The Chevrolet Montana is a front-wheel drive coupé utility (first two generations)/crossover pickup (third generation) manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand since 2003. Mainly produced in Brazil and marketed throughout Latin America, the first and second-generation Montana was also produced and marketed in South Africa as the Opel Corsa Utility, Chevrolet Corsa Utility and Chevrolet Utility. In Mexico, the first and second generation Montana was known as Chevrolet Tornado, because Pontiac had already used the Montana name for its minivan offering for North America.

Chevrolet Montana
2023 Chevrolet Montana LTZ
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors
Also calledChevrolet Tornado (Mexico, 2003–2020)
Chevrolet Utility (South Africa, 2012–2017)
Opel Corsa Utility (South Africa, 2010–2012)
Production
  • 2003–2021
  • 2023–present
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact coupé utility (2003–2021)
Compact pickup truck (2023–present)
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel drive
ChassisUnibody
Chronology
PredecessorChevrolet Corsa Pick-up

The design of the first generation is a variation of the Opel Corsa, while the second generation is based on the Chevrolet Agile. The third-generation Montana entered production in 2023 as a larger four-door pickup based on the GEM platform.

First generation (2003)

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First generation
 
2009 Chevrolet Montana
Overview
Also calledChevrolet Tornado (Mexico)
Opel Corsa Utility (South Africa, 2003–2010)
Chevrolet Corsa Utility (South Africa, 2010–2012)
Production2003–2011
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassCoupé utility
Body style2-door pickup
RelatedOpel Corsa C
Opel Combo C
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,714 mm (106.9 in)
Length4,430 mm (174.4 in)
Width1,645 mm (64.8 in)
Height1,420 mm (55.9 in)

The Montana used a 1.4 L "Ecoflex" and a 1.8 L 8V flex-fuel I4 engines. In some markets like South Africa where it was sold as the Opel Corsa Utility until June 2010, the vehicle was offered with more engine options, but none flex fuel, like the 1.4 petrol and the 1.7 Isuzu turbodiesel.

In 2007, the Montana was available in two versions: Montana Conquest and Montana Sport which had a slightly different design and set of accessories. The trunk can be loaded with up to 735 kg (1,620 lb) according to the manufacturer.

This model was manufactured in São José dos Campos, Brazil, until 2010. In South Africa, it was assembled from Brazilian supplied CKD units.

Mexico

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The Montana arrived in the model year of 2004, replacing the aged Corsa B based Chevy Pickup, but with the Tornado nameplate, because the Pontiac Montana was available in Mexico at the time.

It was based on the Chevrolet Corsa C and although the Corsa was dropped from the Mexican Chevrolet line-up after the model year of 2008, the Tornado lived on for a few more years. It was the only car built in Brazil in the Mexican Chevrolet lineup.

South Africa

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The model was released in South Africa in 2003. It was sold as the Opel Corsa Utility, and replaced the Corsa B Utility pickup. In June 2010, General Motors renamed it to Chevrolet Corsa Utility as the company prepared to phase out Opel in the country.[1] It was available in a choice of three engine variations, namely 1.4 and 1.8 petrol engines, as well as a 1.7 turbo-diesel. Three different trim levels were available across the range: Base, Club and Sport.

Second generation (2011)

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Second generation
 
Overview
Also calledChevrolet Tornado (Mexico)
Chevrolet Utility (South Africa)
Production
  • 2010–2021 (Brazil)
  • 2012–2017 (South Africa)
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassCoupé utility
Body style2-door pickup
RelatedChevrolet Agile
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,669 mm (105.1 in)
Length4,514 mm (177.7 in)
Width1,700 mm (66.9 in)
Height1,578 mm (62.1 in)

Despite short sales of the Chevrolet Corsa Utility in South Africa, Chevrolet had decided to replace the Corsa C Utility with the Agile Utility. It became known as the Montana, Tornado, or Utility, depending on the market.

The Tornado was discontinued in Mexico in 2020.

South Africa

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The vehicle was introduced in South Africa as the Chevrolet Utility in 2012.[2]

Third generation (2023)

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Third generation
 
2023 Chevrolet Montana LS (Uruguay)
Overview
Production2023–present
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassCompact pickup truck
Body style4-door pickup
PlatformGM VSS-F (JCXX)
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,800 mm (110.2 in)[3]
Length4,717 mm (185.7 in)
Width1,798 mm (70.8 in)
Height1,659 mm (65.3 in)

The third-generation Montana was introduced on 1 December 2022 in Brazil. It becomes a larger pickup with four doors, sharing the same GM VSS-F with the Chevrolet Trax. It is powered by a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine shared with the Tracker which is rated at 133 PS (131 hp; 98 kW) and 210 N⋅m (155 lb⋅ft) torque.[4] It is built at the São Caetano do Sul plant in Brazil. It is being sold since the first half of 2023 and will also be exported to markets outside of Latin America. The project was previously delayed from 2022 due to the supply chain shortage.

Sales

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Year Brazil
2003 4,154[5]
2004 21,585[6]
2005 16,705[7]
2006 14,757[8]
2007 22,526[9]
2008 32,752[10]
2009 34,020[11]
2010 36,662[12]
2011 45,833[13]
2012 48,480[14]
2013 46,712[15]
2014 35,735[16]
2015 23,576[17]
2016 14,771[18]
2017 14,877[19]
2018 13,115[20]
2019 12,526[21]
2020 6,654[22]
2021 2,182[23]
2022 18[24]
2023 30,021[25]

References

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  1. ^ "SA Roadtests - 2010 Chevrolet Corsa Utility 1.4 Sport". www.scarletpumpkin.com. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  2. ^ Droppa, Denis. "Chev Utility punches above its weight". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  3. ^ "Primeiras impressões ao guiar a Nova Chevrolet Montana 2023 - Revista iCarros". iCarros (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  4. ^ "2023 Chevrolet Montana Unveiled In Brazil With 1.2-Liter Turbo". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  5. ^ "Brazil 2003" (PDF). Fenabrave. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  6. ^ "Brazil 2004". Fenabrave. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  7. ^ "Brazil 2005". Fenabrave. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  8. ^ "Brazil 2006". Fenabrave. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  9. ^ "Brazil 2007". Fenabrave. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  10. ^ "Brazil 2008". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  11. ^ "Brazil 2009". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  12. ^ "Brazil 2010". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  13. ^ "Brazil 2011". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  14. ^ "Brazil 2012". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  15. ^ "Brazil 2013". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  16. ^ "Brazil 2014". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  17. ^ "Brazil 2015". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  18. ^ "Brazil 2016". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  19. ^ "Brazil 2017". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  20. ^ "Brazil 2018". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  21. ^ "Brazil 2019". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  22. ^ "Brazil 2020". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  23. ^ "Brazil 2021". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  24. ^ "Brazil 2022". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  25. ^ "Brazil 2023". autoo. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
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