Mark Williams takes a look at the GMC Canyon. While the Canyon is the cousin of the Colorado, there are more than enough differences between them to warrant a complete look.
Transcript
(upbeat music) (truck engine revving) In the past at General Motors, at least on the pickup truck side, it's been very difficult to tell the difference between the Chevy and the GMC products, but we're here in Southern California, where we've had a c...
hance to drive the 2015 Chevy Colorado, and what we have here with us now is a 2015 GMC Canyon. Now we wanna see if GMC, is gonna continue to try to separate the differences between the two manufacturers or if they're gonna be the same. Let's see with this particular truck, if they've succeeded. (soft music) From the look of the front of the truck, they've absolutely succeeded. Completely unique grill, organically busting out of the front of the truck. Unique hood. The only mid-sized truck with LED headlamps and a projector headlights. And unique body panels with a unique design cut into the body, with unique wheel and tire combinations. (soft music) We're guessing the most of these trucks are gonna be ordered with the V6, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give a serious look at the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, 200 horsepower, 191 foot pounds of torque, 20 miles to the gallon in the city, 28 miles to the gallon on the highway. But like we said, the majority in this segment are gonna wanna go with the V6. This particular V6 3.6 liters, all aluminum construction, dual overhead cams, variable valve timing, direct injection. This is the state-of-the-art for V6 engines, that's 305 horsepower, 269 foot pounds of torque. This engine may not have the best fuel economy numbers 18 in the city, 26 on the highway, but it's one of the most fun V6's we've driven in a long time. (soft music) Sure, the engine feels powerful, but you can't talk about this engine, without also talking about the six speed transmission, obviously the computer controls and the sophistication in the mapping and algorithms here, are impressive. It figures out when you want better fuel economy, by how gently you're touching the throttle, but if you mash the pedal or you go to wide open throttle, it instantly knows that you want power and as much as possible. Overall, the feeling of this V6 engine beats, anything else in the segment. We're also very impressed with how smooth and refined the road feel is, with this pickup truck, on almost every surface. Transitions, either hard right cornering or hard left cornering, very, very smooth, and it makes sense because the front end has a sway bar just about the size of my fist. Also breaking very, very well tuned, very easy and transitional, if, whether you stomp on the brake or give it just a little bit of brake, you're getting feedback and you know exactly how much more to give it, or how much less to take your foot off that pedal. That's not true for all the other pickups in this segment. (soft music) We also had a chance to tow a good size boat and some watercraft and found the V6 plenty strong enough to haul without any problems. But be warned! The 7,000 pound max towing capacity, requires the Trailer Package, otherwise the trucks rating is 3,500 pounds. (soft music) As far as the interior, there's a lot here that we like. This is the GMC All Terrain, basically the top of the line level for this mid-size pickup truck. Very cool carbon fiber looking inserts in the leather seats, also accents around the shifter and cup holders. Also very easy, very well configured and designed. Center console screen up here, for both driver and passenger to see very easily, and also switches that are easy to identify and make contact with, and multiple adjustments, for the steering wheel, both up and down, and in and out. (soft music) Here in back, it's the same story, a lot of attention to detail. We especially like the carbon fiber inserts on the material, multiple power outlets, details like this full down headrest, and also tons of storage under the seat. (soft music) Here at the back end of the Canyon, the pickup bed, it's obvious that the GMC engineers, took a lot of those great ideas they had for the half ton pickup truck, and stuffed it here in the midsize, not the least of which, the soft drop tailgate, grab handle and foothold in the bumper, and also 17 different tie-downs spots here in the bed for cargo. Also, we love this, separation between GMC and Chevy. GMC is the only one that gets their logo at the back of the bed. That makes sense to us because these trucks are about as different as they've ever been. Now if you want more information and drive impressions specification details about this truck, go to PickupTrucks.com (truck engine revving)
