2010 GMC Canyon

NEW FOR 2010:

- 5.3-litre V8 adds variable valve timing

- Curtain airbags standard on all models

- Exterior colours: Cardinal Red Metallic, Steel Green Metallic and Sheer Silver Metallic added

For 2010, the GMC Canyon receives two changes: the curtain airbags that were previously optional are now standard on all models, and the available V8 engine receives variable valve timing.

A sister vehicle to the Chevrolet Colorado, the Canyon comes as a Regular Cab in 4WD, and as an Extended Cab or Crew Cab in 2WD or 4WD. Three engines are available: a 2.9-litre inline four-cylinder, 3.7-litre inline five-cylinder, and 5.3-litre V8 engine. The four-cylinder is the standard offering on all models except for the Crew Cab 4WD, which uses the five-cylinder; the five-cylinder can be optioned on all models, while the V8 can be added to everything but the Regular Cab. The four-cylinder uses a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic; other engines use the automatic exclusively, as does the four-cylinder Crew Cab 2WD. Trim lines are the SLE 1SA and SLE 1SD.

Features on the SLE 1SA include 16-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, chrome bumpers, fog lights, box liner, two-position tailgate, variable intermittent wipers, cruise control, carpeting with rubber floor mats, driver information centre, tire pressure monitoring system, dome and exterior cargo lights, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, 60/40 cloth split-bench front seat, AM/FM stereo, automatic headlamps, OnStar, traction control, and electronic stability control.

The SLE 1SD adds 16-inch alloy wheels, deep-tinted rear glass, power mirrors, power windows, power locks with keyless entry, deluxe cloth bucket seats, and CD/MP3 stereo.

Extended Cab models have folding rear jump seats with under-seat storage, while Crew Cab models have a rear 60/40 flat-folding split-bench seat.

The Canyon starts as a work truck and can optioned to a tricked-out boulevard cruiser, and is popular with buyers who like its relatively small footprint in a market where even "mini" trucks are bulking up. The bed comes in two lengths with two-tier cargo loading and lockable, removable tailgates that can be set at two heights to carry cargo up to the traditional 4-by-8 sheet of plywood.