They make a lot of great cars, and they’re a very competitive auto company when it comes to pickup trucks. This model is a strong contender in the full-size pickup truck segment, but just like many other automakers, Chevy has expanded its options in the pickup segment. In fact, in terms of sales, it took a nice jump in 2022, and here’s a look at if it can keep up that momentum.
The Toyota Tacoma dominates, but the Chevy Colorado does well
While the full-size pickup truck segment is dominated by American brands such as Ford, Chevy, and Ram, this is not the case with the mid-size pickup truck segment. It has been the best selling mid-size pickup truck in the United States for a while now. In fact, the Tacoma has been the best-selling truck in its class for 18 years, and that’s unlikely to change.
Chevrolet Colorado has made an amazing leap in 2022 in terms of its sales figures. In 2021, Chevy sold a respectable 73,000 units of the midsize truck. That’s behind nearly 90,000 units of the Jeep Gladiator, and 95,000 units of the Ford Ranger.
However, the numbers for 2022 show a very different picture. Colorado sales jumped more than 22% as Chevy sold more than 89,000 units of the truck. This placed it second only to the Tacoma’s 237,000 units.
On the other hand, both Gladiator and Ranger saw sales decline. Jeep sold just 78,000 units, down 13%, while Ford sold just 57,000 units, down nearly 40%.
Why the Chevrolet Colorado might have made such a great leap
While it’s hard to see why there was such an impressive sales jump in Colorado, it’s clear that supply chain issues have affected the sector. The Tacoma, despite its popularity, still saw a 6% drop in sales compared to 2021. The midsize pickup truck segment as a whole saw a 5% drop in sales compared to 2021. Moreover, Chevy wasn’t nearly as picky as the 2022 model year.
This was because the 2023 model year of the truck is the first of a new generation, so the 2022 and 2021 models had relatively few changes compared to previous versions. As such, in all likelihood, Chevy simply managed to produce more midsize trucks than its competitors were able to in 2022, which is why the Colorado sold better overall.
The 2023 sales will be interesting to keep an eye on
Not so long ago, the Ranger was more than the Colorado, so clearly the midsize truck segment is still very competitive. That’s why 2023 sales will be so interesting to watch, as they will be more representative of what auto shoppers are actually looking for in the midsize pickup truck segment. Since the 2023 Colorado will be the first model in the new generation, it should continue to sell well.
However, supply chain issues won’t last forever, and other automakers may be able to match Chevy in terms of their production. Driving the Colorado isn’t huge either, so there’s a chance of another truck coming in second.
What’s more, the next-generation Ranger will debut in 2023 as well, so it’ll be interesting to see which new midsize truck car shoppers choose.
