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I purchased the Canyon new in 2008. I was looking for a very simple work truck and the Canyon provides exactly that. The body is quite stylish for a truck at this price. The Canyon is a light duty pickup and has served me well with small loads and light towing. The interior is fairly comfortable and the control panel is very basic, but easy to manipulate. Maybe it's just me, but I always seem to have an issue with all the newer cars I've driven when it comes to locating and turning on the hazard lights. I had to pull over on a recent highway trip and it took me quite some time to locate the hazard switch and a little longer to realize that it had to be pushed and not turned. There is ample room behind the seats for additional storage. The backbench, however, is a little high and with no middle console, there is no place to rest your right arm if necessary. The seats are not uncomfortable, but have a rather odd feel.
The Canyon handles well and has received good crash test ratings. The advertised fuel efficiency was 18-mpg city and 24-mpg highway. In a combined city/highway commute, I have averaged closer to 24 miles per gallon. The engine is not overly powerful, however, but the five speed manual transmission shows just enough passing and climbing power to satisfy basic driving needs. I have only had to do basic maintenance and oil changes since the original purchase, other than the AC blower not functioning on one speed, and the cruise control malfunctioning temporarily. Both were easy fixes and were covered under warranty.
Overall, I have been pleased with the 2008 GMC Canyon. It has been a good value for the price.