Diesel engines and trucks are as unsurprising a coupling as turbos and flat-sixes—because they just make beautiful sense. In the case of a diesel, however, buyers are keenly aware of the trade-offs when choosing it over a gasoline power plant. And as I learned during my time with the 2018 GMC Canyon Denali diesel, sometimes such concessions are more apparent than we’d like to admit.
Categorized as a midsize pickup, the GMC Canyon Denali is offered only in crew cab form with two-wheel and four-wheel drive variants. Short or long box beds are available as well. The standard engine is a 3.6-liter V6 generating 308 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. Paired with an 8-speed automatic, the Canyon 2WD is rated at a 5,800-lb. GVWR while the 4WD offers a 6,000-lb. GVWR.
Opt for the 2.8-liter 4-cylinder Duramax turbo-diesel and torque increases to a notable 369 lb.-ft. but horsepower drops, and quite dramatically, to 181. Mated to a 6-speed automatic, the diesel does offer a higher 6,000- and 6,200-lb GVWR for 2WD and 4WD models, respectively.
The rise and fall of these numbers is expected with diesels, as their selling points are not quickness, power, or price but fuel economy, push, and pull. While these are commendable qualities for workaday haulers and off-roaders, they’re less essential for American daily drivers.
For daily driving, mileage matters
Based on the author’s experience, you can extract more than 500 miles of range per tank with the 2018 GMC Canyon 4WD Diesel.
(Beverly Braga)Still, fewer fill-ups remains attractive to any consumer and diesel engines outlast their gasoline brethren on the road. In the case of my test vehicle, which was a 4WD crew cab with a short box, its average fuel economy effortlessly exceeded the EPA estimates of 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg in combined driving. I managed 26.9 mpg in mixed conditions.
My first fill-up occurred at 433.8 miles with 89 more supposedly remaining on a one-eighth tank of fuel. Although I started with a mostly-highway commute between St. George, Utah, and Las Vegas, two-thirds of the diesel was consumed under daily suburban life conditions—work, school, errands, repeat.
So, is a 500-mile tank possible? On a long, all-highway drive, there shouldn’t be any doubt. With a mix of city crawl and freeway fast, that number isn’t entirely unachievable either. Having spent four days with the Canyon Diesel, I was hard-pressed to use up an entire tank, regardless of how much desert driving I did.
Outside of its fuel economy numbers, however, the Canyon is less impressive. Because I was driving between elevations of 1,000 and 6,000 feet, the diesel’s acceleration felt lackluster during ascents, with the torque doing little to improve on the vehicle’s lack of quickness. It was a literal drag. Even when mountain roads were not involved, the 4-cylinder diesel still felt anemic but nevertheless powered through.
Ride and handling was not of the sport-tuned variety, though neither was it reminiscent of a jittering jalopy. The suspension was compliant but not soft, and the Canyon’s just-right footprint will prove manageable for existing truck fans looking to downsize or newcomers shopping for more functionality without accepting the unwieldy heft with which full-size pickups are associated.
Functional design, with a dash of glamour
The GMC Canyon Denali’s interior is smartly designed with functional and useful storage cubbies, but it lacks a true premium feel.
(Beverly Braga)Channeling its larger sibling, the GMC Sierra, the midsize Canyon is recognizably a GMC but with a less chrome-happy demeanor. Its exterior design exudes “Professional Grade” confidence without being so brash about its capabilities.
The cabin is rather basic and plain, however, especially for what many might expect of the higher-end Denali trim. Yes, there is keyless entry but no push-button start, and the dash surround trim has the look and feel of cheap decorative plastic. But the interior’s comfort levels and functionality make up for what the Canyon might lack in froufrou 4x4 amenities.
There are storage spots everywhere, and in useable sizes and spaces so that objects will neither slide off nor fall out. For example, the doors feature a cargo pocket below the armrest and above the cup holder to utilize what normally would be a blank canvas of hard plastic.
Fuel efficient and utilitarian
This GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD is every bit a Denali in look and feel, with its brawny demeanor, tasteful use of chrome, and a trim-distinctive grille. Those equipped with the Duramax diesel receive further badging.
(Beverly Braga)The 2018 GMC Canyon Denali Diesel indeed has many high points: its fuel economy exceeds expectations, it fills whatever utilitarian need might be asked of a midsized truck, and its comfort is more than adequate for short and long hauls. On the other hand, power is uninspiring, premium amenities seem scarce, and the price is nothing to dismiss.
An entry-level Canyon Crew Cab 2WD is $40,500 (including $995 destination). My Denali test vehicle’s final tally came to $48,290, which included just two add-ons: the Duramax diesel engine ($3,730) and Red Quartz paint ($495). Check every option and accessories box for the vehicle, and a loaded Canyon Diesel can easily surpass the $50,000 waterline.
This truck is by no means a poser, but adding just a pinch more power and subtle interior upgrades could turn an otherwise well thought out but underwhelming midsize pickup into something exceptional.
Gallery: 2017 GMC Canyon Photos
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