GMC Canyon all new

GMC can be seen as the slightly more luxurious and rougher brother of Chevrolet, which is a real home-garden and kitchen brand in the US. GMC models are often based on Chevrolets and that has never been different with the Canyon. This relatively compact pick-up is actually just a Colorado with a different nose, different taillights and a more attractively decorated interior. So an all-new Colorado also means an all-new Canyon. With a length of about 5.40 meters these are not small boys by car terms, but for a pick-up it is fairly compact. For example, they are barely longer than the Toyota Hi-Lux, which is well-known in Europe, a real workhorse. The Colorado and Canyon are so-called ‘midsize trucks’ and, despite that name, are the smallest pick-ups that GM offers in the US.

From left to right AT4, AT4X and Denali

At the front, the Canyon stands out most clearly from the Colorado. Here we see a unique front, with a typical GMC grille and two-layer headlights. As usual, there is a lot of difference between the different versions. The somewhat simpler AT4 will be joined for the first time by an AT4X, an extra rugged version with extra ground clearance, off-road tires and an even tougher decoration. Such versions are in great demand in the US from all kinds of brands, so it is not surprising that GMC is taking this step. Those who prefer more luxury can, as always, turn to the Denali version. With more chrome and a more beautifully finished interior, this version is also easy to recognize. The new infotainment system, with a large 11.3-inch touchscreen, contributes to the luxury feeling, although it is also available in other versions.

Always four-cylinder

Apart from the different variants, there is little to choose from at the Canyon. As with the Colorado, there is only one engine available, a 2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder with 313 hp. The previous V6 option will therefore expire. There is also only one body shape, which combines the spacious ‘crew cab’ with a relatively short body. The party starts in the US at around $40,000, or €38,700 converted.

The GMC Canyon first appeared in 2003, along with the first-generation Chevrolet Colorado. They were the successors of the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S15 (earlier) and GMC Sonoma (from 1991), compact pickups that had been around since 1981. Counting from the first Colorado and Canyon, today we are talking about the third generation. Pickups of this relatively compact size are also available in Europe, but the North American versions are now almost by definition different from what is on the menu in the rest of the world. Where elsewhere these are mainly functional workhorses with (often) indestructible diesel engines, American ‘midsize trucks’ are increasingly seen as a slightly more compact alternative to the vehicles in the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 class. At Ford is just ‘our’ Ranger on the menu, by way of exception. Ford is also the only brand to offer an even smaller pickup, the Maverick.