Thursday, 26 March 2015

2015 GMC Canyon Long-Term Review: Side-by-Side with the GMC Sierra

2015 GMC Canyon Long-Term Review: Side-by-Side with the GMC Sierra

2015 GMC Canyon Long-Term Review: Side-by-Side with the GMC Sierra

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Welcome back to our 2015 GMC Canyon long-term test. To read the whole series, click here.

Recently, a close friend of mind decided he would like to buy a new GMC Canyon. He proceeded into a dealership, where the salesman immediately directed him to a larger Sierra, saying that he was authorized to give big discounts on the half-ton pickup that couldn't be done on the Canyon. 

He didn't buy anything at the but, but he asked me for advice about which one would be a better fit. To try and get to the bottom of his problem, I drove a Sierra Crew Cab with the 5' 8" standard box back-to-back with our long-term Canyon.

Quiet cabins and comfortable riding suspension are traits shared by the trucks, along with interior layout and ergonomics. You do sit slightly lower in the Canyon than the Sierra, but its tough to notice the difference from behind the wheel. Similarly, the added length of the Sierra is hardly noticeable.

GMC-Sierra-vs-GMC-Canyon-2Width, weight and steering feel are three most apparent differences between the drive of the two trucks. The Sierra is 5.7-inches wider than the Canyon, a number that feels much more substantial in the real world and gives the Canyon a feeling of agility and maneuverability that the Sierra lacks. Some of that feeling can be attributed to the Sierra's curb weight, which is more than 500 lbs greater than the midsize Canyon. Finally, the steering feels more direct and connected in the Canyon that its larger sibling.

When comparing crew cab to crew cab, it's hard to ignore the back seat difference. The Sierra's rear accommodations are comfortable for an adult, even on long drives. The Canyon's rear seats are livable, but begin to feel cramped after a short amount of time, although they are easily the best back seats currently in the midsize pickup segment.

When it comes time to put these two to work, another marked difference appears. The Canyon carries a max tow rating of 7,000 lbs while GMC says you can tow up to 12,000 lbs with a Sierra. I find the Canyon to be more confident at or near its limit, while the Sierra starts to feel a little overwhelmed at or near its max tow rating.

GMC-Sierra-vs-GMC-Canyon-3More than any of that, price and cost of ownership are likely to be the deciding factors in what you buy. If you're looking for big savings in the fuel economy department going for the Canyon, don't get your hopes up, as the difference in fuel economy isn't substantial. On an unloaded highway run with the cruise control set at just above 65 MPH, our Canyon returned 20 MPG, just 2 MPG better than we experienced with the 5.3-liter equipped Sierra during our 2014 Truck of the Year testing, which consisted of both highway and city driving. Cylinder deactivation probably played a hand in this result, as it is available on the Sierra's V8 but can't be had with the Canyon's V6.

So without a large fuel economy benefit, does the Canyon pay off? At the base, the trucks are separated by $3,205, with the Canyon carrying an MSRP of $21,880 and the Sierra selling for at least $25,085. Our Canyon SLT costs $40,715 including a few optional extras. A comparable Sierra, with the 5.3-liter V8 and standard 5' 8" box in SLT trim carries an MSRP of $49,830. As my friend discovered first hand, GM has been offering plenty of discounts on its large trucks to move them from dealer lots and even the GMC online configurator offered us a $3,315 "value discount" on the Sierra, bringing the price down to $46,515.

So, what's the answer to the question? To me, it comes down to how each truck gets work done. If you're regularly towing a trailer heavier than 5,000 lbs, the Sierra is a better choice. You won't have to drag out an equalizing hitch ever time you want to pull and the truck won't be working tirelessly to get the load moving. Anything under that weight and the half-ton seems like overkill.

Discuss this story at our Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon Forum

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Cadillac CT6 gets 34-Speaker Bose Stereo

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The interior of the upcoming Cadillac flagship has been previewed.

To show off the car's stereo setup, Bose has released a rendering of the innards of 2016 Cadillac CT6, which will make its official debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show next week. Dubbed the Bose Panaray system, it marks the global debut of the company's new line of "Advanced Technology Series" sound systems.

In total, there will be 34 speakers inside the Cadillac CT6, nearly all of them measuring less than four inches in diameter. According to the American automaker, the Bose Panaray system "reproduces music with more clarity, precision and deep bass than any system preceding it."

SEE ALSO: 2016 Cadillac CT6 Gets 400 HP Twin-Turbo V6

Check back with AutoGuide.com for more information on the 2016 Cadillac CT6 as we'll be reporting live from the 2015 New York Auto Show.

Discuss this story at our Cadillac CT6 forum

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Toyota Announces New Vehicle Platforms

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Toyota announced today that the first product based on a new platform strategy will launch later this year.

The yet-unnamed mid-size front-wheel drive vehicle will be the first to use the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), a new, modular approach to vehicle platforms akin to Volkswagen Group's modular platform strategy that the company says will help it cut the resources it needs by "20 percent or more." Following the first vehicle, the company will roll out specific new platforms for both front-wheel drive compact and large vehicles as well as rear-wheel drive products.

This year Toyota anticipates that it will be able to reduce the capital investment required to introduce a new vehicle to its production lines by 50 percent compared to what it would have cost in 2008 when the auto industry went into decline.

By 2020, approximately half of Toyota's global product portfolio is scheduled to shift onto the new platforms.

The company also reiterated its commitment to hybrid powertrains today, saying it anticipates a 15 percent improvement in its hybrid systems by re-thinking its drive unit layout and shrinking their components.

Along with new hybrid parts, the company says it plants to work in concert with suppliers to create powertrain components with its new modular vehicle platforms in mind that will reduce vehicle weight and offer a lower center of gravity.

As the world's largest automaker, this is a critical milestone for Toyota's continued success in the foreseeable future. Last year the company reported selling 10.23 million vehicles worldwide ahead of Volkswagen at 10.14 million units and General Motors with 9.92 million. Volkswagen is scrambling to design products that will appeal to drivers in the U.S. where it is struggling to compete while investing heavily in manufacturing operations here.

Meanwhile, Toyota has been able to reap the benefits of a weak yen combined with massive sales that will allow the company to funnel more money into developing products in its increasingly efficient strategy.

Discuss this article at our Toyota forum

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Scion iA Revealed in Spy Photos

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Scion is preparing to release its first sedan model and new spy photos have fully revealed the car. 

The iA, Scion's new small sedan, was caught uncovered during filming for a commercial in California. The car is based on the Mazda2 sedan and will be built alongside the new 2 in Mazda's Mexican assembly plant.

Front end styling has been revised by Scion to clearly separate the iA from the Mazda2, although the back end and profile of the car still carry clear Mazda design cues.

SEE ALSO: Scion iA Announced as Brand's First Sedan

Under the hood, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder SkyActiv engine will provide power.

Mazda has apparently allotted space for production of 50,000 Scion sedans a year. In Canada, the new Scion iA will be sold at the Toyota Yaris Sedan.

The new iA will make its official debut on March. 31, the eve of the 2015 New York Auto Show.

Discuss this story at our Scion iA Forum

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2016 Buick Enclave gets New Tuscan Edition

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Buick has introduced a new special edition model of the Enclave. 

Known as the Tuscan Edition, this new model is all about style, packing a bronze grille along with 20-inch chrome wheels finished with bronze accents. The package can be added to the Leather or Premium-trim Enclave, and can be had in three different colors: white frost tricoat, dark chocolate metallic or ebony twilight metallic.

SEE ALSO: 2015 New York Auto Show Preview

Also included in the package are a dual moonroof, heated steering wheel, LED ambient lights, heated front seats, Intellilink infotainment, OnStar, HID headlights, power liftgate and rear park assist.

The Enclave Tuscan Edition will make its official debut next week at the 2015 New York Auto Show.

 Discuss this story at our Buick Forum

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Toyota Pays Tribute to Jeremy Clarkson

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Whether you're one of the countless people Jeremy Clarkson pissed off or inspired, there's no denying the impact his departure form Top Gear will have.

As Chris Harris pointed out in an op-en column published on Jalopnik yesterday, Clarkson, May and Hammond created a cult following of viewers that generated interest in the auto industry among people who might have otherwise never cared for it. Clarkson's time with TG is riddled with controversy ranging from a seemingly brazen penchant for using racial slurs to the occasional lawsuit by an automaker. Remember Tesla?

None of it mattered then and it certainly doesn't now. If there was ever a question in your mind about the value that Top Gear offered to manufacturers, the tribute video Toyota U.K. released yesterday should settle the score. Even the companies behind the cars that he and his pals would routinely review and sometimes rag on will miss their shenanigans.

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