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By Anita And Paul LienertDetroit Newspapers
September 8, 2004
Bigger, fresher and, in many ways, more capable than the old GMC Sonoma, the 2005 Canyon competes with an exclusive coterie of trucks, including redesigned-for-2005 versions of the Dodge Dakota and Toyota Tacoma, and the soon-to-be-launched 2005 Nissan Frontier. We tested a well-equipped, two-wheel-drive Canyon Crew Cab with SLE trim and the Z71 suspension package. The bottom line: $29,720. HE: We really liked the Chevy Colorado that we tested back in June, and much of the same praise can be lavished on its sister vehicle, the Canyon. The rugged, distinctive exterior design is appealing, but not necessarily in a gender-specific way. Where the macho looks of the Dakota and the Frontier tend to turn off some female truck buyers, the Canyon manages to appear tough and durable in a nonthreatening way. And what a difference a higher trim level makes. We thought the cabin of the less expensive Colorado LS seemed kind of chintzy. Not so the interior of the much ritzier Canyon SLE, which uses high-quality materials and a fresh, clean design that looks years newer than the outgoing Sonoma. SHE: From a styling viewpoint, the Canyon may be my favorite truck, but I still feel like GMC needs to do some work on the inside. I know that you consider me the queen of cup holders and vanity mirrors, but those little details often speak volumes about the livability of a vehicle. Three things bothered me about the Canyon's cabin. There were no lighted or covered vanity mirrors. Also, the old-style column-mounted shifter feels primitive and old-fashioned. And I found the heated seat switches hard to reach on the outsides of the seats. HE: The crew-cab design has much more rear-seat room than the extended cab, which is really more suitable for hauling cargo than people. The Canyon Crew Cab looks like it could comfortably carry five adults. My one grouse has to do with the driver's seat, which lacked sufficient lateral support. I hate that feeling that you're crushing the side bolsters when the truck heels over in a sharp turn. SHE: Can you say Jenny Craig? I was more alarmed by the ride quality. With the two-wheel-drive truck, I was expecting something a little smoother. Maybe it's that stiffer Z71 off-road suspension, but I really seemed to get tossed around in the Canyon. HE: I don't mean to carp about something we already brought up when we reviewed the Colorado, but the top engine you can get in the Canyon is a 3.5-liter inline five-cylinder rated at 220 horsepower. That puts it at a major disadvantage against almost every other competitor in the segment, including the new Tacoma, which can be ordered with a 245-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6, and the new Dakota, which offers buyers a choice of six- and eight-cylinder engines, including a 250-horsepower 4.7-liter V-8. Unfortunately, you can't get a six or an eight on the Canyon. That wouldn't be such a big deal, except the Canyon's five-cylinder engine runs out of torque once you get much over 3,000 revs. SHE: I'm thrilled with one of the mini-trends in the truck business this year. That is, the availability of optional side curtain air bags, a feature that I've argued long and hard should be on pickups. You can get them on the Canyon for an extra $395. The Canyon SLE also comes with standard antilock brakes. HE: I'm generally pretty impressed with the Canyon, especially comparing it with the old Sonoma. But the other guys in the segment are pretty formidable competitors. There is also the issue of price. The truck we tested did not have four-wheel drive or a lot of options, but the sticker price was close to $30,000. For that kind of money, you can buy the best full-size truck on the market -- the Ford F-150 -- with plenty of bells and whistles, and have more room plus a V-8 engine. GMC also offers a pretty nice full-size truck of its own, the Sierra, for the same price. Against that backdrop, the two-wheel-drive Canyon Crew Cab SLE doesn't look like a great value. Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, a Detroit-based automotive information services company.
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