2005 GMC Canyon SLE from North America - All Comments

Steering alignment was off when I first got it (pulled to the left), fixed at dealer cost with no charge. The upper driver's door speaker in six-speaker stereo is starting to fuzz a bit, but not enough for a warranty replacement. Brake pedal has developed a clicking/squashing noise. Dealer refuses to fix, states it's normal (it definitely isn't).

I have the extended cab SLE model Z85.

Good points:

Outside door handles are finally done right. Easy to grab, easy to open.

Headlights are nothing short of superb, they light up the night like nobody's business. Switching to better bulbs is NOT necessary compared to most other vehicles. Additionally, you can easily turn the headlights OFF if you want to, meaning you are not subject to having forced daytime running lights.

Cargo light is nice and bright also.

Motor is surprisingly fast for a 4-cylinder. It definitely gets up and goes.

Transmission is smooth. GM finally got a transmission in a truck that isn't clunky - at all.

Starts up on a dime, every time.

Gauge pod extremely easy to read, even when the sun is directly hitting it.

Side mirrors allow you to see just about everything. Blind spots are very small.

The fact that the extended cab doors open from BOTH sides is very, very slick. I use them often.

The jump seats can actually hold full size adults - they fold forward instead of to the side. Nice.

Seats are great for your back. Good for the long haul.

Engine temperate stays -exactly- where it's supposed to, even on the hottest days or coldest nights. Well done motor.

Dash is made of better-than-average nice hard plastic. You will never see a sun-cracked Canyon dashboard, I guarantee you that.

Cup holders are great. Holds beverages both large and small without spilling.

4x4 system works flawlessly. 4LO ("granny low") also creeps very well.

This is not a compact truck by any means. You sit high, there's lots of room on the inside, and the ground clearance is great.

Weight distribution feels better than the previous model GMC Sonoma. It still rolls to the side when you turn, but not as much.

Doors close with a nice -thud- with no bonging noises.

Built-in toolboxes floor a nice touch in the extended cab model.

Gas mileage got increasingly better the more I drove it. I can easily get 450+ miles to the tank (19 gallon tank) - and I haven't run it bone dry yet. I'd estimate the truck gets around 23 to 25mpg on the highway - which is stellar for any pickup, especially one that's an auto with a 4x4 underneath.

Bad points:

Tires that came with it are garbage, which makes ride quality suffer. They're made by General and came stock with the vehicle. As soon as they wear out I'm switching to Kumho's or Yokohama's. Wear is good, ride quality from them is terrible. Better rubber would improve the ride significantly.

Cruise control seems to overcompensate when going uphill. If you set your cruise at 65mph, then hit a hill, it will slow down, speed up to almost 70mph, then back down to 65mph. I'm 99% sure this is because it's a 4-cyl and not necessarily a mechanical fault. Probably just needs minor computer adjustment.

Exhaust vibrates the whole truck slightly at idle in or out of gear. It's not annoying, but I notice it. Dealer says it's normal (it isn't). Better muffler would probably fix this, which is on my to-do list.

Overall: Satisfied. My complaints are nit-picks at best. I had to think hard to complain about anything. Were I to buy another one however, I would go with the 5-cylinder.

Aren't GM trucks just wonderful?

*sarcastic*

Thanks for the thorough review. I am considering getting one myself. I think this truck looks great especially ext cab version.

I see a lot of them on the road lately. The must be selling well.

Good review. I have an 05 Canyon Z71 SLE ext. cab, and I agree that the tires installed from the factory are of inferior quality. As soon as they wear out, I will be replacing them with something of better, either Bridgestone of Michelin.

My Canyon is equipped with the 5 cylinder engine, and I am amazed with how smoothly it delivers its power. It gets respectable gas mileage for a 4wd with an automatic transmission at 22 MPG. This truck is a keeper!

I have a 06 canyon ext. cab 4x4 z71. inline 5 with the 5speed and 4.10 gears. this truck is dynamite. good mileage enuff power. 5speed tranny is best choice by far.

I have an '04 GMC Canyon SLE 4x4 Crew Cab. It has been in the shop for the last 6 of 7 weeks with a check engine light that the dealerships cannot fix. GM tech support cannot seem to find the problem either. The shop has gone from resetting the code, to cleaning an injector, to all the injectors, to replacing the injectors, to replacing the exhaust valve springs, to replacing cylinder coils to fogging the engine to replacing the computer with no luck. There are sites out there with a lot more reviews both pro and con, do your research before buying.

I think you had bad luck man, Iv been reading these reviews, on the Chevy Colorado and the GMC canyon, I will most definitely consider buying one when I need a truck.

I own a 2005 Canyon Crew cab 4 x 4 and almost had an accident on the highway. As I was on cruise and it was in the winter a bit of ice on the highway and when I was on an incline my canyon shifted down to far and cause the rear wheels to break loose the truck fish tailed. Lucky I was ale to correct it and no accident. I talked to the dealer and asked them to adjust so it dosen't kick down so far, but they are unable. I wonder if this has happened to others? Also is GM planning on doing anythig to allow the dealers to be able to adjust this?

05' 3.5 liter. At 35000 miles began to idle rough. Check engine light came on. Long story, short- #3 cylinder lost compression and warpped head. Thank goodness I have extended warranty... major repairs...this happened 3 days after GM issued a bulletin about this problem.

I have a 2005 Canyon-Problems from the get go-first-the drivers door kept making a loud popping noise when opened and closing-took it in and they found that there were no BIG bolts to hold it in-eventually it would have fallen off. Next my horn went out and I didn't have the truck 2 months-next there was a grinding noise whenever I started the truck-not every time, but enough to take it in 8 times-and they still cannot find the problem-THEN- my check engine light came on and took it in again and it was an oxygen problem so I have to get a rent car. This is very frustrating as I am a single mom and really can't get the satisfaction of getting my truck fixed-will not ever buy a GMC again...

I wonder what interest a single mom has in a compact pickup truck.

GMC Canyon. Z71/4WD. 47000 miles and had a check engine light coming on and rough idle. Got into dealer. Thankfully purchased the extended warranty. Damaged head (warped or cracked). Costly repair, but I paid the $100 deductible. Service writer stated that GM had a service advisory out for the Canyon/Colorado w/3.5 engine. Otherwise have been very pleased with this vehicle.

2005 GMC Canyon SLE 4X2. Most frustrating vehicle I've owned. I bought this truck almost a year ago and have a little over 10,000 miles on it. The CD player has been a hastle it seems to read Cd's when it feels like it, it has more squeaks and rattles than my 13 year old Honda did with over 300,000 miles. My ABS light thinks it's a strobe light. And when my wife tried to drive it to work this morning it wouldn't start. I think it needs to go to the dealer again. Oh I forgot to mention that when I go through a car wash I should be wearing rubber boots because the water just pours in. I do not think I will ever buy a domestic again.

Cool- you get a free shower while washing your vehicle... You are indeed lucky!

I bought a chevy colorado (2 door reg cab, 2.8) in Feb 2005 and now have right at 20,000 miles on it...can't complain enough. This truck looks nice on the outside, but mechanically it's a piece of junk. Been to the shop at least once a month from everything to the inside door handle breaking to the engine sputtering when changing from drive to reverse to the cd player deciding when it feels like reading cd's. It'll stop mid-cd and suddenly spit the cd out saying it can't read it. I put it back in and it works perfectly. Ride if rough, tons of roll during turns and not a bit of get-up-and-go! Now, a few weeks ago I noticed it's taking about twice as long to start up... guess that'll be the next visit to the dealership.

My last comment is: as soon as I can trade it with no negative equity, it's GONE! Back to imports I go.

Previously owned a Colorado that had minimal problems. Got into a car accident, now own a '06 GMC Canyon SLE 2.8L, 5 speed. Having many mechanical problems: electronic throttle not dropping idle, front brakes not holding, key less remote sensor giving out not to mention my CD player, doors squeaking & fuel gauge not reading accurately. I'm a newly-wed with 2 step-kids & a husband who drives my truck. Last thing I need to be doing is spending time at the dealer or getting into another accident. I love these trucks, but hate the mechanical defects on it.