Cruising Speed and comfort

5439 Views 25 Replies 12 Participants Last post by JDB, May 31, 2019

Skyjockey

Discussion Starter · Jul 4, 2017

I'm seriously considering a diesel Canyon/Colorado. About once per month I travel up to my cabin - about a 7-8 hour drive. I'm a 60 year old guy with a bad back - so need good support and comfort. Couple of questions.

1. We cruise about 75 mph - how does the truck handle at that speed and how is the noise level in the cab at that speed?

2. How are the seats for a 8 hour trip (I'm 6'2" 215lbs)?

Thanks - Adam.

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

Burgess159

· #2 · Jul 4, 2017 (Edited)

It's not very noisy. I usually cruise at 70, although to keep up with my father in law on the way back to Missouri from Ohio, I had to keep up at 78 and it did fine. I mean, my MPG's went down some, but that's expected. It doesn't let through a lot of road noise, and the engine clatter can't be heard that much either.

At 70 mph, we get around 30+ mpg. I have added a little make-shift dog box to the back of my truck for our dogs to take shelter in when they are with us, and that has changed the airflow I think over the truck, as I know get (on the instant readout) up to 37 mpg pretty consistently, instead of 33 on the highway. I haven't taken a full length trip with the box only and tail-gate up to see if that mpg reading is true by hand figuring.

I think the comfort of the seats for that long is great. Our trip I mentioned is a 9 hour trip. We have the All Terrain package on the Canyon, so we have power adjustable driver and passenger seats with the manual lumbar support, plus heated seats. Those heated seats do a lot for a sore back btw. I believe the trucks are very comfortable. Just have to go test drive one and see what you think of it.

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Rockcrawlerdude

· #3 · Jul 4, 2017 (Edited)

The heated lumbar option is awesome for long drives. Those things get hot, too! Most length I've done is Atlanta to Baton Rouge (in one tank of fuel, btw - over 500 miles, about 9 hours) .. road noise is lower than a car or crossover because it sits higher, I think. We choose the colorado over my wife's 2016 Mazda Cx5 for road trips because of mpg and comfort/noise.

Also on the noise reduction, when I used to pull my empty trailer with my old trucks i have always been able to hear my trailer bang and clatter very loudly. I swear I can't hear my trailer in this truck. I think they did a great job with sound deadening

Fwiw, My MPGs "suck" (relatively speaking, of course) at 75 mph. I get around 20mpg at 75mph. Still good for a truck, but I usually cruise at 65 and I get just over 30mpg.

Disclosure: I am lifted 2" on 32" and have a tonneau cover and removed air dam, but for reference i get 31mpg from 55mph up to 65mph. Above that, I lose approximately 1mpg for every 1mph faster I go. The drag is just too much. Tune didn't help my unladen interstate cruising mpgs. Plenty of users here have reports better mpg on the highway.

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cranky1

· #4 · Jul 5, 2017

I've just made two trips equaling around 500 miles total. Mine is all stock, and I've averaged about 27-28mpg at 72-73 mph. I have fresh oil and had one regen during that trip.

RollyPollieBenito

· #5 · Jul 6, 2017

The longest has been 4 hours for me. Seat is ok, not as good as in the suburban. Cruising between 70-80 net me 35mpg consistently.

I will update after my trip from California to North Carolina in a month.

FLColorado

· #6 · Jul 7, 2017 (Edited)

I spend 1-1.5 hours a day in the ZR2 commuting and I think it's very comfortable. The power seat height adjustment is a little weird, but it works. It's quiet for a diesel pickup with off-road tires; part of my commute is interstate and a long bridge and I'll find myself rolling 80 without realizing it. The heated seats are nice, I think the Bose upgrade is worth the $...truck would work fine for a road trip!

TERNARYTEACHER

· #7 · Jul 7, 2017

im 6' on the button, and occasionally have slight discomfort in my knees simply due to the angle, but I also have pretty big knee problems so its hard to say. other than that, I like the seats, noise isn't bad at all. im on an oversized tire and at 75 I still get right around 30mpg

EKarlW

· #8 · Jul 9, 2017

I'm 5'10 @ 210lbs (massively impressive man-gut) and frequently drive 14hrs (955 miles) straight each way between Seattle and Salt Lake City, Comfort is good, use cruise control and a well adjusted seat to keep constant pressure on the accelerator from bothering the Achilles tendon. BUT always stop frequently to get out and stretch! I stiffen up something awful and need to get out and walk around at least every 150-200 miles - but that's about pee time any way.

As for mileage I don't see what the others are getting;
I get ~21-23 at 80-86 mph, 22-24 at 65-75 mph, and 26-28 at 50-65 mph. I do have about 300+ lbs of weight with a canopy and 'stuff' added to the truck and a good head-wind can just kill mileage.

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MadMac

· #9 · Aug 23, 2017 (Edited)

With my reconstructed left foot (wear a leg/foot brace) and a right leg that was broken in 8 places (shattered tibia / fibia due to a dirt bike mishap) I have lots of leg room in this truck and feel the seats are very comfortable and the heated seats I feel will be a plus during Wisconsin winters. Totally happy at this time and only time will tell since the wife and I are retired and only have the one vehicle besides our Can-Am Spyder we use for recreational touring.

RollyPollieBenito

· #10 · Aug 23, 2017

Went on my 6000 miles road trip around the American northwest. The diesel Canyon perform extremely well. Driving mountain passes was a piece of cake. Had one rough start in Montana, engine idle rough and drove rough. Turn it off and let sit for 15 minutes, fired back up and it ran smooth. Only happened once. Went all the way into BC Canada. Down through Washington state, Oregon and California. The ride was very comfortable. Best tank of diesel was 650 miles, worst tank was 430 miles. Fill up BlueDEF once. Truck automatically downshift to maintain speed downgrade. Didn't have to use brake (trailering exhaust brake was off). Seats were comfortable after about 2000 miles ( was really stiff before that and a bit hard on the butt).

Overall, great truck for family camping roadtrip.

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Burgess159

· #11 · Aug 24, 2017

RollyPollieBenito said:
Went on my 6000 miles road trip around the American northwest. The diesel Canyon perform extremely well. Driving mountain passes was a piece of cake. Had one rough start in Montana, engine idle rough and drove rough. Turn it off and let sit for 15 minutes, fired back up and it ran smooth. Only happened once. Went all the way into BC Canada. Down through Washington state, Oregon and California. The ride was very comfortable. Best tank of diesel was 650 miles, worst tank was 430 miles. Fill up BlueDEF once. Truck automatically downshift to maintain speed downgrade. Didn't have to use brake (trailering exhaust brake was off). Seats were comfortable after about 2000 miles ( was really stiff before that and a bit hard on the butt).

Overall, great truck for family camping roadtrip.

Sounds like a heck of a road trip, and a good one at that

RollyPollieBenito

· #12 · Aug 25, 2017

Burgess159 said:
Sounds like a heck of a road trip, and a good one at that

It sure was a wonderful trip. Such a beautiful country.

Next trip, if things goes right, I will be pulling a 5000lbs travel trailer.

Rockcrawlerdude

· #13 · Aug 25, 2017

RollyPollieBenito said:
It sure was a wonderful trip. Such a beautiful country.

Next trip, if things goes right, I will be pulling a 5000lbs travel trailer.

I can manage 20mpg at about 55mph and about 16mpg at 65mpg pulling 6000lb in the south (mostly flat, some hills) my trucks modified a bit but maybe that'll help you ballpark your fuel budget

Reactions: 1

RollyPollieBenito

· #14 · Aug 25, 2017

Rockcrawlerdude said:
I can manage 20mpg at about 55mph and about 16mpg at 65mpg pulling 6000lb in the south (mostly flat, some hills) my trucks modified a bit but maybe that'll help you ballpark your fuel budget

Thank you for the info. One of my good friend have a 2017 Colorado Z71 pulling a 6000lbs travel trailer and he average 14mpg with a combination of mountain, rolling hills and flat ground.

I'm ok with the pulling MPG. I get 8mpg pulling with my suburban.

Rockcrawlerdude

· #15 · Aug 25, 2017

RollyPollieBenito said:
Thank you for the info. One of my good friend have a 2017 Colorado Z71 pulling a 6000lbs travel trailer and he average 14mpg with a combination of mountain, rolling hills and flat ground.

I'm ok with the pulling MPG. I get 8mpg pulling with my suburban.

Haha I traded my suburban for the Colorado. Was sick of the size and fuel economy, but I kinda miss those la-z-boy front seats and all that room

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RollyPollieBenito

· #16 · Aug 25, 2017

Rockcrawlerdude said:
Haha I traded my suburban for the Colorado. Was sick of the size and fuel economy, but I kinda miss those la-z-boy front seats and all that room

LOL, yes those La Z Boy seat are awesome. I still have my suburban. Can't get myself to let it go. If you never traverse North America in a suburban, you haven't live.

We made a giant loop across the US and into Niagara Fall Canada awhile back. The suburban was more comfortable than my old Lincoln Navigator.

FLColorado

· #17 · Aug 26, 2017

My other car is an Escalade ESV...absolutely the nicest, most comfortable vehicle we've ever owned! And it's cool, but not as cool as our ZR2 D! Will be road tripping to TN in the truck on Oct, look forward to driving it that far...the ZR2 rides really nice on the road, especially in the 75-80 mph range.

RollyPollieBenito

· #18 · Aug 26, 2017

FLColorado said:
My other car is an Escalade ESV...absolutely the nicest, most comfortable vehicle we've ever owned! And it's cool, but not as cool as our ZR2 D! Will be road tripping to TN in the truck on Oct, look forward to driving it that far...the ZR2 rides really nice on the road, especially in the 75-80 mph range.

Wow, Escapade ESV. That is a plush ride. Too rich for my blood. I would have to sell my kids to be able to afford that.

Reactions: 1

Rockcrawlerdude

· #19 · Aug 26, 2017

RollyPollieBenito said:
Wow, Escapade ESV. That is a plush ride. Too rich for my blood. I would have to sell my kids to be able to afford that.

Would be a win/win, right? No kids and an escalade (;

RollyPollieBenito

· #20 · Aug 26, 2017

Rockcrawlerdude said:
Would be a win/win, right? No kids and an escalade (;

Dang, that is a convincing logic...

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