GMC Canyon, Chevy Colorado diesels headed to dealers

General Motors Co. has confirmed that it is shipping its 2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado diesel pickups, after the trucks were delayed for some time in a final review by the company before leaving the factory, a GMC spokeswoman confirmed.

“The highly anticipated 2016 GMC Canyon diesel has begun shipping to dealers,” GMC spokeswoman Kelly Wysocki said in a Wednesday email. “We look forward to getting these trucks in the hands of our customers and appreciate their patience.”

Wysocki did not say the cause for the delay of the midsize pickups. The Canyon and Colorado originally were due out in the fall. Chevrolet spokespeople could not immediately be reached for comment.

Earlier this month, The Truth About Cars website reported on the delayed delivery of the diesel pickups to customers who had ordered them months earlier. It reported, citing the company, that the delay did not have to do with the company receiving emissions certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The automaker in November said it had received a “certificate of conformity” for the Canyon and Colorado diesels from the EPA. GM said the EPA did not have any issues or concerns following extensive testing and evaluation of emissions systems on the trucks. GM’s diesel trucks had been in the final stage of evaluation by the EPA, just as the Volkswagen AG diesel emissions cheating scandal was uncovered in September. The EPA then announced it would require more on-the-road testing.

The 2016 Canyon and Colorado diesel trucks are rated at 22 miles per gallon in the city, 31 mpg in the highway and 25 mpg combined for two-wheel versions. Four-wheel drive diesel Canyons and Colorados are rated at 20 mpg in the city, 29 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. That 31 mpg figure is tops for any U.S. truck, gasoline or diesel.

GMC did not provide order figures for the Canyon diesel.

The diesel Colorado is offered on LT and Z71 crew cabs; the Canyon diesel is available on SLE and SLT crew cabs. The trucks are powered by a new 2.8-liter Duramax, four-cylinder turbo engine.

The Canyon and Colorado pickups, including the diesels, are built at GM’s Wentzville Assembly Plant in Missouri.

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