Following in the wake of the return of the 2015 Chevy Colorado, GM unveiled its close cousin, the 2015 GMC Canyon midsize pickup at the recent Detroit Auto Show. When this pair of smaller pickups hits dealerships later this year, it will represent America’s triumphant return to the midsize truck market, as well as a class-exclusive four-cylinder diesel that will give truck buyers plenty of torque without sucking every dollar out of their wallet.

The GMC Canyon is in many ways mechanically identical to the Chevy Colorado, both of which are slated to go on sale in the fall of 2014. However, the Canyon is aimed more upmarket, at buyers interested in things like more headroom and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Yes, a truck with built-in Internet capabilities. What an age we live in.

More premium materials are used in the GMC Canyon, which will be available as either an extended cab with a six-foot bed, or a crew cab with your option of a 5- or 6-foot bed. Speaking of which, the Canyon offers a vertically-dividable bed that splits the storage area into upper and lower sections, allowing you to conceal tools or other valuables. Leather seating becomes standard on the SLT model, and the All-Terrain model adds embossed accent stitching to heighten that quality feel.

Other options include an 8-inch LCD touchscreen with Intellilink and voice command capabilities, as well as allowing you to manage all of your onboard media. With the ability to stream Pandora radio and link your phone via Bluetooth, the GMC Canyon is bringing luxury and technology to a segment that hasn’t known much of either. 

Just like the Colorado, the 2015 GMC Canyon will debut with two engine options, a 2.5 liter four-cylinder with 193 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V6 with 302 horsepower. A year after launch, GMC reps told us the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel will also become available, and while official power numbers aren’t yet being discussed, GM seems confident it will be class-leading. The same engine, built and sold in southeast Asia, produces 200 horsepower and some 368 ft-lbs of torque, rivaling the pulling power of many full-size pickups. The four-cylinder will be offered with a six-speed manual, while a six-speed automatic will do its duty behind the V6 model.

The introduction of the Canyon gives GMC a full range of pickup trucks, with the Canyon offering something smaller for those of us not wanting or needing a full-size truck. However, GM is entering a market dominated by the Toyota Tacoma, which moved nearly 160,000 units last year. While the only other real competitor is the Nissan Frontier, cross-town rivals Ford and Chrysler are pushing buyers toward full-size pickups like the F-150 and Ram 1500 instead. GM is betting that younger buyers want a smaller, smarter truck, but the truck market in America is dominated by full-size sales.

Is America really ready for a smaller, diesel pickup? We won’t find out until the fall of 2015 at the earliest, and pricing is sure to play a huge role. The Canyon is aimed upmarket, which should help move diesel engines when it launches in the fall of 2015.