GMC split the difference well with its new Canyon pickup. Much smaller and more livable than the big full size beasts like the Sierra, it’s bigger and more serviceable than sport-themed pickups like the Tacoma. Throw in its very approachable price, and the GMC Canyon settles nicely in a sort of truck Goldilocks Zone.
During a recent run from Las Vegas through the corner of Arizona en route to St. George, Utah, I had a chance to try out three of the Canyon’s variations. In each case, the vehicle was smooth over long hauls and easier to maneuver than a full size truck in traffic. Fortunately, while bringing out the bulk, it doesn’t sacrifice the toughness necessary to serve as a pickup.
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The big trucks out there (in both size and sales numbers) are the Ford F150, the Chevrolet Silverado, the Dodge Ram, The GMC Sierra and the Nissan Titan. Depending on the trim level, cab size and payload area, the buyer can end up with a fairly massive consumer vehicle with a V8 and plow horse force. Such trucks are truly for drivers in need of that bulk and power for hauling and towing.
Urban drivers and truck lovers who have less rugged jobs and don’t need all that size and power. That’s where the smaller pickup class enters the picture. It’s big enough to carry four adults with a payload area big enough to transport the requirements of work and recreation.
The Canyon comes in three trim levels. The Standard model offers a 2.5 liter inline four cylinder engine with Direct Injection. Those numbers aren’t unique to the Canyon, but they always worry me as a small engine powering a fairly big vehicle. But, performance is the true test, and the engine is enough for this make.
You also get antilock disc brakes, a six speed automatic transmission, Rear Vision Camera, Stability Control, 4.2 inch diagonal color display, AM/FM stereo with USB port, etc. And, if a buyer wants to go bare bones with the Canyon, he or she can drive it home for just under $20,000. That’s a big chunk of very capable vehicle for a payment not that far removed (or in some cases less) than a puny hatchback.
The build quality is adequate — even though the designers had to keep weight down to give that four cylinder engine a chance. You’ll find a few cheap fixtures in the cab and around the cockpit. But the pieces that matter in a truck or on the outside, and all signs say the Canyon will hold up well enough in daily duty.
As you move up the trim levels to the SLT and SLE versions, you can throw in an automatic locking rear differential, bigger wheels, heated leather seats and an “EZ Lift” tailgate. The price tag creeps a little north of $30,000 as you add these features, but that’s still a competitive price for a full service pickup (even a smaller one). Buyers looking for maximum off-road capability can also chip in for the All-Terrain package.
Admittedly, I didn’t have the opportunity to do any towing with the vehicle. I’ll have to reserve judgement on that. But, in all other senses of the word “pickup,” this Canyon will do quite nicely.
