Must See Trucks of the LA Auto Show 2014

2014 LA Auto Show ford atlas concet

The smallest of all of the segments on show at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show is the truck category but it is one of the biggest selling. With a new F-150 out now, the competition is heating up. Here are the trucks to see this year.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado marks the complete overhaul of Chevy’s mid-size truck strategy. Based on a new platform, and offering the choice between extended and crew cab options (with the latter providing four full-size doors), the Colorado is aimed at pickup buyers who don’t want to deal with the bulk of a full-size truck. A 2.5-liter, 200 horsepower four-cylinder engine (shifted via either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic) is standard with the Chevrolet, while a 305 horsepower, automatic-only 3.6-liter V-6 is optional. Four-wheel drive and the available Z71 off-road package round out the Colorado’s highlights.

 The Chevrolet Colorado is all-new for 2015.

 You can buy a Colorado right now.

 The Chevrolet pickup starts at an MSRP of $20,120.

2015 Ford F-150

The 2015 Ford F-150 has shaken up the pickup world with the decision to carve its all-new full-size truck out of aluminum instead of steel.  With significant weight savings under its belt, Ford was able to reduce the size of its base V-6 to 3.5-liters and not lose any performance.  A new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 that offers 325 horsepower is offered as an affordable upgrade over the entry-level F-150’s engine, and a 385 horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 and a 365 horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 are also available.  Four-wheel drive, a wide range of trims and options, and three body styles and bed lengths are also offered with the pickup.

  The 2015 Ford F-150 is all-new.

  Look for the redesigned F-150 to go on sale shortly.

  The Ford F-150 retails for a starting MSRP of $25,420.

2015 GMC Canyon

The 2015 GMC Canyon is in many respects the mechanical doppelganger of the Chevrolet Colorado, but General Motors has made a solid effort to distinguish the two mid-size trucks from a style perspective.  More chiseled than the curvy Colorado, the Canyon features identical four and six-cylinder engine options as well as the availability of two body styles and four-wheel drive.  The GMC adds the extra wrinkle of the All Terrain package, which features a number of styling tweaks, a nicer interior, and a few off-road goodies.

  The 2015 GMC Canyon has been completely redesigned.

  The Canyon is on dealer lots right now.

  MSRP for the entry-level GMC Canyon is $20,955.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado

The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado presents full-size pickup buyers with an array of modern drivetrains to choose from, all of which feature direct fuel injection and cylinder deactivation technology.  The base 4.3-liter V-6 is good for 285 horsepower, while the next-step-up 5.3-liter V-8 produces 355 ponies.  The top-tier 6.2-liter eight-cylinder motor churns out a muscular 420 horsepower, and it also gains an eight-speed automatic transmission in place of the other two options’ six-speed gearbox.  Four-wheel drive and the High Country luxury trim level are also in the cards for the Silverado, which features regular, extended, and crew cab body styles.

  The Silverado’s eight-speed automatic transmission is new for 2015.

  You can order one today.

  You’ll have to fork over $25,575 to drive a Silverado home.

2015 Ram Truck

The 2015 RAM 1500 has gained a reputation as one of the most comfortable full-size trucks around, thanks in large part to the decision to outfit its rear suspension with coil springs instead of a traditional leaf design.  The Ram 1500 also offers a lavishly-appointed interior when ordered in higher trim levels, as well as a standard eight-speed automatic transmission.  A 305 horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 is the most affordable Ram engine, but you can also specify a 395 horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 or a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 that generates 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque while returning 28-mpg on the highway.

  The Ram 1500 hasn’t implemented any major changes for 2015.

  The pickup can be found in Ram showrooms right now.

  The Ram 1500 starts at an MSRP of $25,060.

2015 GMC Sierra

The 2015 GMC Sierra, as with the Canyon/Colorado, leverages the same platform as its Chevrolet counterpart, the Silverado.  This includes body styles, bed lengths, and engine options.  However, the Sierra introduces the Denali luxury trim, which is unique to the brand and which offers a significant upgrade in cabin quality plus premium styling for the truck’s sheet metal.  Also of note is the different look and feel of the Sierra inside and out compared to the Silverado, providing better separation between the two models for this generation as compared to the one that preceded it.

  The 2015 GMC Sierra is carried over from 2014.

  It’s on sale now.

  The starting MSRP for the GMC Sierra is $26,075.

2015 Toyota Tundra

The 2015 Toyota Tundra rolls down the road wearing big rig styling that conceals a very capable full-size pickup.  The Tundra offers two four-door and one single cab configuration, and its base 4.6-litre V-8 provides 310 horsepower, while its 5.7-liter V-8 upgrades to 381 horses and 401 lb-ft of torque.  Four-wheel drive is optional as is the TRD Off-Road package, and the Tundra, which features a six-speed automatic transmission, tops out with a tow rating of 10,400 lbs.

  The Tundra drops its V-6 option for 2015, leaving only eight-cylinder drivetrains in the mix.

  Toyota has the pickup on sale right now.

The entry-level MSRP for the Tundra is $29,020.