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canadian international autoshow

An all-new Ford Ranger joins already stiff competition in the mid-sized market

The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, equipped for off-roading, is available with a turbo-diesel or gasoline-powered V-6.

The numbers speak volumes. Light truck sales, including SUVs and pickups, jumped to another record-breaking high of 9.1 per cent from the previous month, accounting for 73.2 per cent of the market share in January, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.

No wonder manufacturers are banking on trucks these days, bringing more to the market like the all-new 2019 Ford Ranger pickup. Following an eight-year absence, Ford reintroduced the legendary nameplate at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month.

"We've been the truck leader with F-Series for 52 straight years in Canada and we just thought the timing was right," said Mark Buzzell, CEO, Ford Motor Company of Canada. "We're seeing more and more people go from cars into SUVs and trucks, so it was the perfect time to bring back the Ranger."

There's already stiff competition in the mid-size truck segment from the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

"We welcome competitors," said Steve Carlisle, president, General Motors of Canada. "As more entries come into the market it'll help repopularize the segment and should result in growth for all of us. It's a win-win. … We're launching the [Colorado] ZR2 now – the off-road vehicle with the multimatic shocks in the back. It's been well received, so we're going to continue to build on that franchise."

Mid-size pickups such as the GMC Canyon are designed for customers living in congested cities.

Mid-size trucks make sense for people living in congested downtown city cores where a full-size pickup truck can be awkward. A smaller truck gives city dwellers better manoeuverability, fuel consumption and price.

"That's what drove us to bring back the Colorado and Canyon, and we've been very encouraged by the response we've received with those vehicles," said Carlisle.

Where mid-size trucks differ is in the powertrain – manufacturers are focusing on different engines to sway consumers to their brand.

"We have diesels in the Colorado as well as the Silverado. We believe diesel has a big role to play and people are responding accordingly. It sounds a little counterintuitive, but the fastest way to improve CO2 emissions is to improve performance of all the vehicles on the road, and diesel can be a big part of that," adds Carlisle.

But these mid-size trucks share some common traits – most are loaded with driver safety technologies and connectivity features, from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to roaming WiFi that offers access to multiple devices in the vehicle.


At the show

Ford Ranger

The 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine is mated to the only 10-speed automatic transmission in the segment. The engine delivers the power of a V-6 with the fuel-efficiency of a 4-banger.

Honda Ridgeline

A car-like ride and fuel efficiency are primary characteristics of the Ridgeline, which shares an independent suspension with the Pilot SUV. A 280-horsepower V-6 is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Nissan Frontier

A standard 152-hp inline-four pairs with a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic; a 261-hp V-6 makes 281 lb-ft of torque and mates to the same automatic or a six-speed manual.

Toyota Tacoma

Available with either a 159-horsepower, 2.7-litre four-cylinder, or a 278-hp, 3.5-litre V-6 engine, six-speed manual or automatic transmission.


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