2019 GMC Canyon Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　

What's new

New infotainment interfaceApple CarPlay and Android Auto now standardNew high-resolution rearview camera on SLE and abovePart of the second GMC Canyon generation introduced for 2015

　　The 2019 GMC Canyon is closely related to the Chevy Colorado. The Canyon receives a few more optional upscale features, a nicer-looking grille and fancier wheels, but that's about it. Really, these two trucks are the same, with just minor differences in pricing and available equipment.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 GMC Canyon SL 4dr Extended Cab SB w/Prod. End 12/18 (2.5L 4cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$167/mo  for Canyon SL

　　Canyon SL

　　SL 4dr Extended Cab SB w/Prod. End 12/18 (2.5L 4cyl 6M) - $21,500 MSRPSL 4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $22,200 MSRP4dr Extended Cab SB w/Prod. End 12/18 (2.5L 4cyl 6M) - $25,000 MSRP4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $25,700 MSRP4dr Crew Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $27,600 MSRP4dr Crew Cab LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $29,200 MSRP4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $31,100 MSRPSLE 4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $29,000 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $30,900 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,600 MSRPSLE 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,400 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,000 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,300 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $35,800 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,300 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,300 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,600 MSRPAll Terrain 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB w/Cloth (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,500 MSRPAll Terrain 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB w/Cloth (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $37,800 MSRPAll Terrain 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB w/Leather (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $37,900 MSRPAll Terrain 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB w/Cloth (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $38,100 MSRPAll Terrain 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB w/Leather (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,200 MSRPAll Terrain 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB w/Leather (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,500 MSRPDenali 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $40,400 MSRPDenali 4dr Crew Cab LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $40,900 MSRPDenali 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $43,900 MSRPDenali 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $44,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$218/mo

　　Avg. Compact Truck

　　Either truck will work out great if you plan to tow. The Canyon's base engine is an unremarkable four-cylinder, but you can upgrade to the available V6 engine or the torque-rich turbodiesel engine. With the diesel, the Canyon's maximum towing capacity is a stout 7,700 pounds. Inside, the GMC has the same cabin design as the Chevy, making it harder to justify paying more for the Canyon. Buttons, touchpoints and even touchscreen fonts are very similar.

　　So should you get a Canyon? For the most part, you can save some money by getting the Colorado. Or you might want to check out the refined Honda Ridgeline or new Ford Ranger. Overall, though, the Canyon will surely satisfy, especially if you are looking for an upscale midsize truck.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 GMC Canyon Diesel as one of zzdcar' Best Trucks and the 2019 GMC Canyon as one of zzdcar' Best Trucks and Best Trucks for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.6 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the GMC Canyon Denali Crew Cab (3.6L V6 | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 5-foot-1-inch bed).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current Canyon has received some minor revisions to trim-level features as well as an update to the infotainment interface. Our findings, however, remain broadly applicable to this year's Canyon.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.6 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.5

　　

Driving

8.0

　　Our Denali tester had 3.6-liter V6, which provides solid thrust. Though bulky for a midsize truck, it steers and brakes more tidily than its competition. When it comes to overall performance for midsize pickups, the Canyon is near the top of the class.

　　

Acceleration

8.5

　　The Canyon's 3.6-liter V6 pulls with authority from low revs. And compared to the outgoing engine, it sounds and feels less coarse at high rpm. Our fully optioned Canyon Denali 4WD test truck did 0-60 mph in a quick 6.9 seconds. Acceleration from the diesel engine is slower, however. Expect a time of around 10 seconds.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The brakes are easy to modulate and inspire confidence in routine driving conditions. This firm pedal becomes vague in moderately hard stops, though the truck remains composed during aggressive panic stops. In our testing, the Canyon needed 122 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is a good result.

　　

Steering

7.5

　　The steering has appropriate weighting but lacks feel. It's easy to maintain a steady course within your lane. On winding roads, the truck threads its way through switchbacks with commendable precision, but the slow ratio does keep the driver's hands busy.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　The confident, reasonably carlike handling is a strength. You're not going to find many 4,600-pound pickups that feel sporty while cornering, but the Canyon does well in everyday driving situations. That said, it does feel large in tight confines.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　The shifts from the eight-speed automatic transmission are admirably smooth. The transmission wants to stay in higher gears in the name of fuel economy, but it's far more agreeable than the Toyota Tacoma's.

　　

Off-road

8.0

　　The Canyon's low-hanging chin spoiler severely compromises its approach angle relative to the Tacoma, not to mention some crossover SUVs. However, it can be removed it in about 30 minutes. Once we did, we discovered it has fairly decent articulation. A two-speed electric transfer case is standard on 4WD Colorados. An automatic locking rear differential and hill descent control are available.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　While the Canyon is unmistakably a pickup from the outside, its cabin comfort and features are far from basic. It's fundamentally refined with very good noise isolation and effective climate control. The Canyon is easily up for long road trips — an unusual trait in a midsize pickup.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The Denali's seats are comfortable on long drives despite firm backrests and a slight lack of lateral support. The back seat has a flat, upright backrest with little thigh support but manages to fit adults with decent comfort on short trips.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　It absorbs pavement irregularities well enough. Driving a pickup over rough roads without any cargo in the bed usually results in a bouncy ride, and the GMC Canyon doesn't fully escape this reality. But it never feels out of sorts. With a few hundred pounds in the bed, it settles down nicely.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.5

　　Wind and road noise is pleasantly silenced at highway speeds. Although the engine can sound unrefined during hard acceleration, the cockpit remains pretty quiet. Despite its utilitarian intent, the Canyon is an easy place to spend a day.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　The two-knob interface is simple and easy to use. The automatic climate control capably maintains the target temperature and can cool the cabin down rapidly. The vents are a good-size and easy to aim.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The Canyon's interior is logically laid out and has simple control interfaces. This Denali has more creature comforts inside than most other midsize pickups.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　The cabin's physical buttons and knobs are logically placed and fall readily to hand. The MyLink infotainment interface's screen flow can be confounding at times when using the radio or navigation controls for which there are no redundant hard keys.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.0

　　The Canyon's seat is high enough off the ground that it takes almost as much effort to get in and out as with a full-size truck. The step bars will help shorter drivers a bit but are in the way for taller drivers. Backseat access is hampered by narrow doors and a high step.

　　

Driving position

8.5

　　The steering wheel telescopes far more than a Tacoma's and has a suitable grip diameter. Tall drivers may not even need to set the seat all the way down. The Colorado, unlike the Tacoma, has a natural-feeling leg position.

　　

Roominess

7.5

　　Space is plentiful up front for even the tallest of drivers. The rear seats have an abundance of headroom, but legroom is a little lacking. This cabin isn't nearly as wide as that of the Ridgeline, which also boasts better rear legroom.

　　

Visibility

7.5

　　The Canyon affords a commanding view of the road ahead thanks to tall windows and a large windshield. The side mirrors are of average size. Rear-quarter visibility is OK but not great.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　The Canyon is built for tough conditions but doesn't skimp on interior quality. Controls have a solid and satisfying heft, and our test truck didn't have any squeaks or rattles. Except for the Ridgeline, the GMC and Chevy twins have the best build quality in the class.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　The Canyon's tow ratings lead the class, but the bed is rather basic compared to competitors'. The tailgate lip and bed sides are high. When it's time to haul things inside instead of people, the backseat folding design is not nearly as well-executed as the competition.

　　

Small-item storage

7.5

　　The Canyon has a deep console bin, a reasonable-size glovebox and average cupholders. Front door storage is limited to shallow pockets and a tiny cupholder. There are storage compartments under the rear seat bottoms, but they're awfully small. The Ridgeline does a better job.

　　

Cargo space

5.0

　　The rear half of the Canyon's crew cab is a mixed bag. It is easy to fold up the rear seat bottoms, but the floor that's revealed is marred by obstructions — you couldn't put large boxes or a pet bed here. You can easily fold the seatback down, too, but the resulting surface is fairly high and not quite horizontal.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

　　The outboard rear seats both offer LATCH points, although the tether anchors are difficult to access. Larger rear-facing seats will impinge on front-seat travel. The rear-seat height means getting seats and infants into the rear requires lifting, which may be troublesome to shorter buyers.

　　

Towing

9.0

　　The max tow rating is 7,000 pounds, which is 500 pounds more than competitors. Diesel variants are rated to tow 7,700 pounds. Tow-haul mode modifies only the transmission shift points. The Denali includes a hitch and seven-pin connector. An integrated trailer brake controller is optional.

　　

Hauling

8.0

　　The payload capacity of our 4,607-pound test truck works out to 1,393 pounds, which is quite a bit better than the Tacoma's but trails the Ridgeline's slightly. The bed sides and tailgate lip are high. Numerous tie-down locations help with functionality, but the Tacoma and the Ridgeline have power outlets, composite beds and more tie downs.

　　

Technology

　　Smartphone integration is well-executed and looks great on the large, high-resolution screen. It has a simple look, but it works well, which is what counts. The newest GMC infotainment system, called Infotainment 3, has quick responses to touch inputs and good native controls.

　　

Audio & navigation

　　The new Infotainment 3 screen responds quickly to touches. But certain functions, such as swiping for radio and reverting to map centering, aren't always intuitive. The map graphics are clear, and the screen doesn't wash out in bright sunlight.

　　

Smartphone integration

　　The Canyon has two USB jacks up front and supports Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

　　

Voice control

　　The outgoing IntelliLink voice controls were lackluster, but the newest Infotainment 3 system is an improvement. Alternately, you can use the voice controls from your phone.

　　

Mobile web

　　GM's OnStar hotspot setup is one of the easier systems to use. It offers a 4G LTE connection and can handle up to seven devices.

　　

Which Canyon does zzdcar recommend?

　　For the 2019 GMC Canyon, we recommend the SLE trim level. The SLE is available with any of the Canyon's three powertrain choices, and it comes with a significant amount of standard equipment. A lot of option packages are also widely available. For instance, the All Terrain package, which increases the Canyon's off-road capability and street cred, can only be had on the SLE. If you're more interested in getting the most luxury-oriented features, check out the SLT or the Denali.

　　

2019 GMC Canyon models

　　The 2019 GMC Canyon is a midsize pickup offered in two- and four-seat extended-cab and five-seat crew-cab body styles. There are two bed lengths and five trim levels to choose from: SL, base Canyon, SLE, SLT and the top-of-the-line Denali.

　　The SL is offered only with the extended cab. It lacks rear seats, and it comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque), a six-speed manual transmission, 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, a four-way power driver's seat (with manual recline), a tilt-only steering wheel, power windows, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice commands, a USB port and a six-speaker sound system.

　　The next step up is the base Canyon trim, which is available in both extended-cab and crew-cab body styles and adds a six-speed automatic transmission (optional or standard, depending on the configuration) and fold-up rear jump seats (extended-cab models only). A 3.6-liter V6 engine (308 hp and 275 lb-ft) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission is also optional or standard, depending on the configuration.

　　Significantly, the base Canyon can be ordered with some option packages that aren't available on the SL. Notable features to look out for include remote keyless entry, an EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate, cruise control and a trailering package.

　　Instead of picking option packages for the base Canyon, you could just upgrade to the SLE. It gets you most of the above as standard, plus 17-inch wheels, power side mirrors, upgraded interior trim materials, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, OnStar connectivity (with 4G LTE and a Wi-Fi hotspot), a high-resolution rearview camera, and three extra USB ports.

　　Much like the base Canyon, the SLE gets most of its options in packages. The optional SLE Convenience package includes automatic climate control, remote start and a sliding rear window. The All Terrain package (GMC's version of the off-road-focused Colorado Z71) bundles 17-inch dark-tinted alloy wheels and all-terrain tires, an off-road-oriented suspension, a rear locking differential, hill descent control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a four-way power passenger seat, and distinctive cloth upholstery.

　　Even with all those available options, there's still some equipment missing from the SLE that you can get with the SLT trim. It gets all the SLE's standard equipment plus the contents of the SLE Convenience package. It also comes standard with the 3.6-liter V6 engine, 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, wireless charging for compatible cellphones, and the All Terrain package's front seating upgrades (power adjustments and heating).

　　Both the SLE and the SLT can be equipped with the optional Driver Alert package that features forward collision warning and lane departure warning. Other optional extras include the turbocharged 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel engine (181 hp and 369 lb-ft) paired to a six-speed automatic. An upgraded seven-speaker Bose audio system is also available for the SLT and the All Terrain-equipped SLE.

　　For maximum creature comforts, there's the Canyon Denali. The Denali gets the SLT's equipment plus the contents of the Driver Alert package, the upgraded Bose audio system, navigation, chrome-clad 20-inch wheels, cargo lamps, heated and ventilated front seats, and a spray-in bedliner.

　　

2019 Canyon Highlights

Type: Crew CabExtended CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: BaseSLESLTAll TerrainDenaliBase

　　

Base MSRP	$27,600
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$167/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	7,000 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles