2018 GMC Canyon Denali

At GMC, “professional grade” is fast becoming “premium grade”. This 2018 GMC Canyon Denali takes the practicality of a smaller truck to a loftier level of comfort worthy of the mountain it’s named after. 

General Motors brought back their mid-size pick-ups in 2015. While the GMC brand is a close kin to the Bow-Tie Brigade, there is a concerted effort to build an identity that’s separate from Chevrolet. One way of doing that is by spreading the Denali luxury trim across the GMC line-up. 

Outside, there’s plenty of the chrome we’ve come to expect… from the grille to the assist steps… along with unique 20-inch wheels. 

In the past we’ve noted interior materials also give the Canyon an edge over Colorado. This Denali crew cab goes further, pampering with standard leather seats, heated steering wheel, and automatic climate control. There are still the big knobs and switches we like. The top trim technology includes an eight-inch-touchscreen with Navigation, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Forward Collision Alert, and Lane Departure Warning.

For all the refinement, this is still a real body-on-frame truck with a tough spray-in bed liner.

The standard 308-horsepower 3.6 liter V6 tows up to 7000 lbs. But, the torquey 186-horsepower I-4 Duramax Turbo Diesel pulls 700 more. We’ve already put both powertrains through complete road tests, so even before this touch of luxury was added, we knew the Canyon handles and feels truck solid, but with a comfortable and quiet ride. 

So, the 2018 GMC Canyon Denali remains a modern, useful midsize truck, but now with an over-the-top luxury treatment. Dealers have them… and prices start at about $40,000.