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Fast facts
* Model: 2017 GMC Canyon Denali * Exterior color: Dark Slate Metallic * Interior color: Jet Black * Engine: 3.6-liter, V-6 * Horsepower: 306 * Transmission: 8-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway * Local Dealer: Integrity GMC * Price (as tested): $44,155
Functional yet fashionable, rugged yet refined, the new GMC Canyon Denali is a truck for people who want a pick-up that's been double-dipped in luxury.
Introduced for the 2017 model year, the GMC Canyon Denali mid-size truck may be the fanciest small(ish) truck you can buy. The Canyon itself is an upgraded Chevrolet Colorado, and the Denali badge on a Canyon signifies an additional helping of bling.
Our Dark Slate Metallic tester has extra chrome on the grille and body trim, gleaming 20-inch wheels, Jet Black Mulan leather seats and a heated steering wheel.
The GMC Canyon is a five-passenger, mid-size truck. Besides being the corporate cousin of the more pedestrian Chevy Colorado, the GMC Canyon competes alongside the Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. Together, these mid-size trucks are enjoying a bit of a golden era.
Bryan House, general sales manager at Integrity GMC in Chattanooga, said dealerships here will begin getting the new GMC Canyon Denalis in March. "I think it looks fantastic," he observed.
Our crew-cab tester with a V-6 engine has sticker price of $44,155. The only optional equipment included is is a gorgeous Dark Slate metallic paint job, which costs an extra $395.
Why not just step up to a GMC Sierra Denali full-size truck? While the Sierra Denali starts a only about $8,000 more than the Canyon Denali, some may find the smaller Canyon more to their liking. After a couple of days driving the Canyon Denali to and from work, I've found it to be a completely comfortable daily driver.
FEATURES AND STYLING
The proportions of the GMC Canyon Denali Crew Cab, with its five-foot bed, are spot on. Although some jobs are a bit challenging - stacking plywood, etc. - the short bed will accommodate most suburban chores. In practical terms the Canyon Crew Cab Denali is like a luxury SUV pulling a small trailer. Optimizing the interior space, instead of stretching the bed space, is a smart choice.
In the meantime, the GMC Canyon Denali has extra measures of chrome on its large, honeycomb grille, fog light surrounds and side steps. All these shiny parts are supported by gorgeous, 20-inch rims under massive wheel arches. So, while the Canyon is modest in size by the standards of modern pickups, it projects strength and masculinity. Added design details, like a tiered hood line and body colored door handles, give the Canyon a nicely tailored look.
Inside, the upgraded leather seats (heated and cooled in the front), are among the most plush truck furnishings we have sampled. The contrasting stitching is impeccable and the seat surfaces themselves are at just the right mid-point between soft and firm.
The ergonomics of the Canyon Denali are a good example of a truck catching up to the standards of the best luxury sedans. Attention to detail is superb: everything from the cut of the side mirrors, to the architecture of the dash to the padding on the center stack.
The Denali also features an 8-inch touch screen for the infotainment system, which as an XM radio and a premium audio system. A 4G LTE WIFI system is also built in, with data plans available by subscription. A navigation system warned us with a voice alert to look for a narrowing of Highway 157 near downtown Chattanooga.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Canyon Denali buyers have a choice of two power-plants. Standard is the 3.6-liter V-6 in our tester, and the optional engine is a 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbo-diesel. All Denalis are four-door, crew-cab models, although buyers have the choice between two- and four-wheel-drive variants. Canyons equipped with the diesel engine can tow up to 7,700 pounds; another reason one begins to question if the bigger Sierra as a one-size-fits-all option.
If you need a rig that can thread through traffic and still get your bass boat to Chickamauga Lake, the GMC Denali Canyon is a good candidate. The V-6 engine in our tester cranks out 308 horsepower, and has plenty of power for mountain climbing. A new eight-speed transmission adds another level of driving refinement.
Our tester, assembled in Wentzville, Mo., also has four-wheel-drive with a locking rear differential.
BOTTOM LINE
The revival of the mid-size truck segment is a real gift to buyers. Ford might even get back into the game with a redesigned Ranger rumored to be on the horizon. In the meantime, the Colorado and the Canyon are fine choices for domestic-truck customers. Go with the Denali for a little extra extravagance.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.