While many people need a truck, not all of them need a full-size truck. Fortunately, GMC has a solution for these truck buyers in the new 2015 Canyon. The only mid-size American pickup truck offers the capability most truck buyers need in a more reasonably sized package. As vice president of GMC sales and marketing Duncan Aldred noted: “With its smaller size and associated nimble nature, Canyon provides pickup capability and exceptional comfort in an efficient and more manageable package.”
At 212.7 inches long, the Canyon short bed crew cab is a good 16.8 inches smaller than a full-size GMC Sierra short bed crew cab truck. It’s also 5.7 inches narrower, making it easier to maneuver in tight parking lots and narrow side streets. The Canyon’s resulting turning circle of 41 feet is only one foot greater than that of the GMC Terrain SUV, a car that’s over two-feet shorter than the Canyon.
Despite the Canyon’s smaller size, the truck shouldn’t be wanting for power. According to the order guide the Canyon’s base 4-cylinder engine will make 200-horsepower with the bigger 3.6-liter V6 making a cool 305 horses, along with a diesel engine inbound for the 2016 model-year. The newest entry in the mid-size pickup segment, the Canyon (and its Chevrolet Colorado sibling) will have to do battle against similarly-sized competitors from Toyota and Nissan. We’ll find out how the Canyon stacks up to the competition when it goes on sale this fall.
Comments
It’s gonna be an excellent pickup in a segment that hasn’t shown any excitement in a long time
I spent time with the Colorado and It has the feel of the full size truck unlike the last one. It is smaller but the feel of the materials and the options all have a similar feel and touch. You just feel like you are in a scales down full size.
I did like the factory bed liner and the easy down tailgate. Also is did note the one I was in has the Bose sound system too.
I did not get to go for a ride or drive it but I hope to soon.
It will be interesting to see how the market reacts and how the pricing goes. I expect the GMC to be priced similar to the Terrain price range only with a base truck added in as a lost leader.
Indeed. Price is going to make or break these trucks. If they are priced to closely to the full size pickups, most will ask “Why not just go with the bigger one?”. But, there’s a lot of content in these trucks and GM needs to make some money on them, so they can’t be priced too low either.
I doubt that any price differential would make some full size truckers move down, but they should be great trucks for urban areas where space is a premium. A full size pickup hardly fits in some of the new homes’ garages.
Add decent fuel economy (hopefully!) and there should be a readily compliment of buyers. How big? Who knows? Everyone was surprised with the success of the Encore so with the right combination of attractive appearance options, competitive pricing/incentives and some decent marketing, hopefully we will have a booming new segment!
Anyone seen the tow specs with the 4 cylinder?
5400Lbs for the 2.5 liter with the 4:10 gear option.
With the right price, these babies are going sell like hot cakes.
GM used to over price new models, I hope they won’t over price these “right sized” pick ups.
Don’t overload the market with crew cab and useless 5′ boxes. Extended cab is what most people I know and myself need.
Like myself My 2004 Colorado is my second go to work and utility vehicle, and if that is what is offered and is reasonably priced it would sell well.
The 5′ box and Crew Cab should eventually be merged into a Canyon-based Jimmy. Sick of these crossovers that have no bite. Real SUV to carry maybe seven, but more five, and tow with a Duramax. Maybe eventually drop the 3.6 for a real 4.3.
Many will be surprised at how big these mid size trucks have grown. I saw a Ford Ranger following a F150 Raptor a few weeks ago. I swear the F150 did not look that much bigger than the Ranger than what I expected it to be. If anything it looked longer. The Ranger is to the best of my knowledge the biggest mid size truck out there on the international market. The Colorado is the second biggest. Your version of the Colorado gets extra bed length from what I’ve read. It is a much better equipped and better looking vehicle than the current International Colorado. Hopefully the rest of the world will get this model as an update.
The market will get what it demands and you can get the Extended cab with a 6.5 and 5″bed [I am not positive on the 5′ but I think that is what I was told] or a crew with a 6.5′ or 5′ box.
Also there will be a standard cab with bed options.
So buy what you want here
While I am an extended cab guy the crew will be the biggest selling one. Today most people are forgoing the extended cab for real passenger room. The 6.5 bed is very usable. The truth is the truck with the crew and 6.5 bed is a very long truck.
Word is the extended cabs in the full size may be laid to rest as sales have dropped.
I have also seen the extended cab here in the Canyon and it is great for storage but I would not want to sit back there very many miles. The Crew I was in has SUV sized seating.
As for cross overs get used to it as they are outselling sedans today and most other SUV models.
Now don’t despair as I expect GM will do a smaller real SUV to replace the half ton Tahoe at some point. As it is now the half ton will never meet the CAFE regs and the sales number while up this year are going to get softer with time. GM is doing well as they really are the real last hold out in the segment and are going to take advantage of it as long as they can.
I can’t wait. I have a 2004 Silverado and the new Silverados are way bigger and I don’t need a bigger truck and can do with a smaller truck…. not super smaller. I hope that eventually they use this frame to make a really tough mid-size SUV… not a cross-over. I hate the cross-overs. Big and bulky and they do nothing. I hope they roll out extended cabs… that is what I want.