There is a company locally to me that sells pre-fabbed granite slabs that are already cut to counter width and include a 6" backsplash. These granite slabs are dirt cheap compared to many found at granite sales companies. When I inquired why they were so cheap, I found they are "manufacturered" granite, which is basically granite dust mixed with resins.
They do look nice, but are usually thinner and crack easier than the real thing, and so far, every piece I've seen for sale is imported from China, so there is little or no quality control, and who knows what unknown chemicals are used to bind the material.