Diesel engines on trucks are all the craze nowadays, and GMC is getting in on the action too. Equipped with its diesel engine, the GMC Canyon is a formidable competitor in the mid-sized truck category. MotorTrend reviewed a Canyon that was equipped with the diesel engine, and here’s what MotorTrend had to say about it.

Simply a great truck

MotorTrend couldn’t imagine such a well balanced and efficient truck existing. The Canyon was not only practical, it was also described by MotorTrend as being upscale and efficient. This isn’t too surprising, as MotorTrend gave credit to the decades of evolution that GMC and its parent company, General Motors, has gone through. 

The $43,000 truck that MotorTrend test drove was equipped with a 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel engine. For comparison, a standard Canyon costs about $21,500, so MotorTrend’s truck was decked out with some additional features. While these features are not standard, they did improve and elevate the Canyon to heights that MotorTrend didn’t think was possible. 

Extremely practical 

One of the reasons why the Canyon blew MotorTrend’s mind was because of that 2.8-liter diesel engine. Diesel engines are notoriously practical, and the 2.8-liter one that’s available on the Canyon isn’t an exception. 

Although the 2.8-liter diesel only generated 181 hp, it also generated 369 lb-ft of torque. That high amount of torque allows the Canyon to tow very heavy things. MotorTrend said that the diesel engine allowed the Canyon to tow over 7,600 lbs of cargo. But on top of that, the Canyon, with its diesel engine, was able to handle every other load-bearing test that MotorTrend conceived for it.

In addition to that impressive towing capacity, the Canyon also impressed MotorTrend with its payload capacity, which is rated at about 1,300 lb, according to MotorTrend. Those 1,300 lbs can be loaded onto the 6-foot long bed that the Canyon has available. 

But the big reason why folks praise diesel engines are for their fuel economy, and the Canyon again impressed MotorTrend. The Canyon, with its diesel engine, has an EPA rated fuel economy of 20 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on highways, and 23 MPG combined. MotorTrend actually got better figures in its testing. MotorTrend got 22 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on highways, and 25 MPG combined. 

On top of that impressive showing, MotorTrend also tested the MPG of the Canyon while it was carrying a 500-lb load. The Canyon was able to get a remarkable 28 MPG in that test. 

Very comfortable

Practicality and fuel economy aside, MotorTrend also praised the interior of the Canyon. Not only is its interior equipped with modern features and amenities, but the material that’s used to line the interior is also very high quality. That said, MotorTrend didn’t really enjoy the colors offered in the interior, as it seemed very unappealing in MotorTrend’s eyes. But colors are a subjective thing, so your mileage may vary. 

Asides from the creature comforts that GMC has in the Canyon, the ride itself is also very comfortable, according to MotorTrend. MotorTrend described the ride of the Canyon as “supple.” Not only is the ride comfortable, but driving the truck also felt smooth. In fact, the handling was so smooth that MotorTrend simply described it as “car-like.” 

While the Canyon, with its diesel engine, didn’t get any impressive performance figures, the Canyon handled carrying loads extremely well. MotorTrend said that the ride comfort didn’t suffer when the Canyon was loaded up with the 500-lb load. Overall, MotorTrend said that the Canyon may not be similar to other trucks, but that’s a good thing as it’s much better than everything else on the market.