DRIVERS' JOURNAL
Day 1: The off-road tires on this truck look impressive. The interior looks better than expected upon first inspection. The seats are covered in modern fabric and the infotainment system is bigger and modern looking. Substantial knobs and buttons for features such as heated seats are great.
Day 2: Noticed the pockets in the doors are extremely thin. Could not even fit my morning Calgary Herald. Took the truck out to rural roads — this is when it really comes into its own. Drove it on a road with heavy ruts and mud. The suspension is set up for this terrain. The truck feels confident and the tires are both compliant and grippy. Makes the job easy. It's fun to drive and leaves a smile on my face.
Day 3: With Apple Carplay, the phone is well integrated. The navigation system works just as well as an embedded one and the voice prompts speak over the background music from my phone. The truck also has an amazing view of the road. It's one good-looking truck, especially in the afternoon light. The Canyon seems happy in day-to-day traffic.
Day 4: Only drove a short distance today. I'm impressed by the short box, and I also appreciate the cap- free, quick-fuelling filler. Mileage is all over the map right now: 7.9 to 14.9 L/100 km over the past 40 km, 9.2 to 15.1 L over the past 80 km and 7.9 to 14.9 over the past 725 km. The multi-function screen in front of the driver is useful.
Day 5: Took the truck for a wash. The bed liner is a nice addition. The truck is fitting into my routine well. The V-6 provides good power on the highway and the transmission is less of an issue and seems more responsive at higher speeds.
Day 6: The engine is a really capable performer. It seems to have plenty of low-end torque and enough power to cruise comfortably, pass etc. It feels like it would serve the towing needs of most buyers well, and it has a hitch, tow mode and even a feature in the reverse camera that gives you a guideline from the hitch. The nice thing about this truck is that, other than some gripes about the gearing of the transmission, it seems to be able to do a lot well.
Day 7: The Canyon is a great truck for a tall person. It's easy to get into, has plenty of headroom, and a great view of the road. My wife said she'll miss the versatility, the commanding view of the road and the features of the infotainment system. The three-level heated seats are a treat. The Canyon is very capable for anything a regular driver would encounter on or off road. Pavement, gravel, heavy snow, mud and ruts are no problem.