| The
venerable compact pickups from General Motors have been with us for a long time…indeed,
they're due for replacement within a year. But that doesn't stop them from loyally
serving a group of owners who place value for the dollar high on the scale. For
example, you can pick up an extended cab Sonoma 4X2 with premium cloth seats,
cruise control and air conditioning, among other things, for under $20K. Keep
in mind that the base engine is a rather anemic 120-horsepower 4-cylinder, so
we strongly recommend stepping up to the torquey 190-hp 6-cylinder. Also, the
interior design lacks the kind of panache and fine materials found in other trucks
such as the Toyota Tacoma. But the GM twins do come in a variety of body styles,
including standard cab, extended cab as well as the Crew Cab 4-door that took
home RTM's coveted Most Athletic pickup award in 2001. Said Crew Cab comes only
with the V-6 and features four front-hinged doors and adequate legroom front and
rear for real adults. Its abbreviated cargo area helps to keep overall length
under control. This is, after all, a compact truck.
|
