Our test drive vehicle was a GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD with the Z71 suspension. This package gives maximum ground clearance, tires designed for off-roading and a specially calibrated suspension for off-road performance without sacrificing too much on-road comfort. We found the on-road ride to be remarkably civilized. The Z71 suspension certainly adds weight to the Canyon and there's seat-of-the-pants-noticeable jiggle from the extra weight of the off-road tires. We were able to test the four-wheel-drive system in deep, sucking mud and we climbed a greasy, rocky hillside that in the winter months becomes Pennsylvania's Jack Frost ski resort. The Canyon's performance did not disappoint. There's no doubt when the system engages; there's a small clunk when it shifts into four-wheel high (can be done on the fly) and a bigger clunk when it shifts into four-wheel low (must be stopped and in neutral). No full-time four-wheel drive is available. Four-wheel drive should not be used on dry pavement.
The Canyon feels solid. Its frame is far more rigid than the Sonoma's. This means no rattles or squeaks, and the pickup bed doesn't boom or make any other noise. The suspension is able to work more precisely, without interference from chassis flex, resulting in a better, more controlled ride.
Maximum towing is 4,000 pounds, much less than the Sonoma's 6,000. This was done to improve ride comfort, admittedly at the sacrifice of some utility, but the improvement in ride, particularly at the rear of the vehicle, is remarkable. A washboard dirt road in Virginia didn't make the Canyon giggle like a go-go dancer in overdrive, as many 4x4s would. GM determined that most who tow more than 4,000 pounds do so with a full-size pickup.
We found the Canyon to be stable and predictable around the curves and a solid stopper when the binders were applied, aided by ABS on loose surfaces. The Canyon is a truck, however, so it doesn't corner and brake like a car. We found it generally tending strongly to understeer, meaning that when cornered hard it's more likely to go straight ahead than spin out.
The 3.5-liter Vortec 3500 five-cylinder engine, a dual-overhead cam unit with variable cam timing is rated at 220 horsepower. It develops 225 pounds-feet of torque at 2800 rpm. Its torque, that twisting force that propels the truck from intersections and helps it tow heavy loads up long grades, is spread over a broad rpm range. The all-aluminum engine construction aids in cooling and, because of its lower weight, save fuel and permits quicker acceleration. Recommended fuel is unleaded regular.
The five-cylinder engine idles and cruises quietly, but the uncommon number of cylinders makes a peculiar siren-like sound when accelerating. It's not bad, just different. GMC boasts best-in-class power with this engine, making more power than competitive V6s.
The 175-horsepower four-cylinder engine is essentially the five-cylinder engine minus one cylinder.The GMC Canyon features distinctive packaging and styling from the mechanically identical Chevrolet Colorado. With its new chassis and body, the Canyon benefits from the most recent technology, putting it way out ahead of older designs such as the Ford Ranger.
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