Despite its tough, businesslike appearance, the GMC Canyon features refined driving characteristics and a comfortable interior, with high-quality leather seats and open-pore wood on offer on some trims. However, that’s not to say that the Canyon sacrifices its practicality; on the contrary, it features a high level of off-road ruggedness, especially the new AT4 variant, and comes with excellent towing and payload capacities.
Overview
GMC classifies the Canyon as a mid-sized pickup, with the implication that it’s a step down from its larger cousin, the Sierra. However, the Canyon more than holds its own, especially when fitted with the beefy 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine. It barely notices even the heaviest payloads and is more than capable when it comes to towing, where its limits top out at 7,700lbs, with the optional trailering package.
Brand new for the 2021 model year is the AT4 variant, which replaces the All Terrain trim found on previous models. Choosing the AT4 will get you 17-inch wheels with Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Tires, a suspension system designed for off-road driving, rear locking differential and a skid plate.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The Canyon has a choice of three engines: the base I4 with 200hp, a potent 308hp V8, and the aforementioned 181hp I4 turbodiesel. You don’t get much choice with the transmission, as the two 4-cylinder engines both come with a six-speed automatic, while the V8 gets an eight-speed automatic.
Of the three, the turbodiesel is by far the best when it comes to torque, offering an impressive 369lb-ft compared to the V8 and the 2.5-liter, which have 275 and 191lb-ft respectively. When it comes to fuel economy, the diesel naturally comes out on top, with 19/28mpg city/highway. For the V8 and the base I4, it’s 18/25mpg and 19/25 respectively.
Safety and Technology
The Canyon has many safety features, either as standard or as optional extras. These include a rearview reversing camera, and the “teen driver” feature, which allows you to set speed and audio volume limits for secondary drivers, both of which come as standard. Optional features include a forward-collision warning system, rear parking sensors, and lane departure warnings to keep you safe when you’re on the road.
The infotainment system doesn’t let up either, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all models, making it easy to sync your truck with your smartphone. You’ll also get a 7-inch touchscreen, with two USB ports, and six speakers. Alternatively, an 8-inch screen, wireless charging capability, a seven-speaker Bose audio setup, satellite and HD radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a navigation system.
Price
The starting price for the Canyon is just $26,800, which climbs to $38,400 for the AT4 off-road variant, and $41,200 for the top-of-the-line Denali model, for which you’ll get many more luxurious interior features and the majority of the optional features as standard.
If, after reading this guide, you think the Canyon might be the truck for you, then it’s time to schedule a test drive. Visit us at Blue Diamond Chevrolet GMC to schedule yours.
Image via GMC.com
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