2015 AutoGuide.com Truck of the Year: Part 1
2015 GMC Canyon
GM’s all-new midsize trucks are bringing new life into a segment that has barely been touched for a decade, and they’re doing a heck of a job.
Compared to their Japanese rivals, refinement is the most important thing that the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado bring to the segment. We drove an All-Terrain trim Canyon, that offers a comfortable, modern interior along with a quiet, smooth ride, all things that other midsize trucks lack.
FAST FACTS
Engine: 3.6L V6 with 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Max. towing: 7,000 lbs.
At tested price: $38,290 as tested.
Base price: $21,920 ($22,295 CDN).
Paired with a 3.6-liter V6, the Canyon feels adequately powered, although the engine never quite feels like it is overwhelmingly torquey. Dynamically though, this truck is spot-on. Compared to the other GM pickups, the new midsizers feel planted and sturdy thanks in part to relatively heavily weighted steering. They are also considerably skinnier than a half-ton – the Canyon is roughly five inches more svelte than the Sierra – and it feels far more maneuverable as a result.
The Canyon handled our 3,500-lb load with ease and never felt overwhelmed. The V6 works best at higher RPM and that means it sits in the high revs while its working hard.
GM’s simple interior design philosophy transfers from the Sierra to this truck, but is even clearer because the Canyon has even fewer buttons than its larger siblings. All the controls are simple and easily within reach.
Off road, the truck’s light curb weight and relatively small body make it easy to take almost anywhere. The All-Terrain model gets upgraded shocks and skid plates that protect the important stuff underneath. And unlike the others in this competition, the rocks on our off road course actually put these skid plates to the test on the Canyon. Our tester also came with optional tubular running boards. Trust us, they’re useless. They make getting into the truck harder and off-road they are liable to get hung up on off-road obstacles.
The Canyorado’s biggest downside is that it’s more like a three-quarter Sierra/Silverado than a true midsize pickup. While it does deliver improved maneuverability over it’s half-ton brothers, the price overlap between the two means that many will end up paying Silverado V8-money for a midsize truck that isn’t really much smaller.
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