Class: Compact Pickup Truck
Miles Driven: 253
Fuel Used: 10.2 gallons
Real-world fuel economy: 24.8 mpg
Driving mix: 30% city, 70% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 20/29/23 (city, highway, combined)
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A- |
| Power and Performance | C+ |
| Fit and Finish | B |
| Fuel Economy | B+ |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | B |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
Base price: $37,450 (not including $925 destination charge)
Options on test car: Duramax diesel engine ($3730), Bose premium audio system ($500), navigation system with Apple CarPlay ($495), spray-on bed liner ($475), special paint ($395), Driver Alert Package ($395)
Price as tested: $44,365
Quick Hits
The great: Class-leading fuel economy, refined driving experience
The good: Impressive off-road ability
The not so good: Price of Duramax diesel option
Click here for more Canyon price and availability information
Consumer Guide recently availed itself of the opportunity to do a little off-roading in the 2016 GMC Canyon. Making the offer especially appealing was the chance to spend time piloting a Canyon equipped with the available Duramax diesel engine.
We can report that the Canyon acquitted itself on the muddy and challenging trails we were given access to, and despite a recent deluge that “greased up” our trail, we managed to avoid getting stuck.
The story here, however, is our drive back to Chicago from Central Wisconsin. All told, we put about 250 miles on our test GMC, most of which were spent at highway cruising speed—ideal conditions for a diesel to do its efficient best.
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Our observed 24.8-mpg mileage is impressive, though a little shy of the EPA 29 mpg ratings. It’s worth noting that much of our highway time was spent at (or close to) Wisconsin’s 70-mph speed limit, and that about 30 percent of our Canyon diesel time was spent in mundane regular commuting.
Our observed fuel economy does not include our time on the off-road course; we topped off the tank after our nature adventure.
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