2017 GMC Canyon Denali: Full Review
When the redesigned GMC Canyon entered the mid-size pickup truck segment for model-year 2015, GMC's Denali trim level in the half-ton and heavy-duty pickup segments was recognized as one of the most well-equipped and expensive pickups in those classes. The Denali name is synonymous with sumptuous style and abundant features, and for 2017 GMC adds the Denali trim to the Canyon lineup. But as Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman points out, the regular Canyon is also good, and there are plenty of reasons to think twice before jumping onto the Denali bandwagon.
"At the end of the day, GMC has created another version of the Canyon, but not one that's appreciably better than the SLT or SLE trims" he writes in his review. "With the new powertrain available across the range, the only reason to opt for the Denali is for the minor styling or all-inclusive option packaging."
To read the full review and see what all the fuss is about, click here.
Manufacturer images
Comments
Nice truck. Think I'd wait for a ZR2 though...
Sorry, but my quick reading of Aaron's review--the Canyon Denali--comes across as a major DISS.
First, an editorial complaint: Can we please run the damn thing through the car wash before a photo shoot featuring the debut of a top-of-the-line model? The dirty tailgate and truck bed would fit ok in a piece about work trucks, but is out of place in a review of GMC's top midsize model.
Second, discussions of fuel economy and performance require a more apples/apples approach. Comparing two GM trucks tested months apart under presumably different conditions yields squat. Either way, the trucks performed well.
Also, even a quick read of Wikipedia will give you the numerous ways that the new GM 3.6 is a different engine from its previous form. It's all new. The basic architecture and displacement (DOHC and 3600 cc's) are all that remain.
Lastly, since the new Denali is a significant trim package, wouldn't readers want more info about the electronics, the connectivity, the bling?
Fuel economy??? Gas is really cheap today. Someone who's even thinking about a $50 thousand pickup is probably not sweating the gas mileage.
This truck deserved a better debut than this.
Not much here going on, no wonder there isnt much more detail
The bed on these trucks looks like an afterthought. The belt line just does not flow. Enough of these deep bed sides. Half good looking truck.
Gas might be cheap nowadays, but anybody who thinks about these things will know that it's not always going to be this price not even over the time that it takes them to pay off the truck let alone any time they take after that with the truck.
$44,000 for a GMC mid size, I wonder how much money they will have to put on the hood to get people to take them off the lots?
GMC can't sell very well anyway.
Perhaps they should have thought it through a little better with a song like Eminence Front on a GMC commercial.
Most of these will probably go for $36,000, which is still too much for a midsize truck.
If the Chevy Colorado would put the self dimming on all the mirrors, and they would make the mirrors be just a little bit wider, input puddle lamps on the mirrors, I would very much consider a four-wheel drive crew cab long box 3.6 LT model as my next truck in a few years.
Heck my 1992 Dodge Dakota has better mirrors than the Colorado has.
Heated and ventalated seats, lot better leather seats and better looking grill and wheels then the SLT. This guy doing the review has not even sat in a SLE or SLT in months, He even said that, so how can he compare?
The regular Sierra is the same as Sierra Denali except trim and options. Same drivetrain..
I wonder if GMC has figured out the Ghost Gremlin that makes every 2007 GMC Sierra break down when hitting a bump, Yep, a buddy of mine had his 2007 Sierra in the shop, dealer said, "we don't the what the problem is." The truck turns off hitting a bump.
Told him I got a fix for that junk, "BUY A FORD."
^ Ford clan bashing GM once again.
"Ford clan bashing GM once again. "
Listen to the pot calling the kettle black.
@Frank: Tell your buddy to take his truck to a Ford dealer. They have way more experience with broken down trucks.
Yup pot calling the kettle black sounds like the Ford clan for sure. They start the bashing then cry if someone says anything bout Ford.
@Frank: Tell your buddy to take his truck to a Ford dealer. They have way more experience with broken down trucks.
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Mar 21, 2017 11:14:34 AM
That's interesting that you feel a Ford trained technician is smarter than a GM one and is more capable of fixing his GM truck. That speaks volumes against the GM grease monkeys.
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Mar 21, 2017 11:14:34 AM
That's interesting that you feel a Ford trained technician is smarter than a GM one and is more capable of fixing his GM truck. That speaks volumes against the GM grease monkeys.
Posted by: Joe Smith | Mar 21, 2017 11:31:08 AM
Dude, that was hilarious. Thanks.
"GMC has created another version of the Canyon, but not one that's appreciably better than the SLT or SLE trims"
Right... when are American manufacturers going to learn that coating plastic trim with cheap looking wood veniers doesnt suddenly make a car/truck "luxury".
The Canyon/Colorado have a lot going for them, but even the top trim levels have the look and appeal of an early 2000's Chevy Malibu. The shifter looks like it was lifted out of a bog standard LS trim Trailblazer.
The Germans have somehow found a way to put real metal trim, full grain leather, real wood and doors that dont sound like a hollow trash can when you shut them in cars that all barely break 30k (VW Passat/Tiguan/Golf Wagon), so there really isnt an excuse for the big three (well really just GM and Dodge at this point) not to follow other than just that is what they have been selling and people accept it.
That's interesting that you feel a Ford trained technician is smarter than a GM one and is more capable of fixing his GM truck. That speaks volumes against the GM grease monkeys.
Posted by: Joe Smith | Mar 21, 2017 11:31:08 AM
I didn't say Ford techs were smarter, just more experience working with broken down trucks.
I didn't say Ford techs were smarter, just more experience working with broken down trucks.
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Mar 21, 2017 1:19:17 PM
Experience makes you smarter and you recommending Franks friend to take his chevy to a Ford dealer indicates the GM grease monkeys cannot fix anything. They must have no experience or training. At least if they are properly trained they could fix his chevy. So you said the GM grease monkeys cannot fix anything. Your words speak volumes once again.
Posted by: Joe Smith | Mar 21, 2017 1:30:00 AM
Dude, that was hilarious. Thanks again.
ANOTHER JUNK JUST LIKE THE TWIN LITTLE SISTER (THE RED) (AKA COLORADO). JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK AND MORE JUNK.
You can also get exclusive colors on the Canyon Denali that you cannot get on the SLE/SLT.
Back in the day, a GMC was way better then a Chevy, A lot better drive train. 4 bolt mains compared to Chevys 2 bolt mains, heavier duty tranny and limited slip rear ends that Chevy did not provide.
Experience makes you smarter and you ......
Posted by: Joe Smith | Mar 21, 2017 1:30:00 PM
So you're admitting that FORD techs have more experience because FORDs breakdown more. Isn't that what I was saying all along?
Experience makes you smarter and you ......
Posted by: Joe Smith | Mar 21, 2017 1:30:00 PM
So you're admitting that FORD techs have more experience because FORDs breakdown more. Isn't that what I was saying all along?
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Mar 21, 2017 6:12:30 PM
They are better trained and have a better chance of fixing another brand of truck based on your comments. For some reason you have no faith in GM grease balls to fix a chevy.
44,000 for a GMC mid size, I wonder how much money they will have to put on the hood to get people to take them off the lots?
GMC can't sell very well anyway.
...
Heck my 1992 Dodge Dakota has better mirrors than the Colorado has.
Posted by: TRX-4 Tom
/QUOTE
HAHAHA ...better mirrors,,thats just fawkin HILARIOUS
Your butthurt FixitagainTony girls jealousy is showing again,,
CC are flying off the lots like nothing else,,GM has a WINNER again
So you're admitting that FORD techs have more experience because FORDs breakdown more. Isn't that what I was saying all along?
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Mar 21, 2017 6:12:30 PM
They are better trained and have a better chance of fixing another brand of truck based on your comments. For some reason you have no faith in GM grease balls to fix a chevy.
Posted by: Joe Smith | Mar 21, 2017 6:20:02 PM
Frank said his buddies 10 year old Silvy was causing a problem. I doubt very much that he has taken it to a GM dealer. If you can believe Frank, then I got some ocean front property for sale in Arizona.
Gmsrgreat, why should he take it to a GM dealer. Even you yourself stated he should take it to a Ford dealer to get it repaired correctly. Very ironic that you think GM is so great and no faith in their dealer network.
Hahaha, gmssucksogreat says that the Ford dealer is the best place to take broke down chevies. Ford dealers have the most experience in fixing broke down chevies. That is classic.
Gmsrgreat, why should he take it to a GM dealer. Even you yourself stated he should take it to a Ford dealer to get it repaired correctly. Very ironic that you think GM is so great and no faith in their dealer network.
Posted by: Joe Smith | Mar 22, 2017 5:18:12 AM
Hahaha, gmssucksogreat says that the Ford dealer is the best place to take broke down chevies. Ford dealers have the most experience in fixing broke down chevies. That is classic.
Posted by: Daddy doe | Mar 22, 2017 8:30:15 AM
Keep it up guys, you're only acknowledging the fact that your Ford grease knobs are worked to death trying to keep the Ford fleet running. HAHAHA!
Keep it up guys, you're only acknowledging the fact that your Ford grease knobs are worked to death trying to keep the Ford fleet running. HAHAHA!
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Mar 22, 2017 8:49:18 AM
Actually no and the proof is from what you stated. You said to take a chevy truck to a Ford dealer to get repaired as they are the most experienced. As daddy brought out, you yourself stated that they have the most experience with chevy trucks. You have no faith in GM grease balls working on chevy trucks but you have faith in Ford technicians working on chevy trucks. So it appears by your own comments Ford technicians have the most experience in fixing broken chevy trucks.
A well written and accurate article.
The author explained it how it is. The Denali is more or less an appearnce package. By all accounts it might be well worth looking at the SLT, unless the Denali is offered much cheaper.
I would like to have thought the Denali was a classy pickup for others to follow as a benchmark.
This GMC is a let down for GM.
Do a better job. These little pickups might be selling well for GM, but their appeal can not be taken for granted, with the customer.
The Denali should have an upgraded drive train.
Would have preferred a 5.3/8 speed. that would make it worth it at very little extra cost.
20" wheels-stupid. Not enough sidewall/load carrying capacity with 255/55 20 tires.
Lack of twin-turbocharged V6. GM has a 3.0 twin-turbo V6: LGX 404hp, 400ft-lbs. The could 'tune' it for regular fuel, and still get 362hp, 369ft-lbs.
They could make 4x4 standard, and 10 speed automatic too (as soon as they have their medium duty version finished)
This will be close to $60,000 in Canada. No thanks.
Gmsrgreat; Don't bother diagraming a joke for folks who take it literally. They will never get humor if they have no sense of it.
Very ironic that you think GM is so great and no faith in their dealer network.
@Joe S.
Not ironic at all. It's like the Maytag repairman. When you're a GM repairman you don't get a lot of fixing to do because GM's QA is second to none.
As previous comments say, nobody in the world makes a better pickup truck then the Canyon Denali! I think most buyers find the $55K for the top of the line model with all the options on a little pricey but you get a Denali badge, which is worth $15K! It is all about status! Driving around in the best luxury premium brand pickup in the world!
Buyers beware. The article is geared towards GM propaganda. "If you prefer fuel mileage buy a diesel" What about a timing chain on the diesel that needs replacement after 150k. What about the added cost to buy a diesel, what about added maintenance.
How come throttle response is mentioned here about the Canyon like it is a good thing but when you review the old Tacoma in the past, you guys never mentioned how much better the throttle response was in the 2015 Tacoma. Did you guys just figure out throttle response?
Also the Tacoma has an AI transmission that adapts to the user in the new Tacoma. You put the Tacoma down again without full disclosure as the transmission becomes more responsive later on. Yes the old Tacoma had worse mpg but had great throttle response, but never stated. Yes the new Tacoma gets hit for poor throttle response and the GM gets a favorable full disclosure. Not fair to the readers.
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