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I've mentioned this in posts before, but the recent photos of the new Toyota Tacoma, and in light of the superb interior on the Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon, I had to rant. Last I read, the next F/S truck redo is coming in 2006 (2007 model year).
2006!?
I know that there are other priorities for GM, but if I had millions of GM dollars on hand to fix one thing with the current GM lineup, it would be the full-size truck (Silverado, Suburban, Escalade) interiors.
They look so good on the outside, but when you step in, you get to feast your eyes on a taste of 1998:
Compare those "deal sealing interiors" to the Ford F-150:
The Nissan Titan:
and the Dodge Ram (boring perhaps but it employs modern "sharp edges":
About the only other full size truck on the market (other than the "Heritage F-150") that still owes its dash design to a 1995 Ford Taurus is the 2004 Toyota Tundra.
But knowing Toyota, they'll have a new truck/interior ready before 2007. Heck, they'll probably have a completely "all new" (including the powertrain) truck out by then, and GM will carry over 40% of its parts. But that's another argument.
I still think that GM trucks could be competitive in their own right, but they need 2 things:
1. A horsepower boost, or more "techy" engines to compete with tech-strong image of the competition with its new DOHC Titan engine, Dodge HEMI, and 3-valve Ford engine.
2. Redone interiors. How much engineering would #2 really entail?
I recently went to play the "push the Onstar button" game at a local Chevy dealership. I was appalled at the outdated design. And the design being "old" isn't the only problem. The interior was done by GM at a time when the sleeping giant still hadn't awoken to the need for having attractive, modern interiors in its cars and trucks. These were the pre "let's beat Audi" Bob-Lutz inspired interiors that had (and still have) Auto mag editiors shaking their heads in disapproval.
Even the Chevy Express got a major refresh in 2003 that included cleaning up the dash and making it more attractive and modern looking. Even with the same kind of rubbermaid gray plastics, it looks much better than it did. And yet the Silverado stays pat. Why? To "save money"? Money that will be used to support incentives because the interior is so ugly?
The point of my rant here is that people who would otherwise be drawn towards buying a Chevy --- people who cross-shop, not die hard Chevy fanatics who would see nothing wrong with this interior lasting until 2016 --- are going to be having second thoughts when they step in for a look-see. "The interior seals the deal" is the phrase I hear a lot, and the Silverado/Suburban/etc. interior does nothing to seal the deal for me.
Some will say a pickup truck shouldn't look like a Nissan Z car or Chevy Cobalt inside. I'll agree there. But it shouldn't have strong, bulbous, rounded gray mouse fur laden GM design cues from 1998 either. In a work truck the interior isn't important. Well, this "work truck" shares its dash with the Suburban and even the Escalade for the most part. The Escalade is competing with sharp, futuristic and modern designs from the competition and has to make do with this:
It may be hard to tell from this photo, but yes, other than the colors and a few other differences like a wood dash kit, the Escalade is a much nicer version of the same Silverado interior. It even shares the same column shifter.
Some will say "I like it like it is". But can they honestly say that if the F-150, Dodge or Nissan interiors were in the Silverado that they would want to go back to the old interior?
All I can say is PLEASE GM, do something about this interior SOON . 2007 (model year) is simply too late to correct the inadequacy of this design. Forget saving cash here, because you'll only end up boosting incentives to sell this ever more quickly aging dog of an interior.
2006!?
I know that there are other priorities for GM, but if I had millions of GM dollars on hand to fix one thing with the current GM lineup, it would be the full-size truck (Silverado, Suburban, Escalade) interiors.
They look so good on the outside, but when you step in, you get to feast your eyes on a taste of 1998:


Compare those "deal sealing interiors" to the Ford F-150:

The Nissan Titan:

and the Dodge Ram (boring perhaps but it employs modern "sharp edges":

About the only other full size truck on the market (other than the "Heritage F-150") that still owes its dash design to a 1995 Ford Taurus is the 2004 Toyota Tundra.

But knowing Toyota, they'll have a new truck/interior ready before 2007. Heck, they'll probably have a completely "all new" (including the powertrain) truck out by then, and GM will carry over 40% of its parts. But that's another argument.
I still think that GM trucks could be competitive in their own right, but they need 2 things:
1. A horsepower boost, or more "techy" engines to compete with tech-strong image of the competition with its new DOHC Titan engine, Dodge HEMI, and 3-valve Ford engine.
2. Redone interiors. How much engineering would #2 really entail?
I recently went to play the "push the Onstar button" game at a local Chevy dealership. I was appalled at the outdated design. And the design being "old" isn't the only problem. The interior was done by GM at a time when the sleeping giant still hadn't awoken to the need for having attractive, modern interiors in its cars and trucks. These were the pre "let's beat Audi" Bob-Lutz inspired interiors that had (and still have) Auto mag editiors shaking their heads in disapproval.
Even the Chevy Express got a major refresh in 2003 that included cleaning up the dash and making it more attractive and modern looking. Even with the same kind of rubbermaid gray plastics, it looks much better than it did. And yet the Silverado stays pat. Why? To "save money"? Money that will be used to support incentives because the interior is so ugly?
The point of my rant here is that people who would otherwise be drawn towards buying a Chevy --- people who cross-shop, not die hard Chevy fanatics who would see nothing wrong with this interior lasting until 2016 --- are going to be having second thoughts when they step in for a look-see. "The interior seals the deal" is the phrase I hear a lot, and the Silverado/Suburban/etc. interior does nothing to seal the deal for me.
Some will say a pickup truck shouldn't look like a Nissan Z car or Chevy Cobalt inside. I'll agree there. But it shouldn't have strong, bulbous, rounded gray mouse fur laden GM design cues from 1998 either. In a work truck the interior isn't important. Well, this "work truck" shares its dash with the Suburban and even the Escalade for the most part. The Escalade is competing with sharp, futuristic and modern designs from the competition and has to make do with this:

It may be hard to tell from this photo, but yes, other than the colors and a few other differences like a wood dash kit, the Escalade is a much nicer version of the same Silverado interior. It even shares the same column shifter.
Some will say "I like it like it is". But can they honestly say that if the F-150, Dodge or Nissan interiors were in the Silverado that they would want to go back to the old interior?
All I can say is PLEASE GM, do something about this interior SOON . 2007 (model year) is simply too late to correct the inadequacy of this design. Forget saving cash here, because you'll only end up boosting incentives to sell this ever more quickly aging dog of an interior.