Is the glass half empty or half full? If you see it as half empty, you might pay
attention to the fact that Chevy's S-series pickups play second fiddle to Ford's
Ranger line up. To be more specific, while sales of mini trucks have gone soft for
both companies over the past two years, Chevrolet's percentage of the market in '95 was
only two-thirds the number of small trucks that Ford sold. However, the math improves
if you add the numbers for Chevy's mechanical twin, the GMC Sonoma trucks. And, don't
forget that General Motors also builds small trucks for Isuzu. Ford still wins, but
the numbers can look a lot different depending on how you add them up.
If you see the glass as half full, you're more likely to pay attention to the fact
that Chevy debuted an all new family of pickup trucks in '94 with major changes in
interior and exterior styling, in '95 added a number of safety improvements and since
has continued to upgrade a line up of mini pickups that fits just about every personal
need and personality style.
There are two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models; regular cab (with short bed or
long) and extended cab versions; a selection of seven different chassis packages; and
two trim levels -- base and LS. And for '96 there is an S-Series with a third door, a
new Sportside Pickup, along with performance improvements under the hood and a new
chassis package.
The Easy Access System (third door) which is due out in early Spring is an industry
first for compact trucks. The driver's side panel swings out to make it easier to
load personal gear, pets, and people is available on extended cab models only. (The
driver's side jumpseat is eliminated with this feature). The Easy Access System third
door can also be upfitted with a wheelchair lift system. Chevy has not only adapted
this feature to aid persons with disabilities but General Motors will also make a
contribution of $1,000 for a lift or other adaptive equipment.
Also new is the Sportside Pickup with fender flare and two built-in footholds for easy
access to cargo to compete with the Ranger Splash. The Sportside box has a tough
steel load floor and will hold more than 28 cu. ft. of cargo, available on Regular Cab
and Extended Cab LS models. It's able to tow up to 6,000 lbs.
Competitors in this segment, in addition to the Ranger, are the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan
Pickup, Mazda B-series, Dodge Dakota and Isuzu Pickup.
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