GMC Canyon

Impressions: For hard-working, hard-playing individuals, it doesn't get much better than the GMC Canyon. With a low base price and four-cylinder power at one end, and 242 horsepower, four-doors and four-wheel-drive at the other, the only limitation is your imagination . . . and the size of the pickup bed. For most uses, however, such as toting a motorcycle or a jet ski and hauling drywall home to fix up the garage wall (where you drove the motorcycle through), the Canyon's five- and six-foot box choices will work just fine. Select from a wide variety of cab styles (regular, extended and four-door crew), drive systems (rear or 4x4), suspension setups (heavy-duty and off-road) and several trim levels. The base 2.9-liter inline four-cylinder (that replaces last year's 2.8) produces 185-horsepower (up 10) while the 3.7-liter in-line five-cylinder (the 220-horsepower 3.5 is gone) makes 242 horses. Both are derived from the GMC Envoy's 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder minus a cylinder or two. Connected to either is a choice of a five-speed manual transmission, or optional four-speed automatic. Also optional is GMC's dash-operated shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system. Although there are several packages to help outfit your Canyon just the way you want, our favorite is the sport suspension that includes a larger rear stabilizer bar, stiffer shocks, faster-ratio steering, body-colored fender flares and 17-inch wheels. Order your Canyon this way and it rides two inches lower to the ground. Base price: $13,800 Type: Four-door compact pickup Base engine (hp): 2.9-liter DOHC I4 (185) Optional engine (hp): 3.7-liter DOHC I5 (242) Layout: Front-engine, rear-/four-wheel drive Transmissions: Five-speed manual; four-speed automatic (opt.) Mileage (city/hwy): 21/27 (2.9, est.) Safety: Front airbags; side-curtain airbags (opt.); anti-lock brakes Weight (lb.): 3,400 Basic warranty: 3/36,000 Roadside assistance: Yes Web: gmc.com