2011 GMC Canyon Extended Cab

2011 GMC Canyon

The 2011 GMC Canyon is a compact truck available with two- or four-wheel drive in three body styles: regular cab, extended cab and crew cab. Crew cabs are equipped with a 5-foot cargo box, while other Canyons feature a 6-foot bed. The extended-cab SLE boasts full power accessories and remote keyless entry. The extended-cab SLT adds chrome wheels, a leather-trimmed interior and power heated front bucket seats, while the crew cab SLT comes with these features as well as a heavy-duty suspension.

No fewer than three different engines are offered for the 2011 GMC Canyon, including an inline-4, an inline-5 and a V8. The 5.3-liter V8 (only offered on extended-cab and crew cab models) makes 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. The Work Truck and SLE models come standard with the 2.9-liter engine but can be equipped with the 3.7-liter engine. Rear-wheel drive is standard, while the available four-wheel drive features a shift-on-the-fly two-speed transfer case with push-button controls and an optional locking rear differential.

The 2011 GMC Canyon comes standard with the On Star emergency communications system, antilock brakes, stability control, and traction control and head curtain airbags. The extended- and regular-cab styles earned four stars for driver and front passenger in frontal impacts and four stars for front side impacts.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal-offset crash testing, the Canyon extended cab earned a top rating of Good, while the crew cab got an Acceptable rating (second highest of four). The Canyon's standard suspension is calibrated for a soft and comfortable ride on pavement, while the available Z71 Off-Road Suspension package improves off-road performance at the expense of on-road compliance.

The 2011 GMC Canyon is available in three trims-Work Truck, SLE and SLT-and in three body styles-Regular, Extended and Crew cab. This engine is standard on all Crew Cabs with 4-wheel drive. The base 2.9L 4-cylinder engine comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. Regular and Extended Cab trims come with a 6-foot cargo bed, while the bed on Crew Cab trims measures just over 5-feet long.

The Regular Cab Work Truck features, as standard, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, Monster 9.0, 16-inch steel wheels, a bed liner, a 60/40-split front bench seat, cruise control and satellite radio. The Regular Cab SLE adds aluminum wheels, fog lights, chrome interior accents and upgraded audio. The Extended Cab SLE adds power accessories and keyless entry. The Extended Cab SLT adds chrome wheels, leather-trimmed interior accents and power heated front bucket seats.

What you’ve got to ask yourself is exactly what you buy a compact truck like the GMC Canyon Extended Cab for. If you want to move household goods from time to time, or take the family and the dog across state to visit with relatives, a station wagon is probably a better answer. To be honest you’re not going to be overwhelmed by the standard 4-cylinder 2.9 liter unit. Well sorted suspension makes the whole package handle really rather well. It’s no sports car but the GMC Canyon Extended Cab won’t jar and jolt you all over the place. The GMC Canyon Extended Cab has airbags, stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes and tire pressure monitor as standard across the range.

In recent years imports have attacked the GMC Canyon Extended Cab’s traditional market with some success. Definitely, categorically not.