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The mid-size Canyon pickup continues as a boldly styled alternative to smaller compact models and unwieldy full-size trucks. It shares platforms and components with both the Chevrolet Colorado pickup and the HUMMER H3 SUV. Power comes from either a lackluster standard 175-horsepower 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine or a more capable available 220-horsepower 3.5-liter five-cylinder version. While both include electronic throttle control and coil-on-plug ignition to help maximize fuel economy, neither a V-6 nor V-8 is offered for heavier-duty tasks. The truck is available in either rear- or four-wheel drive, in short-wheelbase regular-cab and long-wheelbase extended- and four-door crew-cab versions. Three different suspension packages are offered, along with a long list of options that allows for maximum customization. For 2006, a sensing system is added that will automatically turn the front passenger's airbag off when no occupant or a small rider is detected. Also, a new, ZQ8 sport suspension package is available that includes 17-inch aluminum wheels and body-colored wheel flares. A new SLT trim package becomes newly available for 2006 on Extended Cab and Crew Cab models.

This mid-size sport-utility vehicle shares platforms with the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7X. The vehicle's standard 4.2-liter in-line six-cylinder engine generates 291 horsepower, which is more than many competitors' V-8s. Extended XL models add a third-row seat and are actually longer, overall than the full-size Yukon. A high-torque 5.3-liter 290-horsepower V-8 engine is made available across the line for 2006 (previously it was offered only on the XL) for added muscle. This powerplant features "displacement on demand" technology that closes off half the engine's cylinders when not needed to maximize fuel economy without sacrificing power. 2006 changes include making GM's OnStar communications system and StabiliTrak stability control standard, and the top Denali version gets new 18-inch wheels.

GMC's full-size, rear-drive van continues for 2006 as the workhorse of the fleet, able to serve as either a commercial hauler, 15-passenger mini-bus, or a powerful tow vehicle. The Savana comes in either short- or long-wheelbase lengths and offers a variety of load capacities and engines. A 200-horsepower 4.3-liter V-6 is standard on the base version, and a 285-hp 5.3-liter, and 300-hp 6.0-liter V-8s are available, all of which come with four-speed automatic transmissions. A 250-horsepower 6.6-liter turbodiesel V-8 is newly offered for 2006 on G2500 and G3500 cargo versions, and a natural-gas conversion of the largest V-8 is also available. The base 1500 model can be equipped with all-wheel-drive for added traction on slick or snowy roads, while the 3500 long-wheelbase version includes StabiliTrak stability control.