2007 ushers in a needed power boost  by Thom Blackett

Chevrolet Colorado -- Photo Gallery: Small isn’t what it used to be. Today’s small soft drink from the fast-food joint is yesterday’s large, and the small cars and trucks of 2007 are equivalent to midsize models of decades past. The pickup truck segment, especially, has seen growth, literally and figuratively, with powerful engines and plentiful room for up to five passengers. Among them are the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins, attractive enough models that have suffered from relatively weak powerplants. Consequently, GM has added some gusto under the hood for 2007, though ultimately it’s not enough to compete with brutes such as the Nissan Frontier.

Last year’s Colorado/Canyon was equipped with either a 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine offering 175 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque or a 3.5-liter five-cylinder that put out 220 horses and 225 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmissions included a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. For 2007, the four-cylinder has grown to 2.9 liters and now boasts 185 ponies and 190 lb.-ft. of torque, while the five-cylinder jumps to 3.7 liters, registering 242 for both horsepower and torque. Transmission choices remain the same.

Each model comes in a variety of configurations, from basic rear-wheel-drive regular cabs to extended cabs and well-equipped four-wheel-drive crew cab models. In bare-bones guise, the Colorado/Canyon provides buyers with the utility of a truck and little else, though antilock brakes, a radio, a tilt steering wheel with cruise control, and air conditioning are standard. Options include upgraded sound systems, side curtain airbags, and extravagancies like rubber floor mats.

One notch up from the el cheapo model, the 2007 Chevrolet Colorado LS / GMC Canyon SL adds cloth upholstery and swaps 15-inch alloy wheels in for the usual steel rims. Little else changes, though the number of options increases. For 2007, LS/SL models can be equipped with XM satellite radio, a power sunroof, and more.

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