April 1st is upon us and that means the first quarter of the calendar year has come to an end. The redesigned Toyota Tacoma continues its reign as king of midsize segment. As the market gains momentum, all competitors saw a gain over last year’s numbers.
The Chevrolet Colorado came in a close second and saw the most significant increase in sales. Year-to-year monthly sales of the Colorado are up nearly 47% for March. It also had the most improved year-to-date figures with an 18.3% increase. The Colorado’s fraternal twin, the GMC Canyon, also had respectable monthly and YTD growth of 17.8% and 5.9%, respectively.
In what comes as a bit of a shock, the Nissan Frontier also saw a healthy increase in sales. We currently have a Frontier PRO-4X in our fleet and it is likely the next midsize pickup that will receive update, although we have no word from Nissan on when that will happen. The interior is a simple if not dated design that fits like an old pair of shoes after just a few miles. Perhaps people are clamoring for a tried-and-true workhorse before it gets an update. There is something to be said for a good looking truck without any frills.
Midsize Trucks – March 2016 Sales Chart
| Mar 2016 # | Mar ’16 / ’15 % | YTD 2016 # | YTD ’16 / ’15 % | |
| Toyota Tacoma | 17,687 | 11.3% | 44,576 | 12.4% |
| Chevy Colorado | 9,718 | 46.8% | 22,620 | 18.3% |
| Nissan Frontier | 8,198 | 15.0% | 21,395 | 12.0% |
| GMC Canyon | 2,867 | 17.8% | 7,577 | 5.9% |
Check out this 3-way mashup of the Colorado, Frontier, and second-gen Tacoma:
