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GM Authority

This Is The GMC Canyon Elevation

While all the attention has been riveted on the GMC Sierra Elevation and its standard turbocharged 2.7-liter L3B I4 engine, GMC also offers the Elevation nameplate on the Canyon midsize truck. Somehow, the fact that a GMC Canyon Elevation exists has gone all but unnoticed, probably as a result of GMC never officially announcing the vehicle.

2019 GMC Canyon SLE Elevation - First Drive - June 2019 - Exterior 004 - side

The GMC Canyon Elevation package includes a set of blacked-out 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in P265/60R18 all-season tires, along with a dark grille and a body-color grille surround.

Unlike the Sierra Elevation, which is a trim level within the lineup, the Canyon Elevation is an aesthetics package that can be grafted onto the Canyon on SLE Crew Cab, Short Box body style. Two engine choices are available: either the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGZ engine (308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque) or the 2.8L LWN I4 turbo-diesel Duramax (181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque).

2019 GMC Canyon SLE Elevation - First Drive - June 2019 - Exterior 005 - rear three quarters

The package requires the following body colors:

  • Summit White
  • Onyx Black
  • Dark Sky Metallic
  • Red Quartz Tintcoat
  • Satin Steel Metallic

The good news is that GM isn’t charging an arm and a leg for the GMC Canyon Elevation. The package only costs about $650 on top of the $34,840 starting MSRP of the Canyon SLE. But the real question is whether GMC should capitalize on the Elevation name and offer more substance for the Canyon. After all, the GMC Canyon sales are starting to lag behind the segment, falling nearly 4 percent in Q1 2019 while the entire midsize pickup truck segment grew 14 percent. A GMC Canyon Elevation powered by the turbocharged 2.0L LSY I4 engine just introduced for the 2020 GMC Acadia refresh would surely make for an interesting proposition.

2019 GMC Canyon SLE Elevation - First Drive - June 2019 - Exterior 009 - GMC logo

Since both Chevrolet and GMC have decided to skip the previously expected 2020 mid-cycle refresh for their midsize trucks, we can understand why not much effort has been put into revamping the Canyon. We’ll have to wait for the future Canyon redesign, scheduled in a few years, for major changes to happen. In the meantime, we have this rather attractive and affordable Canyon Elevation.

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Comments

  1. scott3

    Skip the 2.0 and offer the 2.7.

    Reply
  2. Andrew

    Curious to see how the next gen Canyon lineup will fall inline with the half tons. AT4? Actual Elevation model? Maybe a ZR2 companion: AT4X?

    Reply
  3. lifelongGMowner

    Yes please like scott3 said,

    2.7T – 10 speed please !!!!

    Reply
  4. Chevy Guy

    That is a nice looking truck!

    Reply
  5. Willie

    Why I will buy small truck for 43k when Nissan Titan SV 2019 V8 5.6 for 34k

    Reply
    1. Andrew

      Size. Fuel economy.
      Lol it’s funny that no one was ever questioning why buy a midsize sedan when I can buy a discounted fullsize sedan, but here we are continually with people asking about trucks. The market has shown why, hundreds of thousands of midsize trucks sold each year in a fast growing segment both in sales and competition.

      Reply
      1. Lee Anderson

        The difference in fuel economy isn’t that large between full-size and mid-size pickups. And size, while not invalid, is largely not an issue in the US.

        Reply
    2. JGinNJ

      Who knows how people in a market perceive “value”. In my neighborhood someone who has a “midsize” pickup is regarded as less wasteful, more intelligent, more admirable, more virtuous than someone who pays the same or less for a larger truck. One can see how US companies left the market – more profit to be made per truck with a larger truck, especially with the chicken tax keeping out foreigners. The excess size and aggressive pedestrian terrorizing grills have turned people off, opening the market for smaller trucks that cost about the same, so yield even more profit. What is still missing is real choice. We need a pickup from Subaru, Mahindra, Suzuki, or other foreign producers that is in line in size with some of the newer side by side ATVs.

      Reply
  6. scott3

    First off the MPG is clearly better in my Canyon than any full size I have ever driven.. 20.2 average around town over the last 10K miles. The best highway as been 28.5 most times it is around 26 MPG. That is on a crew 4×4 V6 short bed.

    The reason to buy a mid size truck is not looking for a bargain it is about size. Not all of us want a large truck as they have gotten too big for most of our use.

    You are not going to pay $43K unless you are a poor shopper. Most of these truck can be had for a decent price if you shop the web. I even have had loaded ZR2 models here for $37K.

    I looked at the full Size Sierra SLT that was loaded. It was just a couple thousand more. It was a nice truck but I went with my Canyon. It is easier to drive in town, easier to park, better MPG takes up less space in the garage and just feels comfortable to drive.

    It hauls 2×4’s plywood and even an engine blocks. It can tow 7,000 pounds.

    The bottom line it fits my needs and wants. Mid Size is not for everyone but neither is full size. It just comes down to what you really want and what you would be happy with.

    As for the Nissan but then it is just a Nissan they have to discount to find buyers for. Imagine what resale will be……? Rock bottom.

    Reply
  7. Bill

    At least they could have included a body color rear bumper and maybe an Elevation badge?

    Reply

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