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.
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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.