Truck of the Year for 2001: The GMC Sonoma
The 2001 Sonoma is an important vehicle to GMC for the extended cab pickup market segment. The SL is a member of a series of two trim levels for the Sonoma which include SL and SLS. The two-door truck with its four-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for GMC. There is strong competition from vehicles from Acura.
Performance
The restyled Sonoma SL is equipped with a General Motors 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 8 valves. The Vortec engine is paired with a General Motors 4-speed transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for GMC.
Steering control is handled through a power-steering gear-style configuration. The Sonoma has power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. The truck uses coil front springs and leaf in the rear.
The 2001 Sonoma’s normal fuel system runs on flex. The fuel is regulated electronically, with a fuel-injected multi-port fuel injection (MFI) style of design. The fuel tank holds 18.50 gallons.
Sonoma SL Statistics
117.90 of wheelbase allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers. It sits a comfortable 62.90 inches off the ground. It seats a standard three passengers, with 2 doors. The dimensions of the Sonoma SL are 206.60 inches long by 67.90 inches wide.
A powertrain warranty is provided (36,000 miles/36 months), and a 36,000 mile, 36 month guarantee also comes with the GMC Sonoma.
The GMC Sonoma lists at $13,214 when new. The dealer cost on the truck was $12,487.
Fuel Efficiency
The 2001 Sonoma gets 22 - 29 miles/gallon on the highway and only 17 - 23 in the city. This is average for a extended cab pickup truck.
In 2000 and 2001 the Sonoma SL was availble in the exterior colors of Cherry Red Metallic, Fire Red, Indigo Blue Metallic, Medium Sage Green Metallic, Onyx Black, Pewter Metallic, Polo Green Metallic, Space Blue Metallic, and Summit White.
In Summary
There are several reasons why the GMC Sonoma SL sold well in 2001. Mainly the increase in availability and a marked improvement in quality meant the buying public was more apt to choose a GMC, specifically a Sonoma.