2015 GMC Canyon SLT Crew Cab Video Review

At one time, there were a number of compact and midsize trucks on offer for those who wanted a truck, but wanted something smaller and more fuel efficient. However, these trucks grew in size and price which made them a very hard sell against their full-size brethren. Now the mid-size truck class is only made up of two trucks; the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. However a new entrant has come into the class to shake things up; meet the 2015 GMC Canyon.

The Canyon's styling is somewhat like a shrunken-down Sierra, which isn't a bad thing. A large, three bar grille is surrounded by large headlights to give it a bolder edge. Body styles include an extended cab with a 6'2" bed, and a crew cab with the choice of either 5'2" or 6'2" bed. The bed also features two clever features. First is the CornerStep bumper which allows easier access into the bed. Second is the available upper tie-down system which allows you to manage and tie-down cargo of any size and shape. Moving inside, the Canyon feels more like a luxury car than a truck. The interior is laid out so that controls are within easy reach and provides a few luxuries that are not normally seen on a truck, such as dual-control climate control, an available eight-inch touchscreen with GMC's Intellink, heated seats, and color trip computer.

Power comes from two different engines. The base is a 2.5L four-cylinder with 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, while a 3.6L DI V6 with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque is also available. Most Canyons will get a six-speed automatic transmission as standard. There is a six-speed manual available, but you need to order a extended-cab two-wheel drive model, with the WT trim and 2.5L four-cylinder, in order to get it. Two-wheel is standard, while you can opt for four-wheel drive. Fuel economy for the 2015 Canyon lineup is rated at:

• Canyon 2.5L 2WD Manual: 19 City/26 Highway/22 Combined
• Canyon 2.5L 2WD Automatic: 20 City/27 Highway/21 Combined
• Canyon 3.6L 2WD Automatic: 18 City/25 Highway/21 Combined
• Canyon 2.5L 4WD Automatic: 19 City/26 Highway/21 Combined
• Canyon 3.6L 4WD Automatic: 17 City/24 Highway/20 Combined

The 2015 GMC Canyon lineup starts at $21,880 for the base extended cab 2WD model. The Canyon SLT Crew Cab, as seen in the video, starts at $38,175.