The 2015 GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado are shaping up to be huge news in a stagnant segment: mid-size trucks.

Compact trucks? Not a “thing” anymore. Everybody who is anybody is going mid-size.

As the Toyota Tacoma grew in size markedly to match the (long-gone; not missed) Dodge Dakota in size, others are quickly following suit. The next Nissan Frontier is debating various diesel engine options for a big revision for the 2016 model year, and even Ford is internally debating reviving the Ranger model for US sales.

But the real news in this segment? Buyers are terminally bored with the offerings. Even the sales champ Tacoma struggles to bring much new flair to the table for 2015 — with the same engines and just a light infotainment refresh the only substantive changes since 2009 or before.

But even while the truck-use package of all these mid-size models is generally up-t0-par, we are rapidly closing in on a desire-based sales market for all segments of vehicles. Consumers know that no matter how sweet the deal sounds on the radio — they will be paying handsomely for any vehicle upgrade for years to come. Without meaningful improvements in every area, no one will even lift a click finger.

But without style that is a huge revolution of forward progress? Discounts will remain king until buyers actually **want** to buy and pay full price for the truck.

It is into this murky market that the GMC Canyon will storm in autumn of 2014 as a 2015 model year. A base four-cylinder delivers 194 horsepower, while the much-missed V6 option is back! 302-horsepower and all — the new Canyon not only looks all-new, it really is all-new from almost the six-lug wheels upward.

An eight-inch touchscreen takes the place of blanked-out switches, while the GMC will bring serious refinement advantages over the Chevy Colorado at nearly all price levels.

This is a winning formula — only enhanced by the extremely handsome new GMC style outside.

Pricing remains unconfirmed, but will likely start from about $21,000 for the standard-cab trucks, and perhaps stretch into the mid-$30’s for a loaded SLT example like the ones shown in these pre-release images.

TECH SPECS

• 2015 GMC CANYON PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

• Overview

• Models:   Canyon base, SLE and SLT, 2WD and 4WD

• Body styles  extended and crew cab

• Manufacturing location:   Wentzville, Mo.

• Key competitors:   Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier

 

 

COLORS

 

• Engines

• Type:  2.5L DOHC I-4  3.6L V-6 VVT DI

• Displacement (cu in / cc):  150 / 2457  217 / 3564

• Block material:   cast aluminum   aluminum

• Cylinder head material:  cast aluminum  cast aluminum

• Valvetrain:  DOHC with four valves per cylinder;

• continuously variable valve timing

• DOHC with four valves per cylinder;

• continuously variable valve timing

• Fuel delivery:  high-pressure direct injection and

• electronic throtle control

• high-pressure direct injection and

• electronic throttle control

• Compression ratio:  11.3:1  11.5:1

• Horsepower (hp / kW @

• rpm):

• 193 / 146 @ 6400 (est.)  302 / 224 @ 6950 (est.)

• Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm @

• rpm):

• 184 / 253 @ 4400 (est.)  270 / 366 @ 4000 (est.)

• Recommended fuel:  regular unleaded  regular unleaded

INTERIORS

#LEDetails Fader Graphics — Nighttime Preview

 

Transmissions

 

• Type:  six-speed manual  six-speed automatic

• Availability:  avail. with 2.5L (base extended

• cab/2WD)

• avail. with 2.5L on base extended

• cab/2WD, std. on all other models

• Final drive ratio:  TBD  2.92

• Tow/Haul Mode:   No   Yes (V-6 only)

• Auto Grade Braking:  No  Yes

• Chassis / Suspension / Brakes

• Front suspension:   2WD and 4WD: independent coil-over-shock; twin-tube shocks

• Rear suspension:  solid axle with semi-elliptic two-stage multi-leaf springs; twin-tube shocks

• Locking axle:  G80 automatic-locking axle std. on All Terrain, avail. on SLE and SLT

• Wheel sizes:  16 x 7-in., 17 x 8-in and 18 x 8.5-in.

• Tire sizes:  265/70R16, 255/65R17 and 265/60R18

• Steering type:  electrically-assisted power rack-and-pinion steering with variable assist

• Stability control:  standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control including hill start assist

• Brakes:  power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife™ long-life brake rotors;

• standard ABS; hill descent control available

Dimensions

• Extended Cab (6’2”

• box)

• Crew Cab (5’2” box)  Crew Cab (6’2” box)

• Wheelbase (in / mm):  128.3 / 3258  128.3 / 3258  140.5 / 3568

• Length ( in / mm):  212.4 / 5395  212.4 / 5395  224.6 / 5705

• Height (in / mm):  78.7 / 1998 (2WD incl.

• antenna)

• 78.9 / 2005 (4WD incl.

• antenna)

• 78.7 / 1998 (2WD incl.

• antenna)

• 78.9 / 2005 (4WD incl.

• antenna)

• 78.7 / 1998 (2WD incl.

• antenna)

• 78.9 / 2005 (4WD incl.

• antenna)

• Width (in / mm):  74.3 / 1886  74.3 / 1886  74.3 / 1886

• Front track (in / mm)  61.8 / 1570 (2WD)

• 62.4 / 1586 (4WD)

• 61.8 / 1570 (2WD)

• 62.4 / 1586 (4WD)

• 61.8 / 1570 (2WD)

• 62.4 / 1586 (4WD)

• Rear track (in / mm):  61.8 / 1570 (2WD)

• 62.4 / 1586 (4WD)

• 61.8 / 1570 (2WD)

• 62.4 / 1586 (4WD)

• 61.8 / 1570 (2WD)

• 62.4 / 1586 (4WD)

 

• Front headroom

• (in /mm):

• 40 / 1016  40 / 1016  40 / 1016

• Rear headroom

• (in / mm):

• 36.7 / 932  38.3 / 973  38.3 / 973

• Front legroom (in / mm):  41.7 / 1059  41.7 / 1059  41.7 / 1059

• Rear legroom (in / mm):  28.6 / 726  35.8 / 909  35.8 / 909

• Front hip room (in / mm):  55 / 1397  55 / 1397  55 / 1397

• Rear hip room (in / mm):  52.2 / 1326  53.3 / 1354  53.3 / 1354

Capacities

• Extended Cab

• (6’2” box)

• Crew Cab (5’2” box)  Crew Cab (6’2” box)

• Base curb weight

• (lb / kg):

• 3944 / 1789

• (2WD w/ 2.5L)

• 4037 / 1831

• (2WD w/ 2.5L)

• 4266 / 1935

• (2WD w/ 3.6L)

• Max. GVWR (lb / kg):  5600 / 2540   6000 / 2721  6000 / 2721

• Max. payload (lb / kg):  1450 / 657  1400 / 635  1400 / 635

• Max. towing (lb / kg):   6700 / 3039  6700 / 3039  6700 / 3039