9. GMC Canyon
Showing a touch more class than its cousin, the Colorado, the GMC Canyon is still a bit off-pace. The GMC badge has an attitude of business and as such is often neglected by the private use purchasers. It’s too bad because the Canyon’s actually pretty sharp.
Power equipment is plentiful, from standard power driver’s seat to MyLink infotainment system. The extra touches are all there. Every Canyon has the CornerStep rear bumper and projector-beam headlamps. Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning are available, as are the EZ-Lift and Lower Tailgate and 8-inch touch-screen. The Canyon sold a paltry 37,449 vehicles in 2016, although up 24.5 percent from the previous year.
8. Nissan Frontier
Compared to its competition, the Frontier is no longer a breath of fresh air. It’s getting a little long in the tooth, in need of a redesign to get back in touch with the market. Still, the Frontier is a decent midsize truck with a good composition. If the Titan is overkill, the Frontier will fit the bill for you.
The Frontier’s standout version is the PRO-4X. Bilstein shocks, a locking rear diff, available manual or automatic transmission, and a standard NissanConnect Navigation package make it a winner. For 2016, the Frontier sold 86,926 units, up a surprising 38 percent over last year.
7. Chevrolet Colorado
Beating out the Canyon and Ridgeline in the midsize truck segment is the Colorado, Chevy Silverado’s baby brother. The Colorado is really a sport ute with a truck box, and one you won’t mind putting through its paces. The Colorado is more affordable than its counterpart Canyon, but only because it comes in a stripped-down version.
Its standout feature is the available diesel engine, a 2.8-liter Duramax inline four-cylinder. Equipped as such, the Colorado can achieve 30 highway miles per gallon and boosting torque to 369 lb-ft. In 2016, 108,725 Colorado trucks were sold, spiking up 28.8 percent from 2015.
View on One Page
