Specifications of GMC Canyon II Crew cab 2.8 TD (181 HP)
General characteristics of GMC Canyon II Crew cab 2.8 TD (181 HP)
Available as an Extended Cab or Crew Cab with two box sizes, the 2021 GMC Canyon has a length of 212.4 inches, a width of 74.3 inches (excluding the mirrors), a 128.3-inch wheelbase, and a height of at least 70.3 inches, going up to 70.7 inches on some derivatives. With the long box, the Crew Cab's wheelbase grows to 140.5 inches and the length increases to 224.6 inches.
Two box lengths are on offer, with the shorter one measuring 61.7 inches at the floor and the longer one stretching to 74 inches. The cargo box width at the floor is 57.8 inches and 44.4 inches at the wheel housings.
Depending on the trim, the Canyon truck has a ground clearance ranging between 8.1 and 8.4 inches. In terms of curb weight, the lightest Canyon starts at close to 4,000 pounds and the heaviest will tip the scales at over 4,500 lbs.
On all trims, Summit White is the only color that comes as standard. For an additional $195, Onyx Black becomes available on the cheapest Elevation Standard trim, while a further $495 will get you either Satin Steel metallic or Dynamic Blue metallic. Moving up to the Elevation avails Desert Sand metallic at $495 and Cayenne Red Tintcoat at $645. Above this, the AT4 removes Dynamic Blue while the AT4 with leather trim removes Desert Sand, too. Finally, the Denali adds the option of Hunter metallic at an additional $495. This dark blue/grey hue does well to contrast with the Denali's extensive use of chrome.
Offered in both 2WD and 4WD configurations, the 2021 GMC Canyon is offered with a choice of three engines: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine, a 2.8-liter turbodiesel, and a 3.6-liter V6. Our review of the GMC Canyon found that the base four-pot struggles to haul around the fairly large body, but it gets the job done if strong performance is less important. That's in stark contrast to the V6, which delivers a solid 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. Independent tests have shown that equipped with this engine, the Canyon will get from 0 to 60 mph in well under seven seconds, which is properly rapid for a truck. The turbodiesel engine won't get you off the mark quite as quickly, but its torque output of 369 lb-ft endows this version with the best towing capacity in the range of 7,700 lbs.
On lower trims, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine powers the 2021 Canyon and comes paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine delivers 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. It's by no means a ball of fire and acceleration is distinctly leisurely, but as a more value-conscious choice, it does have its place in the range. The 3.6-liter V6 with 308 hp and 275 lb-ft is far more up to the job of moving the Canyon with some gusto, and its eight-speed automatic gearbox is an improvement on the base six-speeder. The engine gets the Canyon up to speed quickly and passing power is good, making this the powertrain of choice in the range. If you do need maximum towing capacity, then the 2.8-liter turbodiesel with 181 hp and a stout 369 lb-ft is the one to go for. However, it's not as enjoyable as the V6 in day to day driving.
The Canyon's economy figures are on par with most of its competitors. The most fuel-efficient version is the turbodiesel in 2WD guise, which returns EPA-rated numbers of 20/30/23 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. That's pretty good, although not as good as the Jeep Gladiator diesel's 22/28/24 mpg, especially considering that the Gladiator only comes with a heavier 4x4 system. The base 2.5-liter engine in the Canyon manages a best of 19/25/22 mpg, and although the V6 is the least fuel-efficient, it barely suffers at the pumps relative to the 2.5L with figures of 18/25/21 mpg in 2WD guise. All versions are fitted with a 21-gallon gas tank, which will enable maximum gas mileage (with the diesel) of 483 miles.
In the Extended Cab models, the GMC Canyon pickup will seat four occupants, increasing to five for the GMC Canyon 4-door truck, known as the Crew Cab. The front seats are not the most supportive, although space isn't an issue. That's not the case at the back of Extended Cab variants, where headroom is fine but legroom is in short supply. Compared to the Extended Cab, the 4-door truck with its more conventional rear doors does a much better job of accommodating rear-seat passengers, even if the seats themselves are quite upright. Although the high ride height improves the driver's view out, it does mean that ingress and egress require some amount of effort, and older occupants may need help getting into the Canyon. An expansive windshield further aids the view out, although rear-quarter visibility isn't quite as stellar.
As usual, the base Canyon pickup truck is a far more spartan affair than the feature-packed Denali at the top of the range. If all you need is the basic Extended Cab, it comes with a 3.5-inch monochromatic driver information center, a four-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a tilt-adjustable steering column, and single-zone climate control, along with basic safety equipment like a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring, and six airbags. Higher up in the lineup, the Canyon offers a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, a six-way power driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, remote keyless entry, remote start, wireless charging, and a heated steering wheel. On the safety front, an HD backup camera, forward collision alert, and lane departure warning are available.
