a $3,800 option.... and the Denali.... also not a base model. hell I don't believe the 2.7 for Ford is a base model either. Yup you must be slow.
I wish cars would stick with the column shifter. A lot of wasted space in the console that can be used for other things - cup holders... storage... etc.
The resale value of diesel trucks is much higher than their gas versions. So when it comes to sell it, you will get most of the $3700 difference back. So now you just need to decide whether you like the way the diesel drives vs the gas version. The diesel normally gets better mpg than the EPA estimate but if you factor in that diesel fuel is more expensive than 87 octane gas and is a little more expensive to maintain, it becomes a tough choice :)
+David Perea LOL! NO! A diesel and gas version of the same used truck with all the same options will garner only a $500 to $1000 difference in resale. The only ones that would garner a significantly higher resale are going to be the super duty trucks. But, you also pay a lot more initially for those diesels. With the increased cost of diesel, servicing, repairs, and the initial diesel engine cost. The MPG and resale savings will still usually end in a loss when using as a personal vehicle. 99% of people buy diesel POVs for show anyways. They would be better served economically with the tiniest engine offered.
I got the Canyon in SLE trim with the 3.6 and have been very happy with it so far. It spent most of Fall towing on a weekly basis and didn't break a sweat.
@@richarde1355 55k mi so far, just did an air-dam delete and Denali facia swap. Liked it enough to buy out the truck when my lease ended. There are some bells and whistles I wish I had, but nothing worth trying to do a trade in over.
NovaMan 350 yeah trucks are meant for a very limited group of people. I don't get it when people get them just to drive around since they get shitty gas mileage
Jareds Dragon the ram 1500 ecodiesel gets like 33 mpg the Colorado/canyon duramax gets like 30 mpg and the ram 2500 Cummins gets 24 mpg everyone of these trucks get better gas mileage than most cars and I doubt my civic gets more than 25 Mpg.
Great review. It looks like it isn't worth it for the diesel if I'm only going to tow a few times a year. The headaches with def fluid, and fuel that is harder to find and sometimes more expensive makes it not worth it considering my daily commute is pretty short.
This is an outstanding comparison between gas and diesel engines. The diesel was roughly 9.4% slower up the hill but engine RPMs were half that of the gas engine. Those hard pulls up mountains under load are where engine wear is at it's peak, half the RPMs means less wear (everything else being equal of course), that will equate to a longer lasting engine for the diesel. So better MPGs and potentially longer lasting engine and maybe even better resale value.
Everything else isn't equal though. Diesel emissions are torture on modern diesels. It was true a decade and half ago, but modern diesel are so choked and high-strung even when they're not worked hard.
Wendell Roy Well you really have to equate for the designed rpm range of the engine. If you think about it, the diesel was using half of its designed rpm range as well as the gas engine.
I agree. It costs more to buy than the gas powered truck, but I think whether it's truly worth the price should be the buyer's decision to make, and not the marketing people.
Great video! Thanks! If a person calculated the cost per gallon, and included the cost of the Def in with the more expensive diesel cost per gallon, I would guess the cost per gallon would closer between these two, and perhaps pretty even…?
@@Lakersfansince95 mine has 23k transmission started slipping into second gear it only does it after it sits for a while I warm it up before I drive it .. took it to the dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong. I noticed this problem around 18k
@@Adventureswithme711 i gotcha. The reason i ask is because i’ve noticed that the transmissions in chevy, gmc, and ford vehicles are terrible! Staying away from the 8 speed forsure. The new 10 speed looks promising though
Andrea, I am coming back to this video because of someone raving about thier Baby Duramax. It’s fun to see the differences in everyone. We have had a whirlwind of baby diesel scandals and one Cummins gate. You guys are the main research resource when needed. I just got a 2024 Ford F350 SRW 6.7HO Platnium Tremor in very big part to your Ike Gauntlet reviews. We need a TFL Origin Story from the whole team.
So is my 2016 Colorado Duramax, mostly cause I bought it used and let some other sucker eat the depreciation. I would never have paid what they are asking new, just crazy.
Great comparison. I still like the gas option better because it was so much faster up the hill. The 4 HD diesels I owned from 1995 to 2015 all out pulled any available gas engine in that era. I will pay extra for more power all day long but there is no way I would pay extra for a slower truck. Before soot filters and DEF systems became necessary to meet emission standards , you could make the argument that diesels were more reliable. IMHO, that is no longer true.
Thank the federal government's CAFE standards for destroying your engines with cylinder deactivation modes. Your truck costs more because it has that ability and the engine wears out faster because it has that cylinder deactivation mode.
I just bought a 2018 Colorado ZR2 Diesel online! I’m away on a business trip so it’s waiting for me at the dealer when I get home!! I’m just gonna take an uber from the airport to the dealership! I’m so excited!!! Ahhh! Lets see how many hours I can hold out before tuning it! Thanks for the videos, i feel i have made the right choice.
47k for a mid size no way,... i went on the GMC site and the Chevy site and both want $8000.00 just for 4 wheel drive, crazy,.. not for me. I gave your review a thumbs up. Thanks
GMs MSRPs are insane. They sell shit all the time like $10k under sticker. When there are rebates and shit and when a new model year is on the lot it can be insane.
Hear that gasser scream! but that diesel so quiet. 4.9MPG vs 6.9! I grabbed a diesel Colorado when a lightly used one popped up. Used are basically same price as gassers now.
i have a 19 v6 long bed crew cab and am very happy with it have done a bit of towing. around me diesel is about 50 cents higher than gas plus the exhaust fluid. i am not so sure the extra expense is worth it. and i got the feeling you guys were surprised by the gassers performance. maybe some pre-conceived notions?
How has your truck been doing? I've been thinking of trading in my 19 Sierra for a Canyon....some good deals going on. The Sierra has been disappointing and I'm finding it too big for city driving in terms of visibility.
What isn’t said here is that the day to day driving is so much better with the 3.6 VVT. It is much faster and snappier to drive than the diesel. The maintenance cost on the diesel are elevated. I drove both, picked the gas Canyon All Terrain. Love the danged thing.
Is it possible that the Canyon is quieter because of the extra sound deadening measures taken in the Denali package? Not totally because of the engines? Hey Andre the Colorado steering wheel is leather covered also!
Ok, here we are three years later and we are on our second Colorado, not for any other reason than we needed a CrewCab! So we traded the2016 Ext Cab Z71,4x4,V6, in on a 2019 CrewCab 4x4, V6, WT this time, because living in Sunny warm Florida, instead of cold an windy winters in mass., the heated seats of the Z71, that’s really the only functionality difference between the two, plus better headlights, I felt was not worth the extra 5k! But at least the WT is “loaded”, with Cruise Control, bright side window trim, 16” (best size off road) alloy wheels, factory tow package with trailer hitch and brake controller all wired up properly, along with the G80 Auto Locking rear differential, color matched bumpers and door handles, dark tinted windows, with a very good 7”touch screen with OnStar 4 G LTE WIFI , plus I haggled with the dealer to add on the performance skid plates package that comes on the ZR2, from the front bumper to the tans/transfer case and fuel tank. With an 84 month 100,000 miles Bumper to Bumper Warranty! All for just under 35k!! The biggest difference between the two, other than can size is the new truck has the 8 speed, that really helps when towing! I hardily ever use the Cruise Control when towing, or the Tow/Haul mode, because even with the new bigger travel trailer at up to just over 6,000 lbs, the trans temp, in 100 deg. Florida weather has never gone over 185 deg. So to maintain the self imposed speed limit of 65 mph, on the flats an mild grades all I need to go is feather the gas pedal that help to keep the trans from downshifting, by just giving enough throttle to maintain speed, unless it windy or uphill I can keep the rpm’s down below 2,000-2,500, at 65 mph in 6th or 7th gear! Only needing 5-3, on the steepest of grades, but I’ve never gone up anything like the Ike! The longest steepest Interstate grade so far was on RT 81 in VA, I can’t remember exactly where, but we were able to easily maintain 65 mph going up an over, in 4th gear at 3,000 rpm’s with the computer telling us the trans temp was 180 deg, in 75 deg weather, at 6 mpg! When going down grades I do use tow/haul, that helps keep the speeds low with a bit of grade braking, but at times I have to cheat and downshift manually. But overall great trucks! We wanted a Gladiator, but the same equipment other than WIFI Hot Spot 4 G LTE, that’s only available on over 55k Gladiators, they were still 10k more to get one with a hardtop.
nice test! I will say it is a tough test but I wouldn't call it the toughest test! In canada, there are some 15% grades and there probably way more around the world
Maybe so, but can you find test results someone has produced with multiple vehicles on those roads such as TFL Truck has done? If not, I wouldn't agree that it is a real test and I'm OK with them calling this the toughest test. I guess it's all in how you define a "test".
Having owned the diesel canyon for 2 years now i can say i dont recommend it. Its been in the shop for emissions issues every 3-5 months without fail. Everything emissions related has failed so far (def injector 2 times, def pump once, def heater once, def lines 3 times, the entire def system has frozen solid 2 times yet gm says its working as it should. 3 failure to do regens for unknown reasons dealer had to force it and found nothing wrong. 2 faulty map sensors as well). Definitely dont recommend it unless you plan on deleting the emissions system. When everything is working perfectly its an amazing truck and i genuinely love it. But with its constant issues i cant wait to sell it.
I've owned the Diesel Canyon (2020 All Terrain) for just over 2 years now as well, with about 30k miles now (owned since new). I did have one (potential) issue where a warning light came on with reference to emissions system, went into the shop, and they determined the warning light was erroneous and returned it. Have had no further issues since. I personally love the truck, and since I commute into the city frequently, it's the perfect size to still be practical.
Due to the better fuel mileage diesels also have a lot greater range compared to the gas versions. Especially important in the West. In addition, climbing hills at 6000 rpm gets old fast.
Yes, but with a v8, just like the original. I would love to have a midsize truck with a v8, but new, not 10 plus year old like what's only available now.
The Colorado and GM are assembled in the U.S. If you're complaining about the Duramax engine being assembled in another country, then show me a vehicle where every single part is designed, manufactured, and assembled in the U.S. You'll be extremely hard pressed to find one vehicle.
The Canyon and the Colorado were built in North America, but from what I've gathered, the 2.8 litre Duramax was built in Thailand, of all places. I've never understood why that's the case. It's one thing to have something produced in another country if that's the country you're planning to have it sold. But I would think that if you're planning to sell it in the USA and Canada, that you'd have it built in the USA and Canada.
Jason Carpp. It costs a lot to manufacture here. Labor costs, land costs for the facilities, insurance, taxes, and there are a lot of extra rules for the factory here in America.
It's a Denali. Ram and Ford 1/2 ton Longhorn and King Ranches fetch $60k and the same trim level Denali, LH, and KR all catch $80k. You can get the base model Canyon Duramax for as low as $30-35k. Denali is the top of the line lux. TRD Taco's can fetch $40k with cloth interior.
I'm running 35's for 15k and had zero problems. Any idea how long GM has been making the 6L50 and 2.8L LWN? Both have been in production for over 10 years. lol
I don't understand why they both picked the diesel over the gasser. The gasser pulled the trailer better and most of the MPG increase on the diesel is offset by diesel fuel being more expensive than gas.
Kcducttaper1 They picked the diesel to convince people to choose the diesel over the gas engine because sales on the diesel are so low that it won't be around for long if it doesn't start selling better
Really? Diesel used to be cheaper here in Kansas until about 10 years ago. Since then, it's almost always been a bit more than gas, but I've never really figured out why.
Mpg of diesel does not get offset by price. While towing, 6.9mpg in the diesel vs 4.9mpg in the gasser, over the course of 100 gallons of fuel. I would be able to travel 690miles in the diesel while you can only go 490miles in your gasser. Today in San Diego gas is $3.60 and diesel is $3.98. It only cost me $38 dollars more to buy 100 gallons, yet i traveled 200 more miles in my diesel
The exhaust brake is the real reason to buy the diesel, not the MPG. When you add it all up, the MPG doesn't make up for all the other costs. Not just because of the cost of maintenance, the diesel was much slower. If the gas engines had backed off, it would've returned better mileage, eating much of that MPG gain.
***** It does destroy. While normal towing, not on a steep grade performance test. with the same load in regular traffic you'd have to rev the hell out of the V6 as well while the Duramax would just drive like nothing happened thanks to the all the torque at low revs.
sic22l That shouldn't be true. I've towed 2300+kg with V6 trucks making less power and with fewer gears, and they did just fine, they'll even cruise in overdrive. And with the 8 speed, it should only help the Colorado V6 stay in its sweet spot.
I don't believe it's worth the extra $3,800 for the diesel. It only bests the gas engine by 700 lbs towing and on this test, it was a 2 MPG advantage to the diesel. But, diesel costs more per gallon in most places and maintenance cost a bit more. Having diesel just to have one, OK, but I don't see the price gap being worth it.
So you guys compared a base Colorado against a loaded canyon, with a diesel! They do have manual shift, and it should show what gear you’re in with the 8sp in between the tach & speedo on the info screen. Owned both, love both, purchased the V6.
The fuel economy and braking of the diesel is really impressive! It did 41% better on the fuel economy portion. I think I'd personally rather arrive a bit slower with a more relaxing tow experience. I'm sure if you want more power, there's a tune you can get for the diesel.
even if you are doing just normal driving the diesel is going to pay for itself with a extremely short time, AND the re-sell is always much much higher then a gas truck. So its a no brainer.
+Greg Ward *YOU'RE COMPLETELY WRONG!* The "baby" Duramax will cost you an extra $14,165 to get into from the base trim since it requires a bunch of other options to be tacked on for the "privilege" of adding the diesel engine. If you already wanted those other options it will cost you an extra $6,510. Considering gas mileage, it only being a $6,510 option for you, and the VERY VERY unlikely bonus of selling your truck for $3,255 more than a gas model. You would have to drive 217,144 miles to break even. In reality, the diesel will likely only get about $1,000 more than a gas model when you sell. So, you would ACTUALLY have to drive 367,578 miles to break even and that's not even accounting the increased cost of servicing a diesel engine. So yeah, it's NOT a "no brainer". Buying a diesel truck for personal use will almost always result in a loss. P.S. I used the 2016 average US price of regular unleaded and diesel, as well as the combined MPG of the Duramax and the gas 3.6L V6 to make my calculations.
Seriously you have to explain the scoring in every video. We don't care. We will determine what we like on our own, other than that you guys have the best reviews and appreciate your work. The best thing Andre has ever said is "let's be quite for awhile". Should take he's own advice. Man he can talk.
Solid trucks! That diesel might be better off with the 8-speed transmission in the future. Maybe it can hold a bit higher rpm on the hills and pick up the speed a bit. Other than that, they both seem great for what they're built for.
On the last vid when everyone was clamoring for a tow test to show how the diesel would out-perform the gas, I said, simple power to weight, gas will win. Well, even with 32% less horsepower, the gas engine STILL got to the top of the hill faster. That said, the diesel got 40% better fuel economy and that is no doubt a factor. But for pure acceleration, I don't know why people keep saying torque matters for towing - if your foot is on the floor, power to weight is all you need to know. At sea level or at typical altitudes, the gas engine would have really done a number on the diesel here.
It does matter, because HP is just calculation of torque and rotating speed. The diesel might have have more peak torque and at a lower RPM, but it cannot turn as quickly. The gas engine makes almost 100lb-ft less, but it can give its torque at a much high rate. That's why the engine has a higher horsepower calculation.
Totally agree. Torque does matter, and high RPM torque allows more work to be done. For ease of understanding, I prefer to refer to this as "horsepower" because that's what it is, as you have mentioned. I am not saying there is no point to a diesel. But low RPM torque really just means low RPM horsepower. But a diesel will never produce MORE horsepower at the low end than at the top end - otherwise the peak would be at like 1800 rpm. A diesel, just like a gas engine, gets the most work done at its HP peak. If that is 3200 rpm on a diesel, then 3200 rpm is where the most work gets done, REGARDLESS of whatever crazy-looking peak torque number you may see at 2000, 1800 or lower. That low RPM torque, however, translates into low RPM horsepower, which is why turbodiesels drive "effortlessly." As a percentage of engine RPM operating range, diesels put out much closer to their peak HP over that range. But as I said previously, if it is a wide open throttle all out performance test, and both transmissions put the engine at or near peak HP rpm, the one with better power to weight is going to be faster. Every. Single. Time.
so what else is new? gas always accelerates quicker than diesel. but diesel is always better for towing. the effective exhaust brake could save your life some day.
After 40 years of buying and ow ing trucks I have come to the conclusion that diesel pickups are 10x more expensive and troublesome. Ford 6.0 and early Duramax disasters with failed cups and bad injectors changed my opinion. I still have and old 7.3 idi and PSD which have been OK . Verizon and others have switch fleets back to gas motors. I have 300k on GM gas motors in tow trucks. No major issues.
It's great how those small trucks can pull those heavy trailers, but more importantly can they stop safely? You should include a braking test in your review. Being able to stop with a heavy load is just as important (or more) as pulling one.
That 4 pot badger 2.8 is actually a revised old school Isuzu DMax engine that's been around years, surprised they put a crappy 4 cylinder for the European market in a truck that big.
According to GM, the 4 x 4 is supposed to handle 5000 towing pounds where the 3.6 L gas will do 7000 so I don’t know where you’re coming up with with a 5000 with a diesel that does 77,700 pound towing but not with a 4 x 4
I'm torn between a v6 2wd colorado and a v6 2wd silverado, very basic rigs. Occasionally going to tow a track day car to the circuit but within both vehicles' tolerances. Rest of the time just cruising through town to work.
While I like the 2.8 litre Duramax Diesel on the GMC Canyon, I find the Chevy Colorado more of a work truck than the Canyon, it has less bling than that of the Canyon, which I like.
Interesting test results. I know you guys like the Duramax version but would your answer change if you were using the truck to tow +/- 3500#? Great work - keep up the Ike tests!
It takes fuel to make horsepower, and climbing a hill takes horsepower, the faster you go, the faster you burn fuel. If you drove the gas Colorado at the same slow speed as the Canyon, the Colorado would have achieved better mpg than it did flat out. And, if you factor in the approximately 20 percent higher price of diesel vs. gas, the Colorado might be cheaper to operate in terms of pennies per mile. Another test is in order!
Kent, I'd like to hear your opinions of the seats. I've test driven multiple Colorados, and the left side of the driver's seat pushes up against my thigh. A lot of people on the Colorado/Canyon forums have complaints about the driver seat too. I'm 5'9" at 175 lbs, so I'm by no means overweight, but the seat is a deal breaker for me, that's how annoying it is.
I'm 260 lbs and I guess my thigh sits on top of the seat bolster. They fit me fine and the arm rests in the door and center console are the right height for me
Amen, I have a 2017 Z71 diesel with 144k miles. I pull a 26' toy hauler. The loaded wt is 6800#, I travel the Rocky Mountains all summer, fish bum. Avg fuel mileage from day 1, 24.8mpg, I tow a lot. Great truck
Noticed about 5 seconds after Andre said he started the clock on the Colorado going up the hill (when he shows it to the camera) it was already at ~20 seconds. Did Andre start the clock at the bottom of the on-ramp by mistake when he started talking about it?
With the different price points of gas and diesel fuel, MPG comparisons don't mean anything. I like to convert both to miles per dollar so that there is a common point of comparison. I used the current prices for midgrade gasoline and diesel (4.39 and 4.99 respectively in upstate NY). The average miles per dollar for the Colorado is 4.33 compared to the Canyon at 4.61 for a .28 mile per $ difference. With a $3,800 price difference, it would take a diesel Canyon just under 13,500 miles to pay for itself. For most people, that is about a year's driving. Of course, the more often you tow, the break even point would come sooner.
It doesn't only come down to dollars and cents. I paid the extra because the diesel feels so much more relaxed when hauling or towing. Having a gas engine screaming at 6,000rpm when towing an RV through the mountains gets old very quickly.
I can't believe these trucks have a 3.42 rear ends. That's super high gearing. Hell my Tacoma has a 3.93 I believe with the auto and I'm still planning on going to a 4.30
I’d like to see you guys go up and down cabbage mountain in Washington state doing these tests on towing and then parleys canyon in Utah going out of Salt Lake City I believe that parleys canyon is 12% grade I might be wrong but it a hell of a hill for towing testing and approximately 20 miles of up hill grade from 3% to 12% at the summit and it would test the cooling system in late July or August its a killer
8:19 doh! Typo! Please hurry up and do the Silverado 3500 on the Ike. I'm a ford guy mainly because that's who signs my paychecks but I'd like to know how it stacked up against the ram and super duty.
Both trucks were beyond exceptional! Both handled the downhill well! Both climbed the hill exceptionally. I was surprised to see the gas did better actually in terms of time. But the sound was quieter and the fuel efficiency was much higher in the diesel. So that really evened out the playing field. I'd love that chevy with the duramax not the gmc tho. I prefer the chevys look more and the price point. A colorado with a duramax and z71 will run you 40k. The LT will run you 37k. The canyon denali is 47k. So I mean you save yourself 7 grand and trade in the leather seats and wood accents. So what, it's a truck! Still has heated seats without the leather! Fine by me. Then going down the road you'll get 28mpg IN A TRUCK! Crazy... just crazy.
If i only tow a few times a summer im thinking the v6 suits me better. Do you guys feel that the space and V6 power in the canyon is fine or Do you wish you had a sierra w 5.3 w less mpg?
I would agree on the diesel. If you're going to tow, the diesel wins hands down, and the reasons are beyond fuel economy. Driveability and comfort weigh far heavier than MPG when you're working the truck hard. That said, I'll always be wary of the diesel for one reason. It has a rubber timing belt instead of a chain. This to me is an unnecessary weakness built into an engine that has zero clearance between valves and pistons. It's a poor choice on the part of engine designers to go cheap on an area where a failure of a belt results in reducing your engine to scrap. It also brings in an expensive service to the vehicle that otherwise would not be required had they went with a chain drive cam.
wolfman9999999 when the rubber belt breaks you know it breaks. the previous comment hit it on the nose more expensive to fix and can stretch with no real indication until it's probably too late. not that it's the same application but Harley's run rubber belts instead of chains for that reason
@@jessehernandez5043 Harley doesn't run rubber timing belts. The cams are either gear driven or chain driven, depending upon model Ducati, on the other hand, does run belt drive cams.
A non-interference engine is the best answer. I lost a cam belt on an Alfa Romeo one time. Trashed the top end. Expensive and time consuming to fix. I agree that the rubber timing belt is this engine's Achilles Tendon. If I owned one, I'd change it more often than the manual calls for, just to be safe.
@@guzzimike1100 i was referring to Harley running a Rubber Belt for their drivetrain as opposed to a chain like rice rockets. The chains are prone to stretching whereas the belt stays very consistent
I love diesels. You need to take into consideration the higher cost of diesel and cost of def. That starts to negate the difference in mpg. Where I live diesel is about $1 more than gas.
Why is the tow-haul/exhaust brake being used on the uphill section in the Canyon? The light is on on the display. Wouldn't that cut into your power by creating resistance in the system? I have the 2.8L in my 2016 Colorado, and I can imagine that scenario really suffocating the power on a climb. Downhill, the exhaust brake is my favorite feature of the truck.
Of course the diesel will always be better than gas goin down hill cuz of the engine exhaust brake or jake brake. Tho you can or should beable to manually shift into a lower gear to hold you at a certain speed goin down wether its a gas or diesel
I wonder about long time durability of that diesel. DPF , expensive injectors, and turbo.... Modern diesels get Very expensive with high milage. And for towing,for that money I would get full size.
Ok, I will, if you do an addition to my garage and find me a wife thats taller than 4'11". Seriously im kidding. Id love a larger truck. But not all of us have the space for a larger rig. And then the price doesent really matter at that point.
I bet if the duramax wasn't in tow haul mode and was in a higher gear it would have pulled better up the hill, it's possible if there was an 8 speed in that that it would have been able to maintain 60 up the hill. It's torque is lower down and drops off pretty hard after it peaks I should have paid the extra money for the duramax over the V6. The V6 makes a loud ugly annoying sound between 2000 and 3500 rpm and that's where it likes to run since it doesn't like to lug, an air intake makes the tone nicer but it's way to loud.
Ok, here it goes: $11 k more for 4 mpg better. At $3.00 per gallon, it would cost the Colorado $303 more after 10 K miles in gas cost. How many miles driven would it take to make the GMC to be more cost effective? Are chrome steps and phony wood grain that expensive, (if you make the assumption that they are worth anything)?
I love Diesel engines but assuming you only keep the truck 100k miles there is very little difference in savings going to the diesel. Diesel around here costs 45cents more a gallon, combined with the expensive oil changes, def fluid, and higher purchase price there really isn't any savings. Then if your out of warranty the cost to fix anything on the engine negates any increase in "resale value". The small truck diesels that are in this country seem to have more in common with a gas engine than a heavier duty industrial diesel. Aka I don't see most of them hitting big miles without major repairs. In the two trucks above I rather have the gas engine.
I have a 2016 Colorado Z71 Duramax with about 140,000 miles on it. I regularly get 30 MPG loaded up (not towing) running between Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC. Other than consumables (oil, filters, tires, etc.) I did not have one component failure until about 120K miles, and those were NOx sensors. This has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned (over 40+ years). I did not like the price I paid ($40k+), but I am happy with the truck.
I wish I could say the same!!! I am only at 76k
I recently bought the GMC Canyon Duramax. My decision was based mostly on your reviews. I am very happy with my purchase. Thanks Much
Mojo Stone
How is your truck running a year later? Any problems?
Same here love my new Canyon Denali Duramax!!!
I have the Colorado diesel, love the truck
I have a 2017 duramax. It’s been a great truck so far. She’s almost at 100k mi. and still runs great. DEF has been easy for me too. There’s a DEF pump nearby so getting DEF is no more difficult than filling the diesel tank.
I purchased a used 2016 Z71 Duramax. When I bought it, it had right at 160,000 miles. Picked it up at a steal for $24,000. Was still bone stock. Even had the factory plastic covering in the floor despite me being the third owner. Only issues I've had were the nox sensors (super easy) and a split in the intercooler pipe which caused me to have some DPF issues and had to do multiple forced Regens. Once I finally traced it down and installed a new pipe (10 minutes with a screw driver) it has been the best vehicle I've ever owned. I just hit 225,000 and still get 32-35 mpg (not towing) on the interstate. Just keep changing oil and fuel filters, add DEF when you are supposed to, and just keep up basic maintenance, it is just a hard worker.
as of late 2024 about to pick up a 2018 with 55k miles for $18k. (Would consider this a pretty good deal)
A lot of people want to see a base model WT Colorado get a Duramax engine option.
I'd love to see you guys do some base model, bare bones, full size tests. The base, work models of the F150, Ram and Silverado would be quite interesting to see how well they handle the Ike. The company I work for has us use base models to tow trailers with. I'd love to see what you guys think of the low end spectrum of new trucks.
My company exclusively buys base model trucks too, so all my towing is in full size V6 trucks, the only option checked off is the long bed.
It would be interesting to see how the various truck company's base trucks do.
Bob Hope Yeah, maybe a white fleet model test run would be an interesting video that a lot of people would relate to. I'm normally a V8 Ford guy, but got the idea after I driving this Chevy that they made me take.....with a V6. It's not my Ford, but quite comfortable for a base model.
This has been a common request, however the manufacturers never make those trucks available because they want the press to see the cream of the crop. Thus you always see loaded trucks being reviewed, not the base W/T .
Impossible test. GM and Ram destroy Ford with the basic test since Ford's best MPG economy is the 2.7 Eco-Joke, Ram's is the 3.0 EcoDiesel, and GM's is it's Denali power and economy out of a V8. They are all apples and oranges.
House of Diesel are you slow? the eco diesel is not the base engine... it's a $3,800 option.... and the Denali.... also not a base model. hell I don't believe the 2.7 for Ford is a base model either.
Yup you must be slow.
I wish cars would stick with the column shifter. A lot of wasted space in the console that can be used for other things - cup holders... storage... etc.
I agree. That was one of a major reason I didn't choose a Canyon
Bench seat with fold down console is the best!
I guess it looks cooler. Americans are very needy and manufacturers can give you everything I guess.
The resale value of diesel trucks is much higher than their gas versions. So when it comes to sell it, you will get most of the $3700 difference back. So now you just need to decide whether you like the way the diesel drives vs the gas version. The diesel normally gets better mpg than the EPA estimate but if you factor in that diesel fuel is more expensive than 87 octane gas and is a little more expensive to maintain, it becomes a tough choice :)
For the most part diesels are not more to maintain. If you compare same car same year.
+David Perea LOL! NO! A diesel and gas version of the same used truck with all the same options will garner only a $500 to $1000 difference in resale. The only ones that would garner a significantly higher resale are going to be the super duty trucks. But, you also pay a lot more initially for those diesels. With the increased cost of diesel, servicing, repairs, and the initial diesel engine cost. The MPG and resale savings will still usually end in a loss when using as a personal vehicle. 99% of people buy diesel POVs for show anyways. They would be better served economically with the tiniest engine offered.
I got the Canyon in SLE trim with the 3.6 and have been very happy with it so far. It spent most of Fall towing on a weekly basis and didn't break a sweat.
How many miles on your rig? Still digging it?
@@richarde1355 55k mi so far, just did an air-dam delete and Denali facia swap. Liked it enough to buy out the truck when my lease ended. There are some bells and whistles I wish I had, but nothing worth trying to do a trade in over.
i never had a truck because i am more of a car guy
but i watch your videos because they are fun
tinleo333 I'm a car guy, to. Yet I've owned 3 trucks and 1 car. Don't even care about trucks.
NovaMan 350 yeah trucks are meant for a very limited group of people. I don't get it when people get them just to drive around since they get shitty gas mileage
Jareds Dragon the ram 1500 ecodiesel gets like 33 mpg the Colorado/canyon duramax gets like 30 mpg and the ram 2500 Cummins gets 24 mpg everyone of these trucks get better gas mileage than most cars and I doubt my civic gets more than 25
Mpg.
Dodge 318 Cummins idk about those numbers. They seem a bit high
Those numbers are crazy high. Get real
Great review. It looks like it isn't worth it for the diesel if I'm only going to tow a few times a year. The headaches with def fluid, and fuel that is harder to find and sometimes more expensive makes it not worth it considering my daily commute is pretty short.
This is an outstanding comparison between gas and diesel engines. The diesel was roughly 9.4% slower up the hill but engine RPMs were half that of the gas engine. Those hard pulls up mountains under load are where engine wear is at it's peak, half the RPMs means less wear (everything else being equal of course), that will equate to a longer lasting engine for the diesel. So better MPGs and potentially longer lasting engine and maybe even better resale value.
Everything else isn't equal though. Diesel emissions are torture on modern diesels. It was true a decade and half ago, but modern diesel are so choked and high-strung even when they're not worked hard.
Wendell Roy Well you really have to equate for the designed rpm range of the engine. If you think about it, the diesel was using half of its designed rpm range as well as the gas engine.
I agree. It costs more to buy than the gas powered truck, but I think whether it's truly worth the price should be the buyer's decision to make, and not the marketing people.
@@felix8289 Ride that warranty out and cut all that stuff off Afterwards so it isn't choked up
Great video! Thanks!
If a person calculated the cost per gallon, and included the cost of the Def in with the more expensive diesel cost per gallon, I would guess the cost per gallon would closer between these two, and perhaps pretty even…?
WoW Mr Truck gave it 21 points!! You really like that truck!! 👍
I´m european and in a truck I would never go for gas and always choose diesel. However we never really had any good gasoline options over here.
If only more diesel powered trucks were available for USA buyers.
I have the 2019 Chevy Colorado lt v6 very happy with it no complaints
How’s it holding up?
@@Lakersfansince95 mine has 23k transmission started slipping into second gear it only does it after it sits for a while I warm it up before I drive it .. took it to the dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong. I noticed this problem around 18k
@@Adventureswithme711 i gotcha. The reason i ask is because i’ve noticed that the transmissions in chevy, gmc, and ford vehicles are terrible! Staying away from the 8 speed forsure. The new 10 speed looks promising though
@@Lakersfansince95 yeah I'm actually thinking of trading it in a Tacoma can't go wrong with that
Andrea, I am coming back to this video because of someone raving about thier Baby Duramax. It’s fun to see the differences in everyone. We have had a whirlwind of baby diesel scandals and one Cummins gate.
You guys are the main research resource when needed. I just got a 2024 Ford F350 SRW 6.7HO Platnium Tremor in very big part to your Ike Gauntlet reviews.
We need a TFL Origin Story from the whole team.
My 2016 Colorado V6 is perfect as is, mostly because I don't really tow.
same for my '16 Colorado Diesel
So is my 2016 Colorado Duramax, mostly cause I bought it used and let some other sucker eat the depreciation. I would never have paid what they are asking new, just crazy.
I am very happy with my 08 Colorado Z71. Nothing but positive things to say and I like the body style more than the new generation.
I bought the GMC. The lines are way better than the Chevy's Camero hard lines.
Chevy > GMC.
Great comparison. I still like the gas option better because it was so much faster up the hill. The 4 HD diesels I owned from 1995 to 2015 all out pulled any available gas engine in that era. I will pay extra for more power all day long but there is no way I would pay extra for a slower truck. Before soot filters and DEF systems became necessary to meet emission standards , you could make the argument that diesels were more reliable. IMHO, that is no longer true.
If I had the choice, I'd take either of them with the 2.8 litre Duramax Diesel engine.
Thank the federal government's CAFE standards for destroying your engines with cylinder deactivation modes. Your truck costs more because it has that ability and the engine wears out faster because it has that cylinder deactivation mode.
Get rid of subjective score . That will give a true score. If you want another score to add make it the decimal sound for the scoring round
I agree...or at least set parameters for subjective score...like comfort and steering feel.
I just bought a 2018 Colorado ZR2 Diesel online! I’m away on a business trip so it’s waiting for me at the dealer when I get home!! I’m just gonna take an uber from the airport to the dealership! I’m so excited!!! Ahhh! Lets see how many hours I can hold out before tuning it! Thanks for the videos, i feel i have made the right choice.
47k for a mid size no way,... i went on the GMC site and the Chevy site and both want $8000.00 just for 4 wheel drive, crazy,.. not for me. I gave your review a thumbs up. Thanks
Newton Washinton yes but a lot of trucks go for way less than msrp like at the end of a model year you can get $10,000 off a $45,000 truck.
Dodge 318 Cummins True, I do get the GM discount also, maybe at the sale time i will do that on a GMC full size.
Newton Washinton ya I've seen new Chevy silverado 1500s 4x4 crew cab for $35,000 they look loaded.
Dodge 318 Cummins ok thanks, ya i would like a truck like that for 35k
GMs MSRPs are insane. They sell shit all the time like $10k under sticker. When there are rebates and shit and when a new model year is on the lot it can be insane.
Hear that gasser scream! but that diesel so quiet. 4.9MPG vs 6.9! I grabbed a diesel Colorado when a lightly used one popped up. Used are basically same price as gassers now.
I bought a 2016 extended colorado 2WD last year and will be upgrading to 4x$ crew cab this weekend. Wish me luck!
i have a 19 v6 long bed crew cab and am very happy with it have done a bit of towing. around me diesel is about 50 cents higher than gas plus the exhaust fluid. i am not so sure the extra expense is worth it. and i got the feeling you guys were surprised by the gassers performance. maybe some pre-conceived notions?
How has your truck been doing? I've been thinking of trading in my 19 Sierra for a Canyon....some good deals going on. The Sierra has been disappointing and I'm finding it too big for city driving in terms of visibility.
What isn’t said here is that the day to day driving is so much better with the 3.6 VVT. It is much faster and snappier to drive than the diesel. The maintenance cost on the diesel are elevated. I drove both, picked the gas Canyon All Terrain. Love the danged thing.
Andre, your baby white board was incredible! But on a serious note, awesome job thank you for your videos guys!
+David Hoover Thanks! :)
It wasn't Bigfoot. It was Roman skipping naked through the forest.
Is it possible that the Canyon is quieter because of the extra sound deadening measures taken in the Denali package? Not totally because of the engines? Hey Andre the Colorado steering wheel is leather covered also!
I was thinking the same thing!
Perhaps, but that engine whine was very noticeably loud in the Chevy.
Thats true, also diesel engines in general are heavily padded to reduce noise. However the lower RPMS will get rid of a lot of tranny whine
Ok, here we are three years later and we are on our second Colorado, not for any other reason than we needed a CrewCab! So we traded the2016 Ext Cab Z71,4x4,V6, in on a 2019 CrewCab 4x4, V6, WT this time, because living in Sunny warm Florida, instead of cold an windy winters in mass., the heated seats of the Z71, that’s really the only functionality difference between the two, plus better headlights, I felt was not worth the extra 5k! But at least the WT is “loaded”, with Cruise Control, bright side window trim, 16” (best size off road) alloy wheels, factory tow package with trailer hitch and brake controller all wired up properly, along with the G80 Auto Locking rear differential, color matched bumpers and door handles, dark tinted windows, with a very good 7”touch screen with OnStar 4 G LTE WIFI , plus I haggled with the dealer to add on the performance skid plates package that comes on the ZR2, from the front bumper to the tans/transfer case and fuel tank. With an 84 month 100,000 miles Bumper to Bumper Warranty! All for just under 35k!! The biggest difference between the two, other than can size is the new truck has the 8 speed, that really helps when towing! I hardily ever use the Cruise Control when towing, or the Tow/Haul mode, because even with the new bigger travel trailer at up to just over 6,000 lbs, the trans temp, in 100 deg. Florida weather has never gone over 185 deg. So to maintain the self imposed speed limit of 65 mph, on the flats an mild grades all I need to go is feather the gas pedal that help to keep the trans from downshifting, by just giving enough throttle to maintain speed, unless it windy or uphill I can keep the rpm’s down below 2,000-2,500, at 65 mph in 6th or 7th gear! Only needing 5-3, on the steepest of grades, but I’ve never gone up anything like the Ike! The longest steepest Interstate grade so far was on RT 81 in VA, I can’t remember exactly where, but we were able to easily maintain 65 mph going up an over, in 4th gear at 3,000 rpm’s with the computer telling us the trans temp was 180 deg, in 75 deg weather, at 6 mpg! When going down grades I do use tow/haul, that helps keep the speeds low with a bit of grade braking, but at times I have to cheat and downshift manually. But overall great trucks! We wanted a Gladiator, but the same equipment other than WIFI Hot Spot 4 G LTE, that’s only available on over 55k Gladiators, they were still 10k more to get one with a hardtop.
nice test! I will say it is a tough test but I wouldn't call it the toughest test! In canada, there are some 15% grades and there probably way more around the world
Maybe so, but can you find test results someone has produced with multiple vehicles on those roads such as TFL Truck has done? If not, I wouldn't agree that it is a real test and I'm OK with them calling this the toughest test. I guess it's all in how you define a "test".
stinky diesel no way!!!
Having owned the diesel canyon for 2 years now i can say i dont recommend it. Its been in the shop for emissions issues every 3-5 months without fail. Everything emissions related has failed so far (def injector 2 times, def pump once, def heater once, def lines 3 times, the entire def system has frozen solid 2 times yet gm says its working as it should. 3 failure to do regens for unknown reasons dealer had to force it and found nothing wrong. 2 faulty map sensors as well). Definitely dont recommend it unless you plan on deleting the emissions system. When everything is working perfectly its an amazing truck and i genuinely love it. But with its constant issues i cant wait to sell it.
I've owned the Diesel Canyon (2020 All Terrain) for just over 2 years now as well, with about 30k miles now (owned since new). I did have one (potential) issue where a warning light came on with reference to emissions system, went into the shop, and they determined the warning light was erroneous and returned it. Have had no further issues since. I personally love the truck, and since I commute into the city frequently, it's the perfect size to still be practical.
@@matthewp6272 I bet you don't live somewhere that get actually cold. I think the extreme cold is what is causing so many emissions issues for me.
Due to the better fuel mileage diesels also have a lot greater range compared to the gas versions. Especially important in the West. In addition, climbing hills at 6000 rpm gets old fast.
the midsize come a long way. My 1996 gmc xcab half ton, manual trans, 12 foot wheelbase.. 6200 GVWR. Good density in this newer stuff.
Dodge needs to give in and make a dakota worth competing with these two
Right, Ford brough the Ranger back to the US to compete with the Colorado/Canyon and Tacoma
Yeah. Dodge could use the Cummins R2.8
With the same eco diesel as the 1/2ton it would be king!
Mister K Gomes actually lots of issues with that motor believe it or not
Yes, but with a v8, just like the original. I would love to have a midsize truck with a v8, but new, not 10 plus year old like what's only available now.
@MrTruck you nailed it with those boots, Majestic.
Thanks, I love the red white and blue
Wouldn't be suprised if the baby duramax wins an overall award again this year.
The Colorado and GM are assembled in the U.S. If you're complaining about the Duramax engine being assembled in another country, then show me a vehicle where every single part is designed, manufactured, and assembled in the U.S. You'll be extremely hard pressed to find one vehicle.
The Canyon and the Colorado were built in North America, but from what I've gathered, the 2.8 litre Duramax was built in Thailand, of all places. I've never understood why that's the case. It's one thing to have something produced in another country if that's the country you're planning to have it sold. But I would think that if you're planning to sell it in the USA and Canada, that you'd have it built in the USA and Canada.
Jason Carpp. It costs a lot to manufacture here. Labor costs, land costs for the facilities, insurance, taxes, and there are a lot of extra rules for the factory here in America.
I'm sorry. I don't buy it. I think it can be done. We just need people willing to work and to be able to negotiate the cost of land for facilities.
That's a lame excuse. :(
I really enjoy yals towing videos . Keep up the good work everyone.
At the price of the GMC I think it would make more sense to buy a half ton or maybe even 3/4 ton, expensive for how small it is
agree, especially since the engine and tranny are as yet unproven or durability and longevity.
It's a Denali. Ram and Ford 1/2 ton Longhorn and King Ranches fetch $60k and the same trim level Denali, LH, and KR all catch $80k. You can get the base model Canyon Duramax for as low as $30-35k. Denali is the top of the line lux. TRD Taco's can fetch $40k with cloth interior.
I'm running 35's for 15k and had zero problems. Any idea how long GM has been making the 6L50 and 2.8L LWN? Both have been in production for over 10 years. lol
Not everyone wants a big truck, they don't look as attractive. These are big enough
I had the silverado z71 crew. nice truck just to big and hated loose steering
I don't understand why they both picked the diesel over the gasser. The gasser pulled the trailer better and most of the MPG increase on the diesel is offset by diesel fuel being more expensive than gas.
Kcducttaper1 They picked the diesel to convince people to choose the diesel over the gas engine because sales on the diesel are so low that it won't be around for long if it doesn't start selling better
Diesel was quieter, better planted on the road and more economical.
Kcducttaper1 Diesel is less than gas in LA
Really? Diesel used to be cheaper here in Kansas until about 10 years ago. Since then, it's almost always been a bit more than gas, but I've never really figured out why.
Mpg of diesel does not get offset by price. While towing, 6.9mpg in the diesel vs 4.9mpg in the gasser, over the course of 100 gallons of fuel. I would be able to travel 690miles in the diesel while you can only go 490miles in your gasser. Today in San Diego gas is $3.60 and diesel is $3.98. It only cost me $38 dollars more to buy 100 gallons, yet i traveled 200 more miles in my diesel
The exhaust brake is the real reason to buy the diesel, not the MPG. When you add it all up, the MPG doesn't make up for all the other costs. Not just because of the cost of maintenance, the diesel was much slower. If the gas engines had backed off, it would've returned better mileage, eating much of that MPG gain.
They also did a 100-mile run at steady speed and Duramax was the most economical as well.
+sic22l The diesel is supposed to destroy the gas truck when towing, not when cruising unladen.
Do you have a link to the 100 mile run?
***** It does destroy. While normal towing, not on a steep grade performance test. with the same load in regular traffic you'd have to rev the hell out of the V6 as well while the Duramax would just drive like nothing happened thanks to the all the torque at low revs.
sic22l That shouldn't be true. I've towed 2300+kg with V6 trucks making less power and with fewer gears, and they did just fine, they'll even cruise in overdrive. And with the 8 speed, it should only help the Colorado V6 stay in its sweet spot.
Need to see an mpg loop for the 2017 F150s in 3.5 and 2.7. U guys are great.
I don't believe it's worth the extra $3,800 for the diesel. It only bests the gas engine by 700 lbs towing and on this test, it was a 2 MPG advantage to the diesel. But, diesel costs more per gallon in most places and maintenance cost a bit more. Having diesel just to have one, OK, but I don't see the price gap being worth it.
Why don't you set both to cruise at 49mph up the IKE and see what the noise and mpg are then. I think the the results would be much closer
So you guys compared a base Colorado against a loaded canyon, with a diesel! They do have manual shift, and it should show what gear you’re in with the 8sp in between the tach & speedo on the info screen. Owned both, love both, purchased the V6.
Colorado is gorgeous and the Ike Gantlet is a perfect testing ground.
Are you guys going to be running the Tundra 5.7 and Tacoma V6 up the Gauntlet again this year for Gold Hitch?
The fuel economy and braking of the diesel is really impressive! It did 41% better on the fuel economy portion. I think I'd personally rather arrive a bit slower with a more relaxing tow experience. I'm sure if you want more power, there's a tune you can get for the diesel.
Cody Miller there totally is a tune available. by Duramax tune
Cody Miller I suspect if you went up the hill at the same speed in both trucks then the mpg would be very close.
duramaxtuner.com/2-8lduramax/2-8l-duramax-colorado-canyon-spade.html
even if you are doing just normal driving the diesel is going to pay for itself with a extremely short time, AND the re-sell is always much much higher then a gas truck. So its a no brainer.
+Greg Ward *YOU'RE COMPLETELY WRONG!* The "baby" Duramax will cost you an extra $14,165 to get into from the base trim since it requires a bunch of other options to be tacked on for the "privilege" of adding the diesel engine. If you already wanted those other options it will cost you an extra $6,510. Considering gas mileage, it only being a $6,510 option for you, and the VERY VERY unlikely bonus of selling your truck for $3,255 more than a gas model. You would have to drive 217,144 miles to break even. In reality, the diesel will likely only get about $1,000 more than a gas model when you sell. So, you would ACTUALLY have to drive 367,578 miles to break even and that's not even accounting the increased cost of servicing a diesel engine. So yeah, it's NOT a "no brainer". Buying a diesel truck for personal use will almost always result in a loss.
P.S. I used the 2016 average US price of regular unleaded and diesel, as well as the combined MPG of the Duramax and the gas 3.6L V6 to make my calculations.
Seriously you have to explain the scoring in every video. We don't care. We will determine what we like on our own, other than that you guys have the best reviews and appreciate your work. The best thing Andre has ever said is "let's be quite for awhile". Should take he's own advice. Man he can talk.
Solid trucks! That diesel might be better off with the 8-speed transmission in the future. Maybe it can hold a bit higher rpm on the hills and pick up the speed a bit. Other than that, they both seem great for what they're built for.
On the last vid when everyone was clamoring for a tow test to show how the diesel would out-perform the gas, I said, simple power to weight, gas will win. Well, even with 32% less horsepower, the gas engine STILL got to the top of the hill faster. That said, the diesel got 40% better fuel economy and that is no doubt a factor. But for pure acceleration, I don't know why people keep saying torque matters for towing - if your foot is on the floor, power to weight is all you need to know. At sea level or at typical altitudes, the gas engine would have really done a number on the diesel here.
It does matter, because HP is just calculation of torque and rotating speed. The diesel might have have more peak torque and at a lower RPM, but it cannot turn as quickly. The gas engine makes almost 100lb-ft less, but it can give its torque at a much high rate. That's why the engine has a higher horsepower calculation.
Totally agree. Torque does matter, and high RPM torque allows more work to be done. For ease of understanding, I prefer to refer to this as "horsepower" because that's what it is, as you have mentioned. I am not saying there is no point to a diesel. But low RPM torque really just means low RPM horsepower. But a diesel will never produce MORE horsepower at the low end than at the top end - otherwise the peak would be at like 1800 rpm. A diesel, just like a gas engine, gets the most work done at its HP peak. If that is 3200 rpm on a diesel, then 3200 rpm is where the most work gets done, REGARDLESS of whatever crazy-looking peak torque number you may see at 2000, 1800 or lower. That low RPM torque, however, translates into low RPM horsepower, which is why turbodiesels drive "effortlessly." As a percentage of engine RPM operating range, diesels put out much closer to their peak HP over that range.
But as I said previously, if it is a wide open throttle all out performance test, and both transmissions put the engine at or near peak HP rpm, the one with better power to weight is going to be faster. Every. Single. Time.
so what else is new? gas always accelerates quicker than diesel. but diesel is always better for towing. the effective exhaust brake could save your life some day.
kevin9c1 seems like being ten to eleven miles per hour slower on the climb would be a bummer.
After 40 years of buying and ow ing trucks I have come to the conclusion that diesel pickups are 10x more expensive and troublesome. Ford 6.0 and early Duramax disasters with failed cups and bad injectors changed my opinion. I still have and old 7.3 idi and PSD which have been OK .
Verizon and others have switch fleets back to gas motors.
I have 300k on GM gas motors in tow trucks. No major issues.
it still just blows my mind how little colorado can now tow a 6000 lb trailer just fine when that used to be solidly in the half ton towing range
I agree. I think today's midsize trucks are the half tons from the 1990s and today's half tons are the 3/4 tons from the same time period.
So they tested a vehicle in towing- exclusively- on the hardest towing test in the world, without the towing package?
How does that make any sense?
It's great how those small trucks can pull those heavy trailers, but more importantly can they stop safely? You should include a braking test in your review. Being able to stop with a heavy load is just as important (or more) as pulling one.
That 4 pot badger 2.8 is actually a revised old school Isuzu DMax engine that's been around years, surprised they put a crappy 4 cylinder for the European market in a truck that big.
The 2.8l "duramax" was derived from a VM Motori (italian) design. It has nothing to do with Isuzu other than it has a duramax badge on it.
According to GM, the 4 x 4 is supposed to handle 5000 towing pounds where the 3.6 L gas will do 7000 so I don’t know where you’re coming up with with a 5000 with a diesel that does 77,700 pound towing but not with a 4 x 4
I'm torn between a v6 2wd colorado and a v6 2wd silverado, very basic rigs. Occasionally going to tow a track day car to the circuit but within both vehicles' tolerances. Rest of the time just cruising through town to work.
Give me GMC CANYON DENALI. This truck has the nicest interior.
While I like the 2.8 litre Duramax Diesel on the GMC Canyon, I find the Chevy Colorado more of a work truck than the Canyon, it has less bling than that of the Canyon, which I like.
Interesting test results. I know you guys like the Duramax version but would your answer change if you were using the truck to tow +/- 3500#? Great work - keep up the Ike tests!
It takes fuel to make horsepower, and climbing a hill takes horsepower, the faster you go, the faster you burn fuel. If you drove the gas Colorado at the same slow speed as the Canyon, the Colorado would have achieved better mpg than it did flat out. And, if you factor in the approximately 20 percent higher price of diesel vs. gas, the Colorado might be cheaper to operate in terms of pennies per mile. Another test is in order!
DEF system , rear oil pump belt in engine , A little better gas mileage , Reliability ? I am on the fence still with these small diesels in trucks
Chevrolet loves that 3.42 ratio even my 91 s10 4x4 with the 4.3 had those same ratios
Where are the best 2 midsize trucks, the Tacoma and Frontier
ISIS said the same thing.
guy proulx LOL. Welcome to 2017!
i would buy the colorado
Kent, I'd like to hear your opinions of the seats. I've test driven multiple Colorados, and the left side of the driver's seat pushes up against my thigh. A lot of people on the Colorado/Canyon forums have complaints about the driver seat too. I'm 5'9" at 175 lbs, so I'm by no means overweight, but the seat is a deal breaker for me, that's how annoying it is.
I'm 260 lbs and I guess my thigh sits on top of the seat bolster. They fit me fine and the arm rests in the door and center console are the right height for me
The Denali not only had the towing package that the Chevy lacked, BUT it also had an integrated brake controller. Not a good comparison downhill.
Amen, I have a 2017 Z71 diesel with 144k miles. I pull a 26' toy hauler. The loaded wt is 6800#, I travel the Rocky Mountains all summer, fish bum. Avg fuel mileage from day 1, 24.8mpg, I tow a lot. Great truck
Noticed about 5 seconds after Andre said he started the clock on the Colorado going up the hill (when he shows it to the camera) it was already at ~20 seconds. Did Andre start the clock at the bottom of the on-ramp by mistake when he started talking about it?
You say the important number is the $3800 difference in engine pricing, but don't you have to have a higher trim to get the diesel option?
Cobb no you don't.
With the different price points of gas and diesel fuel, MPG comparisons don't mean anything. I like to convert both to miles per dollar so that there is a common point of comparison. I used the current prices for midgrade gasoline and diesel (4.39 and 4.99 respectively in upstate NY). The average miles per dollar for the Colorado is 4.33 compared to the Canyon at 4.61 for a .28 mile per $ difference. With a $3,800 price difference, it would take a diesel Canyon just under 13,500 miles to pay for itself. For most people, that is about a year's driving. Of course, the more often you tow, the break even point would come sooner.
It doesn't only come down to dollars and cents. I paid the extra because the diesel feels so much more relaxed when hauling or towing. Having a gas engine screaming at 6,000rpm when towing an RV through the mountains gets old very quickly.
I can't believe these trucks have a 3.42 rear ends. That's super high gearing. Hell my Tacoma has a 3.93 I believe with the auto and I'm still planning on going to a 4.30
I’d like to see you guys go up and down cabbage mountain in Washington state doing these tests on towing and then parleys canyon in Utah going out of Salt Lake City I believe that parleys canyon is 12% grade I might be wrong but it a hell of a hill for towing testing and approximately 20 miles of up hill grade from 3% to 12% at the summit and it would test the cooling system in late July or August its a killer
8:19 doh! Typo!
Please hurry up and do the Silverado 3500 on the Ike. I'm a ford guy mainly because that's who signs my paychecks but I'd like to know how it stacked up against the ram and super duty.
Have you seen the hornets nest they are under the hood over at Four Wheeler Mag? The stealerships are going to milk customer's dry!
Both trucks were beyond exceptional! Both handled the downhill well! Both climbed the hill exceptionally. I was surprised to see the gas did better actually in terms of time. But the sound was quieter and the fuel efficiency was much higher in the diesel. So that really evened out the playing field. I'd love that chevy with the duramax not the gmc tho. I prefer the chevys look more and the price point. A colorado with a duramax and z71 will run you 40k. The LT will run you 37k. The canyon denali is 47k. So I mean you save yourself 7 grand and trade in the leather seats and wood accents. So what, it's a truck! Still has heated seats without the leather! Fine by me. Then going down the road you'll get 28mpg IN A TRUCK! Crazy... just crazy.
If i only tow a few times a summer im thinking the v6 suits me better. Do you guys feel that the space and V6 power in the canyon is fine or
Do you wish you had a sierra w 5.3 w less mpg?
Ridgeline much more spacious inside...resale better too.
I would agree on the diesel. If you're going to tow, the diesel wins hands down, and the reasons are beyond fuel economy. Driveability and comfort weigh far heavier than MPG when you're working the truck hard. That said, I'll always be wary of the diesel for one reason. It has a rubber timing belt instead of a chain. This to me is an unnecessary weakness built into an engine that has zero clearance between valves and pistons. It's a poor choice on the part of engine designers to go cheap on an area where a failure of a belt results in reducing your engine to scrap. It also brings in an expensive service to the vehicle that otherwise would not be required had they went with a chain drive cam.
Timing chain is not so great either. It may initially last longer but it can also stretch (and damage the engine), it's more expensive to replace.
wolfman9999999 when the rubber belt breaks you know it breaks. the previous comment hit it on the nose more expensive to fix and can stretch with no real indication until it's probably too late. not that it's the same application but Harley's run rubber belts instead of chains for that reason
@@jessehernandez5043 Harley doesn't run rubber timing belts. The cams are either gear driven or chain driven, depending upon model Ducati, on the other hand, does run belt drive cams.
A non-interference engine is the best answer. I lost a cam belt on an Alfa Romeo one time. Trashed the top end. Expensive and time consuming to fix. I agree that the rubber timing belt is this engine's Achilles Tendon. If I owned one, I'd change it more often than the manual calls for, just to be safe.
@@guzzimike1100 i was referring to Harley running a Rubber Belt for their drivetrain as opposed to a chain like rice rockets. The chains are prone to stretching whereas the belt stays very consistent
I'd love to see the colorado ZR2 diesel on the Ike gauntlet, I think the 3 inches of extra with will help.
Why did the duramax get bonus points in mpg? Shouldn't it max out at 25? Either way, very impressive!
While towing uphill? Not sure if serious.
I love diesels. You need to take into consideration the higher cost of diesel and cost of def. That starts to negate the difference in mpg. Where I live diesel is about $1 more than gas.
You get diesel in higher trim and it has higher resale value.
I would use a differant way of measuring fuel mpg instead of on board equitment
The msrp on the Denali is in the same price as a base model 2017 Sierra 2500hd with the Diesel engine.
No it isn't. In Canada the Canyon Duramax Denali is $55k, the base Sierra 2500 Duramax is $74k.
would you still recommend the GMC diesel if you dont plan on towing.
+Robert Eiler Yes, if you have the $ for the diesel option.
Outstanding. Thanks it helps along with the video. Peace.
To find out what gear u are in put the transmission in low mode
Why is the tow-haul/exhaust brake being used on the uphill section in the Canyon? The light is on on the display. Wouldn't that cut into your power by creating resistance in the system? I have the 2.8L in my 2016 Colorado, and I can imagine that scenario really suffocating the power on a climb. Downhill, the exhaust brake is my favorite feature of the truck.
Love your stuff. But seriously, why did not compare a Chevy gas to a Chevy diesel with similar trim?
Good one, I enjoyed this test....I think I would buy the Diesel too, IF I intended to do some trailer hauling. Love that MPG rating of the diesel!
Of course the diesel will always be better than gas goin down hill cuz of the engine exhaust brake or jake brake. Tho you can or should beable to manually shift into a lower gear to hold you at a certain speed goin down wether its a gas or diesel
Hows the longevity of the diesel ? 🇨🇦
I'd like to see you all try this with a tuned diesel!!!
@@jimalden9376 I think you have tune-up and tuned confused.
I wonder about long time durability of that diesel. DPF , expensive injectors, and turbo.... Modern diesels get Very expensive with high milage. And for towing,for that money I would get full size.
If you're hauling, buy a full size. You can get into a nicely equipped Sierra for the price of the Canyon Denali w/ the Duramax.
Ok, I will, if you do an addition to my garage and find me a wife thats taller than 4'11". Seriously im kidding. Id love a larger truck. But not all of us have the space for a larger rig. And then the price doesent really matter at that point.
I bet if the duramax wasn't in tow haul mode and was in a higher gear it would have pulled better up the hill, it's possible if there was an 8 speed in that that it would have been able to maintain 60 up the hill. It's torque is lower down and drops off pretty hard after it peaks
I should have paid the extra money for the duramax over the V6. The V6 makes a loud ugly annoying sound between 2000 and 3500 rpm and that's where it likes to run since it doesn't like to lug, an air intake makes the tone nicer but it's way to loud.
The 2012 traverse with the v6 3.6 makes 288 HP and 277 Torque
Still don't know why ya'll are so surprised when the diesel is a bit slower. IT MAKES LESS HP SO IT WILL BE SLOWER.
farmerallis you are ignorant, aren't you?
yamaha450man What makes you say that? Power to weight Ratio IS what determines how quickly you can climb a hill.
How do you figure?
Ok, here it goes: $11 k more for 4 mpg better. At $3.00 per gallon, it would cost the Colorado $303 more after 10 K miles in gas cost. How many miles driven would it take to make the GMC to be more cost effective? Are chrome steps and phony wood grain that expensive, (if you make the assumption that they are worth anything)?
I love Diesel engines but assuming you only keep the truck 100k miles there is very little difference in savings going to the diesel. Diesel around here costs 45cents more a gallon, combined with the expensive oil changes, def fluid, and higher purchase price there really isn't any savings. Then if your out of warranty the cost to fix anything on the engine negates any increase in "resale value". The small truck diesels that are in this country seem to have more in common with a gas engine than a heavier duty industrial diesel. Aka I don't see most of them hitting big miles without major repairs. In the two trucks above I rather have the gas engine.
Big green should compete with the the two mid-size trucks.
Do you have a side by side comparisons for all the midsize trucks?