Underneath the gratuitous chrome grille of the GMC Canyon Denali is an otherwise well-appointed Chevrolet Colorado—but don’t tell those who bought one, they’ll hem and haw, attempt to justify their purchase, and quickly disinvite you from the neighborhood Cinco de Mayo BBQ. The Smoking Tire also struggles to explain the Canyon Denali in his video review, and why GMC would bother to offer one.
More than just a matter of opinion, GMC Canyon sales are a pittance compared to the number of Chevrolet Colorados General Motors sells—33,492 to 134,842 in 2018, respectively. That’s a drastic difference when you learn only $200 separates the Colorado and Canyon’s starting price—$21,300 to $21,500. Then, when you compare trims, things get wacky with pricing. The 2019 GMC Canyon Denali the video series tested had a price tag of around $48,000, over double the starting price of a base GMC Canyon.
The video host points out several of the Canyon Denali’s headwinds, like the hard plastics, single-zone climate control, and an overall feeling of cheapness for the price. He also chastised the powered seat that has manual controls for the seat lean. However, he did praise the truck for its size and comfort, adding full-size trucks are massive compared to what they were previously. But the truck still left him pondering who would buy the truck.
“This is the truck for someone who needs to tell the world: ‘hey I don’t work at the golf store, I manage the golf store,’” the host said.
The GMC Canyon Denali can even be compared to the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado Z71, which is about $9,000 cheaper while still offering features such as heated steering wheel and seats. Plus, The Z71 offers a better screen and stereo system. One problem with badge engineering is cannibalizing sales—where two products are so similar, yet one sells significantly better than its stablemate. It’s hard to swallow a $48,000 price tag for a truck that starts at $21,500. And apparently, consumers think so, too.
As for a Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, or Colorado ZR2 Bison, which are also expensive, there’s at least a plethora of kit that brings in significantly measurable improvements in off-road performance, and not just a chromed grille.
Comments
When they redo the Canyon they need to make it stand out more compared to the Colorado. More interior color options and more exterior colors will help. Denali would be worth if it had options you couldn’t get on the Colorado. I think the reason most buy the Canyon is the interior looks a little better and they have at least one other interior color besides black. I also think it looks a little better overall.
Add a premium engine and interior trim and maybe it’ll be worth it. I have to assume the new 2.7 will be at least optional on Canyon/Colorado at some point. Will a 5.3 fit? Make it something special that is more fun to drive.
Here is the deal mid size truck are hard to move over $40K with out being an off road package. Even then they only ac out for about 10% of sales.
First off let’s set some things straight here. The Denali has the best radio wit Nav system offered. The Colorado is not better and or different. In fact you have to pay more for the Nav.
The Z71 is not $9k cheaper once you option it up. The Z71 loaded can go over $40K too.
This truck here has $2500 wheel package no one buys. So it really stickers just under $45k.
Next the real deal is no one pays sticker unless you are a sucker. I bought a Denali when I was shopping a ZR 2 and a SLT Canyon. The truth is the dealer sold me the Denali below $40k with the added GM money. It put me with in a couple hundred of the price they were willing to do on the SLT with many less features. It also beat the ZR price which was fine as I was not going off road anyways. In reality you can get a Denali for $38k
The two reasons people buy the Canyon. The interior is nicer with more padded surfaces and like in mine all the metal trim is real aluminum vs plastic. The other reason is the buyers like the full size like styling.
People in the mid size buy mid size for two reasons. One is for lower price for some. The other is like me where we want just a smaller truck and price is less a factor.
Could the Denali have more features? Yes but the reality is the loaded SLT vs the Denali is just about $2000 different in sticker price. The Denali gives you bigger 20” wheel. Spray in bed liner, bed lights, vented sears, heated wheel and running boards plus the extra trim and stainless tail pipe. What you get would cost you more than the $2k.
Here is the problem. You start to add bigger and better options they either will run up the price past $50k which no one would pay or they could take away other content.
The mid size class as a narrow window of pricing vs the full size where they can run up a full size Denali to $85k.
As for the Canyon yes they could dress up the interior a bit with better wood trim etc. but the truth is the interior is the best in class as all mid size trucks deal with the same price restriction. Even the new Ford Ranger is cheaper feeling and just as much plastic. The Taco is loaded with plastic too.
GM should add the padded dash and door panels as options to the Colorado as they lack this. At least make it an option to those willing to pay the price.
The single zone air is fine.
Two things the Denali needs is the 360 cameras, the adaptive cruise and HUD. The Sun Roof needs to be an option.
I am happy with my truck and with the price I paid and high resale I will be just fine.
FYI the slot in the dash is not a phone holder. Odds are if you use it like the guy in the video it will send your phone flying.
It is the right size for a door opener and that is what most use it for. The console has a phone cradle for holding and charging the phone wirelessly. Yes that is standard two.
Note the only options are trailer brake, engine gas or Diesel, long or dhot bed and paint if you choose a premium paint.
As to price, the real question is: why would anyone in their right mind buy new?? $40k+ for a small/mid truck?? That’s insane. I bought a 3 year old Sierra Denali that could have passed for new for $31k. It was probably north of $75k new. If you’re buying new I just want to say a great big thank you for taking the depreciation hit while religiously changing the oil. I’ll see ya in 3 years. 🙂
Matt here is the trouble. Resale on the mid size does not drop like full size trucks since they do not get the same kind of high incentives the full trucks get.
2 year old Canyon Denali with 11k to 55k miles are seeing prices of $29 k to $35k depending on the condition. When you pay only $38k out the door a drop in 2 years to these amounts is not much.
Even 2015 SLT models are still in the mid to high 20’s with less options.
The build and sell less of these trucks so with increasing demand resale is better than about anything accept a Jeep Wrangler.
Now resale on lesser option trucks can be less as they are not as much demand.
I had investigated the used truck option but with savings of $4k to $5k over a new one it was not worth just taking what you could find.
The mid size segment is not the full size segment and needs to be seen and judged differently due to different reason people buy them and the different pricing they are sold with.
Some live in the city which necessities only bare minimum for light duty such as landscaping of one’s home, buying a couch or other durable goods now and then while having a premium interior. Some don’t have ANY need for a 3/4 ton. Ever.
I would have been in this category not too long ago but have since purchased a 23′ trailer and will be buying a 3/4.
Without people buying new there would be no used vehicle market. I don’t tease people who buy new automobiles because they are absolutely necessary.
Some people will buy a GMC but not a Chevy. Having 2 brands sells more than 1. Both need better interiors and a sunroof.
Ditto what Scott3 said. I bought a 2016 Canyon SLT at the end of the model year (Nov-2016) and with GM and Dealer cash back brought it under $38K. I preferred the exterior styling versus the Colorado and paid for the Bose Soundsystem and the Navigation capability. The interior is nicer, IMHO than the Colorado and the Denali trim wasn’t offered back then.
I do like the option of heated steering wheel but would really like the back-up assistance (I assume it beep, beep, beep) when you get close to another car. Styling remains the same and, oh, the new LED lights look nice.
Was the 38 grand final price including all additional dealer fees
Sadly, GMC has diluted the Denali name to the point where it means little but some extra chrome. The use of the Denali sub-brand should have been limited to the Yukon and maybe the Sierra. The Acadia Denali doesn’t even have LED headlights and lacks standard passive safety features that are standard on Hyundai and Kia.
Pete actually the Acadia Denali has HID headlamps that cost more. They were going to put LED in the other lamps but the body control module needed reworked. So they will appear this year. Also LED lights need new lens and housings to operate properly.
Note the HID are much more expensive.
Again it all comes down to price. Hyundai and Kia short cut in other areas that you may not see. In the end that is why they generally are cheaper. They will not give you the duel clutch transfer case with vectoring. They will not give you the the disconnect for the rear diff that will stop the rear drive train from rotating when not in use for more MPG.
The brakes on the Acadia have treatments that keep them from rusting and are similar to what is used on the mid size trucks.
When you get away from full size trucks and SUV models there is a limit you can charge for them and you have to pick and choose what you option in them.
I bought a new 2016 colorado LT….I loved it, I put 100,000 miles on it in 2 1/2 years and wanted another.
I bought a Canyon SLT because I liked the Colorado so much and I just wanted my new truck it to be a little different. I like the GMC even more!
I absolutely love my 2017 Canyon SLE 4X4. I purchased it used from Hertz sales at a great price with only 9k miles on it in 2017. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles but it has what I needed. The midsize truck market it still a bit pricy for what you get. The Denali version should have all the bells and whistles but still be kept under $42K. An SLT with all the bells and whistles is stickered at $45K which is way over price IMO.
I want to buy a Canyon Denali, I really do! But…NO HOMELINK, NO Blind Spot Indicator, NO Sunroof. This is a Denali. BTW, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tacoma all offer these options. I’ve been loyal to GM but not much longer.
True, the Canyon doesn’t have any of those things… but what it doesn’t have (at least for now) is more than made up in it being a better truck than anything else in its segment, with better ride, frame, and better NVH all around.
If you live in a climate which is usually over 100 degrees (Arizona or South Texas) the cooled seats are fantastic and not everyone wants a full size truck. The Denali is the only mid size truck with such. I need something that I can fit in my garage instead of something that will likely be 140 degrees inside, if I park it outside in my driveway. I don’t mind “paying a full size price for a mid size truck” because no matter what the price of the full size truck, it still won’t fit in my garage.
first of all denali is the cadillac of the trucks that wear the badge being 6″ 5 275 i consider myself to be all american male that has made it. therefore i want something with style and grace which canyon is. rides and handles like a dream! plenty of room comfey seat belt that doesnt need extension headroom arm and leg room yes i can finally breathe. i have the 4×4 black on black and chrome love the black on chrome conbo looks sharp and great v6 power that get up and go feeling truck has perfect lines makes me feel about 15 years younger everytime i get in it to me its like a fine sports car love washing it and giving it the magic external shine! inside the sharp black leather with the smell of newness love it black toneau cover finishes it off with crome step rails sill plates chrome body side mlds great truck! its a diamond!
Can anyone help me? About what is the average savings on a 2020 canyon? I got the invoice from dealer and they’re giving 6 grand off of invoice. Does that sound right?
a chevy is a work truck yes i work for a living a gmc denali is yes i work for a living but am successfull and have made it!