2023 GMC Canyon
General Motors recently introduced their newest version of the company’s mid-size pickup trucks. While competitive to its rival, we certainly noticed a huge change from the previous generation models.
This 2023 GMC Canyon is a prime example of this evolution. It arrives with a bolder, cleaner design inside and out. They also tweaked its driveline lineup and other engineering upgrades to prove its worth among other mid-size pickup trucks.
How did GMC do?
The exterior is evolutionary with several new elements found on other GMC pickups. The grille dominates the front clip, as they moved the headlamps off the side. The LED units are lower in profile than before. You will also find combination LED driving lamps and turn signals attached to the upper portions of the grille.
The tailgate area is influenced by the larger Sierra pickup trucks. The taillamps are larger and the tailgate itself is more defined, including a “soft” drop-down. We found this tailgate to be lighter and more manageable to close.
The Crew Cab section remains the same as the previous model, with a few twists to match the larger Sierra models. The rear doors appear smaller, but accessible for rear seat passengers.
Our Elevation model adds 18-inch dark-gray-finished alloy wheels with all-terrain tires. The grille itself is finished in black sporting a more aggressive texture.
Where GMC did a lot of its work is with its new dashboard. With upgraded materials, there is a premium feel that speaks to GMC’s Professional Grade design language. The new digital instrument cluster is customizable, while offering the right amount of information for the driver.
The 11.2-inch infotainment touchscreen sits slightly above eye level with logical switches positioned below it and well into the center stack. The switchgear was also easy to touch and use. The transmission shifter is straightforward, as is most of the controls.
Front seat room is good, offering a comfortable and workable driving position on top of its cloth upholstery. Rear seat room in the Crew cab is adequate for average-sized adults and/or children.
For this new version of the Canyon, only one engine choice is available. It is a robust 310-horsepower turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder. It puts down 430 pound-feet of torque, sending it through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Our tester had two-wheel drive, but a four-wheel drive system is available. GMC claims that the Canyon has a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds with a maximum payload of 1,640 pounds.
Performance is OK. We found some struggle between the engine and the transmission. It does fine on the highway without any payload. For fuel economy, the Environmental Protection Agency states that the fuel consumption on the Canyon Elevation 2WD would average 20 MPG.
Ride quality was fine. There was no excessive bouncing from the upgraded off-road suspension. We also found that handling and cornering was actually quite good in the Colorado ZR2 Bison. The ride and handling mix were achieved with a more solid frame and suspension set-up.
We found that the Canyon had a decent steering radius and a solid steering feel. On-center feel was fine overall. The brakes felt the best with solid stops and a great pedal feel. Panic braking stops were well controlled.
The 2023 GMC Canyon lineup is available in four trim levels with prices starting at $36,900. Our 2WD Elevation Crew Cab model came with a sticker price of $40,695.
The GMC Canyon is in a segment that is growing, thanks to new versions of its competitors. They include the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado and Jeep Gladiator.
Getting the GMC Canyon over anything else may set you apart from the mid-size truck crowd. It offers a bit more than the rest at competitive prices. You have plenty of choices available to you. For the GM truck fans, this one is definitely yours.
Credits: CarSoup Editors
