One of many largest developments within the American automotive market within the final 5 years has been the beginning of a completely new phase of small pickup vans, led by the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Moderately than the small, body-on-frame ‘minitrucks’ that have been common from the Nineteen Seventies by means of the 2000s, this new technology of small pickups is way more car-like. They use unibody development, have transversely mounted engines with both FWD or AWD and have 4 doorways. In that sense, they’re nearer to being ”CUVs with an open mattress’ than a standard pickup truck – and that is precisely what’s made them so common.
Regardless of the large gross sales success of the Ford Maverick and the nice and cozy reception to the Santa Cruz, so far, these two have remained the one autos on this class accessible to North American consumers. However they’re removed from the one autos of this kind offered all over the world. In actual fact, each of Ford’s chief pickup rivals, Ram and Chevrolet, already promote related vans in South America, the Ram Rampage and the Chevy Montana.
Given the large recognition of Chevy’s bigger vans in America, GM including the Montana to the North American Chevy lineup as a Maverick-fighter looks like a no brainer, proper? Effectively, there are a number of the explanation why the Montana in its present kind may not be the true Maverick rival that GM wants, together with its small dimension, lack of AWD, and underpowered engine.
Discovering the candy spot of dimension and functionality
Initially, one of many largest issues that separates the Chevy Montana from the Maverick and Santa Cruz is its dimension. It is laborious to inform in photographs, however the Chevy is considerably smaller than each the Hyundai and Ford. It is about 14 inches shorter than the Maverick and 10 inches shorter than the Santa Cruz. It is also about an inch narrower than the already slim Maverick. Whereas having a smaller footprint could be good for many who drive so much within the metropolis, that additionally means much less house for cargo and/or passengers.
Likewise, the Montana is sort of low on energy by the requirements of the American market, and it seems much more underpowered in comparison on to the Maverick and Santa Cruz. The Chevy presents only one engine – a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder that makes solely 139 horsepower. By comparability, the Maverick could be had with as much as 250 horsepower, and the Santa Cruz with as much as 281 horsepower. Even the much less highly effective, base variations of the Ford and Hyundai outgun the Chevy by over 50 horsepower. And the Montana is obtainable solely with front-wheel drive.
Now that the 2025 Maverick presents an AWD-hybrid mixture, its mixture of gasoline effectivity and all-weather efficiency is difficult to match. If the Montana have been to return to America, it might seemingly want each an influence bump and the provision of AWD for many who reside in colder, snowier areas.
A distinct truck for a distinct market
The reality is, the Chevy Montana’s lack of competitiveness isn’t its personal fault – or the fault of GM’s technique. Regardless of its related look and seemingly related mission, the Montana is a essentially totally different automobile for a distinct market. The Maverick and Santa Cruz are each newer fashions developed particularly with the American market in thoughts. The Montana, however, although improved and refined from its earlier variations, continues to be the third technology of a mannequin that is all the time been aimed on the South American market – cheaper, smaller, extra primary in its strategy. It is attainable that with a number of modifications, the Montana, or a truck based mostly on it, may find yourself being a profitable addition to Chevy’s American lineup, however GM must weigh the prices of doing that versus a clear sheet product just like the Maverick and Santa Cruz.
Lastly, you may’t discuss concerning the prospects of small vans in America with out mentioning the impression that CAFE requirements have had in making American pickups bigger and bigger. The present CAFE requirements are definitely one of many large the explanation why we’ve not but seen extra small vans to compete with the Maverick, or a return to these workhorse mini-trucks of the previous. Nevertheless, with the Trump Administration lately signaling a need for extra small vehicles within the American market, there could but be hope for seeing these smaller, less complicated autos in American showrooms sooner or later.
