GMC's smooth-riding, compact, Sonoma pickup received an extensive redesign in 1994, but offers many refinements this year. Estimated sales in '96 are expected to top 57,000. General Motors first introduced Sonoma in 1982. Sonoma is marketed in several shapes and sizes. Sonoma's main competition includes Ford's Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. The GMC Sonoma and its sister car, the Chevrolet S-Series, are sold in two cab styles; regular and an extended club cab. Two bed lengths are available; short (six feet) and long (7 seven feet, five inches). The three engine sizes include: a base 2.2 liter four cylinder, delivering 118 horsepower, standard on two-wheel drive models; a V-6 Vortec 4300 with 170 horsepower, standard on four-wheel drive offerings and an optional Vortec V-6 with 190 horsepower. Both standard engines possess more horsepower than last year. GM says all engines are easier to repair when service is needed. The Vortec V-6 truck engines are new in Sonoma this season, and feature sequential central port fuel injection and revised permanent mold pistons. All Sonomas now include platinum-tipped spark plugs and coolant designed to last 100,000 miles. Our top-of-the-line SLS Club Cab test truck had a base price of $18,882. After factoring options including remote keyless entry, aluminum wheels, heavy duty suspension, tilt steering wheel and speed control, the bottom line added up to a hefty $24,201, including a $485 destination charge. Regular cab short beds start at $11,290. Keep in mind power windows and locks ($535) and air conditioning ($805) are also optional equipment. Club Cabs provide extra room behind the front seats, convenient for carrying groceries and other items that would otherwise be subject to the elements if transported in the open flatbed. No bench or bucket seats are offered in back, as in some larger-sized pickups, but a jump seat folds down from the side for transporting a third passenger short distances. Another nifty option on club cab editions is a side access panel, or "back" door, located on the driver's side. This door is hinged on the flatbed side so when both driver-side doors are swung open, the whole interior pod is accessible. The design, which does away with a center vertical beam between the two doors, only allows operation of the back door when the front door is swung open. Club Cabs not featuring an access panel have two jump seats, rather than one, in the cargo area. General Motors chose to locate the back door on the driver side rather than the passenger side because compact pickups with Club Cabs are generally used to haul cargo, not people. In full sized pickups, like GMC's Sierra, the new "back" door is located on the passenger side so travelers have easier access to the rear bench seat. Standard safety features include daytime running lights, which illuminated whenever the engine is running, energy-absorbing steering column and driver side air bag. Anti-lock brakes have been standard equipment since 1989. Five-speed manual transmission is standard. Our four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive was a $1,070 option. The shift lever is found on the steering column, which opens up floor space for dual cup holders, a coin corral and other convenient storage compartments. Our optional cruise control activated from the left-hand side turn signal stalk. Headlights activate from a large, left-hand side dashboard toggle switch that's easy to locate even in the dark. Dual map lights are found on the bottom of the rearview mirror. The glove box is small, especially since no passenger airbag is offered. The cassette stereo is easy to reach by both front seat occupants, but the preset buttons are microscopic. Fan speed, direction and temperature settings are dial controlled. Front bench seats are standard and bucket seats are optional. Front seat passengers must also contend with a bump extending out from the center floor hump. Side view mirrors are large and provide a good perspective. Sonoma's raised passenger compartment is easy to step in and out of, and drivers have an excellent view of the road. Off-roading enthusiasts will enjoy General Motors' Insta-Trac four-wheel drive system. It includes automatic front locking hubs and shift-on-the-fly between two-wheel drive and four-wheel-drive high. Pickups have become more car-like with improved stereo sound, better suspension, cup holders, and improved dashboard designs. Obvious differences in addition to the flat-bed area is a longer wheelbase, which makes the turning radius wider than a standard passenger car. Tacoma's fuel tank holds 20 gallons of unleaded gasoline. Fuel economy is estimated at 16 miles per gallon in the city, and 21 mpg highway. Our Sonoma, with just 2,300 odometer miles, registered a combined mpg of 18. The gas cap is now attached to the vehicle via a tether cord, which helps avoid misplacing them at service stations. The fuel door does not lock. General Motors assembles Sonoma in Shreveport, La. and Linden, N.J. |