If you’re looking for a pickup truck that gets great fuel economy – for a pickup, that is – and is well under budget, then go test drive a 2012 GMC Canyon 2WD today. You’re not going to get the pure power of the 4WD model obviously, but there are definitely some advantages to this model truck. Starting at $17,490 and going up to $26,470, consumers will find that this truck is highly affordable.

Consumers who choose this rear wheel drive truck, will notice a keyless entry system, making it just that much easier to get in your truck, and auto-dimming mirror with a compass and external temperature reading, as well as power windows and locks. Should you choose the Extended Cab model, you’ll notice underseat storage. However, most who choose the Extended Cab would want the 4WD version, since they’re likely to be doing some serious hauling and/or towing. The overall look of the Canyon is quite appealing, with the grille being exceptionally eye-catching, due to an innovative and even artistic design. The xenon headlight serve to fully illuminate the road ahead, allowing the driver to spot that unmoving deer in the middle of the road, far enough ahead to brake.

The 2012 GMC Canyon 2WD comes with a mediocre 2.9-liter Dual Overhead Camshaft, 4-cylinder engine with a best-in-class 185 ponies under the hood. It also will obtain 25 MPG on the highway and 18 MPG in-town. Considering it’s a pickup, this is exceptional fuel economy. With StabiliTrak stability control the Canyon will automatically apply brake pressure to an individual wheel, and adjust engine power accordingly. All this is preventative maintenance for a rollover or gnarly skid.

With the Bluetooth technology, consumers won’t have to fuss with shoving an uncomfortable earpiece in their heads. Instead, they can listen to callers through the speakers and talk to them through a microphone in the cabin (yes, you’ll look crazy to other drivers, like you’re talking to yourself). The makers at GMC have generously included a free, 6-month trial of OnStar with your new purchase. This can save your life in the unfortunate event of an accident, or simply provide you with turn-by-turn directions. As with all 2012 GMC cars and trucks, Sirius XM satellite radio also comes free for 3 months, so you can rock out in style in your new truck.

Should you get in an accident, the inside of the Canyon would resemble a pillow factory, with all of the airbags, which can and do save lives. It also has passenger-sensing technology, which detects whether or not there is a passenger and adjust accordingly on whether or not to deploy the passenger airbags. This will save you money from having to reinstall airbags that went off when no one was in the seat – those suckers are surprisingly expensive too! The Canyon 2WD also comes with a 100,000-mile or 5-year powertrain warranty – whichever comes first.

So, if you're looking for raw power and towing capacity in a truck, you may want to take a look at the Canyon 4WD. But if you're looking for great fuel economy, some towing capacity and an overall great truck, then you simply have to take the 2012 Canyon 2WD on a test drive today.