General Motors took a gamble when it introduced brand new mid-size pickups in 2014, but said gamble was a smart one. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon brought new volume to the brands and came just as the market turned to utility vehicles over traditional sedans.
Now, it seems the GMC Canyon is in for a refresh. Automotive News reported on Monday that GMC’s mid-size pickup will see a refresh sometime this year. Details are scarce in the report, but we could see minor changes in design or additional features in the mild freshening. The news of a freshened Canyon came from a report that corroborates GM Authority reporting over the 2019 GMC Sierra. The full-size pickup will not debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. Instead, GM will give the limelight solely to the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado. It will be the first time since 1998 that Chevy and GMC won’t debut their pickups simultaneously.
The decision to space out the debuts falls in line with GMC’s strategy to distance itself further from Chevrolet. GM President Dan Ammann told the outlet that GMC will work to “broaden” its appeal beyond the long-time “Professional Grade” mantra. Indeed, the 2019 Sierra and 2019 Silverado will likely look very different from a design standpoint.
We’ve yet to spot any refreshed GMC Canyon test mules but stay tuned for the latest on the updated mid-size pickup.
Comments
Love my ’17 Colorado Z71 Diesel Crewcab. Improvements could include better interior materials, heated steering wheel (neg 20 recently where I drive!), consider the 10 speed transmission and for some folks a sunroof.
Whatever the competition offer one up them. Take the attitude whatever they do we can do it better. Then prove it by action not just words. As a matter of fact all of GM need to take that attitude and action.
With Ford coming out with Ranger GM needs to stay Ahead of them
I have a 17 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab V6 and Its outstanding. Its my new family/toy vehicle. It’s roughly 3 inches wider than the standard Colorado and a 2 inch lift with all terrain tires. Including an off road suspension. All stock!!!!!!!!!! I am loving it…..
So you just read the brochure to us, thanks? We now know why you bought it and how your truck will be used (for the image and at the malls)…
My 2017 V6 Colorado LT 4×4 is getting 27 mpg at 65 mph and 26 mpg at 70 mph. Insane but true. It’s been a great truck so far.
Top the 2018 Tacoma that has extra safety features standard, such as blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and automatic braking. Might also consider standard coating on truck bed.
First Gmc purchase is my 2016 Canyon. Disappointing transmission shift issues sluggish from low speed to sift for smooth increase in speed it hesitates. Within first 20k it has been in 4 times for defective radio, failed washer pump. Seats were so uncomfortable I had a custom set of gel seats made and increased padding with pink. Kept hitting my hip on the plastic on getting out. Also added power running boards to make in and out comfortable.
Going back to buy a new Ford in 2019 just hope this thing holds up until then.
I’ve had 3 first gen. Colorado’s in the past, and was looking to buy the second gen. with 2.8 duramax diesel. Although I practically like everything about the truck, But I couldn’t get past the bed height and how its stretched upwards with it’s tall (stretched) taillights. I hope GM would address that, but I think that I might be a minority here, So at this point I’m settled with a Sierra.
Decalan,
Is the bed too high? … I’m a short guy 🙁 and I find the full size trucks absolutely towering! The Colorado is still on the high side but fortunately I’m still spry enough at 57 to climb into it!
It’s not too high for reach, it’s about same height as Sierra, but Sierra is wider therefore looks more proportional.
My ‘16 Colorado’s bed is very high, compared to my ‘04 Colorado Z71. The insistence on jacking up the suspensions on pickups is really getting silly. The ‘16 has been great otherwise, but as a short dude, it’s a real PIA to reach into the bed from the ground.
GM should MCE both the Canyon and Colorado to defend against the new Ranger. More standard features, maybe updates to the styling?
So does that mean there’s gonna be a Colorado refresh?
Let’s see updated front end and interior with the following powertrain updates:
2.5 4cyl 200hp 190lb-ft
2.0T 4 cyl 270hp 290lb-ft
3.6 V6 335hp 300lb-ft
2.8 diesel 200hp 380lb-ft
8spd across the range with 10spd available on higher trims.
I traded in my 2015 WT V6 Colorado 4X4 for the 2018 LT V6 4X4 and absolutely love it, and I’m a mid size truck enthusiast for 30 years. Love all of them, Toyota, Ford, GM, Nissan, but this truck just works for me.
Would really like to see the Canyon add Push Button Start and Locks. Also a POWER sliding Rear Window as without power it is Worthless in a crew cab.
2015 Canyon 6 speed auto. really sucks! It does not want to down shift when coming out of a slow turn. It actually starts lugging and you think its running out of gas. So you push down even harder on the go pedal and it finally drops about 3 gears down. Not smooth!
Put it in tow-haul mode. Basically a Sport mode – quicker shifts, holds gears longer, on some trucks increases torque.
Also, what rear end do you have?
I have the same truck and same complaints, but after 45k miles, I’ve found some workarounds. Instead of mashing the pedal to force a downshift, lift your foot off the throttle for a half second, and then go back on throttle. This almost always causes the truck to downshift just one or two gears.
I have also resorted to running premium or at least mid-grade gas. I know the truck doesn’t require it, but it definitely seems more responsive, and is therefore worth the increased cost to me. Good luck!
I found I get around 2 to 3 more MPGs on premium fuel and yes it’s more responsive too.
My 2015 Colorado v6 LT was sluggish and awkward downshifting, and upshifting at a turn or incline. Take it in to your dealer though. It’s fixable with a software update. There is still some funk with shifting, but I’ll wait til my warranty ends and get a high end tuner. I love my truck. 400lbs of sand bags for winter and she gets it done
Would an option of a lower speed rearend help the low power situation. I would also like to see an icon on the information screen for when the 4-wheel drive is engaged as sometimes it gets activated by accident and you don’t realize it for miles down the road
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I bought 2016 Colorado with 4 cylinder. After doing my own oil changes ,I found that I was loseing 1.5 quarts of oil Per 5000 miles .My last oil change found metal in my drained oil container .other Issue’s radio malfunction , High speed blower speed drops to lower speed. Alot of popping noise throughout the suspension.
I think it would be wise for GM to improve the Colorado/Canyon by adding high intensity discharge headlights as standard equipment. This would raise the overall safety rating as the trucks have not garnered a top safety rating.
Being that the Canyon “Denali” is the highest end model you can get! it should have better quality interior, safety features like blind spot monitoring and the reverse sensing etc…. also a sunroof. and maybe the option of power boards. i mean come on its the “Denali package”
I agree with you Robert. Gm needs to step up there game. With the Tacoma having all safety features and push button start plus a sunroof, the Colorado and canyon need these features to take over the market.
I would consider the Denali but I do not want black interior. I have had lots of black and tired of it.
I would even rather have white than black. The lighter the better.
I often wonder about GM and their products. Sometimes you get the feeling the don’t want to be number one. I know the have the talent to build the best product money can buy but they seem to be lacking the desire to do that. I sure hope it’s not because of trying to do things on the cheap because if it is they haven’t learned their lesson yet. That practice already cause one Bankruptcy. Sure hope it don’t cause another one.