Both Canyon engines were derived from the Vortec 4200 inline-6 used in the Chevy TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy. GM lopped cylinders off the six to get the five and four. These are modern engines featuring all-aluminum construction, dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, electronic (drive-by-wire) throttle control, and a healthy 10:1 compression ratio.
On the road, the Canyon feels solid, with no rattles or squeaks, and the bed doesn't boom or make any other noise. The standard suspension (Z85) is able to work precisely, without interference from chassis flex, resulting in a controlled ride. Canyon is stable and predictable around curves, and a solid stopper when the binders are applied, aided by ABS on loose surfaces. The Canyon is a truck, however, so it doesn't corner and brake like a car. We found it generally tended toward understeer. We found it handled well on washboard roads and didn't bounce around like smaller pickups often do.
We were pleased with the operation of the four-wheel-drive system. There's no doubt when it engages: There's a small clunk when it shifts into four-wheel high (which can be done on the fly) and a bigger clunk when it shifts into four-wheel low (requiring the vehicle be stopped and in neutral). No full-time all-wheel drive is available; this is a truck-style part-time four-wheel-drive system and should not be used on dry pavement. We found it worked well in deep mud.
The Z71 suspension package provides maximum ground clearance, with tires designed for rugged terrain and springs and shocks calibrated for off-road performance without sacrificing too much on-road comfort. We found its ride quality remarkably civilized on the road. The Z71 suspension certainly adds heft to the Canyon, and there's noticeable jiggle from the extra weight of the off-road tires, but not anything like off-road compact pickups of the past. We found it handled rocky hill climbs and rugged terrain well.
We haven't tried the ZQ8 sport suspension in a Canyon, but it rode well in 2007 Chevrolet Colorado. It comes with low-profile, 50-series 18-inch tires, but they don't look particularly sticky. We didn't drive the Colorado ZQ8 in anger, but our impression was that it didn't offer the sports-car handling of the incredible Toyota Tacoma X-Runner. And the low ground clearance means it'll occasionally bottom out. Next Page