GMC Canyon
Overall Score - 6.6 (Mediocre)
The Canyon delivers good handling and a ruggedly attractive exterior but it can't match the power or interior accommodations of others in its class. If you're in the market for a compact pickup, also consider the Toyota Tacoma.
Auto reviewers generally find the GMC Canyon to be an adequate but not outstanding performer with rugged good looks. "In the end, the Canyon was fun to drive," reports the Wall Street Journal. "For urban settings, where small trucks are more likely to turn up, it helped that the Canyon was easy to park and maneuver in traffic. It also manages to look rugged -- though not quite ready for the lumberyard parking lot." Many reviewers point out that the Canyon is akin to a miniature version of larger GMC models. Kelley Blue Book writes, "If you like the rugged, bold look of the full-size GMC Sierra pickup, but want it in a smaller package that gets better fuel economy, check out the Canyon." Despite overall praise, many reviewers think the Canyon is underpowered and has poor-quality interior materials not in line with the truck's price.
In fact, at higher trim levels, the Canyon costs about as much as its larger siblings. The Detroit News notes that the GMC Sierra is "the same price. Against that backdrop, the two-wheel-drive Canyon Crew Cab SLE doesn't look like a great value." A reviewer for Car and Driver calls the sticker price "a shocker," saying, "I'd be more forgiving if there were some neat touches," but "I'd need something more than just increased agility to keep me out of a full-size truck." The Arizona Republic concludes, "The price advantage compared with the big trucks is negligible." IntelliChoice gives two-wheel drive versions of the Canyon a rating of "better than average" for its predicted five-year total cost of ownership compared to others in its class, while four-wheel driver versions get a rating of "average." The crew cab, however, gets a rating of "worse than average."
The Canyon is available as a regular cab model, an extended cab, or as a crew cab. Regular and extended cab models are available with base, SL, and SLE trim packages, while crew cab models are available only with the SLE package.
Canyon Performance - 7.5 (Good)
According to reviewers, the 2007 GMC Canyon is a good but not great performer. While opinions of its available engines vary, most reviewers agree that the Canyon rides well. As U.S. News reviewer Rick Newman puts it, "The Canyon, it turns out, has a rather gentlemanly ride for a truck." continue
Canyon Exterior - 7.2 (Good)
The Canyon has a rugged look that most reviewers seem to like. Car and Driver calls it "brawny but lovable," and says, "If you want a modern pickup that isn't scaled like the dump trucks of yesteryear, here's one that's worth a serious look." continue
Canyon Interior - 6.9 (Mediocre)
Substandard materials detract from the interior of the GMC Canyon, which, even for a pickup truck, isn't very accommodating. The Detroit Free Press judges, "Overall, the GMC Canyon offers very good mechanical systems, but its interior room and materials should be better." continue
Canyon Safety - 8.1 (Very Good)
The GMC Canyon, which is equipped with safety features commensurate to those of its competitors, performs well in government crash tests. The regular and extended cab models get 4 out of 5 stars for driver and front passenger protection in front impact tests, while crew cab models earn 5 out of 5. It receives 4 out of 5 stars for rollover resistance. continue
Canyon Reliability - 6.0 (Mediocre)
The 2007 GMC Canyon reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2007 GMC Canyon comes with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. continue