MotorWeek | Road Test: 2016 GMC Canyon Duramax Diesel

MotorWeek sees if diesel is still a dirty word with the GMC Canyon Duramax Diesel pickup.

[@jeepthing98]

Notice how John Davis is much more toned down here and the enthusiastic narration is subdued. I hope it's not because of some obnoxious newbs who have recently been commenting and insulting John for no reason. He's been the host of MotorWeek for longer than most of them have been alive.

[@Motorweek]

+jeepthing98 Nothing stops John Davis! We were just trying out some new voice over equipment. Still working out the issues. Don't worry, he hasn't changed a thing!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

+MotorWeek I like John Davis. He's what makes Motor Week, Motor Week. He still looks and sounds like the same John Davis I remember back in the 80s when Motor Week was young. Don't change a damn thing. He sounds just fine. 🙂

[@jwagner1993]

i tookme 5/2 to have the same impression..

[@gianniforonda5842]

I notice that too.

[@anotherrandomtexan25]

jeepthing98 don't think because he's getting older? I mean ya said yourself he's been doing this for a very long time and there has to be a point where ya just can't present the way you used to

[@eshollen]

Appropriate to this video, I'm selling my 1963 VW karmann ghia coupe to buy one of these

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I like the performance of this generation GMC mid-sized truck, the Canyon. I particularly like the 0-60 acceleration of the 2.8 litre Duramax diesel engine. It's faster than the diesel of 30 yrs ago, even the turbo diesel engines. While diesel may not be for *everyone,* I believe that those who need, or want, a small diesel powered truck should be allowed the option. I remember seeing a few GMC Canyons and Chevy Colorados with the Duramax Diesel engine near where I live. While I could do without the Wi-Fi access and internet gadgets, this is a pickup truck after all, I'd take everything else on the truck. 🙂

[@psquareflight]

I love how motor journalists assume what buyers in some markets want, or what they’re cross shopping - I had a VW 2.0 TDI and really would like one of these trucks.

[@godwhomismike]

That white extended cab Colorado in the basic Work Truck (WT) trim is exactly how I would want the diesel. But GM only lets you get one with a Crew Cab and a short bed in the more expensive up-trim models.

[@brianbehle1620]

is it totally necessary for a helmet while driving a 4 cylinder pickup

[@tedschmitt178]

Probably a requirement for that track, not the vehicle.

[@thephranc]

Most of America really doesn't care about the VW "scandal"

[@andrewc9234]

+thephranc if you bought one you would for sure

[@thephranc]

***** You make it sound like these are buses from the 80s. It isn't it isn't even close. Get a grip and lighten up some so that stick falls out of your ass.

[@thephranc]

Where did I say you didn't love diesels? Thats right I didn't you just made that up as a red herring. My grasp of scale is just fine. Thats why I understand you are blowing this out of proportion. I don't about your childhood and its not like that now because cars are so much cleaner even with millions more of them on the road so you anecdote is moot in regards of this non-scandal. You are trying to argue against points I never made. But I understand your need for intellectually dishonest argumentative fallacies.

[@thephranc]

I didn't take anything as disparaging. My words didn't need to be interpreted, they were very clear as presented. But I understand your need to read into things instead of just reading them.

[@dave0z96]

According to most the people I've talked to your right. I know three people at my work that have diesel Jettas and know body gives a shit about their emissions status .

[@trafficit]

Finally putting back the diesel powerpack in the mid size, awesome.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I totally agree. Is diesel for everyone? Maybe, maybe not. I guess that depends on a number of things. I can think of a number of vehicles that would benefit from a 2.8 litre turbo diesel, either a 2.8 Duramax, or a 2.8 Cummins. 🙂

[@dave0z96]

I don't care about vw's deisel emission status, I think the cars are great with real world reports of 55 miles to the gallon. They still sell them in Europe where people are smart in this respect,and drive vehicles around that get great fuel mileage with both gasoline and deisel vehicles .

[@javahedz]

dave0z96 - agreed. I loved all of my VW diesels. The latest, a 2011 Sportwagen. My final three years of working and commuting, I averaged 46mpg. Not too shabby. The Sportwagen didn’t make sense for my retirement plans, however, and the offer of a buyback netted me a slight profit after 60,000 miles of use. The obvious choice, for ME, was the Canyon Denali Duramini. I love it, and it regularly gets 32mpg on the hiway. When moving across the Cascade Mountains in Washington, three times she pulled maximum load without breaking a sweat. This is a terrific vehicle!

[@SubieandFriends]

You know what really grinds my gears? When people have a 2WD truck of any brand and the truck owner feels the need to add aftermarket badges/labels/emblems to their truck, for example let’s say someone has a 2WD Silverado then for whatever weird reason they buy a 4x4 chrome badge and attach it to their 2WD truck……what in the world? Who does that and why? Like do they really think that adding 4x4 badge to their 2WD truck will somehow magically turn their 2WD truck into a 4WD truck? Like what the front door! Quit ruffling my feathers now!!!

[@296jayce]

i just really hope that they build a midsize suv off of these, and throw the diesel in it. further more, making an off road worthy variant. these pick ups are nice, but some of us still want truck based suvs. 4runner is amazing, but i want something from GM

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I want a Duramax 2.8 Diesel.

[@SubieandFriends]

7,700lbs towing limit is actually a lot of weight when you consider the fact that it’s a midsize truck and as matter of fact that kind of weight used to require a full size truck with a V8 engine….now we have midsize trucks towing almost 8,000lbs! yikes! That’s really cool! Also really cool is how this midsize diesel truck comes standard with a trailer break controller and even more bad ass is how it comes with a diesel exhaust brake!!!

[@Omgimdrftng]

Well that’s dope I see a drift car being towed 👌🏼

[@v8powergaming423]

the younger guy who works there has a drift car lol.

[@TehWillysFreak]

This is the second time I've seen someone misinformed about this engine. The 2.8L Duramax is NOT related to the VMM 2.8L in the Jeep. Jeep 2.8 CRD = 2.8L V6 built by VMM in Italy GM 2.8 Duramax = 2.8L I-4 built by GM in Thailand. They are completely unrelated, the only part that is the same is their displacement at 2.8L.

[@jamesgustafson7962]

The VM engine is a 2.8l I4 with similar torque and HP ratings. In essence Isuzu pretty much carbon copied the engine. A good older Isuzu engine is probably built better. I miss cast iron

[@javahedz]

DRAX - GM is building the VMM design under license. It is related, though not built “by VMM” In any case, I love mine in my 2018 Canyon Denali. A terrific combination of comfortable, capable, and economical in a handsome package. She’ll tow a moderate load like a boss when necessary, and makes a good-sense daily driver running solo. I call it a win. 🙌🏻

[@dylanmacaya9166]

You should call it a win win javahedz. As for you DRAX, you are incorrect, the Diesel motor in the 06-07' Liberty is not a V6 but is indeed an older version of this very motor, a2.8 liter INLINE 4 cylinder! Where as the version in the jeep was manufactured by VM in Italy and had 160 hp and 295lb-ft of torque this reworked and updated version is produced by a subsidiary of GM in Thailand and makes the higher output as stated in the review. I'm not sure how you got it confused and thought the 2.8 in the Liberty was a V6, though all I can think is that you might have gotten it mixed up with the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel which is a V6, and was and will soon be again, available in the Ram 1500& is also coming to the Jeep Wrangler AND the new Gladiator (albeit with more power than before) and has always hailed from Italy just like that Liberty 2.8 inline 4 from VM. The gas motor in the Liberty (ho-hum) was of course the 3.7 liter V6 which was also the base engine in the Dodge Dakota pickup all the way through its last generation and then the DD truck, the Liberty & that 3.7V6 gasser all went the way of the Dodo all about the same time. I love that these little Diesels are back to show everyone what a real economical and powerful motor really is! Diesels 4ever!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I don't see diesel demand *ever* dying. It may take a hit from time to time, particularly with the latest Volkswagen BS happening, for example, but I believe that diesel will still be here in the USA for *years* to come. I'm glad to see a return of the small displacement (2.8 litre) turbo diesel engine. How well it sells remains to be seen. But I hope it stays on the market for longer than its predecessor, the Jeep Liberty 2.8 litre CRD turbo diesel, which was only on the North American market for two, maybe three years. That's *hardly* enough time for people to get to know the engine. Diesel may not be for *everyone,* particularly if you're used to driving a 6.6 litre Duramax powered GMC Sierra, but for those who don't want or need such a large truck, but want or need a turbo diesel engine, this 2.8 litre Duramax should be available for those who do. My only complaint about this Duramax Diesel engine is that it's produced in Thailand! Why?! What's wrong with producing it in North America, or Australia, or Germany? Why Thailand?

[@PopularTymn]

Why Thailand? Why not America, or Australia, or Germany? Thailand is global production base for pickup and diesel engine manufacturers and sent to worldwide markets for many years, such as Asian markets, African markets, Europe, including Oceania markets as Australia and New Zealand, except North America. Major automobile and engine parts manufacturers ubiquitously settled in Thailand are mostly from Japan, Europe (include Germany), Australia, and even from North America. This is an advantage for automobile manufacturers to produce in Thailand. Some Mercedes Benz models and Volvo are assembled in Thailand for Asian markets. These GM/VM Motori engines produced in Thailand since 2011 and achieved some durability reputation. The new generation, MY 14 Duramax 2.8L engines have several new parts aiming to increase efficiency and torque outputs and to meet U.S. emission standards. If GM succeeds in U.S. market, it would be time to produce these small diesel engines in North America.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

+SPRINGBLISS428 I hope GM succeeds. I've never understood why the reluctance of the American market to accept small displacement diesel engines. We've had large displacement diesels (6.5 litres+) for years, but no small displacement (2.0-4.0 litre) displacement diesel engines. Diesel may not be for everyone, you can't please everyone, but I believe that there is a market somewhere here in the USA for diesel.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

That's fine if that's the market you plan to sell the engine to, but for North American use, I would think that it'd be best to have the engine built in North America, either in Canada, the USA, or Mexico.

[@jwagner1993]

Where´s our good John Davis ??? i´m looking for it so farin this video... not get down to hysterics!!!

[@matiasbosshardt8888]

Nice pickup! Super reliable

[@eshollen]

**me who drives a Duramax canyon hearing** "most people interested in the diesel, probably never thought about owning a vw" *me who also has a 1963 karmann ghia* -_-

[@davidenobile426]

Nice truck

[@Odin31b]

The drivers seat isn't wide enough for a normal size man. My leg is half off the seat with room to the door for more seat.

[@TheSuperMotoHooligan]

G to the M to the C...

[@lukehoisington4236]

garbage made cheap

[@erich84502a]

Just get the 4 banger 2.5

[@mr.slenderman3020]

Ok....so this is the same diesel out of the jeep liberty? Stupid...hopefully GM did something about the oil pan on those engines...garbage motors...WHY GM WHY?! Stop fucking up...y'all are on a fucking roll here lately..I'm about to go Dodge only...smh

[@Bmackins94]

no this is a Isuzu/GM diesel

[@mr.slenderman3020]

+Bmackins94 watch it again....no it isn't. just put the badge on it

[@brycmtthw]

+Bmackins94 it's a VM Motori diesel that GM licensed to build. VM is wholly owned by FCA.

[@LowsJuan]

At the time that the diesel was placed in the liberty gm owned a percentage of VM. I remember hearing before the talk of a light duty diesel in the dodge ram that GM has sold it's interest in VM. I never did hear many positive things said about the CRD. The mileage was nothing special and VM products were never really on the forefront of reliability. I would think that this current version of the 2.8L would be much different than what they put in the CRD as many advances have been made in diesel front since that time. VM did produce diesels for the London Black cabs at one time.

[@PopularTymn]

After GM sold their stake in VM Motori in 2013, they started to produce their own engine, duramax diesel 2.8L in 2014. The new MY14 XLD28 has only the same figure of Bore and Stroke [ 3.70 in and 3.94 in ] but the other parts are completely different from VM Motori A428 of Jeep Liberty. _Commonrail and fuel injection system increased pressure up to 2000 bar produced by Denso in stead of Bosch. _Variable geometry turbocharger with watercooling and new compressor wheel. _New EGR valve with larger EGR cooler and DPF as well. _New intake manifold. _New cylinder head with larger exhaust ports and water passages. _New cylinder block which is lighter and new cooling circuit design. _New balance shaft unit. _New installation of CPVA to decrease NVH in torque converter. _New ECM developed by GM engineers for quicker response and produced by Continental in stead of Bosch. _Exhaust emission system including DOC, SCR, DPF, and Venturi cooled tailpipe. _All of changes make XLD28 more torque outputs, less exhaust emissions, and quieter than A428. .

[@ChevyNglockMan]

if only u can get the diesel in the lower trim levels, especially the work truck level, i ain't gonna pay 36k for a midsized truck.

[@Dynaride1]

John. Davis sounds bored and tired in this review.

[@fordneck58]

so it is not an Isuzu?

[@weedmastersr]

+Greg Soderlund no

[@nb7466]

its made in Thailand? i had no idea. kimda of a shame.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I agree. If that's the market you planning on selling to, then that's fine. But I would think that for North American customers, I would think it'd be best if it were built either in the USA, or Canada.

[@josholson5015]

That engine has been produced there for other markets. If it has the capacity, why would they build another factory in North America?

[@adogg619]

This diesel is too slow. I'll stay with the gasoline V6.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Really? I didn't notice. It looks fast for a diesel engine. If you want slow, check out the diesel trucks of 30+ yrs ago.

[@dylanmacaya9166]

Slow! Shit I ain't buying a diesel in a truck ( or a car for that matter) to go frick'n drag racing in! I'm buying'em to haul things with and go off roading for long distances and get much better fuel mileage than their gas alternatives! All missions they fulfill in spades! And it's not like they are slugs like the diesels from 2 or more decades ago, in fact once those turbos spool up a mere second or so after getting on that throttle, all of today's domestic market diesels, regardless of displacement or the vehicles that they are in, move out with a good, if not great, amount of authority! Torque is king, not horsepower and that is why diesel is king, not gas!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@dylanmacaya9166 Abso-fucking-lutely! Diesel, even Turbo Diesel, weren't meant for speed. They were meant for hauling stuff. I can imagine this Baby Duramax powering a VW Rialta Motorhome if the engine fits. 🙂

[@B---dw6pz]

I would not own any diesel even if someone gave one to me.