GMC Canyon has versatility to spare
Calgarian has never owned a pickup, but a week in this one has him ‘re-thinking truck’
CALGARY, Alta. — Trevor Lynn has never owned a truck, but after a week with the newly facelifted mid-size 2021 GMC Canyon AT4, he understands the appeal.
“My parents never had a truck, my brother has never had a truck, and I’ve never had a truck,” the Calgary driver explains. “I have driven an old Ford F-150 with a regular cab and a long box as a loaner but beyond that I have no significant experience with a pickup.”
Currently, Lynn’s daily driver is a 2006 Ford 500 — a car he inherited from his grandfather when it had just 38,000 km on the clock. His wife drives a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LT they bought new, and for the most part, they are both commuting in the city while making the occasional trek west to the mountains, or, in Lynn’s case, north to Edmonton for work.
“We don’t have children, and regarding testing the Canyon, I saw it as an opportunity to really try out a truck beyond just a short test drive,” Lynn says.
GMC’s Canyon is related to Chevrolet’s Colorado, and both trucks were introduced in 2004 — that generation lasted until 2012. Then, in the North American market, the trucks were absent until 2015, when second-generation pickups were launched and those were facelifted for 2021. Available as an extended crew cab with a six-foot bed or a four-door crew cab with either a shorter five-foot box or longer six-foot box, the Canyon comes in Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4 and Denali trims. Depending on model and drive type — two wheel or four-wheel drive — engines range from a 2.5litre four-cylinder to a 3.6L V6. Also available is a 2.8L Duramax diesel four-cylinder engine. Backing up the fourcylinder powerplants is a sixspeed automatic transmission, while an eight-speed auto transfers power from the V6.
The AT4 is a brand-new Canyon trim, and it puts more emphasis on off-road capability. Lynn drove a fourdoor crew cab with short box equipped with the V6 engine for $44,743. All AT4s come with an off-road suspension package featuring advanced hill descent control, fourwheel drive with automatic locking rear differential, transfer case skid plate and larger 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires on special 17-inch aluminum wheels. Oh, and red recovery hooks coupled with a larger grille design. Lynn’s truck featured only two options, the trailer tow package and spray on bed liner.
“Upon first impression,” Lynn says, “the Canyon AT4 really captured my attention. I like the styling and appreciate the smaller size of it. When I got it, it was parked beside a large full-size truck, and the mid-size pickup is, in my opinion, a better option. New half-ton trucks are huge.”
Lynn is six-foot-three-inches tall and says getting into the Canyon was an easy proposition, and once inside, he found the interior outfitted in “clean and quality materials, including the fabric on the seats.” He adds, “With the slight lift kit, it was like the seat was just right there for me. In a sedan, I generally fall down into the seat, but this was ideal. The seat was comfortable and easy to adjust with its power control, but I was surprised to find the seat back has a manual adjustment. I’m used to driving an older car, and I spent some time figuring out Apple CarPlay, but as soon as I figured that out, I thought it’s one of the best features ever.”
The transmission is controlled by a console shifter with the four-wheel drive mode dial to the left of the steering wheel. Lynn says the 3.6-litre V6, with its 308 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque provided plenty of power for anything he asked of the truck. However, he did comment that, “It sometimes seemed as though you really had to put your foot into it to get it going, and I think that’s because the transmission felt a little sluggish. The shift points weren’t quite where I’d expected them to be.” Handling was rated as solid, and Lynn felt the truck behaved very well in all conditions, including negotiating tight parking lots. As for the ride, the Canyon absorbed large bumps at low speeds with aplomb, but bridge deck expansion joints could be felt at speed.
“I do recognize this truck is geared toward off-road capability, but I’m not an experienced off-roader so didn’t attempt anything too serious apart from driving it on some rough gravel roads north of the city — it would be comfortable going anywhere, I think,” Lynn says.
Capable of towing 2,268 kilograms (3,175.2 kg with a weight distributing hitch), Lynn’s Canyon was equipped with the optional $295 trailering towing package that includes a hitch and seven-pin wiring connector. He appreciated the optional spray-on bed liner that added another $550 to the total, and thought the Canyon offered exceptional utility. Lynn loaded their bicycles in the box, fully assembled, something he can’t do with either of his two personal vehicles. While he doesn’t require the rear bumper step to get into the box, it was something his wife found convenient.
Although the Canyon is rated as a five-passenger vehicle, Lynn says four people is a more likely number. But with its four doors the cab was easily accessible for hauling groceries or, if traveling, suitcases and other gear that could not be stowed in the box.
“For a couple like us, it would work out very well and it made us rethink truck,” he says. “A big plus for me is the Canyon fit in our garage alongside the Cruze, that’s a cool thing, and after handing back the keys, we both wish we still had it.”