2015 AutoGuide.com Truck of the Year: Part 2

2015 GMC Canyon

This all-new entry in the midsize truck segment jumps past the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier.

The new GM trucks offer a level of refinement that isn’t available in any other small truck. They are easy to see out of, offer communicative steering and are proportioned for easy maneuverability. Nearly five inches skinnier than their half-ton brothers, the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado are easy to fit through tight spaces.

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).

Easy to drive characteristics are also found in the suspension setup of the truck. Over washboard and gravel roads, the back end doesn’t chatter when its empty. A great balance between comfort and stiffness, which provides confidence with weight hauling of any kind, has been achieved with these new midsize trucks, and makes the proposition of spending days in this truck travelling cross country an inviting one.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Chevy Colorado Review 

So how does this truck work as an every day tool? Well, the trailer hook-ups are simple, aided by the backup camera found on our All-Terrain trim tester. Bed tie downs are found in high and low points and the new Gear On system allows you to install a slew of different accessories meant for attaching bicycles and other outdoor gear, easily and efficiently. And of course, GM’s new bumper-integrated step is present, showing off a simple, elegant solution that works well in all conditions, and has no chance of breaking or rusting.

Loading cargo into the back seat is less appealing than the multi-functional bed. Underneath the seat there are fixed plastic storage bins, so there is nothing close to a flat floor, especially because there is a transmission tunnel that runs between the rear seats. The seatbacks can fold forward, but you won’t want to rest muddy, dirty things on the back of your upholstered seats.

The largest complaint we leveled against this truck is its size and price point. As tested, our Canyon costs roughly $37,000, which is well into half-ton V8 territory. Now surely some people will prefer the small dimensions and increased fuel economy this small truck has to offer, but most will probably want more truck for the same money. It seems like GM could have brought out an even smaller truck that would be less expensive and offer more differentiation. As its sits, you might as well think of the Canyon as 75 percent of a Sierra.