In the United States, small businesses are experiencing some renaissance. We have pickups like the Hyundai Santa Cruz. These vehicles prove that Americans are willing to put cash on a pickup truck that doesn’t look like a behemoth. There is one model we’d like to see in the States, though, and that’s the Chevy Montana.
What is a Chevrolet Montana?
The Montana is a pickup truck that we just don’t get here in the States. For 2023, it’s actually all-new. It is also limited to the South American market. For that reason, GM doesn’t seem to have plans to bring North.
It is to offer practicality and ruggedness. It is based on some kind of GEM platform, and in appearance the Montana is reminiscent of a Chevy Blazer.
One of the coolest things about this car might be the bed. Chevy calls it the Multi-Flex Cargo Bed, and it has quite a few tricks up its sleeve. For example, a rear seat cover ensures drivers keep their cargo dry. Plus it is highly configurable. On paper, this reminds me of what Hyundai did with Santa Cruz.
This pickup truck is not powerful
Looking at this pickup’s power output, I think it’s safe to say it looks underpowered. Each model comes with a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine. This engine produces 133 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. If you need a sign to show you that this truck is not made for North America, these numbers might be it.
As enthusiasts, it’s exciting to see that the 2023 is offered with a six-speed manual transmission. Here in the States, manual shifts are becoming a bit of a rarity. Especially if you are not looking to drive a sports car. Of course, buyers can also get this Chevy pickup with an automatic transmission.
According to , the Montana is only available with front-wheel drive. And this is an interesting choice for a car that is meant to be an adventure.
Will GM make a pickup truck for North America?
With the success of the Ford Maverick, it’s hard not to see GM eyeing the pickup segment. Currently, the smallest pickups featured here are the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado. And to be honest, these trucks aren’t very small.
One can hope that more pickups enter the market. It is possible that General Motors may have plans for some kind of compact pickup. But nothing has been confirmed at this point.
