Moving up to the 2008 GMC Canyon SLT Crew Cab, the top of the line for this mid-sized pickup, gets you four full-size doors and two rows of seats. The extra legroom in the rear and the split-folding bench seat are possible because the bed length has been shortened to five feet. The rear-wheel drive 2008 Canyon SLT Crew Cab is the most luxurious of the bunch, with leather upholstery, heated front seats, and power front seats (8-way driver, 6-way passenger). Another Crew Cab upgrade is the removable tailgate, which also folds flat and at an angle level with the wheelwells, for two-tier storage. Tow hooks and tie-downs are standard, but trailer wiring costs extra.

A 3.7-liter, 242-hp DOCH I5 gets 242 ft-lbs of torque and is paired with a 4-speed automatic with overdrive.The 17/24 mpg is adequate for a pickup of this size. A heavy-dutry suspension can be replaced with an off-road suspension package. 15-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, dual front airbags, side impact beams, and 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes earn the highest ratings in crash tests. Other nice features include OnStar, automatic headlights, a tire monitor, auto-dimming rearview mirror, foglights, and halogen lamps. Traction control is optional in the rear-wheel drive Canyons. Also available are side curtain airbags and a locking rear differential. Body-side molding and wheel flares can be added to the exterior, which is dressed up in chrome on the grille and bumpers.

Front and rear cupholders are only the beginning of the interior bells and whistles. Cruise control, a CD/MP3 player, full power features, intermittent wipers, trip computer, temperature display and compass, and leather steering wheel are all standard. The chrome theme is carried over to the instrument panel. Tilt steering, a tachometer, and front power outlets are also included. A sunroof is optional, along with one year of satellite radio and a 6-CD changer.