Our love of pickup trucks seems to have no bounds as Ford's F-Series and Chevrolet's Silverado are virtually chiseled in stone atop the yearly list of American's best-selling vehicles.
Full-size trucks are such perennial best-sellers that manufacturers have until recently neglected the smaller pick-up segment. It has been an obvious industry blind spot. Automakers would never be so hyper-focused on large sedans. Imagine, for instance, if Nissan was so locked-in on the Maxima that it neglected the smaller Altima; or that Toyota was so preoccupied with the Avalon that it left the Camry to grow stale.
But with the emergence of the new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon cousins for 2015, and a redesigned 2016 Toyota Tacoma in the pipeline, the compact truck segment is experiencing a true renaissance.
Fast facts
* Model: 2015 GMC Canyon SLE Crew Cab * Exterior color: Onyx Black * Interior color: Jet Black * Engine: 3.6-liter V-6 * Horsepower: 305 * Transmission: six-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 26 mpg highway, 18 mpg city * Dealer: Integrity GMC * Price (as tested): $35,030
Interior design in the Canyon is upscale for the compact truck segment.Full-size trucks have become such behemoths that smaller, more maneuverable pickups are increasingly desirable as family transportation. That's especially true for Chattanooga-area mountain dwellers, for whom wrestling a full-size truck up Ochs Highway or the W Road can be an upper-body workout.
Earlier this year we tested the excellent new Chevrolet Colorado, and this week we drove a 2015 GMC Canyon from Integrity GMC to see how the two compare. Our tester is a rear-wheel-drive Canyon with a crew cab and short bed, which carries a sticker price of $35,030, including $6,320 in options.
The Canyon starts at $21,880 before options for a base work truck and tops out at $38,175, plus options for a four-wheel-drive, crew cab with a long bed. Trucks configured like our tester - crew-cab, short-box - come in three trim levels: Canyon ($26,130), SLE ($29,460) and SLT ($32,575).
STYLING AND COMFORT
Something about the proportions of the Canyon and Colorado are just right. The short-bed truck is actually more handsome in our view than the long-box version, which is a bit ungainly, like a teen-ager who hasn't quite grown into his extremities.
The iconic, three-bar GMC grille on the Canyon is the signature of the brand. On our tester, a chrome front bumper also serves as a nice accent to the Onyx Black sheet metal. The sculpted hood has three tiers, adding visual presence. Exaggerated wheel arches yield a tough, buff vibe.
Seventeen-inch dark metallic wheels are a modern touch, which will appeal to younger, first-time truck owners. The wheels are part of the $4,050 all-terrain package, which includes a host of cosmetic and performance options: a locking rear differential, body color bumpers, recovery hooks, special cloth seats with red stitching, cross rails, remote vehicle start and spray-in bed-liner.
Other options on our tester include a 3.6-liter V-6 engine ($950), a premium Bose audio system ($500) and an 8-inch diagonal color touch screen with navigation.
The cabin is where the Canyon stands apart from its Chevy cousin, the Colorado. Premium grade materials make for more upscale touch surfaces. The power front seats are wide and supportive. Rear bench seats provide plenty of room for up to three adult passengers - making the Canyon truly a five-passenger ride.
Tech fans will appreciate the Canyon's online connectivity. Our SLE tester will support your iPhone voice commands via Siri, and also comes equipped to generate a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. GM's Onstar safety system is also standard.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Our test drive on Highway 153 and beyond proved our hunch that the compact Canyon is a much better vehicle for urban commuting than a full-size pickup. One could imagine parking the Canyon in a mall lot, for example, without bother. Parking a full-size pick-up, on the other hand, can be a tedious exercise in inching into tight spaces and praying that you don't hear any scraping noises.
Our tester has a 3.6-liter V-6 engine which makes 305 horsepower. The standard engine is an in-line four cylinder powerplant that makes 200 horsepower. Go with the V-6 if you plan to do much towing or heavy hauling.
Although we didn't test the Canyon in any off-road environment, the all-terrain package should prepare it for light trail duty. Go with a four-wheel-drive equipped Canyon if you expect to spend much time in the dirt, though.
BOTTOM LINE
The GMC Canyon is a sturdy and refined compact truck that provides all the hauling utility most will ever need. It's a good choice for small families because of its rear seat room and sedan-like interior upgrades. With a price range stretching from the low $20,000s to the high $30,000 there's a Canyon out there for virtually any pocketbook.
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.