My husband is determined to turn me - an avid runner - into a biker. Anyone who knows anything about the war between bikers and runners is probably laughing out loud right now.
But I'm coming off an injury, so I'm willing to humor him. The problem is that we live in the city, and our bikes are stored in a locker in the suburbs. (Don't ask.). If we want to bike, we need a vehicle to transport them. Oh, and we need a rain-free day.
Luckily we had both while I was testing the
2015 GMC Canyon Crew Cab. So in addition to a nice long drive in the midsize pickup, we got to test how you might actually use a truck - you know, to haul awkwardly shaped items.
While I'm not quite ready to say that the Canyon is an excellent urban vehicle, I will say it's very attractive, well-equipped and easy to drive.
DesignNot being a pickup truck aficionado, I have to admit the exterior of the Canyon looks like, well, a pickup truck. A couple of notable exterior features, however, include the EZ Lift-and-Lower locking tailgate, the CornerStep rear bumper, 13 reconfigurable tie-down locations and 4 stationary tie-down locations.
The Canyon has three body configurations: an extended cab model with a 6-foot-2-inch bed, a crew cab with a 5-foot-2-inch bed or a crew cab with a 6-foot-2-inch bed.
The interior, I think, is where the Canyon shines. Once you step into the cabin and shut the door, you pretty much forget that you're in a pickup truck. The interior more closely resembles a lux-level SUV than a work-ready truck.
All of the touch points were solid, and I really liked the bold red accent light on the gauges and center stack.
The test vehicle was an SLT trim, so it came standard with the front leather seating surfaces. They were very comfortable, and I fully appreciated the heated front seats, which were also standard at this level - yes, even in the summer.
Also, because I was driving the crew cab version, the back seat was really spacious - definitely on par with a midsize SUV. Of course, I think a basketball center would have been comfortable behind me in my far-forward driving position.
Ride & HandlingThe Canyon has two engine options for 2015: a standard 2.5-liter, I-4 engine and an up-level 3.6-liter, V-6. The two engines deliver 200 and 305 horsepower, respectively.
The test vehicle was equipped with the V-6 engine, and it was pretty amazing. It's quiet yet powerful. Whenever I went for a quick merge on the highway, the Canyon didn't struggle, and I felt perfectly equipped to pass slower cars or access the extra power at a moment's notice.
The test vehicle had a crew cab with the shorter box, and thank goodness for that. I had a hard enough time maneuvering through tight urban spaces with the 5-foot-2-inch box. I can only imagine adding 12 inches. The in and out for my tight condo parking space required a 3-point turn at a minimum. When you add in neighbors who stack their trash in front of my space, double the turns.
The saving grace was the standard rearview camera. If I couldn't pull through, I had to back in to every parking space so that it made for an easier out, and the guides on the backup camera made it very easy for me to perfectly center the Canyon and pull as far into the space as possible.
Not surprisingly, the Canyon handled best on the highway and suburban streets. But, I have to admit I appreciated the extra ground clearance over the plethora of city potholes that have appeared this summer.
Fuel economyThe Canyon lays claim to best-in-class fuel economy for the two-wheel-drive models. The 2.5-liter engine gets 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, while the 3.6-liter engine gets 18 and 17, respectively.
The four-wheel-drive models don't lose too much ground, especially when you look at the combined numbers. The 2.5-liter engine gets 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, while the 3.6-liter engine gets 17 and 24 respectively.
The test vehicle was a 4WD model with the 3.6-liter engine, and after a week-long test, my final combined city/highway fuel economy was 16.8 mpg. I found this to be a bit disappointing - even if most of my driving was in the city. I did have a few good highway stints that should have helped bring my numbers up.
Tech & gadgetsWhen you opt for the navigation system ($495), you get an 8-inch infotainment screen and some graphically pretty app buttons. Pandora is a free standard, but if you want to make use of SiriusXM Radio, real-time traffic information, movie times, area fuel prices or weather services beyond a 3-month trial, you'll need to get a subscription.
GMC offers a Driver Alert Package ($395) on the Canyon that has pre-collision warning and lane-departure warning. It's rated "Basic" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but basic or otherwise, I'd rather have it than not. The test vehicle was equipped with it, and I kept it on the entire test week. I found it to be relatively unobtrusive.
TrimsAs a pickup truck neophyte, I have to say that the whole trims-vs.-body-styles-vs.-powertrains-thing is a bit confounding. Each body style is available with rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, but the trims vary per drivetrain. Basically, you can't get a base Canyon trim with 4WD unless you opt for the extended cab with the long box. And, then there's a base, base trim that's also only available on the extended cab with the long box.
Canyon SL: This trim is only available with the extended cab with the long box on the 2WD model. At this level, standard features include vinyl seating surfaces, rear-seat delete, the 2.5-liter engine, Duralife brake rotors and rearview camera. Oh, and a 6-speed manual transmission. The only options are an engine block heater ($75) or a bed liner ($345). Base price for this trim is $21,880.
Canyon: This trim is available as a 2WD model in all body styles, but it is also available as a 4WD model with the extended cab, long box body style. This trim adds standard features such as Pro Grad Protection, projector headlamps with LED signature, 4-way power driver's seat, 16-inch cast aluminum wheels and CornerStep rear bumper. At this trim, the 3.6-liter engine and manual transmission become available on the long box models and standard on the short cab. Base prices are as follows:
- Extended cab, 2WD: $23,575
- Extended cab, 4WD: $28,860
- Crew cab, short box, 2WD: $26,130
- Crew cab, long box, 2WD: $27,650
SLE: This trim adds even more up-level standard features, such as an 8-inch Color Touch radio with Intellilink, Onstar with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, 17-inch cast aluminum wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum interior trim, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, steering wheel controls, four USB ports and an EZ lift-and-lower locking tailgate. The 3.6-liter engine is still only available on the long box models, but automatic transmission is now standard. Base prices are as follows:
- Extended cab, 2WD: $27,520
- Extended cab, 4WD: $32,070
- Crew cab, short box, 2WD: $29,460
- Crew cab, short box, 4WD: $34,935
- Crew cab, long box, 2WD: $30,980
- Crew cab, long box, 4WD: $35,235
SLT: The top trim adds leather appointed seating surfaces, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, remote vehicle starter, power passenger seat, heated and power outside mirrors, single-zone automatic climate control and chrome door handles and side mirrors. Base prices are as follows:
- Extended cab, 2WD: $30,655
- Extended cab, 4WD: $34,780
- Crew cab, short box, 2WD: $32,575
- Crew cab, short box, 4WD: $37,875
- Crew cab, long box, 2WD: $34,345
- Crew cab, long box, 4WD: $38,175
The test vehicle was a crew cab, short box with 4WD.
Safety
The Canyon comes equipped with all the key standard safety items, including front airbags, front side-impact airbags, front and rear side-curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, antilock brakes and a rearview camera.
Most Canyons come equipped with a 6-month free trial of the OnStar Directions & Connections Plan, which includes automatic crash response, turn-by-turn navigation, roadside assistance, emergency services link and remote door unlock.
The Driver Alert Package ($395) is available and includes forward-collision alert and lane-departure warning.
Because the Canyon is all-new for the 2015 model year the crash-test scores are incomplete. IIHS has only rated the Canyon in the moderate overlap front crash - for which it doled out a "Good" rating.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has more complete testing - but only for the Extended Cab model. Canyon gets 4 Stars for the frontal-crash test, 5 Stars for the side-crash test and 3 Stars for the rollover test. Overall rating from the NHTSA for the Canyon Extended Cab is 4 Stars.
New for 2015
The Canyon took a hiatus after the 2012 model year, and returned to the GMC lineup as a completely new midsize pickup truck for 2015. Some of the pickup's highlights include a maximum tow rating of 7,000 pounds, standard 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, standard rearview camera and available forward collision alert.
A few of my favorite things
The rearview camera in the Canyon was key. I was able to back into any space within an inch of any barrier without worry of hitting anything. Plus, if I ever had to reverse in a parking lot, it gave me a good view of rear cross traffic or any potential obstacle at the rear. I don't know how pickup drivers maneuvered before rearview cameras, but I now have a healthy respect for them.
As a petite driver, I was also thoroughly pleased with the driving position. I got close enough to the wheel without feeling cramped, and the large side mirrors (combined with that rearview camera) gave me great visibility surrounding the vehicle.
The test vehicle had the optional tonneau cover ($615), and while I thought it would be a pain to deal with, it was actually very easy. In the down position, I could store stuff back there like a trunk, and it was dry and out of site. But when I needed to load a couple of bikes in the back, it was easy to unlock and roll to give full access to the bed.
What I can leave
I actually really enjoyed the GMC Canyon, so my complaints are relatively petty.
First, it's been a while that I've seen an actual key separate from a fob. I guess I've been spoiled with either passive entry and push-button start or the switch-knife fobs that have the keys stashed inside the fob. An actual key seems a bit low tech for a vehicle launched in 2015.
I also didn't like that there isn't a hard button on the center console for the map or navigation. So, if you're looking at the radio screen in the infotainment system, you have to click the hard menu button to get to the screen that says nav. I know, #firstworldproblems, but tap-tap is annoying when it should only be tap.
Lastly, while I do like real-time traffic information on a navigation system, I found that the info relayed in the Canyon was a bit delayed. There were several times that I was on a highway where traffic was stopped and the navigation screen showed a green line as far as I could see. Until these systems catch up with free apps like Waze, I have a hard time recommending a subscription-fee-based service.
The bottom line
If you like the amenities and finishes of an SUV but want the functionality of a pickup, the all-new GMC Canyon is a great place to start. It's easy to drive and has a lot of high-end options.
And, frankly, right now, there isn't much competition in the midsize truck space. You have the Chevrolet equivalent - the Colorado - the Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier. While I haven't driven the Toyota and Nissan equivalents, I have to say the Colorado is pretty similar in ride, handling and amenities. So, in the end if you like the Canyon, you'll probably like the Colorado.
The real choice will be GMC or Chevrolet? I don't think you could go wrong with either.
Read more from Jill Ciminillo:
- Survey says: Millennials don't drive because ...
- Fab Features: Female fan favorites
- Cool tech alert! Wireless electric car charging
- The best seats in the house
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