This rigidity and quiet makes for a much better long-term relationship,
since the trucks will beat you up and shake themselves apart less.
While GM did not supply the uber-power needs of the few by supplying
a V6, it certainly gave the many a much better deal with the I-4 and I-5
engines.
The Vortec
2800 I-4 delivers more horsepower (175) and torque (185) than other competing
four-cylinders, while the Vortec 3500 I-5 has horsepower (220) and torque
(225) that's better than or comparable to competitors’ base-level
six-cylinder engines.
Those peak numbers do not adequately describe the skills of these engines,
since they both deliver solid, smooth juice right up the power curve.
The I-5 naturally delivers more grunt, but the I-4 does very well by the
driver in most real world situations.
Indeed, if you're looking for a compact pickup with good fuel economy,
decent power and the ability to haul people or stuff on an irregular basis,
the I-4 with the standard five-speed manual shifter could suit you very
well. And GM is making more of an effort to provide front-wheel-drive
choices to the snow-deprived parts of the continent, so that's good news
for the folks who want an on-road vehicle.
This does
not mean that GM has pulled back from the demands of the off-road warriors
or the folks who want a real work truck -- that payload issue notwithstanding.
There's still a daunting variety of bed, configuration, suspension and
payload to choose from.
But the feeling
remains that GM has now embraced the modern reality of the compact pickup
market -- that they're now mostly bought as personal use vehicles with
strong functionality features, rather than as work trucks with some creature
features added on.
