2019 GMC Canyon

• Overview

  

  First introduced in 2004, with a second generation released in 2012, the GMC Canyon is one of the most popular and impressive mid-size pickup trucks on the road today. For nearly two decades, the Canyon has been synonymous with power and sophistication packed into a slightly smaller body than full-size or extra-large trucks. The 2019 GMC Canyon continues this tradition with more technological features and safety innovations than ever before, providing a perfect option for anyone who needs a pickup truck but doesn’t want something too big.

  The beauty of the 2019 GMC Canyon is that you still get excellent power and performance from such a tight package. Even for a mid-size pickup, you can still choose from different configurations including a crew cab or extended cab and short or long box setups. It’s available with either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and there are three different engines to choose from, depending on what kind of power you need.

  One of the best things about the 2019 GMC Canyon, however, is the trim options available; with seven different trim levels to choose from, you can get just the right setup for your needs without going overboard. Of course, if you’re looking for the height of sophistication and luxury, GMC offers the Denali trim level on the Canyon, which includes truly impressive technological features. The GMC Canyon is no slouch in the safety department, however, so you can haul a load of lumber across town secure in the knowledge that you and your passengers are protected.

  7,700 lbs

  Towing Capacity

  396 lb.-ft.

  Max Torque

  30 MPG

  Fuel Economy (Highway)

  Starting at

  $21,500

• Power

  

  Right off the bat, it’s important to remember that the 2019 GMC Canyon is a mid-size pickup, not a full-size or a heavy duty truck that can handle massive payloads and trailers full of steel. With that in mind, however, the Canyon still has some excellent power and performance for a mid-size truck, with three different engines available. It’s worth noting, however, that some of these options are only available in certain truck and bed configurations in either a two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive setup.

  The standard engine, which should be ideal for most drivers, is a 3.6L V6 engine that provides up to 308hp and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. This is a direct fuel injection engine with variable valve timing for optimal power and efficiency that features dual overhead camshafts and can handle a wide range of tasks thrown at it. This engine is available in most of the configurations of the 2019 GMC Canyon, and is the only engine you can choose if you are interested in an extended cab with four-wheel drive.

  If you want a two-wheel drive set up, with either an extended cab or a crew cab and short box, then there is a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine available that provides up to 200hp and 191 lb.-ft. of torque. As you can see, this is notably less horsepower and torque than the standard engine, which makes it ideal if you don’t plan on using your 2019 GMC Canyon for heavy workloads. If you do want to be able to get some work done with the Canyon, however, then this might not be the right choice.

  Finally, there is a third engine available for certain two-wheel and four-wheel drive setups, which is a 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder engine that offers up to 181hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. This is an interesting option that is ideal for certain needs but not necessarily everyone’s best choice. It has less horsepower than the standard engine, but substantially more torque. So if you know you’re going to be tackling steep uphill grades or want a bit more torque for hauling loads, but don’t need as much horsepower, then this is a great choice.

• Configuration

  

  One of the great things about the 2019 GMC Canyon is that there are quite a few different configurations to choose from for the basic setup of the truck, before ever looking at trim options. There is a crew cab that can come with either a short truck bed, which measures just over 61 inches long, or a long truck bed, which is 74 inches in length. The length of the bed directly impacts the amount of cargo volume, as you might expect; you get just over 41 cu. ft. of storage in the short bed and nearly 50 cu. ft. of cargo volume with the long bed.

  There is also an extended bed available with the 2019 GMC Canyon, which only comes with the long bed and there is no option for a short bed. This gives you almost 50 cu. ft. of cargo volume, just like the identical long bed with the crew cab, but you get less rear leg room with this configuration. While the crew cab offers more than 35 inches of leg room for passengers in the rear seat, the extended cab has only about 28 inches of leg room in the rear.

  Both of these cab configurations and truck bed options are available with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive. It is important to consider these options because the choice of engine can vary depending on the type of setup you are interested in. It is also worth noting that certain trim levels are restricted based on the cab chosen. The higher trim levels known as SLT and Denali, which is renowned for its luxurious accommodations, are only available with a crew cab and not the extended cab, though bed length does not impact this.

• Safety

  

  Nothing is more important than the safety of a vehicle’s driver, passengers, and others around it, which is why the suite of available and included safety features on the 2019 GMC Canyon is so impressive. It includes 6 airbags, electronic traction control for better stability on slippery roads, and a rear vision camera for better visibility. There are also a number of optional safety features available that become standard at higher trim levels.

  For example, the Canyon Denali includes rear park assist, which helps with detecting objects the driver might not be able to see while backing up, as well as forward collision alert to warn about the possibility of a crash with vehicles in front of the Canyon. An HD rear vision camera provides an even clearer image than the standard camera, so drivers in the 2019 GMC Canyon Denali have a crystal clear view of the area behind the vehicle. Lane departure warning helps prevent accidents caused by drifting into adjacent lanes and activates when the Canyon shifts to the side without a turn signal activated.

  The Teen Driver safety system is a fantastic feature for anyone with a teenager who is learning to drive or beginning to build good habits. It activates certain safety features whenever the teenager is behind the wheel, to keep the young driver safe and also help reduce distractions and prevent bad driving habits. An in-vehicle report card then gives you information about how your teen driver is doing, so you can review weak areas or coach them on developing safe techniques.

• Technology

  

  Even though the 2019 GMC Canyon is a mid-size pickup, there is nothing mid-size about the kinds of tech features available in it. Keep in mind that many of these are options available at certain trim levels, while higher trims increase the number of available choices and make some options become standard. The Denali, for example, has more features, many of which are standard, when compared to the baseline Canyon.

  These features include things like an 8-inch touchscreen Infotainment system with Bluetooth support, support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice-activated phone controls. The Denali trim level includes a 7-speaker Bose premium sound system for rich, high-quality audio, and a wireless charging pad to keep compatible devices charged without the need for cords and wires. Heated front passenger and driver seats keep you comfortable, along with climate controls and a heated steering wheel.

  There are multiple USB ports for charging and data, as well as an auxiliary input and SD card reader, plus 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot functionality. A 4-inch driver information center includes personalized information such as driver warnings and vehicle information, and the 2019 GMC Canyon includes available remote keyless entry and remote start. All of these features come together into one well-designed bundle that packs full-size technology into a mid-size cabin.

Slip Into the 2019 GMC Canyon