Best Used GMC Compact Truck - Canyon, Sonoma

The appeal of a pickup truck is easy to understand. There are certain jobs which simply require to ability to haul large amounts of heavy or oversized objects that just won’t fit inside of a standard van or SUV. This can include anything from a load of bricks to a set of furniture, essentially any cargo that doesn’t conform in terms of height or weight to the capacities of an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, there are some definite trade-offs when it comes to a full-size pickup. The first is that the sheer size of the vehicle makes it difficult to drive in an urban environment, especially if on-street parallel parking is in the cards. V-8 engines can also use more than their fair share of fuel, thanks in part the heavy weight of a large truck. Finally, while many improvements have been made over the last few years, when it comes to driving experience large trucks still display the same numb handling and somewhat bumpy ride that is to be expected from their heavy-duty steering and suspension systems.

For many people who require the functionality of a pickup but aren’t interested in the headaches of full-size ownership the answer has been to purchase a compact truck. Compact trucks scale down the dimensions of their bigger brothers while still providing the cargo area and tough frame that are required for many of the jobs that these vehicles are asked to do. In fact, compact pickups have increased in size and capacity to the point where aside from towing extremely heavy trailers, these vehicles are capable of handling the needs of the vast majority of truck buyers. Worst case scenario: drivers will be forced to make more than one trip when asked to transport a large load.

GMC has been a major player in the compact truck field for decades, and in the past few years their vehicles have grown larger and brawnier in an effort to keep up with shifting market expectations. Their Sonoma pickup truck exemplified the compact trucks that came to the fore in the 1980’s and 90’s, but the Canyon update was able to subtly tweak the dimensions of the previous platform in order to improve comfort and utility without sacrificing the advantages of a smaller platform. This article examines both of these vehicles in order to help buyers decide which of the two best used compact trucks from GMC they should drive off of the lot.

1998 – 2004 GMC Sonoma

The 1998 – 2004 GMC Sonoma can trace its lineage back to the first GMC S15 pickups which were introduced in 1982. The modern edition of the vehicle does however incorporate several improvements over the truck of old, especially when it comes to interior options. Depending on the year, base workhorse editions of the truck can include features like air conditioning and many of the styling cues that were previously reserved for top of the line vehicles only. A CD player, cruise control and the usual power accessories also help to make the Sonoma feel less utilitarian than in the past. The truck can be found in regular, Extended and Crew Cab trims, with the latter option providing decent seating for up to five occupants. In 2004, the Crew Cab is the only available Sonoma body style.

Base two-wheel drive trucks make use of a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine that generates 120 horsepower, while higher trim levels and all four-wheel drive trucks have the option of a 4.3-liter V-6 that puts out 180 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque (190 hp in the Crew Cab). A 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic serve as the Sonoma’s transmission choices. The compact truck can be equipped with a number of different suspension packages which are tailored towards the intended use of the vehicle. Off-road customers are catered to, as are those who want to make their pickup feel as comfortable to drive as a standard sedan. With a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 lbs and an available 6-foot box, the 1998 – 2004 GMC Sonoma is a sturdy truck that never disappoints when it is time to get to work.

For buyers who want either a no-frills company vehicle or a fairly comfortable daily driver, the 1998 – 2004 GMC Sonoma is capable of filling either role while still providing the functionality that drivers expect out of a used compact truck.

2004 – 2007 GMC Canyon

By the mid-2000’s it became obvious that compact pickup trucks were ballooning in size and coming close to the overall dimensions once seen only in a full-size vehicle. While companies like Dodge decided to go all out and make their Durango into a steroidal monster, GMC took a different tack, creating an entirely new platform with a wider wheelbase and grafting on bulkier bodywork in order to better match up stylistically with the larger trucks sitting in showrooms. The result was a much more modern-looking compact truck, the Canyon, which provided more interior room while just barely nudging into the mid-size range.

For the first two years of production, the 2004 – 2007 GMC Canyon made do with an entry level, 175 horsepower 4-cylinder that displaced 2.8-liters, and a 229 horsepower, 2.5-liter inline-5 engine as an optional upgrade. In 2007 both of these engines were replaced, with the base model receiving a small bump in power and size to 2.9-liters and 185 horses, and the bigger engine jumping to a 242 horsepower 3.7-liter unit. Buyers can choose between a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic, as well as whether they want two or four-wheel drive.

Passengers will appreciate the extra room afforded by the vehicle’s interior, which has been stretched when compared to the previous GMC Sonoma compact truck. Even the vehicle’s Extended Cab configuration makes for reasonably comfortable rear accommodations on short trips. The cabin of the Canyon is much quieter than any other GMC compact to have come before it, and the vehicle can be ordered in the typically wide range of trim levels that are common to pickups.

The 2004 – 2007 GMC Canyon is an improvement over the Sonoma in many ways, and for those who appreciate the new styling and more refined interior it makes a good candidate as a used compact truck option.