GMC Canyon 4WD/Ext Cab Review
Exterior Styling
I really like the looks of this truck. I think it looks like a truck but I really appreciate how it isn’t overstated. If I had to do it again I would have purchased the model with the oversize factory fender flares….what was I saying about not being overstated?
Interior Styling
The interior of the vehicle is plain, maybe too plain. I don’t expect the interior to resemble a new Jetta but certainly a vehicle that was recently redesigned could have at least taken a few clues from the new G6. Like most new trucks (all?) I really love the suicide doors. My favorite little hidden gem however is the small but very useful toolboxes underneath the rear seats.
Engine/4WD
Not nearly the most powerful engine on the market but the inline 5 cylinder engine still produces a very healthy 220 horse and 225 ft lbs of torque. All the power is down low (like all trucks) making city driving an absolute pleasure. Gas mileage isn’t bad but I certainly wouldn’t brag about it. I have only had to use the 4WD once but it worked perfectly and got me out of a ditch.
Utility
I’ve never owned a truck before. Owning a truck is like getting a pass to a whole new world. Since getting the truck we look forward to loading the truck up on Sundays and dropping off the recycling. We have also had the pleasure of buying really cheap used furniture. So all of a sudden our gas guzzling truck has turned is into a couple of tree hugging greenies! We love it.
Driving
Excellent vision, great gear box, and more than adequate stereo (with MP3 capability). Like most trucks with beefed up suspensions the ride, when not under load, can be bumpy. Long trips could be improved with better seats.
Final Word
We love our little truck. It does more than we need and compared to others in the segment was very inexpensive. If we had all the money in the world we would consider a Tacoma or Ridgeline. However our Canyon is a second vehicle that will never do more than 12,000 KM’s per year for us. We are now in our third month of ownership and have logged about 2300 KM’s – so far so good. Buying a truck from the general also has other advantages due to the sheer number of units that get sold. Have a look at the available aftermarket parts for the Chevy S-10 to see what I mean. The Canyon has only been out for a few years and already there are a slew of aftermarket parts available. For many this will have no bearing on a purchase but for most traditional truck buyers this is a major consideration. It also helps to keep repair costs down.
posted by Jude @ 11/21/2005 08:44:00 PM
3 Comments:
yes you have changed........how do you like GMs crash yesterday
Yes GM and Ford are getting hammered. Reading the news reports you'd think they are actually selling less units this year. In reality however the market has grown and GM's share of it has decreased. So yes they are selling more but no they are not going anywhere fast. Cost of benefits on every GM vehicle that leaves the factory - $1500. Cost of benefits on every Toyota that leaves the factory - $500. It will be interesting to see what other slashing happens over the next couple of years.
Ya ya you're getting an Xbox. Just hold your horses they aren't exactly easy for me to get my hands on.
You are right via GM but the news I find often tries to portray the problem as if it is company wide. Those who produce and those who sell are very different entities. $1500 per vehicle at a GM factory versus $500 per vehicle at an import factory. Remember also that actual MSRP of vehicles accross the GM line went down compared to last year. Margins at Toyota, Honda, Ford and GM are all now about equal. It will be interesting to see where GM goes next with the cost cutting....apparently they are going after the job bank. Basically if the GM workers didn't have such a kick ass deal they would be fine. A good example is to compare the cost per vehicle at factories in Canada: Chrysler, GM, Toyota. Car costs come out very similar. The problem is largely in the states where union plans are outdated and unrealistic. Not against unions or good jobs but those deals are hampering GM's ability to stay competitive.
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