GMC Canyon Denali Is The Luxury Midsize Pickup

In general, the industry’s thoughts toward luxury midsize trucks mirror their view toward luxury passenger cars 50 years ago: Nobody is going to buy a smaller luxury car if they can get a larger car for the same or less money. It took European-brand import models to change their minds about that. Fortunately, we don’t need the Europeans this time around because we have GMC, and GMC has the Canyon Denali. Ewing Buick GMC of Plano wants to introduce to you the GMC Canyon Denali.

If you are familiar with GMC, you know that the Denali sub-brand is about adding luxury to GMC models. After its redesign, the Denali treatment has been applied to the Canyon model line for the first time.

Upper Canyon vs Lower Sierra

With a starting MSRP of $51,000, the Canyon Denali is priced between the base $46,700 Sierra 1500 Pro and the next step up, the $54,800 Sierra 1500 SLE. If the luxurious Canyon costs between those two nice but lesser equipped models, the real question is if you really need the extra size of the Sierra 1500. 

Adding more relevance to the question is that the Canyon Denali, Sierra 1500 Pro, and SLE are all powered by the same 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, with the same power output of 310 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque. If you don’t need every last cubic foot in the cargo bed or don’t plan on schlepping adults in the back seat across the country and maybe wouldn’t mind a little room around the vehicle in the garage, the Canyon Denali should be on your consideration list.

Nicely Detailed No-nonsense Looks

All Canyon models have a great exterior design. The front end doesn’t pose a mean snarl, grimace, or smile but rather a straightforward upright rectangle with different detailing depending on the trim. Everything communicates a strong, capable truck without overdoing it. The Denali model adds chrome for the side mirrors and entry steps. The standard 20-inch wheels have an attractive six-split spoke design. The look is appealing and well-designed without unduly calling attention to itself.

First Class Cabin

The cabin is where Denali makes clear that it is not a typical pickup truck. The Canyon dash design is a good start, with the 11.3 center touchscreen being well integrated into the design without overwhelming it. Behind a handsome 4-spoke heated steering wheel is an 11-inch digital driver information center with rich, useful graphics. Denali adds a 6.3-inch color head-up display displaying your choice of information that can be seen without taking your eyes off the road. You sit in heated, perforated leather seats with an 8-way power adjustment for the driver and a 6-way adjustment for the front passenger. Before you is a pleasing dash surface that combines a soft leather finish with a diamond-quilted accent and laser-etched, open-pore wood trim. Find your perfect seating position, and then enjoy the standard 7-speaker Bose audio system. It is a first-class experience you will appreciate whenever you get in the truck.

Even the Bed Has Extras

The tailgate lowers in a smooth, damped manner. The standard Multi-Stow Tailgate lets you carry smaller items that you don’t want unsecured in the bed. The bed itself will look good for years with the standard spray-on bedliner. Hopefully, you will never have to use it, but should the time come, you will appreciate the full-size spare on its own 20” alloy wheel.

If you don’t really need a full-size truck, the Canyon Denali will look great, feel great, and likely do everything you ask of it with ease. Pay a visit to Ewing Buick GMC of Plano and check out the Canyon Denali.