Motor Matters introduces an engaging, easy-to-read article series geared to women car consumers called, "Women Auto Know."

     Interested in featuring this content on your dealer web site or newsletter? Reach me at keane@motormatters.biz.

Here is an example of our work talking about 2015 Chevy Colorado:

Women Auto Know: Colorado -- The `Just Right' Pickup

     An adventuresome woman very likely needs flexible transportation to haul her toys and young family. She may find a traditional sedan is "too small," but may not want the "too large" cost, fuel economy, and dimensions of a full-size truck or SUV. Consider the all-new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado as "just right."

     The starting price of $20,995 is just right, making the all-new 2015 Colorado an affordable option for women who need the practical functionality of a midsize pickup truck, but don't necessarily want to climb into the larger and pricier full-size models in the marketplace.

     "Many people like the `can-do' spirit of a truck, but they want a vehicle that's easier to maneuver in traffic and easier to park at work or at home," said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager. "For them, bigger is not necessarily better."

     Available in extended and crew cab editions with a choice of short (5-foot 2-inch) or longer (6-foot 2-inch) bed sizes, the Colorado starts at 17 feet 7 inches long and maxes out at 18 feet, 7 inches long: This makes it easy to fit into the typical garage and pilot through parking lots, while still being able to hold a Harley, or just carry 4x8-foot sheets of plywood above the wheelhouses (with the tailgate down).

     When powered by the standard 200-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 2WD and available six-speed automatic transmission, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado rates an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and up to 27 mpg highway, for a combined 22 mpg rating overall.

     Mileage is slightly lower at 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway when powered by the 305-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 engine, but if equipped with the heavy-duty trailering package, V-6 models can tow up to 7,000 pounds. Step up to 4WD, and mileage drops by about one mile per gallon.

     To help achieve these numbers, active grille shutters combine with an aerodynamic design to set a new standard for fuel economy in midsize trucks.

     "Segment-leading four-cylinder fuel economy is yet another item to add to the Chevrolet Colorado's long list of leads," said Johnson. It's nice to know that if you're on a budget, the fuel costs of driving this midsize pickup won't be `too big.'"

     Recognizing that pickup trucks often double as family vehicles these days, the extended-cab Colorado also features a seat extender to accommodate child seats. This seat extension makes it easier for parents to install a child seat in the back of the cab by helping the "too small" rear jump seats safely hold young passengers in safety and booster seats. The child seat extender is exclusive to the smaller extended cab models, because the rear seats of the crew cab models are large enough to hold child seats properly.

     The 2015 Colorado small truck offers a Z71 Off-Road Package with suspension tuning meant to provide stable and comfortable off-road performance. Underneath, the truck's skid plate helps protect crucial underbody components like the transfer case when navigating rough terrain. The Z71 package also includes an automatic locking rear differential, which sends power to one of the rear wheels when the other one loses traction to help you stay in control when pulling your boat out of the water -- or when off-road exploits require additional ground grip.

     Choosing this pickup truck doesn't mean you have to give up comfort, either, thanks to a quiet and refined interior that feels like an upscale sedan. A luxury package is available on the Colorado LT. Regardless of the user's size, accessing the cargo bed is easy, too, thanks to the standard CornerStep rear bumper design (pioneered on the 2014 Silverado) and Chevrolet's standard EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate, which uses an internal torsion bar to make raising the tailgate easier with one hand, and a damper for more-controlled lowering.

     For ease of use and connectivity, Chevrolet MyLink with 8-inch color touchscreen is standard on LT and Z71 models, allowing intuitive smartphone integration into the vehicle so that hand-held phones may be safely stowed while driving thanks to hands-free voice controls powered by Nuance.

     All in all, the new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado is a fun-to-drive, easy-to-own midsize truck that's "just right" in comfort, size, fuel efficiency, and economy.

  -- Brandy A. Schaffels, Motor Matters

  Manufacturer Photo: Chevrolet unveils the all-new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado that redefines the midsize truck, offering real truck capability and versatility to customers who don't require a full-size truck. Colorado cabin designers paid attention to detail and premium appointments, including a sculpted headliner that enhances headroom, halo lighting on key controls for easier view and an open area at the front of the center console for easier phone charging.

  Copyright, Motor Matters