Canyon Denali Marks the Arrival of the Luxury Midsize Truck

It wasn’t until the 70s that domestic car makers decided that luxury cars do not have massive cars. Until then, Cadillacs, Lincolns, and Imperials were all overtly larger than the full-size models from Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth. While that thinking died out for cars fifty years ago, to get a luxury truck, you still have to go full size. Until now. Because now Ewing Buick GMC has the GMC Canyon Denali.

The Denali name has established itself as the luxury pinnacle of every GMC model to which it is applied. However, it was only after its recent redesign that GMC considered the Canyon a proper venue for the Denali treatment. With its elegant dash design, complete with an 11.3-inch infotainment screen and configurable 11-inch gauge cluster, the new Canyon provides an excellent canvas for Denali luxury offerings. As a result, the Canyon Denali is the only true luxury mid-size truck on the market. 

Denali Inside and Out

The outside gets a chrome grille, matched by chrome door handles, mirror caps, and chrome assist steps for both front and rear passengers. With a 2-inch factory lift, the body suits are tall over its exclusive 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. 

However, the interior is where the Denali upgrades really make themselves known. You will find leather, of course, not just on the seats but also on the door panels and dash. In addition, the leather is quilted with contrast stitching in key locations. Accompanying the leather, natural teak open-pore wood is featured on the dash and front door panels. Laser-etched into the front wood panel is the Denali typeface, accompanied by the coordinates of the mountain that is Denali’s namesake. Everything is highlighted by pewter finish chrome trim which is matched by the physical controls and knurled knobs on the center stack, center console, and steering wheel. While there are other top-level mid-range trucks like the Tacoma Limited and Jeep Gladiator High Altitude, none of them approach this level of luxury.

Accompanying the upscale materials is a 7-speaker Bose sound system, dual-zone climate control, standard sterling assist adaptive cruise control, color head-up display, heated, wireless charging, and ventilated front seats with 6-way power adjustment with memory for the driver. 

Still a Tough Truck

The finishes are fancy, but underneath remains a tough mid-size truck. Consequently, the leather trades some suppleness for sturdiness to wear well during hard work or play. Standard is an enclosed storage space within the tailgate and a built-in measuring yardstick embossed into the tailgate’s rear edge. 

Naturally, the Canyon Denali comes standard with the most powerful engine in the model line. The TurboMax 2.7-liter engine produces 310 horsepower with 430 lb-ft of peak torque that is unmatched in the class. It is connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, which can tow up to 7,000 pounds together.

All this comes at a price premium above the AT4 and Elevation models, with an MSRP of $52,595. But for this level of luxury elsewhere, you have to turn to full-size trucks, which will cost significantly more when similarly equipped. So unless you really need a full-size truck, the Canyon Denali can be a good value. Come to Ewing Buick GMC to get a closer look at the Canyon Denali and see if this luxury midsize truck works for you.