2015 GMC CANYON PACKS MID- SIZE PUNCH
GM hopes to win back buyers, but new pickup may still be too much truck for some
Entombed within a snowdrift, as if topped with a giant, dirty meringue, my pickup hasn’t moved from its backyard spot in almost two years.
Eighteen years ago when I bought my Dodge Dakota, it was part of a surviving, if not quite thriving, mid- size pickup segment. But with gas prices rising, and with the number of big city trips I make regularly, my V- 8- powered gas guzzler’s drawbacks have far outweighed its advantages.
Apparently, I’m not alone. Thirty years ago, nearly every major brand had a stake in the mid- size truck segment, but one by one, they’ve pulled out due to falling sales.
Most buyers are probably a lot like me. They may have loved their truck’s utility, but the archaic interiors, high fuel consumption and lack of features forced them to consider crossovers or vans. And with the sport utility vehicle segment gradually forsaking its truck- based roots for front- wheel- drive crossover platforms, the rear- wheel- drive pickings were getting even slimmer.
But GM thinks there’s hope for the mid- size pickup market, and believes they can bring back those buyers by giving them what they’ve found elsewhere. And they’re banking on a pair of midsize truck twins to jump- start that shrunken segment.
When they recently unveiled the new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon in San Diego, we were there.
It’s a funny thing about vehicle launches — although they offer ample opportunity behind the wheel, they’re really a microcosm of unreality compared to realworld driving experience.
Cruising along a sun- drenched coastline, towing pre- hitched and hassle- free loads, with a support team ready to handle anything from a soft tire to a missing key fob bears about as much resemblance to a typical day in the life of an average driver as Meet the Kardashians does to reality. It’s a honeymoon that’s over before the irritating habits appear.
The real test comes when you actually live with each other.
Bringing home a 2015 GMC Canyon SLT 4x4 emphasized just how crude and rudimentary my own beloved pickup really is.
There’s nothing cute or shrunken about the Canyon’s appearance. It’s about as toughlooking as GM’s full- size haulers. There are handy step- ups on the bumpers, front tow hooks and tie- downs in the rugged, lined bed.
Instead of poorly- executed hard plastics, with flashed edges sharp enough to draw blood, the Canyon’s crew- size cabin is upholstered in decent materials and genuinely has room for four adults. There’s not much storage room up front, though.
If comfort and technology are largely responsible for buyers flocking to the crossover segment, the Canyon’s got a lengthy list to lure them back.
Aside from the four- way adjustable, heated front seats, there’s an eight- inch MyLink touch screen with Bluetooth, navigation, OnStar, Sirius XM radio, six- speaker sound system and a 4G Wifi Hotspot.
There’s a full array of safety technology, too, including multiple airbags, rear vision camera, electronic stability, traction control, lane departure and forward collision warnings, latch child seat anchors and theft deterrent.
Its compact size and excellent suspension damping make it as quiet and easy to drive as a crossover — with the added attraction of a genuine pickup bed. It’s fairly manoeuverable, but I wouldn’t say it’s that much easier to park than a full- sized truck. I averaged 13.9 L/ 100 km over mixed driving — using both 2WD and 4WD modes.
My tester came with the 305 h. p. 3.6- litre V- 6 engine capable of towing up to 7,000 lbs., but there’s a 200 h. p. 2.4- litre fourcylinder for those who need the bed’s carrying ability more than they need to tow.
It’s more than adequate power for a truck this size, but becomes less responsive in 4x4 mode. Heading into the bush to try some deep snow off- roading necessitates pulling over and putting the Canyon into neutral to engage 4- Lo.
It may be more compact in size, but my tester boasted a locking rear differential, hill descent control, off- road suspension package, and an underbody transfer case shield. It’s no urban dilettante.
During my week with the Canyon, I answered many questions and heard several opinions. Overall, the reception was positive — but there are still a lot of people out there who consider the Canyon/ Colorado “too big” and wonder why there’s no longer a true compact pickup available. Good question.
Overview: Fully capable pickup truck in a manageable size
Pros: Nice handling, lots of features
Cons: Not much interior cargo storage, too large for some buyers
What would I change?: Put more thought into interior
How would I spec it?: 4x4 SLE, and take a pass on some of the pricier interior goodies.