2017 Chevy Colorado vs GMC Canyon Duramax Ike Gauntlet Review: World's Toughest Towing Test 

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.

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 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.

+David Hoover Thanks! :)

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.

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

Thanks, I love the red white and blue

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.

If only more diesel powered trucks were available for USA buyers.

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

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

I agree...or at least set parameters for subjective score...like comfort and steering feel.

If I had the choice, I'd take either of them with the 2.8 litre Duramax Diesel engine.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I bought the GMC. The lines are way better than the Chevy's Camero hard lines.

Chevy > GMC.

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

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.

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!!!

Ridgeline much more spacious inside...resale better too.

@@jimalden9376 I think you have tune-up and tuned confused.

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.

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. :(

not out yet

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

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.

No it isn't. In Canada the Canyon Duramax Denali is $55k, the base Sierra 2500 Duramax is $74k.

Torque is not a measure of ability to do work (climb a hill or accelerate a heavy load), but horsepower is exactly that. The reason it's confusing is that engines that produce a lot of torque often have a wide (horse)power band, meaning they produce horsepower over a wide range of RPM. All else being equal, that would be good for accelerating a heavy load from a standing start. Especially in the case of an old pickup truck whose transmission doesn't have very many gears. But, modern trucks have transmissions with lots of gears, and the reason that's important is because it allows a comparatively high RPM gas engine to stay in its narrow power band all of the time, meaning the engine is able to do the work of accelerating a heavy load, or climb a long grade. In the old days with a 3-speed auto, if you had a high horsepower engine you would have to rev it to the moon, and then it would bog every time it shifted because the gears because the ratios were so far apart, taking the engine out of its power band - you never had the right gear. But the high torque engine would just chug away - nothing could stop a big block. Nowadays the gears are so close together that the high horsepower engine just keeps singing. If the hill gets too steep and you slow down, the next lower gear is just a few hundred RPM higher, not 1500 RPM like in the old days. The engine can always be in its power band. If a vehicle is setup to keep the engine in its power band, the higher horsepower engine will always go faster.

Cobb no you don't.

That was kind of the point of this test. Same basic truck. Same rear gearing. Different engines/transmissions. Doing the same job. It showed that if towing in the mountains, the diesel can do a better overall job. The engine braking on the downhill sections, and the lower interior noise on the up hill sections sold me. I tow a lot, and high RPM screaming up hills gets old, as does constant braking on the downhills. The Colorado/Canyon can do the work of a 1500 series truck from the not too distant past. And, like I mentioned, the engine brake in the diesel is a great thing to have in the mountains. Smoking the brakes is no fun. BTDT,

While towing uphill? Not sure if serious.

no

You get diesel in higher trim and it has higher resale value.

Raul Martinez with a scale I'm guessing...

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

Got an update? I am considering a 2021 v6. I am curious if you bought one and if so, how it tows.

@@wmason1961 no, we actually ended up in Europe and coming back to the States this summer. We will be looking at purchasing the truck then. Still thinking about Colorado or Silverado.

How is the Chevy way more comfortable than the Ridgeline?

@@brucefredrickson9677same way as some people prefer tomato soup over a steak - it’s an individual preference. At the end we bought rav 4 hybrid.