By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com
The 2015 GMC Canyon is an all-new midsize truck that redefines the segment and raises the bar for everything from horsepower and efficiency to refinement and it gives GMC one of the only three truck lineups in the industry.
Canyon is offered in base, SLE and SLT models, in 2WD and 4WD, and with an aggressively styled All-Terrain package offered on SLE models. It includes 17-inch painted aluminum wheels wrapped with all-terrain tires, a body-color grille surround with horizontal chrome bars, a body-color rear bumper, front tow hooks, hill descent control and specific suspension tuning. It also includes a power-adjustable front passenger seat.
Bold front end styling incorporates standard projector beam headlamps and GMC’s signature LED daytime running lamps on all models. Three body configurations are offered, an extended cab model with a six-foot two-inch bed, a crew cab with a five-foot two-inch bed, and a crew cab with a six-foot two-inch bed. With the tailgate down, the longer bed allows eight-foot-long items to be hauled within the vehicle.
The interior is designed to be comfortable and well equipped, while delivering the connectivity features that are essential for customers with active lifestyles. The cabin also boasts exceptional attention to detail and premium materials such as soft-touch materials and aluminum trim on the instrument panel of SLE and SLT models.
GMC IntelliLink is standard on SLE and SLT models, and available the base model. It combines with available OnStar to bring infotainment technology to Canyon at a time more and more consumers are buying smartphones. IntelliLink extends the OnStar experience from safety and security to information and entertainment by seamlessly integrating the capability of a smartphone into the vehicle so that hand held phones may be safely stowed while driving.
Complementing IntelliLink to enhance Canyon’s connectivity is new OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three month three gigabyte data trial, whichever comes first.
GMC Canyon delivers the capability expected of a GMC truck, including offering a greater maximum payload 1,620 pounds than competitors and the segment’s best trailering rating: 7,000 pounds, when properly equipped.
Canyon is also offered with AutoTrac automatic four-wheel drive. Employing an ectronically controlled two-speed transfer case that allows the driver to shift from 2WD to 4WD. The driver can select four modes, 2WD, Auto, 4WD HI, or 4WD Lo. By selecting Auto mode, the transfer case will operate in 2WD and will automatically apply traction to the front wheels when the vehicle senses wheel slippage.
A 2.5L I-4 engine is standard and SAE-certified at 200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque, with approximately 90 percent of the peak torque available from 2,000 rpm to 6,200 rpm. It also offers EPA-estimated 27 mpg on the highway (2WD).
Canyon also offers a 3.6L V-6 certified at 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque and an EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the highway (2WD).
Both of Canyon’s engines are tuned to deliver the low-rpm torque customers depend on for hauling and towing. Each incorporates features that enhance smoothness and quietness, contributing to the new truck’s exceptional refinement; and each is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual is available with the 2.5L engine in base extended cab/2WD models.
The all-new Canyon is a premium midsize truck, delivering class-leading capabilities with the brand’s signature refinement. It’s an efficiently sized, maneuverable package for customers who want the cargo-hauling and trailering versatility of a truck without the size of a full-size pickup.
The Estimated fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg City and 26 mpg Highway with the 3.6L V6 engine. Manufacturer’s suggested starting retail price is $33,420.00, the one I drove included the Chrome Tubular Assist Steps, Audio System Premium Bose with 8 Inch Diagonal Color Touch with Navigation / Intellilink and Driver Alert Package, and it came in at $36,460.00 including destination charge.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
