Wait let's see, gas prices are up.... I know what to do! Let's get rid of a small pickup and make a BIGGER one in its place!

Yes that solves it.

Because there aren't enough big vehicles out there already.

An alternative would have been to make the Chevrolet minitruck better and/or more competitive.

Maybe?  

Auto-Mo,

I know S-10 mini truck enthusiasts are a very passionate group. And it's easy to fall into the mentality of "Cheap & easy to customize." But from a larger perspective, the OEs have to think about overall sales, and competitive advantage. Like it or not, the trend is toward bigger. So if they kept the S-10 (or Colorado, or whatever) small, then Toyota and Nissan would start crowing "We have a bigger cargo box than Chevy, we have more towing capacity than Chevy" etc. Granted, all the mini-trucker wants to know is "How easy is it to C-notch & 'bag?"

But your point is well taken about fuel economy, etc. The new base engine is actually not too bad on gas, but still gets less mileage than the 2.2L in the S-10. But, the flipside is it has quite a bit more power.  

So the market for a stock mini truck is dwindling that much? That "nobody" wants a small pickup from chevrolet?

Maybe what I'm saying is that instead of competing for "bigger", why not say that's nice, but we're not trying to attract that market?

That as it gets more and more congested on the roads, EVERYONE just wants bigger? Chevy is thinking only in the here and now... I say let people go buy their tanks... eventually that stock mini truck is gonna be lookin' mighty nice.  

I'm waiting for Scion or Hyundai or even Kia to come out with a mini-truck. Not everyone wants a bigger truck!  

perhaps mahindra? it's true that not everyone wants a bigger truck!